‘That’s Not Universal Health Care’: Lawyer Warns UCP’s Bill 11 Could Create Financial Barriers for Albertans
Goldblatt Partners says the law would let doctors split time between public and private care and could trigger queue-jumping, longer waits and federal penalties.
- On Tuesday, Goldblatt Partners lawyer Emma Phillips released a legal opinion stating Alberta's Bill 11 breaches the Canada Health Act, commissioned by the Canadian Health Coalition advocacy group.
- Passed last December, the Health Statutes Amendment Act, 2025, also known as Bill 11, creates a dual-practice model allowing physicians to work simultaneously in public and private health systems, effective later this year.
- Phillips argued the law violates Canada Health Act sections 9, 10, 12, 18, and 19; non-compliance could jeopardize over $7 billion in Canada Health Transfer payments to Alberta.
- Maddison McKee, press secretary for Primary and Preventive Health Services, called the opinion "misleading," asserting dual-practice models exist in Quebec and New Brunswick without breaching federal law.
- NDP House Leader Heather McPherson and Friends of Medicare executive director Chris Gallaway urged Federal Health Minister Marjorie Michel to intervene, arguing the government must publicly confirm Bill 11 violates the Canada Health Act.
6 Articles
6 Articles
‘That’s not universal health care’: Lawyer warns UCP’s Bill 11 could create financial barriers for Albertans
Pressure is building on the federal government to challenge Alberta on a UCP bill allowing doctors to work in both public and private health streams. A recent legal opinion concludes Bill 11 contradicts the Canada Health Act. Lawyer Emma Phillips joins Alberta Primetime's Michael Higgins to discuss how Bill 11 violates the Canada Health Act.
Federal health minister urged to uphold Canada Health Act in Alberta - The Stettler Independent
Allowing doctors to simultaneously work in Alberta’s public and private health systems under Bill 11 will clearly violate the Canada Health Act, according to a legal review commissioned by the Canadian Health Coalition. “A health care system that lets some people buy faster access to medically necessary care does not comply with the core principle of the Canada Health Act, which is that decisions about the provision of services should be made on…
Federal health minister urged to uphold Canada Health Act in Alberta
Allowing doctors to simultaneously work in Alberta’s public and private health systems under Bill 11 will clearly violate the Canada Health Act, according to a legal review commissioned by the Canadian Health Coalition. “A health care system that lets some people buy faster access to medically necessary care does not comply with the core principle of the Canada Health Act, which is that decisions about the provision of services should be made on…
New Democrats urge Ottawa to enforce Canada Health Act after Alberta health law review
OTTAWA— Independent legal experts have confirmed that Alberta's new private health care law violates the Canada Health Act. New Democrats are calling on the federal government to protect the health care every Canadian counts on.
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