David Shepherd, Alberta NDP Official Opposition Critic for Health, made the following statement regarding today’s BC Supreme Court decision:

“I am very pleased that the courts upheld the principles of Medicare today against those who would try to Americanize our public healthcare system.

“The court concluded, based on expert evidence, that the introduction of private healthcare would actually increase wait times. This is an important message for Alberta.

“The BC Supreme Court’s ruling sends a clear message to Premier Jason Kenney and his Health Minister Tyler Shandro, that their rush towards American-style healthcare is completely wrong for Alberta families. The ruling against the Cambie Clinic strikes down a privatized approach that Jason Kenney is attempting to impose on Albertans today. 

“Shandro should abandon his corrupt scheme to enable property developers, UCP donors and lobbyists to build a private hospital, and abandon his expansion of private surgeries in favour of investing in a stable, world-class public healthcare system.

“Medicare was born on the Prairies, and I’m very proud that our party has championed universal access to public healthcare for generations. We will continue to defend the right of Alberta families to access world-class publicly funded and publicly delivered healthcare.”