The Alberta government has officially tabled Bill 11, the Health Statutes Amendment Act, a sweeping piece of legislation aimed at modernizing the province’s health system that includes the controversial provision to allow physicians to practice in both the public and private health care sectors.
Speaking on Monday before the bill was tabled, Minister of Primary and Preventative Health Services Adriana LaGrange says the changes in the act are designed to give Albertans more choice, improve access, and significantly reduce surgical wait times.
“Alberta patients will continue to receive care through a strong public health system, but will also have the option to purchase services they are currently waiting for, such as hip, knee, or cataract surgeries,” LaGrange said.
Premier Danielle Smith shared details on the bill last week, saying the move is about flexibility for doctors and also about cutting wait times for surgeries in the public health system.
Emergency surgeries and procedures for life-threatening conditions, including cancer, would remain fully publicly funded. Physicians working in both systems would be required to maintain separate records to ensure public dollars are not used to subsidize private care.
LaGrange emphasized that the proposal is not a move toward American-style health care, but rather a model already in place in Quebec, New Brunswick, and several European countries.
“We’re not moving towards American, we’re moving towards European-style health care,” she said, pointing to countries like Denmark, the Netherlands, the UK, France, and Germany, where she says elective surgeries are often completed within weeks rather than years.
Under the legislation, Albertans would never pay out of pocket to see a family doctor, but could choose to pay for care at private clinics or facilities offering extended hours on evenings and weekends. Safeguards would be built into the system to protect public health care, according to LaGrange.
Surgical Services Minister Matt Jones says the bill is intended to attract doctors to Alberta. He also thinks it would help recruit and retain health workers, countering criticism that it will siphon professionals from the public system.
Beyond dual practice
Bill 11 extends beyond physician flexibility. It also introduces a new process for Alberta health card renewal to reduce misuse. Cards could be seized or suspended if tampered with.
The legislation also proposes:
- Drug coverage changes: Private insurance plans would become the primary source of coverage, with government-sponsored plans covering the remainder.
- Food safety reforms: Inspectors would gain new tools for oversight and investigation, supported by a new Public Health Investigator Regulation to ensure consistent standards and reporting.
- Billing practices: Adjustments intended to improve transparency and efficiency across the health system.
LaGrange described the bill as ushering in “a new era for health care in Alberta, by putting patients first and supporting providers.”
Opposition response
The legislation has already drawn sharp criticism from Alberta’s New Democratic Party. NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi accused the UCP government of attempting to privatize health care under the guise of modernization.
“Bill 11 is all about bringing for-profit American-style health care to Alberta,” Nenshi said in a statement. “It means Albertans having to pay out of pocket just to see a doctor or have health procedures done, and it won’t increase access to the care Albertans need.”
He argued that the government’s track record on health care reform has been marked by “cuts, chaos, corruption, and cruelty,” and vowed that the NDP will oppose the measures.
With files from The Canadian Press