EDMONTON — This morning, Minister Adriana LaGrange announced regulations to Bill 11: Health Statutes Amendment Act 2025 (No.2), passed last December. This sweeping, 300-page legislation established 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. No where else in Canada allows this model of “Dual Practice,” and legal opinion already indicates that Bill 11 is in violation of the Canada Health Act.

EDMONTON — This afternoon, Premier Danielle Smith and Minister of Hospital and Surgical Health Services, Adriana LaGrange announced that the first phase of an Activity-Based Funding (ABF) model for “high-volume” surgeries has now been implemented in 12 Alberta hospitals.

EDMONTON — During Question Period in the Alberta Legislature on Tuesday, Minister of Hospital and Surgical Health Services Matt Jones made the following statement in response to a question:

We’re looking at developing a voucher program where patients who have waited longer than clinically recommended can go to any approved or accredited provider in Alberta and get that surgery.

EDMONTON — CBC news reported this morning that they have obtained a letter sent by surgical hospitalists in Edmonton to Primary and Preventative Health Services Minister, Adriana LaGrange, and Hospital and Surgical Health Services Minister, Matt Jones, warning that Albertans could begin seeing surgical cancellations and other impacts to patient care as a result of the Alberta government’s decision to terminate the hospitalists’ contract at the end of this month.

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

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 — Earlier this morning, CBC news released Alberta Health Services data that shows Edmonton once again saw record increases in frostbite amputations last winter, with five times the number of surgeries taking place since 2019, and the majority being unhoused patients.

In response to the increase, a statement from the minister of Assisted Living and Social Services Jason Nixon’s office stated that: “The increase in both frostbite diagnoses and amputations are a direct result of co-ordinated, concerted efforts to increase awareness and early intervention of frostbite and cold exposure, improving outcomes for vulnerable Albertans.”

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.

Earlier this afternoon, the Premier and her health ministers held a press conference themed 'improving access to health care', where they released what the government is calling an Acute Care Action Plan.

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.