Doctors nationwide express serious worries over Alberta’s government blueprint to extend private healthcare services, as stated by Dr. Margot Burnell, the head of the Canadian Medical Association. They urge federal intervention to halt Alberta’s healthcare system changes and ensure their legality. According to Dr. Danyaal Raza, a board director of Canadian Doctors for Medicare, the recently passed Alberta Health Statutes Amendment Act, 2025 (Bill 11), violates the Canada Health Act by permitting patients to be billed for essential medical services. This move establishes a formal two-tier healthcare system, allowing doctors to practice in both public and private sectors.
Several medical organizations, including Canadian Doctors for Medicare, issued a joint appeal to Prime Minister Mark Carney and Health Minister Marjorie Michel, urging a review of Bill 11 and the utilization of all available measures, including penalties under the Canada Health Act. The Alberta government defends Bill 11 as a means to modernize healthcare practices, drug coverage, and administrative procedures to cater better to Albertans’ needs. Premier Danielle Smith asserts that the law aims to reduce wait times by expanding surgical capacity and retaining doctors in the province.
Despite Alberta’s proposal for minimum public system hours as a safety net, Dr. Raza argues that this approach is ineffective, citing failures of similar strategies in Ireland and the U.K. He questions the feasibility of enforcing these measures, highlighting potential costs for auditors, inspectors, and legal processes. Dr. Burnell concurs that Bill 11 could divert resources from the public system while enhancing a less accessible private alternative, leading to prolonged wait times and a shortage of doctors.
Dr. Braden Manns, a medical professor at the University of Calgary, expresses concerns that Bill 11, initially focusing on surgeries, could extend to other areas with waitlists. He emphasizes the need to maintain public wait times to sustain a private-for-pay system effectively. Bill 11 is set to roll out in phases over the course of 2026.