Letter to PM and federal Health Minister says Alberta’s Bill 11 puts public health care at risk throughout Canada

EDMONTON—Leaders of more than 60 organizations in Alberta and across Canada, including health care advocates, health employees’ unions and others, have signed a letter to Prime Minister Mark Carney and federal Health Minister Marjorie Michel urging them to enforce the Canada Health Act to protect Canada’s public health care. 

EDMONTON - Later this afternoon, Prime Minister Mark Carney will meet with Alberta Premier Daneille Smith, before hosting all of the Premiers in Ottawa for a First Ministers’ dinner this evening and a meeting to discuss the Canada-US-Mexico-Agreement (CUSMA) trade talks tomorrow.

EDMONTON — Earlier this week in the Legislature, Minister of Hospital and Surgical Health Services, Matt Jones, stated that: “Concerns were raised about the procurement practices and procedures and handling of conflict of interests in Alberta Health Services (AHS) procurement. I’m pleased to share that the procurements for the central and south zone surgical facilities have been cancelled”.

EDMONTON — Confidential draft legislation obtained by the Globe and Mail outlines plans by the Alberta Government to bring two-tier health care to Alberta. The amendments would establish an unprecedented model whereby physicians could privately charge patients for insured care services, while simultaneously billing the public health care system.

EDMONTON — Yesterday, UCP MLAs voted to reject an extension on the Auditor General’s contract, while he is actively investigating major allegations of government corruption in Alberta’s private surgical contracts. It’s now unclear if Auditor General Doug Wylie will be able to complete his investigation and report into these corruption allegations before his term ends in April 2026.

EDMONTON — Today, after months of delays, the Alberta government is finally supposed to receive the final report from Justice Wyant’s third-party investigation into the allegations of corruption and interference in Alberta’s surgical procurement and contracting processes.

EDMONTON — Earlier today, the Premier released new mandate letters for the four ministers now responsible for pieces of our public health care system.

EDMONTON — This morning, the Alberta NDP Opposition Caucus released a leaked copy of an internal cabinet document showing the provincial government has been working on a plan to rollback Albertans’ drug benefits. The proposal shows that an average senior couple would pay hundreds, or even thousands of dollars more per year for their medications under this new scheme, costing Albertans up to $400 million dollars more out of pocket for their prescriptions.

EDMONTON — Today, after months of waiting, the Alberta government is finally supposed to receive an interim report from Justice Wyant’s investigation into the allegations of corruption and interference in Alberta’s health care procurement and contracting processes. The report was initially due on May 30, but instead the Deputy Minister of Justice, an unelected bureaucrat, was sent out to quietly announce a months-long delay in the report.

Guest blog by Dr. Ginetta Salvalaggio (Professor at the University of Alberta Department of Family Medicine) and Petra Schulz, (Disability rights advocate).

TLDR

• The Government of Alberta is cutting its budget at the expense of its most vulnerable residents.
• Starting July 2026, all of the 77,000 AISH (Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped) recipients will be moved to the new Alberta Disability Assistance Program (ADAP), which is employment focused.
• To get back on AISH, those unable to work will be required to reapply with a full medical form completed by a physician—a significant administrative burden for overworked physicians.
• ADAP provides the same health benefits as AISH, but provides $200 less income per month ($1,740 per month vs. the 2025 AISH rate of $1,940).
• Employment earning exemptions will drop from $1000 per month to $350 under both programs.
• Effective 2025, Alberta is the only province to claw back the $200 per month from the Canada Disability Benefit (CDB).