Premier and United Conservative Party Leader Danielle Smith has announced a public health guarantee for her political party, April 11, 2023. (Photo: United Conservative Party)

By Canadian Press

Premier Danielle Smith announces UCP public health guarantee

Apr 11, 2023 | 11:34 AM

SHERWOOD PARK, AB – The leader of the United Conservative Party (UCP) has made a commitment to Albertans to protect the publicly-funded health care system.

Premier Danielle Smith said a UCP government will remain committed to ensuring that Albertans have access to world-class healthcare, where and when they need it, through a publicly-funded system.

Smith said in a statement, “Under a re-elected UCP government, no Albertan will ever have to pay for a doctor out of pocket.”

“I want to be clear: under the UCP’s Public Health Care Guarantee, we are committing to all Albertans that under no circumstances will any Albertan ever have to pay out-of-pocket to see their family doctor or to get the medical treatment they need,” said Smith. “And it means that a UCP government, under my leadership, will not de-list any medical services or prescriptions now covered by Alberta Health Insurance. No exceptions. You will only ever need your Alberta health card.”

According to the statement, the UCP’s “very ambitious agenda” to improve health care outcomes has already lead to improvements, such as deceasing wait times for ambulances, emergency departments, and surgeries.

Week-in-review: Passenger rail, a big investment in Coaldale and an NFL draftee from Lethbridge

May 04, 2024

What's Happening in Lethbridge this weekend: May 3, 2024

May 03, 2024

Week-in-review: Municipal election changes, a leadership debate and green bins

Apr 27, 2024

“Our UCP government is committed to moving Alberta forward and ensuring Albertans can always access world-class health care, where and when they need it, through a publicly funded health care system,” said Smith. “We cannot afford to go back to the NDP raising taxes and driving away jobs and growth, undercutting the critical funding we need to improve healthcare outcomes for Albertans.”

In November 2022, the Alberta NDP demanded that Smith come clean on past comments she made about pursuing the introduction of user fees for healthcare.

This followed Smith’s mandate letter to Health Minister Jason Copping after she was sworn in as premier in October last year. While the mandate letter outlines commitments to public health care, Smith also tasked Copping with establishing Health Spending Accounts.

The 2023 provincial election is scheduled to be held on May 29.

by Canadian Press