The provincial governments of Alberta and Saskatchewan renewed the Memorandum of Understanding regarding health care services in Lloydminster and area. (File phoot/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By battlefordsNOW Staff

Border agreement

Alberta, Saskatchewan renew understanding on health-care services

Jul 12, 2021 | 2:21 PM

The Saskatchewan and Alberta provincial governments have re-upped an understanding for collaboration in the City of Lloydminster.

On Monday, Tyler Shandro, Alberta Minister of Health, and Everett Hindley, Saskatchewan Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, Seniors and Rural and Remote Health, appeared on a virtual press conference to sign a renewed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to further enhance collaboration between the two provinces on the delivery of health services in the Lloydminster region.

In the statement and during the press conference, both provinces pledged to provide a coordinated approach to health care services for the border city and the surrounding area.

“Lloydminster is unique and presents some unique challenges because of the border,” Hindley said. “It just makes sense to get rid of some of the red tape that was in the way of residents trying to get quality health care.”

“We are excited to renew our MOU with Alberta and focus on our shared goals to better serve residents.”

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As a key component of the previous MOU in 2014, Alberta and Saskatchewan worked with the Bi-Provincial Health Services Committee (made up of senior health ministry, health authority and community representatives) to address issues of concern to the community. This resulted in dual licensing of physicians, enhanced EMS protocols and new access of information, so that it can be shared between provinces.

“Those are just some of the benefits that we’ve seen from the initial MOU,” Hindley said.

The previous MOU expired in July 2019. In the renewal, both provinces have agreed to collaborate in the planning and funding of health services delivered within a 150-kilometre radius of Lloydminster.

When asked on issues of wait times at the Lloydminster hospital, compared to neighbouring communities like Vermilion, Hindley said that both provinces had made investments in the Lloydminster hospital and will continue to do so in addressing both wait times and other issues many hospitals face, including staffing numbers. He also referenced continuing work on expansion with dialysis services, infrastructure funding and mental health investments.

“That’s the goal at the end of the day, to make sure we provide the best possible care for the people of that city and surrounding communities,” Hindley said.

Minister Everett Hindley during Monday’s press conference. (Submitted photo/GOvernment of Saskatchewan)

In addition to Hindley and Shandro, MLA’s Garth Rowswelll and Colleen Young of Alberta and Saskatchewan respectively, and Mayor Gerald Aalbers made statements in the press release.

Aalbers said enhanced collaboration between provincial leaders is an important step in establishing more robust, dynamic health-care options for residents.

“Our rare bi-provincial status often requires forward thinking from government leaders in developing ‘made-for-Lloydminster’ solutions,” Aalbers said. “On behalf of our growing community, I thank both Minister Shandro and Minister Hindley for their attention to this important issue.”

Speaking to battlefordsNOW, Deputy Mayor and city councillor Glenn Fagnan said it was nice to have this signed after being delayed by the pandemic and that healthcare continuity will continue for residents. He added that having only alterations to the document signed back in 2014 is a good thing.

“Any time we can get both governments working together in collaboration to give us better health services is fantastic,” Fagnan said.

Hindley and Shandro took additional questions, including wait times, hospital bed reductions and potential salary decreases for nurses.

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