Health-care workers and advocates rallied in over a dozen Canadian cities Monday to protest Alberta’s Bill 11, warning it will undermine Canada’s universal public health system.
The legislation, passed by Alberta’s legislature in December, permits physicians to work simultaneously in public and private settings-a practice critics call “dual practice” that risks creating a two-tier system favoring those who can pay.
“Heather Smith, president of the United Nurses of Alberta, said the issue extends beyond provincial borders: “Bill 11 violates the Canada Health Act and is bad for all Canadians.”
Chris Galloway of Friends of Medicare warned that allowing private insurers to cover publicly insured services could invite U.S. health insurance firms into Canada under trade agreements-locking in privatization nationwide.
Calgary MP Corey Hogan acknowledged protesters’ concerns as “legitimate,” stressing that universal access must remain non-negotiable. “We have a universally-accessible health-care system in Canada-that’s a line in the sand,” he said.
Alberta officials defended the bill, claiming it applies only to select surgeries and aligns with systems in Denmark, Germany, and Australia. A spokesperson for Health Minister Adriana LaGrange dismissed critics as union-backed activists spreading “misinformation.”
