UCP’s ‘path to hospital privatization’ met by angry critics

By ANNA SMITH Local Journalism Initiative on May 9, 2025.

asmith@medicinehatnews.com

Tabled legislation Bill 55 had been met with immediate backlash from the opposition, union and advocacy groups across the province, expressing concern that it opens the door for hospital privatization.

The bill makes amendments to several Acts, including the Provincial Health Agencies Act, Public Health Act, Protection of Persons in Care Act and Health Information Act, aiming to address “outstanding health-care system refocus policy items and ensure that all components of the system can fully transition under the refocused health-care system,” according to a government press release on May 1.

However, components of the bill have several organizations concerned. One change on page 90, cites Friends of Medicare, is of particular concern.

“This consolidates all existing hospital designations under a new ‘designation of hospital operators’ section, which would allow the government to appoint entities ‘other than a provincial health agency or provincial health corporation’ to operate hospitals, allowing for an easy pathway for the government to turn over designated hospital sites to for-profit corporations at the will of the minister,” a statement from FoM reads.

Friends of Medicare says this was not the first time they had been prompted to “send out a red alert” about the possibility of hospital privatization, and executive director Chris Gallaway stressed the need for this bill to be pulled immediately.

“Allowing Bill 55 to pass would queue things up for the government to very quickly turn over our public hospital infrastructure to be operated by private, for-profit interests – something they’ve been building the groundwork to do for many months,” said Gallaway.

The sentiment was echoed by many, including the Canadian Union of Public Employees, the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees, president of the Alberta Federation of Labour Gil McGowan and members of the Alberta NDP Caucus.

“Bill 55 is the last straw,” said AUPE vice-president Sandra Azocar in a statement. “We all depend on quality public health care, and now is the time to fight for it. If not, get ready to pay through the nose for American-style health-care services.”

AUPE says health-care workers were not consulted in the beginning of the restructuring process, and Azocar says that instead of working to improve this state, the province is “preparing the system for privatization.”

CUPE Alberta president Raj Uppal also joined NDP MLAs and other health-care union leaders at the Alberta Legislature to call on the United Conservative Party government to scrap the bill.

“Danielle Smith needs to keep her election promise to stay away from private hospitals,” said Uppal. “Charging fees for health care is mean, and it does nothing to bring down our already high cost of living. Alberta health care needs stable funding, and quiet, competent management, not American-style private hospitals and extra fees.”

McGowan expressed concern over the bill’s presentation and timing, stating it has been “described … as mere housekeeping” during a time with other issues drawing citizens’ attention.

“This isn’t housekeeping. It’s an all-out assault on our public health-care system,” said McGowan. “These are changes that Albertans would never support if there was actually a full public debate.

“Bill 55 represents a fundamental change to our health-care system, and it should get weeks of debate, not days,” said McGowan. “If Premier Smith is really committed to ‘consulting with Albertans,’ as she has claimed in the context of the issue of separation, then she should put this dangerous bill on hold and allow time for Albertans to weigh in.”

Sarah Hoffman, Alberta New Democrat Shadow Minister for Health, in response to the proposed legislation stated she will introduce amendments to the bill, including specifying hospitals are to be publicly funded and operated, private interests cannot take over operation of hospitals and that patients cannot be discharged until a health professional determines they no longer need care.

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