Alberta Premier Rachel Notley’s government has launched its spring session with a throne speech lauding its accomplishments and a bill to further protect public health.
Monday’s throne speech, read aloud by Lt.-Gov. Lois Mitchell, was followed by the introduction of Bill 1, titled An Act to Protect Public Health Care.
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“We will continue to stand up and say no to American-style health care,” said Mitchell in a speech read before legislature members and dignitaries in the main debate chamber.
“And we will keep our hospitals and health centres available to everyone who needs them.”
The throne speech focused on the accomplishments of Notley’s government over the previous four years, from building schools, roads and hospitals to providing more supports for seniors, students and those in need.
WATCH BELOW: Gord Steinke, Tom Vernon, Dallas Flexhaug and Adam MacVicar bring us team coverage from the Alberta legislature throne speech on Monday, March 18, 2019.
“It was a real political speech,” Liberal Leader David Khan said. “Lots of clapping from the NDP despite parliamentary convention that you’re not supposed to clap during the throne speech.
“It was sort of recapping what they think they’ve done in the last four year rather than what they plan on doing in this next legislative session,” he added.
“I expected a little more substance and a little less bragging,” Khan said.
The throne speech also criticized the former Progressive Conservative government, and said the current government has been working to overcome the failures of the past ones.
“We cannot — we must not — allow two different Albertas to form: one for the wealthy and one for everyone else,” said Mitchell.
WATCH BELOW: Mount Royal University’s Duane Bratt sits down with Global’s Linda Olsen to dissect Alberta’s throne speech and what it means for the upcoming provincial election.
The speech was followed by introduction of the health care act.
Health Minister Sarah Hoffman said the bill reinforces the tenets of universal accessibility of public care, and said that under the proposed legislation clinics will not be allowed to charge membership fees.
Hoffman said she wants to address concerns that such private medical clinics charge annual fees for access to non-insured services, but in doing so may also get their patients faster access to insured services.
“We know of about 10 clinics that do charge up-front membership fees to access medical services and we don’t believe that’s fair,” said Hoffman, noting the existing clinics are split between Edmonton and Calgary.
“There is a perception that many people are able to queue jump in this province by being members of these private clinics.”
The Opposition United Conservatives have said they would explore more private care options to improve service under the public health care umbrella.
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Khan said the NDP hasn’t been very clear about why it feels this legislation is needed.
“We support public health care but we don’t want to needlessly politicize the issue.
“If the reason is that wait times are too long, seniors’ care hasn’t been dealt with, women’s issues are falling through the cracks, it begs the question — why were these things left to fester for four years such that we need this Bill 1 on the eve of an election (call)?”
The Liberals also say there’s too much administrative waste for a health system that occupies 40 per cent of total budget spending.
“There’s a lot of layers to this huge, 110,000-employee organization,” said Liberal legislature member David Swann, who is also a medical doctor.
“We need experts to go in there and look at where the waste is. But it’s clear to me from talking to people on the inside that there’s a redundancy in middle management.”
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Hoffman also said the government is looking at measures to advance women’s reproductive services.
She declined to be more specific except to say, “I’ve heard from a number of people in many parts of the province that access is something that they care deeply about, whether that’s access at the existing (abortion) clinics or in communities that don’t currently have some.”
WATCH BELOW: Alberta Health Minister Sarah Hoffman introduces Bill 1 calling it an “act to protect public health care.”
The session could end at any point as a provincial election looms. Notley is free to drop the writ at any time for a vote that must be held at or before the end of May.
Her NDP have been advocating health care as a key issue in the election.
READ MORE: Election speculation swirls as Alberta NDP announces throne speech for March 18
They have promised to continue funding growth in the health system, despite multibillion-dollar budget deficits and growing debt.
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The opening of the new session of the legislature began with a 15-gun salute on the legislature grounds and an inspection of a quarter guard in the legislature rotunda.
According to the government, the fourth session the legislature saw MLAs sit for 338 hours over the course of 60 days. In that time, they considered 32 government bills and 11 private members’ bills.
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— With files from Emily Mertz and Phil Heidenreich, Global News
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