Alberta Premier Danielle Smith asks Ottawa for 'latitude' as dual practice model take effect

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Source: Alberta - Edmonton Journal (Legislature & Capital)
Date: 2026-09-01 22:11:13.0
Tags: [Alberta, National, Healthcare, Governance]

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has formally asked the federal government for latitude to implement the province's dual practice healthcare model, established under the Health Statutes Amendment Act 2025 (formerly Bill 11). The legislation, which takes effect on Tuesday, allows specialized physicians—excluding family doctors—to provide both private and public medical services for approved surgical procedures including orthopedics, minimally invasive general surgery, gynecology, ophthalmology, and ear/nose/throat surgeries. Premier Smith stated that 400 physicians have expressed interest in the model, and the province will apply rigorous oversight to ensure participating doctors maintain their public service levels and that cancer-related and life-threatening conditions remain entirely publicly funded and exempt.