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WINNIPEG — Canada’s largest labour organization is warning it is prepared to fight efforts to expand private health care delivery in Alberta, with delegates at the Canadian Labour Congress convention overwhelmingly approving an emergency resolution opposing what they describe as “American-style” two-tier health care.
More than 2,000 delegates gathered in Winnipeg this week voted in favour of a resolution criticizing legislation introduced by Premier Danielle Smith’s government, including Alberta’s Bills 11 and 29.
The resolution opposes measures allowing physicians to charge patients directly for medically necessary services and calls on Ottawa to fully enforce the Canada Health Act.
“Public health care is a fundamental Canadian value not a business opportunity,” Canadian Labour Congress president Bea Bruske said in a statement.
“Workers across this country are ready to fight to protect our healthcare system from privatization.”
Delegates from Alberta addressed the convention floor during debate on the motion, describing mounting concerns about access to care and the future of publicly funded health services in the province.
The labour congress said delegates urged unions and activists across Canada to remain united against efforts to expand private delivery models and user-pay health services.
“When you think about what makes Canada different from the United States, our public universal healthcare is on top of that list,” Bruske said.
“Canada’s unions will defend our healthcare from Americanization.”
The emergency resolution also opposes attempts to introduce similar legislation elsewhere in Canada.
Alberta’s United Conservative government has argued reforms to the province’s health-care system are intended to improve access and reduce wait times, while critics have accused the government of opening the door to privatization and unequal access based on income.
The debate over Alberta’s health-care direction has become one of the province’s most politically charged issues, drawing criticism from labour organizations, health-care advocates and opposition parties while supporters argue greater private-sector involvement could ease pressure on the public system.
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