Dozens of people in opposition of Alberta’s two-tier health care held a rally outside the office of Calgary Confederation MP Corey Hogan. The group is urging Hogan and his party to enforce the Canada Health Act and keep Alberta’s health care public. “We want to see the federal government state clearly that this is a violation of the Health Act and say that they’re going to act on it,” said Keira Gunn, Calgary chair for Friends of Medicare. “Historically, what they have done [is] they’ve enforced the act by threatening to pull back the Canada health transfers.” The rally was one of seven held in Alberta. The group wants federal Health Minister Marjorie Michel and Prime Minister Mark Carney to act on the province’s Bill 11, which permits physicians to work in public and private systems concurrently. The federal government has the power to withhold health-care funding to the province for violating the Canada Health Act. In March 2025, $759,250 was deducted from Alberta’s CHT payments as a result of patient charges for medically necessary diagnostic services. “Why are we not just allowing those physicians to work more hours in the public system instead of permitting other people to jump the queue?” said Gunn. Rally attendee Henry Wakoluk’s daughter needed an MRI for an upper-body injury. He said she would have had to wait more than a year for the MRI. His daughter instead got a private MRI a month ago, and he said she was fortunate to receive it. “There are lots of people who can’t afford to pay for the private system, so they have to wait,” he said. Hogan did make an appearance at the rally, speaking about the importance of protecting Canadian health care. “We are engaging intensely on this particular matter,” said Hogan. “The fundamental principle is that the Canada Health Act needs to be maintained.” A spokesperson for Michel said she’s in advanced discussions with her Alberta counterpart. “We have taken a collaborative approach with all provinces and territories, including Alberta, that respects their jurisdiction to explore innovative ways to improve access and care while strengthening the public, universal health-care system,” her spokesperson said. Meanwhile, Premier Danielle Smith says her government is prepared to defend allowing doctors to work in both the public and private health-care systems. “Perhaps a different approach for Alberta, but it’s not an unusual approach when you look at universal systems around the world,” Smith said. “And it’s not offside with the Canada Health Act.”
