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Notley government puts priority on health care in legislature throne speech

Mar 18, 2019 | 5:53 PM

EDMONTON —  Premier Rachel Notley’s government is promising to continue its work protecting public health care with its signature Bill 1 in the spring sitting.

The promise was outlined in the speech from the throne, read aloud by Lt.-Gov. Lois Mitchell, starting the legislature session.
 
Health care is considered to be a key issue in the upcoming spring election, and Notley’s NDP has promised to continue funding growth in the health system, despite multibillion-dollar budget deficits and growing debt.
 
Bill 1, the Public Health Care Protection Act, was specifically designed to protect Albertans from two-tiered, American-style health care.
 
Notley says it and would prevent queue-jumping and preferential access to insured medical services available to all Albertans.

“Whether you come to a hospital with a fur coat or no coat, you deserve the same, world-class health care as everyone else. It’s a fundamental right of all Albertans.”

In the Throne Speech, the government also committed to:

— Keep building more schools, including a new high school in north Calgary.
— Get more value from Alberta’s natural resources and continue to diversify the economy.
— Bring forward an important new program to help mothers and families save thousands of dollars a year and rejoin the workforce.
— Help more Albertans get the education and training they need to build great lives for themselves and their loved ones.

The Opposition United Conservatives say they would explore more private care options to improve service, while the Liberals say they believe in the public system but there’s too much administrative waste.

Notley can drop the writ at any time to launch the 28-day campaign, which by law must be wrapped up before June 1.