Alberta Medical Association files lawsuit against UCP government

EDMONTON (660 NEWS) – The Alberta Medical Association has filed a constitutional challenge the United Conservative government over unfair negotiations.

In a statement released Thursday, AMA President Christine Molnar says the Minister of Health walked away from negotiations in February and terminated their contract.

By doing that, she says Tyler Shandro violated the charter rights of all the province’s physicians.

“If you told me a year ago that I would serve the Minister of Health with a Statement of Claim for a constitutional challenge, in the midst of the worst public health crisis in a century, I would have been incredulous. Yet, that is what happened this morning,” said Molnar.

Molnar says they are seeking fair and reasonable negotiations as well as the right to third party arbitration.

“I am not happy to have to take this step at this time,” adds Molnar. “Of course, patients do not need to worry that it will impact pandemic care. Alberta doctors will be here for them.”

Late last month, about 850 doctors sent a letter to Minister Shandro demanding the province’s new funding formula be scrapped.

The letter claims that 400 clinics have had to reduce hours or close in Alberta due to the changes.

The government went ahead with changes to the physician funding framework on March 31 despite Shandro announces they would cancel it.

Premier Jason Kenney declined to comment on the lawsuit, but maintained that Alberta physicians are the best compensated in Canada.

 

-with files from The Canadian Press

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