Hundreds of Alberta doctors say they would leave the province if it separates from Canada, according to a survey by the Alberta Medical Association (AMA). The group polled 1,649 physicians earlier this month. More than half claimed they would move to another province or territory and discontinue practising medicine in Alberta if the province were to split with the country. That represents 55 per cent of respondents. Eight per cent said they would retire or leave medical practice earlier than planned, and another 18 per cent said they were uncertain about what they would do. Just 15 per cent of the physicians surveyed said they would continue living and practising in Alberta if it were its own country. “Even just from the people that answered this question, that’s over 900 physicians that said they would be leaving the province,” said Dr. Heidi Fell, AMA president. “And it wouldn’t be surprising if a large number of (Alberta doctors) wanted to move to places where their family was, or places where they felt welcome as professionals or places where their spouses didn’t have job uncertainty.” There are currently thought to be roughly 10,000 practising physicians in the province. Fell emphasized the survey is a “snapshot” of how they are feeling right now—not a firm commitment one way or the other. ‘More issues’: AMA president The AMA said if Albertans choose to separate, not only would the medical workforce shrink, but health care in an independent Alberta would be left in limbo. For example, Fell said it’s unclear how an independent Alberta would fill the health-care funding gap that would be created after it loses federal money. The association also has questions about the effects of the immigration questions on health care, Fell said, should the government receive a mandate on them. She said she wrote to the province’s health ministers last week for more clarity. “The theme of our letter is ‘we have questions,’” she said. “We want to know how these things are going to work. “When patients present to us having health issues, we want to focus on their health issues, not on their immigration status.” Adriana LaGrange, who oversees Alberta’s Hospital and Surgical Health Services Ministry, was not made available for an interview Wednesday. Her office sent a statement saying it had received the letter and is reviewing its contents. The statement said, “It would be inappropriate to speculate on the outcome of the referendum or any technical legislative, policy or program changes that may follow until Albertans have had their say.” With files from The Canadian Press
