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EDMONTON — Friends of Medicare is accusing the Alberta government of taking another step toward two-tier health care after regulatory changes reclassified preventive health testing services as non-insured extended health services.
The advocacy group says the changes were made Wednesday through Orders in Council while Canada’s premiers were meeting in Charlottetown for the Council of the Federation.
Friends of Medicare executive director Chris Gallaway argues the changes could allow more health services to be offered outside the publicly funded system.
“The very same day that Premiers were discussing the need for provincial, territorial and federal collaboration to protect health care access, Alberta was quietly making moves to circumvent the Canada Health Act and further pave the way for two-tier, American-style health care in our province,” Gallaway said.
Gallaway also pointed to Premier Danielle Smith’s Public Health Guarantee during the last provincial election, which included commitments against delisting publicly funded medical services or requiring Albertans to pay out of pocket to access care.
The regulatory changes follow passage of Bill 29, the Health Statutes Amendment Act, 2026, in May.
Friends of Medicare says the legislation permits private companies to charge Albertans for diagnostic services obtained without a referral. The organization has opposed Bill 29 and Bill 11, arguing expanded private access could draw health-care workers and resources away from the public system.
The group says health coalitions, workers, patients and other organizations from across Canada gathered in Charlottetown this week as premiers met.
A rally was held Wednesday outside the Council of the Federation meeting calling on premiers to reject two-tier health care and urging the federal government to enforce the Canada Health Act.
“The majority of Canadians believe that everyone deserves timely access to quality public health care when they need it, regardless of their ability to pay,” Gallaway said.
He argues Alberta’s approach will create additional barriers to care while expanding the role of private insurance and private health services.
Friends of Medicare is calling on the provincial government to reverse its approach to private health care and urging the federal health minister to enforce the Canada Health Act.
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