A group of people gathered outside the office of Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound’s MP Tuesday to rally against an Alberta healthcare bill they feel undermines Canada’s universal health care legislation.
The Grey Bruce Health Coalition’s Brenda Scott and about a dozen people were outside Conservative MP Alex Ruff’s office as part of a nationwide day of protest against Alberta’s Bill 11. It enables doctors to work in the public and private healthcare systems in a ‘dual-practice’ system.
Although it’s provincial legislation, Scott and others who are opposed to the Bill question its legality, and feel it undermines the Canada Health Act. They say the ‘Day of Action’ for federal action to stop what they call “two-tier, American-style health care Canada-wide” saw protests planned in 26 cities.
Scott wants Canadians to encourage their local MPs to advocate for the Canada Health Act. Bayshore News reached out to Ruff for comment, but has not yet received a response.
She feels Alberta’s Bill 11, the Health Statutes Amendment Act, 2025, could create issues nationwide if it’s not challenged.
“That compromises healthcare for everybody in Canada. If we lose the Canada Health Act, it’s incredible what we lose,” says Scott.
Protesters say in a statement, “We are urging federal Health Minister Marjorie Michel and Prime Minister Mark Carney to fulfil their responsibility to enforce the Canada Health Act to protect Canada’s universal, single-payer, public Medicare system and health care for Canadians that is accessible based on need, not ability to pay”
Protester Kevin Larson says, “Our forebears fought to get us a universal, single-payer, nationwide system of healthcare. It is now up to us to defend it.” He carried with him at the protest a book by a family member, Helen Heeney called ‘Life Before Medicare: Canadian Experiences’ which shared stories of life before and after medicare.
The Canadian Medical Association explains, Bill 11 applies to, “specialists in orthopedics, cataract surgery, gynecology, ophthalmology, select ENT procedures, plastic surgery and dermatology.” It doesn’t apply to family doctors. Alberta promotes it as a measure to give patients more access to care. The Canadian Medical Association wants a federal review of the implications of Bill 11.
Scott feels it’s important to recognize the value of the Canada Health Act, saying, “It brings us together. If they say we’re all Canadians, we’re all in this together, elbows up, well they’ve got to be up for healthcare as well.”
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