July 29 2026

While Premiers were gathered inside the Delta Hotel in Charlottetown, supporters of public services, including public health care could be heard chanting “No 2-tiered health care” outside.

Over 100 people, including members of NUPGE’s national executive board, came out in the rain to denounce Alberta’s Bill 11, legislation that allows doctors to work in the public system and at the same time charge for the exact same procedures in a private system. This means that the wealthy can jump the line and get faster treatment than the rest of us. It means longer wait times, paying out of pocket, and opening the floodgates to private insurance company looking to profit off illness in Canada.

The rally represented the overwhelming opposition from across the country to the United Conservative Party’s government bill.

Bert Blundon, President of the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE), addressed the crowd, “Friends, public health care is one of our greatest achievements. Care based on need, not ability to pay. It’s always been under attack, but now we are at a crossroads. Today, we face Medicare’s biggest threat, Alberta’s Bill 11, which leads health professionals, doctors, and nurses in both the public and private pay system so those with money, influence, and power can jump the lines.”

A legal opinion by Goldblatt Partners LLP commissioned by the Canadian Health Coalition demonstrates the bill is a clear violation of the federal Canada Health Act, legislation which underpins our universal public health care system and the health care funding transferred to provinces and territories each year. 

Many at the rally also had words for Prime Minister Carney who was due to join the Premiers on Thursday.

Blundon continued, “While big money is looking for big profits and has clouded the judgment of Premier Smith as she works to dismantle public health care in Canada, the federal government has the tools to stop it, but for some strange reason stands idly by.
 

Prime Minister Carney has to act now, and he has to act forcefully and decisively to strengthen and protect public health care. He has to show Canadians that he is a defender of public health care and that he has the moral clarity to defend and champion it.”

Blundon also cheered on the Ontario community social service workers in their ninth week on strike over chronic underfunding, stolen wages, low wages, and severe staffing shortages. The workers belong to the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/SEFPO/NUPGE).

“It’s time for Premier Ford to bargain a new deal for those workers and for the services that presidents in each of those communities depend on,” Blundon said.

More information:

NUPGE calls on Federal Government to act immediately to protect public health care