Leaked documents reveal Alberta’s plan dismantle AHS health provider, may sell off care homes

globalnews.ca:

Alberta is planning to dismantle its provincewide health provider and may sell off its publicly owned continuing-care facilities, say leaked cabinet briefing documents released by the Opposition NDP.

NDP Leader Rachel Notley said the proposal to break up Alberta Health Services would give complete political control over all health decisions to Premier Danielle Smith’s cabinet.

Notley said it would also bring chaos to the system and open the door to more privately delivered care.

“(The United Conservative Party government) created this crisis, and now they want to blow up our health-care system completely,” Notley told Smith and the UCP caucus during question period Tuesday.

“What is wrong with you people?”

Earlier Tuesday, Notley released to reporters photocopies of a computer slide deck outlining details of the government’s promised revamp of the health system.

Notley said the documents were sent to the NDP anonymously.

“Is the premier actually committed to what’s outlined in these leaked documents?” Notley asked Smith during question period.

“One hundred per cent committed,” Smith replied.

“We embarked on a process over the last year to try to work within the existing framework to get performance improvement, and we succeeded to a measure,” Smith added.

“But we need to do so much more if we’re going to be able to make greater progress.”

Health Minister Adriana LaGrange told the house that the government would release its health reorganization plan Wednesday.

“I want to be really, really clear. There is absolutely no plan to privatize health care. What we are going to do is strengthen health care right across the province,” said LaGrange.

Smith has long promised a fundamental reform of Alberta Health Services, or AHS.

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