EDMONTON — The government’s Throne Speech tabled this afternoon lays out an agenda for the fall session of the legislature that simply continues the chaotic restructuring and rapid privatization of public health care in Alberta.
“What a disappointing Throne Speech for Albertans concerned about accessing the care they need when they need it,” said Chris Gallaway, executive director of Friends of Medicare. “What we needed to hear today was a real plan from our government to finally take rebuilding our public health care system seriously. Instead, we’re getting new legislation designed to enable more privatization, more profits, and more barriers to accessing health care, all while charging Albertans more and more out of pocket for the care that they need.”
Yesterday, the government pre-empted their speech from the throne by announcing plans for new “reforms” to diagnostic testing, with a plan to introduce American-style health care that will see Albertans paying out of pocket for private diagnostic screening and testing services, including MRIs, CT scans, full-body scans and blood work. This announcement followed the concerning new ministerial mandate letters that continued harmful decisions like forced treatment and surgical vouchers, as well as called for this new legislation around private-pay diagnostics, as well as to put in new restrictions on accessing health care services like Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD).
“The government is doubling down on their failing privatization agenda for crucial care services like surgeries and addictions care, and plowing ahead with their dangerous interference in Albertans' access to evidence-based care services," said Gallaway. "But they continue to ignore the real issue that needs tackling in the health care system: the ongoing staffing crisis. The shortage of trained health care professionals is causing chaos throughout our health care system, as Albertans increasingly struggle to access the care they need. Today’s Throne Speech does nothing to address those concerns around access, nor the concerns of the front-line health care workers desperate to hear solutions to their challenges."
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