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Hector Goudreau: Horne appointed Parliamentary Assistant for Health
Alberta passes new health legislation
for Smoky River Express
Principles to guide the health system, as well as a commitment to a public input process, and requirements to establish a health charter and a health advocate, are important features of Bill 17 - the Alberta Health Act 2010, which was passed by the Legislative Assembly on Nov. 30.
The Alberta Health Act will require the Minister of Health and Wellness to establish:
· A health charter that sets out expectations and responsibilities within the health system;
· A health advocate to address citizen concerns with the health system as they relate to the health charter ; and
· A process to provide for public input in the development of health regulations made under the Act.
Work will now begin on establishing a health advocate and validating a health charter which will include public input.
The Legislative Assembly’s passing of the Alberta Health Act follows on the heels of the release of the government’s Becoming The Best: Alberta’s 5-Year Health Action Plan. Both are important pieces in the government’s overall plan to create the best-performing publicly funded health system in Canada.
Other pieces of the overall plan include having one, single health delivery arm for Alberta (Alberta Health Services), and introducing the first-of-its-kind 5-year funding model for that delivery arm.
The Alberta Health Act was the outcome of the Putting People First report released September 16.
The report made 15 recommendations and summarized the views of Albertans during extensive public consultations over the past year.
The Alberta Health Act will come into force upon proclamation. To read or obtain a copy of the Alberta Health Act, visit the Legislative Assembly of Alberta website at www.assembly.ab.ca.
The Alberta government has a clear plan for a strong economic recovery. As we move forward, we will maintain support for programs and services Albertans need most, such as health care, education and safe and vibrant communities. For more information on the plan visit Alberta.ca.
Alberta’s 15-year olds place among world’s best in reading, scientific and mathematical literacy
Alberta’s students continue to rank among the best in Canada and the world, according to the results of the 2009 Program for International Student Assessment (PISA).
Alberta students placed second in the world in reading and scientific literacy, and eighth in mathematical literacy.
In reading, the major focus of the 2009 PISA study, Alberta students achieved the highest average score in Canada.
Internationally, Alberta’s reading literacy results were among the very highest-scoring nations, second only to Shanghai-China and tied with South Korea, Finland, and Hong Kong-China.
In the minor focus areas examined by PISA in 2009, Alberta continued to achieve high results.
In mathematical literacy, Alberta students ranked second in Canada and eighth in the world. In scientific literacy, Alberta students ranked first in Canada, scoring significantly above the Canadian average, and ranked second worldwide.
PISA is administered every three years by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development.
The tests assess the international achievement of 15-year-old students in reading, mathematical and scientific literacy.
In Alberta approximately 2,900 students from public, separate, francophone, charter, and private schools, together with other sampled students from 65 countries, participated in the test in the spring of 2009.
This is the fourth time Alberta has participated in this program.
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