2026-04-28 from policyalternatives.ca
The Alberta government appears to be swayed by the private insurance industry—and this powerful lobby has a large financial stake in a two-tier health care system. While, so far, the Canadian private insurance industry appears only to be involved in the development of Alberta’s new two-tier legislation, Bill 11 opens the door for foreign private health insurers, including from the U.S.
Back in December, the Alberta government passed most sections of Bill 11 (the Health Statutes Amendment Act), which allows physicians and for-profit facilities to charge patients for medically necessary health care already covered under the Canada Health Act. (The sections related to “dual physician practice” which allow two-tier medicine have not yet been proclaimed.) Legislating two-tier health care is a first in Canada.
The CCPA report The end of medicare? explained that Bill 11 expands the private health insurance market for medically necessary care, which until now, has never existed in the country because it is not permitted under the Canada Health Act. And it is still not: Alberta has passed legislation that contravenes this federal legislation.
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