Alberta's cabinet minister for primary care said the bill will be tabled following reports that the province plans to allow doctors to work in the public and private health systems at the same time if needed, but did not provide details.
“While we cannot discuss the details of the bill before it is tabled in the House of Commons, we are always looking for opportunities to ensure Albertans have increased access to the supports and resources they need,” Adriana Lagrange told reporters in parliament Tuesday.
“I have more to share with you in a little while.”
The Globe and Mail first reported that Alberta is considering changing the law to allow doctors to work in the public and private health systems as needed, according to documents obtained.
The Globe reports that the state is considering creating a new type of physician.
First, doctors would bill the state for their patients' treatment as usual. Second, doctors would leave the public system altogether and operate private clinics where patients would be billed at a rate set by the doctor. Third, physicians will likely split their time between public and private models. The third option is the first of its kind in Canada.
The report said the government has the power to limit the types of services that doctors can personally provide and bill for.
In Alberta, doctors can already leave the public system if they wish, but it wasn't immediately clear how many had done so.
Lorianne Hardcastle, an associate professor of health law and policy at the University of Calgary, said these changes will impact equitable access to health care and prioritize people based on their ability to pay rather than medical need.
“This opens up the possibility for patients to pay to see their doctor sooner,” he said, adding that some doctors may prioritize more profitable patient time.
Get weekly health news
Get the latest medical news and health information every Sunday.
“Thus, people who can pay to jump the queue are often healthier than people with serious and complex medical needs, who may end up waiting longer to receive treatment than they otherwise would,” Hardcastle said.
“This will increase health inequalities because there is a link between wealth and health.”
The Canadian Medical Association, which represents doctors across the country, says Albertans could face longer waits for medical care if the government moves forward with its plan.
The CMA recently said it spent a year consulting with more than 10,000 doctors, patients and health care providers and studying the combination of public and private health care models in Canada.
“The evidence from around the world is clear: where parallel private health systems operate, both health outcomes and access to care worsen.”
Opposition Alberta NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi told reporters that the government is promoting “American-style health care” and that the plan will only punish low-income Albertans.
During question period on Tuesday, Mr Nenshi called on Prime Minister Daniel Smith to call an election over the issue.
Mr. Smith replied: “Tell us what we're going to do. We're going to continue to create a great environment for doctors and professionals to work here.”
current trends
Canadian Olympian-turned drug lord suspect charged with murdering witness
Auto theft costs Canadians $1 billion. The main vehicles targeted by thieves are:
Advocacy group Friends of Medicare called on the state to rescind the plan and focus its time and energy on supporting the public health system.
Chris Garraway, the group's executive director, said in a statement Tuesday that the government's plan paves the way for “two-tier” health care and “if passed would clearly bulldoze the path to American-style health care in Alberta.”
Garraway also questioned how the potential changes would bring Alberta into compliance with federal laws governing how provinces provide health services as part of their funding agreements with Ottawa.
Federal Health Minister Marjorie Michel's office announced Tuesday that Health Canada officials are working with the Alberta government on the changes to better understand their impact.
“We are taking a collaborative approach with all provinces and territories to ensure that all Canadians have fair access to medically necessary care based on medical need, not ability to pay,” a spokesperson for Michel said in a statement.
The government's plan drew praise from think tank Montreal Economic Institute, which noted that Denmark allows for the same public-private model.
“Under existing rules, working independently means being deprived of the opportunity to cooperate with the public health system, effectively forcing doctors to choose one or the other,” the institute said in a statement.
Emmanuel Faubert, an economist at the think tank, said the Danish model needed to be copied.
“The Government of Alberta understands that universal and government-run are not synonymous,” Faubert said in the release.
“Success stories overseas have proven this, and we are pleased that Alberta is prepared to take an evidence-based approach to addressing the chronic wait times faced by patients.”
With files from Karen Bartko, Global News
More about politics More videos
© 2025 The Canadian Press