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The Alberta NDP is sounding the alarm over an October 2021 video of UCP chief Danielle Smith proposing a path to denationalise the province’s hospitals.
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The video, recorded about six months earlier than Smith entered the UCP management contest, reveals Smith outlining how an Alberta authorities may promote hospitals to non-public operators.
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She explains the province can have the Alberta Well being High quality Council function an auditor and decide whether or not Alberta Well being Companies ought to proceed to function hospitals, particularly citing Calgary’s Peter Lougheed Hospital, Rockyview Common Hospital and South Well being Campus as examples.
“If they cannot meet the situations that we would like them to, we are able to do (a request for proposal), after which the Alberta Well being Insurance coverage can provide one other contract to a different group of docs … to run all of our hospitals,” Smith mentioned.
Within the video, Smith mentioned she introduced her plan to Alberta’s well being minister — a place not too long ago held by Jason Copping on the time of Smith’s feedback — however mentioned the federal government has not acted on the proposals.
“These are excessive views and they’re a part of an outlined sample of maximum views held by Danielle Smith,” mentioned Kathleen Ganley, the NDP candidate in Calgary-Mountain View.
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![The South Health Campus in Calgary was one of the hospitals Smith mentioned.](https://smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital/calgaryherald/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/SHC05-copy.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=288&sig=y2lgHylSws5bltefQ7mIfQ)
Neither Smith nor NDP chief Rachel Notley made any public appearances Wednesday.
In an announcement, UCP spokesman Dave Prisco mentioned the NDP is “doubling down on their concern and smear ways” and mentioned Smith promised that Albertans would by no means should pay to see their physician or entry needed medical providers beneath her authorities.
“The UCP has a plan to enhance Alberta’s public well being care system for all Albertans, and that plan is working. The NDP has no plan for something — simply outdated movies,” Prisco mentioned.
Elsewhere on Wednesday, the UCP touted what it known as the biggest recruitment of nurses in Alberta’s historical past, boasting that it had attracted 1,413 new internationally educated nurses since final month after the Faculty of Registered Nurses of Alberta eased its necessities for international staff.
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Smith’s previous feedback about outsourcing hospitals presently run by AHS ought to increase considerations for Albertans, mentioned Bradley Lafortune, govt director of the general public curiosity advocacy group Alberta.
He known as on Smith to retract and apologize for these feedback.
“Truthfully, it is appalling, and it is very regarding…. It is actually, actually essentially harmful to play these sorts of privatization video games with our well being care system, so I hope she speaks to that,” Lafortune mentioned.
“It is essential for Albertans to know what their plans are earlier than the election takes place.”
Voters go to the polls on Might 29.
jherring@postmedia.com
Twitter: @jasonfherring