SENT ON BEHALF OF RAJ UPPAL, CUPE ALBERTA PRESIDENT AND LYNDSEY HENDERSON, CUPE POLITICAL ACTION COORDINATOR:

Hello Everyone,

We experienced technical difficulties on Friday and were unable to send the newsletter out, so please accept our sincerest apologies for the delay.

It was wonderful to see so many of you at convention.  It’s such an important time for us to come together, share our workplace experiences and challenges, and shape the priorities we’ll be fighting for in the next year.

The Legislature continues to meet, and we’re beginning to see Bills other than the necessary budget legislation.  Notably, the Government tabled Bill 18, the Safeguards for Last Resort Termination of Life Act, which will severely restrict access to those seeking medical assistance in dying (MAID).

We also saw multiple readings and debates on Private Members Bill 205, introduced by the NDP Shadow Minister for Community and Social Services, which seeks to bring in Accessibility Legislation to Alberta, one of only two provinces in Canada that do not have any.

In addition, coordinated rallies took place across Canada for the Canadian Health Coalition Day of Action against Two-Tier healthcare.  CUPE Divisions across Canada denounced Danielle Smith’s Bill 11 and the introduction of American style two tier private healthcare into our province.

CUPE Campaigns, Calls to Action and Events

• CUPE Alberta has launched a census survey to learn more about the demographics and experiences of its members so that we can better serve our membership and help locals thrive.  Your responses will help us identify areas of strength within our membership and areas for improvement.  Please circulate to all members who are interested in completing the survey.
• Applications are now open for the first National Wild in Leadership Development (WILD) Program – designed to provide leadership skills to Indigenous, Black and racialized and non-binary members of CUPE
• CUPE Save our Schools!
  • Send a letter to the Minister and elected representatives to save Fulham School in Grande Yellowhead School District
  • Send a letter to the Minister and elected representatives to save Delnorte School in Buffalo Trail School District
  • Send a letter to the Minister and elected representatives to save Walter Niblock and Southview School in Medicine Hate
• CUPE Alberta Spring Schools – in Canmore April 26^th – May 1^st is filling up fast but still has some openings in some workshops.
• State of Emergency Health Care Crisis Stories  – over 8000 stories have been shared through our State of Emergency Campaign – read them now and sign on!
• Don’t Touch CPP – Tell Danielle Smith and the Alberta Government that Albertans have made themselves clear, we want to stay in the CPP, and we don’t want any political interference in our pensions
• Friends of Medicare – Stolen Time Film Screening Fort McMurray – Saturday April 11^th 7:00 PM
• Alberta Federation of Labour – Worker Agenda Town Hall – Grande Prairie – March 24^th 6:00 PM
• Alberta Federation of Labour Mid-Term Forum – April 24^th – 25^th – Chateau Lacome, Edmonton
• Public Interest Alberta – Annual Gala May 7^th 5:00 PM – Chateau Louise Hotel and Conference Centre, Edmonton
• Public Interest Alberta – Annual Conference “Common Purpose, Collective Action” – May 8^th– 9^th – Barnett House Edmonton
• CUPE Health and Safety Conference – May 24^th– 25^th Edmonton – Delta Hotels Edmonton South Conference Centre

Week in Review

• Danielle Smith and the UCP have severely restricted access to Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) just as the federal government is considering broadening eligibility.  The restrictions include not being able to access MAID for patients whose only underlying condition is mental illness; they are only able to access it if they are likely to pass in the next 12 months, and in almost all cases, a direct family member must be present during the administration of MAID.
• Search warrants have been executed on properties linked to Sam Mraiche, who is at the center of the ongoing corrupt care scandal.  The RCMP have refused to comment, except to confirm they have executed multiple search warrants.  Ongoing concerns around this are the procurement of the “Turkish Tylenol”, preferential real estate deals of Government of Alberta properties, providing tickets to NHL playoff games for multiple Government Ministers and senior bureaucrats, and family ties to cabinet members.
• Danielle Smith has confirmed that she took a private flight to the Middle East at the invitation of the Saudi royal family, despite previously criticizing other elected officials for taking private flights while conducting official business.
• NDP Shadow Minister for Community and Social Services Marie Renaud has tabled a private members’ bill (Bill 206) to bring in Alberta’s first accessibility legislation.  Alberta and Prince Edward Island are the only provinces in Canada without accessibility legislation.
• At the recent Rural Municipalities Association convention this week, major concerns were raised with the Government about massive wait times and delays for rural ambulances, massive unpaid property taxes by oil and gas companies, orphan well clean up and more.  They released a Property Tax Accountability Strategy (PTAS) report, which provides 17 recommendations to the government about how to address some of these concerns.
• The Alberta Council of Women’s Shelters released a report about the major gaps in rural transportation and the impacts they have on victims of domestic violence.
• A provincial inspection of the Bearspaw Feeder main in Calgary, it will be essential to keep track of ongoing developments about oversight and control of the water utility as the city continues to work with the province about repairs and infrastructure condition.
• A challenge to Canmore’s Vacancy Tax has been dismissed from the Alberta Court of Appeal.  The town has hailed this as a win for the ability of towns and municipalities to shape and enforce their own bylaws in support of their unique communities.
• The ND Opposition has called on the Government to instate the fuel tax relief program to assist Albertans with the massive cost of living pressure as we face massive price increases at the fuel pumps.
• Municipal elected officials from across Alberta have raised dire concerns about the massive wait times and accessibility issues accessing ambulances
• Orthopedic surgeons are warning of possible mass surgery cancellations as contracts are due to expire on April 1^st. Physicians have been working hard to reach an agreement to avoid any disruption or cancellations.
• The province will not be renewing the Municipal Climate Change Action Centre, which provided up to $500,000 matching grants to municipalities for energy conservation and electricity generation projects
• For the first time in its history, the provincial government is providing $90 million in public funding to help build private schools.

SENT ON BEHALF OF RAJ UPPAL, CUPE ALBERTA PRESIDENT AND LYNDSEY HENDERSON, CUPE POLITICAL ACTION COORDINATOR:

Hello Everyone,

Thanks so much to everyone who participated in our healthcare privatization townhall this past Tuesday!  We had a great presentation by Rebecca Graff from the Parkland Institute and Chris Gallway from Friends of Medicare.  I have attached the slides from Rebecca, with her permission, so we can continue to share their excellent information about Bill 11 and the existential threat it poses to our public health system.

We saw a flurry of reactions to last Thursday’s budget with many groups frustrated about the lack of funding for critical infrastructure, education, and healthcare – many of which we have linked and highlighted below.

CUPE Campaigns, Calls to Action and Events

• Alberta Social Services Sector Committee Meeting – March 10^th 10:00 AM -online – join the first meeting of our new Social Services Sector Committee
• CUPE Issues denouncing the use of the P3 model for building new schools – highlighting that the Government is returning to the failed model yet again and compromising the oversight and control that we will have of our schools.
• Applications are now open for the first National Wild in Leadership Development (WILD) Program – designed to provide leadership skills to Indigenous, Black and racialized and non-binary members of CUPE
• CUPE Save our Schools!
  • Send a letter to the Minister and elected representatives to save Fulham School in Grande Yellowhead School District
  • Send a letter to the Minister and elected representatives to save Delnorte School in Buffalo Trail School District
  • Send a letter to the Minister and elected representatives to save Walter Niblock and Southview School in Medicine Hate
• CUPE Alberta Convention – March 18-20^th – Edmonton
• CUPE Alberta Spring Schools – in Canmore April 26^th – May 1^st is filling up fast but still has some openings in some workshops.
• State of Emergency Health Care Crisis Stories  – over 8000 stories have been shared through our State of Emergency Campaign – read them now and sign on!
• Don’t Touch CPP – Tell Danielle Smith and the Alberta Government that Albertans have made themselves clear, we want to stay in the CPP, and we don’t want any political interference in our pensions
• Friends of Medicare – Day of Action: No Two-Tier Health Care – calling in Liberal MPs to enforce the Canada Health Act and stop two tier health care in Alberta
  • Monday March 16^th 12:00 PM – Edmonton – MP Eleanor Olszewski’s Office – 12220 Stony Plain Road NW
  • Monday March 16^th 12:00 PM – Calgary – MP Cory Hogan’s Office – 1717 10 Street NW

• Friends of Medicare continues their “An Urgent Conversation: Public Health Care” tour with Dr. Paul Parks with events in
  • Drayton Valley – Friday March 20^th 6:30 PM – MacKenzie Conference Centre
  • Grande Prairie – Sunday March 22^nd 2:00 PM – Richmond Reception Centre
  • Spruce Grove – Monday March 23^rd 7:00 PM – Spruce Grove Pioneer Centre (Spruce Grove Golden Age Club)
  • Southeast Edmonton – Tuesday March 24^th 7:00 PM – Mill Woods Seniors Association
• Friends of Medicare – Stolen Time Film Screening Fort McMurray – Saturday April 11^th 7:00 PM
• Alberta Federation of Labour Worker Town Hall Tour
  • Worker Agenda Townhall – Medicine Hat – March 18^th 6:00 – 8:30 PM
  • Worker Agenda Townhall – Lethbridge – March 19^th 6:00 – 8:30 PM
• Alberta Federation of Labour Mid-Term Forum – April 24^th – 25^th – Chateau Lacome, Edmonton
• Public Interest Alberta – Online CPP Townhall – March 11^th 6:00 PM – online
• Public Interest Alberta – Annual Gala May 7^th 5:00 PM – Chateau Louise Hotel and Conference Centre, Edmonton
• Public Interest Alberta – Annual Conference “Common Purpose, Collective Action” – May 8^th– 9^th – Barnett House Edmonton
• CUPE Health and Safety Conference – May 24^th– 25^th Edmonton – Delta Hotels Edmonton South Conference Centre
• Health Spending Store – asked us to share a free directory of services providers that are eligible for many health spending accounts(HSA)/Wellness Spending Accounts(WSA) for members with those available through their benefits

Week in Review

• CUPE AB issued a press release highlighting the UCP governments return to the failed model of P3s to build new schools.
• The Rural Municipalities Association issued a response to the budget highlighting the failure to address the $17 billion infrastructure deficit we’ve have in Alberta.  “This combined with a substantial increase in the Education Property Tax rates, will reduce rural municipal capacity to maintain core infrastructure and provide essential services, resulting in increased risk of asset failure and missed opportunities for new investment and economic growth.”
• The National Police Federation criticized the $36.9 million in a single year directed toward the new Alberta Sheriff’s Police Service – they noted there was no clear business case, no transparent implementation plan and little evidence that communities are interested in policing Alternatives.  The new Alberta Police Service was initiated out of the Alberta Next Panel, but it was decided they would move forward with this decision unilaterally to replace the RCMP, despite many municipalities and the public clearly stating they wanted to remain with the RCMP.
• Alberta Municipalities issues a press release denouncing the UCP Governments decision to offload a major property tax increase to municipalities, making life less affordable for Albertans with lower or fixed incomes.
• The Alberta Federation of Labour are planning a province wide Day of Protest across Alberta on May 29^th to fight back against the anti-labour actions of the UCP Government.
• Dennis Modry, co-found and former CEO of the Alberta Prosperity Project which is championing Alberta separatism  was found to have misappropriated $1.3 million from the joint bank account of his aunt and uncle who suffered from Alzheimer’s and dementia and has failed to pay back the funds despite being ordered to do so by the courts.
• Records show that as of February 2026 Alberta has had the deadliest flu season on record.
• Experts warn that Alberta is not ready to deal with the threat of online disinformation coming from foreign actors during a possible separation referendum in the fall.  When asked about what the province would do to deal with foreign interference, Premier Smith replied that the Government is adding citizenship markers to driver’s licenses in May or June but had no response on dealing with disinformation campaigns or genuine foreign interference.
• The Albert Medical Association has pushed back against the Government’s assertion that they are the reason for the delay in placing Triage Physicians in Emergency Rooms.  They state that they delay is not on their end and that it has been difficult to get the Government to the table for negotiations.
• The Alberta Teacher’s Association had two days in court seeking an injunction over back to work legislation (Bill 2), a ruling on the injunction is expected March13 ^th .
• The government has once again mused about getting rid of the time change and shifting permanently to day light time.
• Calgary Mayor Jeremy Farkas has been highly critical of the massive property tax increase that will be imposed on Calgarians due to the provincial government and has proposed the idea of a plebiscite to see if Calgarians feel they are getting a fair deal from the provincial government.
• Canadian Doctors for Medicare, the Canadian Health Coalition and University of Calgary Senior Associate Dean of Health Research at the Cumming School of Medicine Dr. Braden Manns held a news conference in Ottawa warning that two-tier health care brought into Alberta by Bill 11 will increase wait times and costs for healthcare.
• Major changes have been made to the eligibility for the Alberta Seniors Benefit meaning at least 5,800 people will be impacted by cuts to benefits.
• A six month cap has been introduced to Alberta’s income support benefit, concerns have been raised by anti-poverty organizations.

Alberta Regional Office

600 South, 10130 – 112 Street NW

Edmonton, AB T5K 2K4

P | 780-484-7644

E | jbrent@cupe.ca

SENT ON BEHALF OF RAJ UPPAL, CUPE ALBERTA PRESIDENT AND LYNDSEY HENDERSON, CUPE POLITICAL ACTION COORDINATOR:

Hello Everyone,

We had a great turnout for CUPE National’s first-ever lobby day on Parliament Hill.  Over 200 CUPE committee members from across Canada came together to learn and share our stories about the value of public services.  We heard from many members that MPs appreciated their stories from the front line, and many more reported being unaware of some of the issues and concerns we were raising with them.  MP Alexandre Boulerice, who presented on a panel, made a very poignant observation: ‘…if we’re not the ones there, sharing our stories and information, lobbyists will be.’  It’s essential that we continue to use our voice to advocate for positive changes for our members and our province.

Yesterday, we saw the UCP Government drop its 2026/27 budget, including a $9.4 billion dollar deficit.  We saw no new funding for hospitals and primary care, no funding for even one new public school and not nearly enough to address the massive infrastructure deficit we’re seeing across our municipalities.  While they may be touting “big” increases to education and healthcare funding, they still aren’t enough to keep up with the massive cuts and underfunding we’ve seen since 2019, not to mention the increases to population and inflation.  This almost $10 billion deficit wipes out the surpluses we’ve seen in previous years, which were themselves built on the back of massive cuts to our key services.  We remain the lowest funding per student for education across Canada. Albertans will also be facing massive property tax increases and a blizzard of new levies and fees on all sorts of services.

We urge you to join us on Tuesday March 3^rd, for our healthcare privatization town hall to hear from experts with the Parkland Institute and Friends of Medicare to talk about the dire consequences of healthcare privatization that we’re already dealing with, as well as some of the more concerning trends we’re seeing coming out of yesterday’s budget.  All members are welcome to join this free town hall to keep informed and empowered. You can register here: Healthcare Privatization Townhall – March 3, 2026 | Canadian Union of Public Employees

CUPE Campaigns, Calls to Action and Events

• Healthcare Privatization Townhall – March 3, 2026 | Canadian Union of Public Employees – Tuesday March 3^rd 6:30 pm – online FREE TO ALL MEMBERS
• Alberta Social Services Sector Committee Meeting – March 10^th 10:00 AM -online – join the first meeting of our new Social Services Sector Committee
• CUPE Issues a press release in response to yesterday’s budget – highlighting how this massive deficit is a product of economic mismanagement and highlighting key areas of concern
• Applications are now open for the first National Wild in Leadership Development (WILD) Program – designed to provide leadership skills to Indigenous, Black and racialized and non-binary members of CUPE
• CUPE has launched a letter-writing campaign to stand against another rural school closure in Innisfree – SIGN HERE
• CUPE Alberta Spring Schools – in Canmore April 26^th – May 1^st is filling up fast but still has some openings in some workshops.
• CUPE Alberta Convention – March 18-20^th – Edmonton
• State of Emergency Health Care Crisis Stories  – over 8000 stories have been shared through our State of Emergency Campaign – read them now and sign on!
• Don’t Touch CPP – Tell Danielle Smith and the Alberta Government that Albertans have made themselves clear, we want to stay in the CPP, and we don’t want any political interference in our pensions

• Friends of Medicare continues their “An Urgent Conversation: Public Health Care” tour with Dr. Paul Parks with events in
  • Grande Prairie – Sunday March 22^nd 2:00 PM – Richmond Reception Centre
• Friends of Medicare – Stolen Time Film Screening Fort McMurray – Saturday April 11^th 7:00 PM
• Alberta Federation of Labour Fight Back Now Launch – February 28^th 1:30 – 3:00 PM – Calgary
• Alberta Federation of Labour Worker Town Hall Tour
  • Worker Agenda Townhall – Fort McMurray – March 2 – 6:00 – 8:30 PM
  • Worker Agenda Townhall – Medicine Hat – March 18 – 6:00 – 8:30 PM
  • Worker Agenda Townhall – Lethbridge – March 19 – 6:00 – 8:30 PM
• Alberta Federation of Labour Mid-Term Forum – April 24^th – 25^th – Chateau Lacome, Edmonton
• Public Interest Alberta – Annual Conference “Common Purpose, Collective Action” – May 8^th– 9^th – Barnett House Edmonton
• Public Interest Alberta – Annual Gala May 7^th 5:00 PM- Chateau Louise Hotel and Conference Centre, Edmonton
• CUPE Health and Safety Conference – May 24^th -25^th Edmonton – Delta Hotels Edmonton South Conference Centre

Week in Review

• CUPE released a press release outlining our major areas of concern with yesterday’s budget and the continued mismanagement by the UCP. Some of our key areas of concern include
  • Alberta still has the lowest funding for education of any province.
  • Property tax increase.
  • Home care costs to increase by 2%.
  • Increased taxes on hotel rooms and rental cars.
  • Twenty-seven new tax and fee increases of 10% overall.
  • An increase in certification cost for trades, including a $150 fees for Red Seal and entrance exams, where previously there was none. Previously, fees for a Blue seal were $50, trade qualifier was $60, and the apprenticeship education program was $35.
  • The UCP is creating a 5^th entity to manage health care. Health Shared Services (HSS), to centralize corporate services between its four health agencies. How is this anything other than recreating AHS after they blew it up?
  • No funding for new hospitals in Edmonton or Calgary.
  • No new funding for primary health care, even with our hospitals in crisis.
  • No funding for any new public schools.

• Alberta Municipalities put out a highly critical release of the budget, denouncing the massive increases to property taxes as well as the ongoing downloading of costs from the province to municipalities
• Treaty Chiefs of Treaty No. 6, No. 7 and No. 8 pass the first ever unanimous non-confidence vote in the Alberta government – they are decrying the government’s lack of respect for treaty rights, their refusal to denounce ongoing separatist campaigns
• Danielle Smith confirmed that the province is looking at changes to public libraries that are co-located with schools to extend the book ban imposed in 2025 on school libraries.  A further announcement from Municipal Affairs Minister Dan Williams is expected in the coming weeks.
• Bill 15 – the Public Safety and Emergency Services Statutes Amendment Act has been tabled, which allowed the transfer of Alberta sheriffs to the new Alberta Sheriffs Police Service and paves the way for the new Alberta Police Service that the UCP is pushing forward, and to end the role of the RCMP.  Major concerns have been raised about the ability to recruit and train new officers in Alberta as police forces across Canada are facing significant recruitment challenges.
• The government has indicated they intend to table 17-18 pieces of legislation in the spring sitting, which in anticipated to run until May 14^th, with three weeks off for constituency weeks, some anticipated legislation is said to deal with the creation of a project delivery office, regulations for recruiters and immigration consultants, consumer protection, limits to medical assistance in dying (MAiD), and red tape reduction omnibus legislation.
• A bi-partisan committee is being struck to discuss the Forever Canadian petition. This committee will discuss whether the petition question goes to the public with the October referendums or if it is voted on in the Legislature.
• The request for an emergency debate around the state of emergency healthcare by the NDP opposition was voted down by the UCP in the Legislature
• Alberta doctors say they haven’t been consulted on the government’s new “band-aid” plan for ERs

In Solidarity,

 

Lyndsey Henderson (she/her)

Political Action Coordinator

Canadian Union of Public Employees

Alberta Regional Office

600 South 10130 – 112 Street NW Edmonton, AB T5K 2K4

CUPE is sharing key information with locals to ensure members remain informed about the work and priorities of the union. The highlights from the December 2025 National Executive Board (NEB) meeting are now available.

Locals are encouraged to distribute this information widely to keep members up to date on developments at the national level.

Also available are the National President’s Report and the National Secretary-Treasurer’s Report presented to the December 2025 NEB meeting. These reports provide additional context on CUPE’s ongoing initiatives, financial oversight, and strategic direction.

Locals are asked to circulate these reports to members of the executive and make them available to any interested members for their information.

•  Read the National President’s Report online
• Read the National Secretary-Treasurer’s Report online
• Read the NEB highlights online

CUPE’s 2026 Global Justice Calendar is now available through the online store. Order copies for yourself and your local today! The calendar highlights international solidarity actions around the world.

This year’s calendar profiles workers and members of grassroots movements organizing for labour rights, gender justice and human rights, confronting the climate crisis, fighting privatization and challenging violence and oppression.

Many of the moments captured in the calendar feature the courageous activism of CUPE partners. Worker-to-worker connections are at the heart of CUPE’s international solidarity work.

Learn more about CUPE’s international solidarity work, and support CUPE’s Global Justice Fund, at cupe.ca/international-solidarity

• order printed copies
• download a PDF copy

 

We are proud to announce that this year’s CUPE 1606 Scholarship has been awarded to Teylor Longmuir!

The CUPE 1606 Scholarship is designed to support the educational goals of our members and their families, recognizing the importance of lifelong learning and the role education plays in strengthening our communities. Students across our communities are encouraged to apply! Each year, the scholarship is awarded to a deserving student who demonstrates commitment, perseverance, and a passion for learning. Find the link to our scholarship application under the resources tab on our website!

You can read Teylor’s essay about the purpose of unions here.

Congratulations to Teylor on this achievement! We celebrate your hard work and dedication, and we look forward to seeing all that you accomplish in the future.

This past October, Trish Thomas and Ronda LaHaye had the opportunity to attend the National CUPE Conference in Ontario. The event brought together union members from across the country to share knowledge, strengthen solidarity, and discuss the future of our movement.

Trish and Ronda described the conference as a valuable learning experience, highlighting sessions on workplace rights, collective bargaining strategies, and member engagement. They emphasized how inspiring it was to connect with CUPE members from diverse locals, each bringing unique perspectives and challenges.

Importantly, the conference is not limited to the executive — all members are welcome to attend. Participating offers a chance to gain new skills, broaden understanding of union issues, and bring fresh ideas back to our local.

Both Trish and Ronda have prepared detailed reports on their experiences, which include key takeaways from workshops and plenary sessions. We encourage you to read their reflections and consider attending future conferences yourself.

Read the report here.

We’re thrilled to introduce our new site—a dedicated space to keep you up to date on everything happening in our community!

Your feedback matters to us, so if you have questions or ideas for what you’d like to see here, we’d love to hear from you.