The PEI Health Coalition held a press conference this morning as part of a National Day of Action raising concerns about Alberta’s Bill 11 and its potential impact on public health care across Canada.

Alberta’s Bill 11, the Health Statutes Amendment Act, 2025 (No.2), introduces a “dual practice” model allowing physicians to work in both the public system and a private-pay market at the same time. Critics warn this effectively creates a two-tier health care system and risks undermining Canada’s universal Medicare system.

Universal Medicare in Canada is built on a simple promise: access to health care based on medical need, not ability to pay. Health advocates say Bill 11 threatens that principle by allowing private payments and expanded private insurance for medically necessary services.

Health experts and advocacy organizations across the country warn that dual practice and private-pay systems do not reduce wait times. Instead, they tend to pull doctors and nurses away from the public system, increasing wait lists for everyone else.

As Dr. Danyaal Raza of Canadian Doctors for Medicare has said, “Silence in the face of this legislation is complicity.”

Coalition members warned that if Alberta’s model proceeds unchecked, it could trigger a domino effect across Canada, with provinces forced to adopt similar policies to retain physicians and compete with higher private-sector pay.

Advocates also raised concerns that expanding private insurance for medically necessary care could attract large insurers, including American firms, to enter Canada’s health system.

The PEI Health Coalition joined organizations across the country in calling on Prime Minister Mark Carney, federal Health Minister Marjory Michel, and Liberal MPs to take action. Specifically, they are urging the federal government to review Alberta’s Bill 11 and use all available powers under the Canada Health Act to protect the principles of universality and accessibility.

The message from today’s event was clear:
Canada’s health care system must remain public, universal, and based on need, not ability to pay.