The video, captured before Smith entered the UCP leadership contest, shows Smith outlining how an Alberta government could sell off hospitals to private operators
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Author of the article: Jason Herring
“Quite frankly, it’s horrifying, and it’s very deeply concerning . . . It’s really, really fundamentally dangerous to play these kinds of privatization games with our health-care system, so I hope that she speaks to it,” Lafortune said.
“It’s really important for Albertans to know what their plans are in advance of the election.”
Voters head to the polls May 29.
Author of the article: Jason Herring
Postmedia
Published May 10, 2023 •
Published May 10, 2023 •
UCP Leader Danielle Smith.
The Alberta NDP is raising alarms over an October 2021 video of UCP Leader Danielle Smith suggesting a path to privatizing the province’s hospitals.
The video, which was captured about six months before Smith entered the UCP leadership contest, shows her outlining how an Alberta government could sell off hospitals to private operators.
She explains the province could have the Alberta Health Quality Council serve as an auditor and determine whether Alberta Health Services should continue to operate hospitals, specifically naming Calgary’s Peter Lougheed Hospital, Rockyview General Hospital and South Health Campus as examples.
“If they can’t meet the terms we want them to, we can do (a request for proposal) and then the Alberta Health Services can give a different contract to a different group of doctors . . . to run all of our hospitals,” Smith said.
In the video, Smith said she presented her plan to Alberta’s health minister — a position recently assumed by Jason Copping at the time of Smith’s comments — but said the government didn’t act on the suggestions.
“These are extreme views and they are part of a defined pattern of extreme views held by Danielle Smith,” said Kathleen Ganley, the NDP candidate in Calgary-Mountain View.
The Alberta NDP is raising alarms over an October 2021 video of UCP Leader Danielle Smith suggesting a path to privatizing the province’s hospitals.
The video, which was captured about six months before Smith entered the UCP leadership contest, shows her outlining how an Alberta government could sell off hospitals to private operators.
She explains the province could have the Alberta Health Quality Council serve as an auditor and determine whether Alberta Health Services should continue to operate hospitals, specifically naming Calgary’s Peter Lougheed Hospital, Rockyview General Hospital and South Health Campus as examples.
“If they can’t meet the terms we want them to, we can do (a request for proposal) and then the Alberta Health Services can give a different contract to a different group of doctors . . . to run all of our hospitals,” Smith said.
In the video, Smith said she presented her plan to Alberta’s health minister — a position recently assumed by Jason Copping at the time of Smith’s comments — but said the government didn’t act on the suggestions.
“These are extreme views and they are part of a defined pattern of extreme views held by Danielle Smith,” said Kathleen Ganley, the NDP candidate in Calgary-Mountain View.
The South Health Campus in Calgary was one of the hospitals mentioned by Smith. PHOTO BY BRENDAN MILLER/POSTMEDIA
Neither Smith nor NDP Leader Rachel Notley made any public appearances Wednesday.
In a statement, UCP spokesman Dave Prisco said the NDP were “doubling down on their fear and smear tactics” and said Smith has pledged Albertans will never have to pay to see their doctor or access needed medical services under her government.
“The UCP has a plan to improve Alberta’s public health-care system for all Albertans, and that plan is working. The NDP has no plan for anything — just old videos,” Prisco said.
The UCP elsewhere Wednesday touted what they called the largest recruitment of nurses in Alberta’s history, boasting they’ve attracted 1,413 new internationally educated nurses since last month, after the College of Registered Nurses of Alberta eased its requirements for foreign workers.
Neither Smith nor NDP Leader Rachel Notley made any public appearances Wednesday.
In a statement, UCP spokesman Dave Prisco said the NDP were “doubling down on their fear and smear tactics” and said Smith has pledged Albertans will never have to pay to see their doctor or access needed medical services under her government.
“The UCP has a plan to improve Alberta’s public health-care system for all Albertans, and that plan is working. The NDP has no plan for anything — just old videos,” Prisco said.
The UCP elsewhere Wednesday touted what they called the largest recruitment of nurses in Alberta’s history, boasting they’ve attracted 1,413 new internationally educated nurses since last month, after the College of Registered Nurses of Alberta eased its requirements for foreign workers.
Smith’s past comments on contracting out hospitals currently run by AHS should spark concerns for Albertans, said Bradley Lafortune, executive director of the Public Interest Alberta advocacy group.
He called on Smith to retract and apologize for those comments.
He called on Smith to retract and apologize for those comments.
“Quite frankly, it’s horrifying, and it’s very deeply concerning . . . It’s really, really fundamentally dangerous to play these kinds of privatization games with our health-care system, so I hope that she speaks to it,” Lafortune said.
“It’s really important for Albertans to know what their plans are in advance of the election.”
Voters head to the polls May 29.
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