Initial Budget Response from Chris Gallaway, Executive Director of Friends of Medicare:

EDMONTON — Last week, the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) released a new report in which Andrew Longhurst looks into the Alberta government’s attempts to defend Bill 11: the Health Statutes Amendment Act 2025 (no. 2) by pointing at other jurisdictions.

EDMONTON — More than 30 Albertans are heading to Ottawa this week to participate in the Canadian Health Coalition’s annual Parliament Hill lobby for public health care, including Friends of Medicare staff, board members and over two dozen front-line health care workers from all across Alberta.

EDMONTON — The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives and the Parkland Institute jointly released a new report this morning which analyses Bill 11: the Health Statutes Amendment Act 2025 (no.2). The report titled The End of Canadian Medicare? Alberta Legislation Opens the Door to U.S. Health Care shows clearly that legislation passed by the provincial government in December is an existential threat to our treasured public health care system.

EDMONTON — In an open letter to the Prime Minister and Health Minister, Health Coalitions representing over three million Canadians call on the federal government to intervene in the face of two-tier Medicare being brought in by Alberta's Bill 11.

Defenders of universal public health care are calling upon the federal government to uphold the Canada Health Act.

Below you can read a copy of the open letter.

Le français suit.

EDMONTON - After repeatedly using time allocation motions to limit debate on Bill 11: The Health Statutes Amendment Act, 2025 (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.

EDMONTON — This afternoon, the government tabled Bill 11, Health Statutes Amendment Act 2025 (No.2). If passed, this legislation would establish an unprecedented model of two-tiered health care access in Alberta by allowing physicians to work in both the public and private systems concurrently, including charging patients out of pocket. This “dual practice model” would be the only one of its kind in the entire country.

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

EDMONTON — Last week, a provincial audit of Alberta clinics charging membership fees was released, finding that paying members are receiving better access to more thorough care than non-paying patients. While the report found no “significant cases” of patients paying for insured services, it was concerningly unable to rule out the possibility that extra-billing is occurring.