Health advocates say Liberals need to take a stand on Alberta’s health privatization

OTTAWA — A group of health care advocates is on Parliament Hill this week lobbying lawmakers and calling on the federal government to take a stand on Alberta’s latest moves to expand private health care.

Premier Danielle Smith’s United Conservative Party government has passed legislation that allows Alberta surgeons to work in both the public and private health systems.

It means people can pay for things like hip and knee replacements or cataract surgery in a private clinic, while the publicly funded system continues to provide emergency and cancer surgeries.

The provincial government argues its dual-practice model will reduce pressure on the public health-care system and is used in countries such as the U.K., France, Australia, Germany and Denmark.

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.

Chris Gallaway, executive director of Friends of Medicare in Alberta, told the press conference federal Health Minister Marjorie Michel needs to speak up in support of public health care and the Canada Health Act.

“We’ve had months where the federal government has not taken a stance on what’s happening in Alberta,” he said.

Gallaway called the Alberta legislation a “gift to the private insurance industry” and warned that American health-care companies could use it to seek a foothold in Canada.

A spokesperson for 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.

Warner said the province will ensure that no Albertan will ever have to pay out-of-pocket to see a family doctor or “get the medical treatment they need.”

Natalie Mara, executive director of the Ontario Health Coalition, said patients are already being charged in Ontario clinics for cataract surgeries, and argued the practice is likely to spread.

“If this federal government does not find some strength and stand up for public medicare, we’re going to lose it,” she said.

“The economy is not just pipelines and ports. Canadian sovereignty has to mean something.”

The group behind Monday’s press conference said it has meetings set up with about 100 MPs and senators this week on a range of issues. Michel is not on that list.

“We’ve been taken aback and even disappointed that the health policy-makers and (Health) Minister Marjorie Michel’s office have repeatedly declined to meet with us,” MacLean said, adding that lobbyists from the private health insurance industry have met with members of the Liberal government dozens of times.

Bertrand said Michel “has engaged with numerous groups and individuals concerned about our health care system, and will continue to do so,” and noted her office is in contact with the health coalition.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 9, 2026.

Sarah Ritchie, The Canadian Press