Skip to content

AUPE speaks out about Michener Centre

Almost 100 vulnerable Albertans living at Red Deer’s Michener Centre had their weekend on-site nursing services

RED DEER – Almost 100 vulnerable Albertans living at Red Deer’s Michener Centre had their weekend on-site nursing services taken away from them by the PC government recently.

On-site pharmacy services were removed from residents on May 1. Recreation supports are being dissolved and The Quarter Store, a secondhand store operated by Michener residents and staff, was taken away from them May 30.

“These moves are a push to make life as uncomfortable as possible for those remaining at Michener Centre. It’s an effort to speed up the eviction and that’s not right,“ said AUPE Executive Secretary-Treasurer Jason Heistad.

“The PC government promised these folks and their families they could stay at their long-time Michener homes as long as they wished in 2008. The Redford government broke that promise last year.

“The PC leadership candidates want to show Albertans the PC party has learned its lessons from the failed leadership and policies of Alison Redford. Closing Michener Centre is a prime example of that failed leadership and policy.

“They need to prove to Albertans they will do things different. A solid commitment to keep Michener Centre open by the candidates may do just that,” said Heistad.

A judicial review of the decision to close Michener Centre has been granted and will be heard at Court of Queen’s Bench in Edmonton on Nov. 27 and 28. In the meantime, AUPE has secured legal services for residents and family members to help them apply for a legal injunction if they’re being pushed to move against their wishes.

Over the past year, community support to keep Michener Centre open has been tremendous.

In November 2013, Red Deer North PC MLA, Mary Anne Jablonski, who represents Michener residents, tabled 15,744 Keep Michener Open petition signatures in the Alberta legislature.