A new poll commissioned by the Canadian Health Coalition suggests Albertans remain strongly supportive of publicly funded health care as the province moves ahead with changes under Bill 11.
The Abacus Data survey found 86 per cent of Albertans consider access to universal health care based on need, rather than a person’s ability to pay, to be a core Canadian value.
The survey also found widespread concern about the potential effects of Bill 11. Eighty-four per cent of Albertans said they worry the legislation could increase costs for patients, while 83 per cent were concerned it could lead to longer wait times.
Chris Gallaway, executive director of Friends of Medicare, said the findings show the provincial government should reconsider its approach to health-care reform.
“With Bill 11 set to come into effect in September, these results should serve as a decisive and timely message to the Alberta government to immediately halt their imposition of American-style, two-tier health care,” Gallaway said.
The survey found 92 per cent of Albertans are concerned about the future of the public health-care system, including 53 per cent who said they are very concerned.
Sixty-six per cent described the health-care system as being in crisis, while 57 per cent said they believe it has deteriorated over the past five years.
Health care ranked behind the cost of living as a top priority for Albertans, with 39 per cent identifying it as a priority compared with 67 per cent for the cost of living. Eighty-eight per cent said they do not want health care to become an additional personal expense.
The poll also found opposition to unrestricted patient charges by private interests, with 69 per cent of Albertans saying they oppose giving corporations and doctors the unrestricted ability to charge patients for health-care services.
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Most respondents also favoured increased public investment. Seventy-eight per cent said they believe the public system could meet Albertans’ needs with more government funding, while 68 per cent identified hiring additional doctors and health-care workers as a potential solution.
Gallaway said the findings indicate the government should be consulting more broadly before making major changes to health care.
“Albertans are looking for solutions to strengthen, not dismantle, our public health care.”
The survey also examined concerns about the legislation beyond Alberta. Seventy-eight per cent of Albertans said they are concerned Bill 11 could expand, while 74 per cent of Canadians outside Alberta said they were worried similar changes could spread to other provinces.
Gallaway said the issue extends beyond Alberta and called for a federal response if provincial governments move toward a two-tier system.
Friends of Medicare is joining health coalitions and other public health-care advocates across the country for a National Day of Action on Sept. 1. Organizers are opposing Bill 11 and what they describe as two-tier, American-style health care.
Friends of Medicare has said events are planned in seven Alberta communities and 20 other communities across Canada, with supporters also being encouraged to contact their federal representatives.
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Bill 11, formally known as the Health Statutes Amendment Act, 2025 (No. 2), received royal assent in December 2025. Provisions of the legislation have different coming-into-force dates, rather than the entire act taking effect at once.
Bill 11, the Health Statutes Amendment Act, 2025, received royal assent on Dec. 11, 2025. It amended the Alberta Health Care Insurance Act and established the legislative framework for dual practice, including physician participation, public-service commitments, billing, records, reporting, compliance and the provision of surgical services outside the publicly funded stream.
The legislation establishes categories for participating, non-participating and flexibly participating physicians. Additional requirements for the practical operation of the model are being established through regulations, policies and implementation guidance.
The province said participating physicians will have to meet minimum public-service requirements. Private-service records will be incorporated into provincial health information systems to support continuity of care and oversight.
The dual-practice framework will cover approved surgical procedures carried out at accredited chartered surgical facilities and hospitals. Emergency and urgent operations, along with procedures for life-threatening conditions such as cancer, will continue to be covered through the public system.
The province said it will track the program’s impact on the public system and adjust the framework if necessary to protect access to publicly funded care.
Acute Care Alberta will set the minimum amount of public surgical work participating physicians must provide, conduct regular reviews and report on the program’s performance as it rolls out.
