Premier Mar would privatize health care
Swann says wait times can be lowered with proper planning and management
Edmonton – Official Opposition Leader David Swann says Progressive Conservative leadership candidate Gary Mar would privatize Alberta’s health care system if he becomes Premier.
“Mar’s comments in the Edmonton Sun show that he would open the door to private health insurance and faster access to treatment for the rich,” Swann says. “He’s pushing for two-tier health care.”
Mar’s statements to the Sun’s editorial board reveal that he is no defender of public health care, calling it “ideological” and comparing medical treatment to luxury items like recreational properties – goods that can be bought by the highest bidder.
Swann says giving rich people the “choice” to buy better health care inevitably erodes the public system.
“If patients are willing to pay thousands of extra dollars for private services, many of the best doctors will go to those private clinics, draining their talent from the public system,” Swann says. “Thanks to this government’s shortsightedness, we’re already short of health care professionals. Opening up new private clinics catering to the rich would make the problem even worse, and the vast majority of Albertans would have to wait even longer for care.”
“As a physician, I can tell you that Canada chose a public system because it’s more efficient and delivers better health outcomes than private delivery,” Swann continues. “People are frustrated with long wait times because of this government’s mismanagement, but these problems can be fixed without privatization.”
Swann also points out that it’s pretty rich for Mar to criticize Alberta’s health care system when he was once Minister of Health.
“How can he be part of the solution when he was part of the problem?” Swann asks. “You can’t trust this guy.”
The Official Opposition continues to fight for publicly funded, publicly delivered health care. Our Fixing Health Care plan includes four main strategies:
• Return control of delivery of health care to the regional level
• Ensure everyone has access to a family doctor
• Ensure public delivery of quality, affordable continuing/long term care
• Revitalize prevention programs for healthier citizens and long-term savings.
The Alberta Liberal Caucus…There’s a better way.
– 30 –
For more information contact:
John Santos, Media Liaison
(780) 904-5430
Brian Leadbetter, Director of Communications
(780) 862-5661