Chris Gallaway, executive director of Friends of Medicare (Alberta), wears a button opposing the privatization of health care as he speaks at a news conference with the Canadian Health Coalition on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Monday.--CP Photo Justin Tang
newsdesk@medicinehatnews.com
More than 30 Albertans are in Ottawa to participate in the annual Canadian Health Coalition Parliament Hill lobby for public health care.
The envoy includes board members and staff from Friends of Medicare as well as more than two dozen front-line health care workers from across the province.
Executive director of Friends of Medicare Chris Gallaway says their objective is to put pressure on the federal government to respond to the ongoing challenges to Alberta’s public health-care system.
“For months the federal government has been silent on what’s happening in Alberta. We need them to speak up, enforce the Canada Health Act, keep their promises on programs like Pharmacare, and take action to save our treasured single-payer public health care,” said Gallaway.
The UCP government’s Bill 11, passed in December, outlined a dual practice model for physicians that would enable doctors to practice concurrently in both the public and private systems, deciding whether to charge the patient or the province for services on a case-by-case basis. No other jurisdictions in Canada follow this system.
“It is increasingly clear that, if implemented, Bill 11 will bring in two-tier American-style health care to Alberta – a clear violation of the Canada Health Act. The result will be that those with the means to pay will receive quicker access to care and everyone else will be left waiting even longer or have to go without,” said Gallaway.
The province maintains that the model proposed in Bill 11 does not violate the Canada Health Act.
The prime minister has not responded to requests from critics that the federal government take a public stance on Bill 11.
Jason MacLean, chair of the Canadian Health Coalition, said the Alberta law violates the Canada Health Act, which is based on the principles of universality and accessibility.
“The federal government needs to step up and defend universal public health care now,” he told a press conference on Parliament Hill on Monday.
MacLean said the federal government should withhold funding to provinces to enforce the law.
A spokesperson for federal Health Minister Marjorie Michel’s office said the federal government takes a collaborative approach with the provinces and territories to ensure Canadians can access health care “based on their medical needs, not their ability to pay.”
“Health Canada officials are engaging Alberta officials to better understand the various components and implications of these proposed changes. Minister Michel is also having regular conversations with her Alberta counterparts,” said Guillaume Bertrand in a written response to questions.
He also noted the government can deduct funding from the Canada Health Transfer to provinces for violations of the Canada Health Act’s principles.
The Alberta government rejects the claim that its legislation violates the Canada Health Act.
“The act is silent on private practice operating outside the public system, and opt-out and dual-practice models in Alberta and other provinces have never been found to breach it,” said Kyle Warner, a spokesperson for Alberta’s primary and preventative health services ministry, in an email to The Canadian Press.
Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe has said his government is looking to follow Alberta’s lead in exploring private health-care options.
Gallaway says support for universal single-payer health care is embedded in Canadian identity.
“Our prime minister loves to talk about nation-building projects, well we have to ask what better nation defining project is there than our public health care system?” said Gallaway.
— with files from The Canadian Press
