Statement from NDP leader Brian Mason

During the 2004 provincial election, the Premier refused to speak honestly to Albertans about health care. He openly declared he had no plan for private health care, and felt an election was not a time to talk about health care policy.

The result is this government has no mandate for its plan for private, two- tier health care.

Yet the government has already decided privatization is the only way, without a province-wide, all-party consultation process. Worse, the Government is selling its scheme with an upcoming taxpayer-funded, multi-million dollar propaganda campaign.
But we know better.

They also tell us that by 2030 healthcare spending will make up 100% of all government spending. This is simply not true. In fact, health spending, as a percentage of total government spending, has remained at 34%, the same as four years ago. We won’t fall prey to their fear-mongering designed to soften-up Albertans to accept a privatized two-tier health system.

We know better than that. And we have better ideas.
We know real health care reform is necessary to fix a system that's been deliberately undermined by the Conservatives in order to pave the way for privatization. Solutions for improving public health care – solutions championed by the NDP Opposition – include innovative cost reductions on prescription drugs. We believe a strong, sustainable public healthcare is not only possible but a moral obligation.

We also have good ideas on wait times. We propose hiring more health professionals and investing in specialized surgical facilities in order to clear up wait times in non-emergency procedures. We believe building capacity within the public healthcare system rather than dismantling it, will reduce wait times and increase quality for all.

And study after study has made it painfully obvious: increasing private healthcare leads to longer wait times in the public system.

Full stop.

It’s becoming clear that the Tories are not interested in innovation in the public system, just privatization. But be sure the Alberta NDP will fight for improving the public health care system by controlling costs and investing in prevention and promotion.

Join me and the Alberta NDP Opposition in saying No Way to Klein’s Third Way.

Visit our website for more information on how to get involved in our No Way to Klein’s Third Way campaign.


In Solidarity,
Brian Mason