Health advocates say Liberals need to take a stand on Alberta’s health privatization

By Canadian Press on February 9, 2026.

OTTAWA — A group of health care advocates is on Parliament Hill this week, lobbying lawmakers and calling on the federal government to take a stand on Alberta’s latest moves to expand private health care.

Premier Danielle Smith’s United Conservative Party government has passed legislation that allows surgeons to work in both the public and private health systems.

It means that people can pay for things like hip and knee replacements or cataract surgery in a private clinic, while the publicly funded system continues to provide emergency and cancer surgeries.

The provincial government argues its dual-practice model will lessen pressure on the public health-care system and is used in countries such as the U.K., France, Australia, Germany and Denmark.

Jason MacLean, chair of the health coalition, said the Alberta law violates the Canada Health Act, which is based on the principles of universality and accessibility.

“The federal government needs to step up and defend universal public health care now,” he told a press conference on Parliament Hill on Monday.

MacLean said the federal government should withhold funding to provinces to enforce the law.

Chris Gallaway, executive director of Friends of Medicare in Alberta, said federal Health Minister Marjorie Michel needs to speak up in support of public health care and the Canada Health Act.

“We’ve had months where the federal government has not taken a stance on what’s happening in Alberta,” he said.

Gallaway called the Alberta legislation a “gift to the private insurance industry” and warned that American health care companies could use it to seek a foothold in Canada.

A spokesperson for Michel’s office said the federal Liberal government takes a collaborative approach with the provinces and territories to ensure access to health care “based on their medical needs, not their ability to pay.”

“Health Canada officials are engaging Alberta officials to better understand the various components and implications of these proposed changes. Minister Michel is also having regular conversations with her Alberta counterparts,” said Guillaume Bertrand in a written response to questions.

He also noted the government can deduct funding from the Canada Health Transfer to provinces for violations of the Canada Health Act’s principles.

Natalie Mara, executive director of the Ontario Health Coalition, said patients are being charged in Ontario clinics for cataract surgeries.

“If this federal government does not find some strength and stand up for public medicare, we’re going to lose it,” she said.

“The economy is not just pipelines and ports. Canadian sovereignty has to mean something.”

The group said it has meetings set up with about 100 MPs and senators this week on a range of issues. Michel is not on that list.

“We’ve been taken aback and even disappointed that the health policy-makers and (Health) Minister Marjorie Michel’s office have repeatedly declined to meet with us,” MacLean said, adding that lobbyists from the private health insurance industry have met with members of the Liberal government dozens of times.

Bertrand said Michel “has engaged with numerous groups and individuals concerned about our health care system, and will continue to do so,” and noted her office is in contact with the health coalition.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 9, 2026.

Sarah Ritchie, The Canadian Press