New Brunswick health advocates say Alberta’s new Bill 11 could have far‑reaching consequences for how Canadians access health care.
The legislation, which took effect on Tuesday, allows doctors in Alberta to work in both public and private clinics, a move critics argue could drain staff from the public system and lengthen wait times.
Jean‑Claude Basque, co‑chair of the New Brunswick Health Coalition, says the change could influence how other provinces approach health care delivery.
He warns it could jeopardize the principles of universality and accessibility that medicare is built on.
“New Brunswick has to be aware of what’s happening there and have to be really concerned that the federal government right now is not defending the Canada Health Act,” Basque said.
Basque explained the shift in Alberta could open the door to private insurance companies expanding into Canada’s health care market.
He also said that if doctors divide their time between public and private clinics, patients who rely on the public system could face longer waits.
He emphasized that the concern is not only about Alberta, but about the precedent it sets nationally.
The New Brunswick Health Coalition joined a nationwide Day of Action Tuesday, calling on Ottawa to enforce the Canada Health Act.
The Canadian Health Coalition organized protests across the country as Bill 11 came into force, urging federal Health Minister Marjorie Michel and Prime Minister Mark Carney to intervene.
In New Brunswick, advocates held two noon‑hour demonstrations, one outside the Moncton office of MP Ginette Petitpas Taylor, and another at the Fredericton office of MP David Myles.
Basque said the turnout in Moncton exceeded expectations, with about 35 people attending and dozens more taking postcards and lawn signs to help spread the message.
He added that the coalition wants MPs to understand the long‑term risks if dual practice becomes normalized in Canada.
“We all know not everybody has a doctor, not everybody has access to service in the time they want. But going to the private sector won’t solve these issues,” he said.
Basque encourages residents to stay informed, talk to their MPs, and discuss what kind of public system they want to preserve.
He explained that thousands of New Brunswickers receive care every day without paying out of pocket, and the focus should be on strengthening that system rather than shifting toward private delivery.
