Edmonton (Rajeev Sharma)— The Alberta government has introduced Bill 11, the Health Statutes Amendment Act, a wide-ranging reform package aimed at overhauling the province’s health system. The bill includes a contentious proposal permitting doctors to work in both public and private health care, a move the government says will expand patient options and reduce long surgical wait times.
Before the legislation was tabled, Minister of Primary and Preventative Health Services Adriana LaGrange said the bill is designed to offer Albertans more flexibility while keeping the public system strong. She noted that patients would still receive core care through the public network but would now have the choice to pay for procedures they often wait months or years for, including hip, knee, and cataract surgeries.
Premier Danielle Smith earlier described the plan as a strategy to provide doctors with greater professional freedom and to help shorten wait times in the public sector. Emergency and life-saving treatments, including cancer care, would remain fully state-funded. Physicians participating in both systems would be required to keep separate records to prevent public funds from supporting private care.
LaGrange dismissed comparisons to U.S.-style health care, arguing that the proposed model resembles systems already used in Quebec, New Brunswick, and several European nations. She pointed to Denmark, the Netherlands, the UK, France, and Germany as examples where elective procedures are completed far more quickly than in Alberta.
Under Bill 11, visits to family doctors would remain free, but patients could choose to pay for services at private clinics offering extended hours. The government says protective measures will be built into the legislation to ensure the public system remains intact.
Surgical Services Minister Matt Jones said the bill will make Alberta more attractive to medical professionals and help retain workers by providing more practice options. He rejected concerns that the reforms would drain staff from the public system.
The legislation contains several other major changes beyond dual practice. It proposes a revamped health card renewal process to curb misuse, with provisions allowing cards to be suspended or seized if altered. The bill also outlines adjustments to drug coverage, making private insurance the first payer, with government programs covering remaining costs. Additional reforms include expanded powers for food safety inspectors and updated billing rules to increase transparency.
LaGrange described the bill as a step toward a “new era” in Alberta’s health care system, centred on patient choice and stronger support for medical providers.
The opposition NDP sharply criticized the legislation. Leader Naheed Nenshi accused the UCP government of pushing Alberta toward a profit-driven system that would create financial barriers for patients. He argued that the bill risks forcing people to pay out of pocket for essential care and pledged firm opposition, describing the government’s approach to health reform as marked by instability and mismanagement.
