Doctors nationwide express significant worries about Alberta’s move to expand private healthcare, as stated by Dr. Margot Burnell, head of the Canadian Medical Association. They urge the federal government to intervene. Canadian Doctors for Medicare and the Canadian Medical Association, in a joint news briefing, called for Alberta to halt health system reforms and for federal oversight to ensure legal compliance. Dr. Danyaal Raza, a family physician and board member of Canadian Doctors for Medicare, emphasized that Bill 11, permitting charges for essential medical services, breaches the Canada Health Act. The legislation, Alberta’s Health Statutes Amendment Act, 2025 (No. 2), enables doctors to practice in both public and private sectors, creating a formal two-tiered system, according to Raza.
A collective plea from Canadian Doctors for Medicare and 23 other organizations urges Prime Minister Mark Carney and Health Minister Marjorie Michel to scrutinize Bill 11 under the Canada Health Act’s provisions. The Alberta government claims that Bill 11 aims to modernize healthcare practices, drug coverage, and health card regulations to meet the populace’s needs. Premier Danielle Smith asserts that the law intends to boost surgery capacity, reduce wait times, and retain doctors within the province. However, critics like Raza argue that parallel private systems exacerbate wait times and divert resources from the public sector.
Despite Alberta’s proposal to mandate minimum public system hours as a safeguard, Raza rebuffed this approach, citing past failures in Ireland and the U.K. regarding similar measures. He questioned the feasibility and cost of enforcing these rules, suggesting that resources should prioritize patient care. Dr. Burnell concurs that Bill 11 may strain the public system while favoring a less accessible private alternative, leading to longer waits and a doctor shortage.
Dr. Braden Manns, a professor at the University of Calgary’s medical school, voiced concerns about Bill 11 potentially expanding beyond surgeries to areas with waitlists. He highlighted the necessity of maintaining public wait times to sustain a viable private system. The phased implementation of Bill 11 is expected to unfold throughout 2026.
