Doctors in Canada have expressed significant worries regarding Alberta’s initiative to expand private healthcare, as stated by Dr. Margot Burnell, head of the Canadian Medical Association. The Canadian Medical Association and Canadian Doctors for Medicare jointly urged the Alberta government to halt its health system reforms and called on the federal government to ensure the legality of these changes.
Dr. Danyaal Raza, a board director of Canadian Doctors for Medicare, highlighted that Bill 11, also known as Alberta’s Health Statutes Amendment Act, 2025 (No. 2), permits patients to be billed for essential medical services, violating the Canada Health Act. The law enables doctors to practice in both public and private healthcare, creating what Raza described as a formal two-tier system.
A coalition of 24 organizations, including Canadian Doctors for Medicare, issued a plea to Prime Minister Mark Carney and Health Minister Marjorie Michel to review Bill 11 thoroughly. They urged the federal government to utilize all available powers, including penalties under the Canada Health Act.
The Alberta government claims that Bill 11 will modernize physician practices, drug coverage, and health card systems to meet the needs of Albertans. Premier Danielle Smith asserted that the aim of the law is to enhance surgical capacity and retain doctors in the province to reduce wait times.
Despite Alberta proposing minimum public system hours as a protective measure, Raza argued that this approach has failed in countries like Ireland and the U.K. He questioned the enforceability of such measures and suggested that funds should be directed towards patient care instead.
Dr. Burnell concurred that Bill 11 could divert resources from the public system towards a less accessible private alternative, potentially leading to longer wait times and fewer available physicians. Dr. Braden Manns from the University of Calgary expressed concerns that the impact of Bill 11 may extend beyond surgeries to other areas with waitlists.
The implementation of Bill 11 is planned to occur in phases throughout 2026.