Alberta Health Minister Advocates for National Adoption of Province's Private Healthcare Expansion

Alberta Minister Calls for Pan-Canadian Private Healthcare Adoption

Alberta's Health Minister, Adriana LaGrange, has publicly stated her hope that the province's recently introduced plan to expand private healthcare options will be replicated across Canada. LaGrange's comments come as Alberta moves forward with Bill 11, the Health Statutes Amendment Act, 2025 (No. 2), legislation tabled on November 24, 2025, designed to allow physicians to work in both the public and private healthcare systems simultaneously.

Details of Alberta's Dual Practice Model

The core of Alberta's new healthcare strategy is the creation of a 'dual practice' or 'flexibly participating' model for physicians. This model would permit doctors to offer services in both publicly funded and privately paid settings. The government's stated aim is to significantly reduce surgical wait times and enhance access to care for Albertans. Under Bill 11, patients would have the option to pay for certain procedures, such as hip, knee, or cataract surgeries. However, crucial services including emergency surgeries, cancer treatments, and family medicine are explicitly excluded from this private expansion and will remain exclusively within the publicly funded system. Family doctors are currently not eligible to participate in the dual practice model, with the government prioritizing that 'every person in Alberta is attached to a primary care provider.'

Minister LaGrange emphasized that the proposed changes are intended to attract and retain healthcare professionals in Alberta, stating, 'Alberta is not an island. Alberta competes for health-care professionals all across Canada and North America.' The legislation also promises to implement safeguards to protect the public system, which could include requirements for physicians to work a minimum number of hours in the public system or restrict private work to specific times.

National Vision and International Comparisons

LaGrange expressed her belief that Canada's healthcare system needs to 'modernize' and that the Alberta model could serve as a blueprint for other provinces. She highlighted that the dual practice approach is not unique, drawing comparisons to healthcare systems in European countries such as Denmark, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany, where elective surgeries are often completed more quickly. Within Canada, similar hybrid models already exist in Quebec and New Brunswick. LaGrange noted a shift in public perception, with Canadians becoming more open to exploring private-sector involvement in healthcare, moving away from a 'knee-jerk aversion to 'U.S.-style' private care.'

Concerns and Opposition

Despite the government's assurances, the proposed changes have drawn significant criticism. NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi warned that the plan would lead to longer wait times for those unable to pay, stating, 'people who can afford to pay will see their wait times go down. But the rest of us will see our wait times go up.' The Alberta Medical Association (AMA), while acknowledging the need for reform, stated it was not consulted on the legislation and seeks a seat at the table for further discussions, with its president, Dr. Brian Wirzba, noting that 'Most places that have tried this have run into problems.'

Unions, including the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) and the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE), have voiced strong opposition, fearing the changes could 'siphon professionals from the public system' and lead to an 'American-style' healthcare system. Critics also point to a recent Auditor General's report that revealed a $109 million loss from a failed lab privatization attempt in Alberta, raising concerns about the financial implications and effectiveness of further privatization efforts.