EDMONTON - After repeatedly using time allocation motions to limit debate on Bill 11: The Health Statutes Amendment Act, 202 (No. 2), the government passed it through third reading in the legislature this afternoon. This legislation creates the legal framework for American-style, two-tier health care and the establishment of private health insurance, while allowing private payment for medically necessary care.
“It is no exaggeration to say that the passing of Bill 11 through the Alberta legislature is the biggest threat to our single-payer, universal Medicare system that we’ve ever seen. Not just for Albertans, but for all Canadians,” said Chris Gallaway executive director of Friends of Medicare. “It threatens our treasured public health care system. It violates the core principles of the Canada Health Act. It will result in a system where those with money will pay for the health care they need, while everyone else will be left waiting even longer for care or have to go without.”
The government is trying to sneak through massive changes to our public health care delivery while claiming what they are doing will make things better. But the promised improvements from their privatization schemes have never materialized. The evidence is increasingly clear: the government’s privatization agenda is making access to care worse, while costing us more.
“Nothing Danielle Smith’s government has done to our health care since being elected was promised in their election platform. Albertans didn’t vote for massive, chaotic restructuring. They didn’t vote for attacks on our public hospitals. And they certainly didn’t vote for a two-tiered health care system, and they don’t support it,” said Gallaway. “In fact, Bill 11 is an extreme betrayal and the exact opposite of their so-called public health care guarantee during the election. This government has no mandate to dismantle our public health care system and needs to halt implementing these changes immediately.”
Bringing U.S. style private health insurance into our province, including expanded workplace plans, will not stop at the Alberta border. This legislation will feed a market of private health insurance who will use every method they can to expand across Canada. As long as our health insurance is public, we can stop the U.S. private health insurance industry from moving in. But allowing this foothold in Canada would mean our single-payer health care will no longer be protected from trade agreements with the United States.
“The federal government must act and enforce the Canada Health Act to ensure no Albertan is forced to pay out of pocket for the health care that they need and deserve. But that is not enough. Now is the moment for Albertans to speak up loudly to say no to American-style, two-tiered health care where the rich get care while the rest of us are left waiting longer or forced to go without,” concluded Gallaway.
Friends of Medicare continues to call on Albertans to join the fight back against these attacks on our public health care by taking out a membership, writing to their MLA, sharing their stories, and attending our upcoming town halls happening throughout the province.