From: R. John Hurlbert Sent: Thursday, March 28, 2013 3:13 PM To: ALISON M.

REDFORD Cc: DANIELLE SMITH; RAJNISH K. SHERMAN; BRIAN MASON; myMLA Subject: Your Health Care Strategy Dear Premier Redford, It has been just under 17 years since I moved to Alberta and began practicing at the Foothills Hospital as a specialist in Neurosurgery. Over that time I have seen many administrators and politicians come and go. Along with them their wellintentioned policies. There have been many good things that have happened to health care in Alberta, particularly through the Klein administration, leaving us in many ways a world-class health care system. One might argue I suppose that its easy to spend money when there is lots of it around. I guess the thing that troubles me most is that 5 years from now, your focus will be other than health-care. Yet the decisions and policies you leave behind will linger, affecting my patients and I for a much longer time. To me, it is tragic that when it comes to something as important as health-care there appears to be no long-term accountability from the people who are charged with stewardship of the system. Without this accountability decisions are not surprisingly short-sighted and of convenience. The relationship you are cultivating through the current negotiation process (or rather lack thereof) with your provincial health-care providers is embarrassing. The rhetoric is hurtful and in poor taste. In nearly two decades of supporting my local PC party as a proud Albertan, I cannot recall a time where I have been more jaded from pettiness and posturing. I have no particular concern about the unilateral 20% roll-back you propose to the Medical Services Budget. In fact, if it were in the best interest of Albertans I

would welcome it. Perhaps this might be easier to believe if you too as a fellow Albertan were to accept a 20% reduction in your income and retirement plan. Until then though, it is what it is. A thinly disguised cash grab aimed at the most convenient and potentially vulnerable group available. A plan without foresight. A plan without accountability (as usual). A plan that will undermine in weeks what it has taken decades to build. Premier Redford, this isnt about the doctors. This is about health-care delivery and the service provided to our families and our neighbors. There are intelligent and caring people on BOTH sides of the negotiation process. Marginalizing one group over another is counter-productive and potentially (particularly in this case) dangerous. Frankly, you should be ashamed. My vote is for the person who is willing to show vision and commitment for the better of their constituents, not for the better of their personal political agenda. Im not having a hard time convincing my patients of the same thing. Sincerely R. John Hurlbert MD, PhD, FRCSC, FACS Division of Neurosurgery University of Calgary Foothills Hospital and Medical Centre