Most Alberta doctors would leave province if it separates from Canada, survey finds
A survey by the Alberta Medical Association found 55 per cent of responding physicians would move to another province if Alberta left Canada.
EDMONTON — More than half of Alberta physicians who responded to a new survey say they would leave the province if it separates from Canada.
The Alberta Medical Association released the results of its Pulse survey on Tuesday, the first day of advance voting ahead of the Oct. 19 referendum.
Of the 1,649 physicians who responded, 55 per cent said they would move to another province or territory and discontinue practising in Alberta if the province were to separate.
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"At a time when access to care and health workforce capacity are important concerns for Albertans, we believe these perspectives are relevant to the wider public conversation," said AMA president Dr. Heidi Fell.
Another eight per cent of respondents said they would retire or leave medical practice earlier than planned.
Only 15 per cent said they would continue living and practising in an independent Alberta, while 18 per cent were uncertain.
Fell said the organization is not telling Albertans how to vote, but is raising practical questions about the impact of separation on health care.
Separation would raise questions about how $7 billion in Canada Health Transfer funds would be replaced, Fell wrote in an open letter to AMA members.
"In addition to assuming federal health-care funding responsibilities, significant health-care concerns remain, including maintaining access to medicines, equipment and medical services," she said.
Without a credible examination of these issues, Albertans cannot know the full impact separation could have on health care, particularly if fewer physicians remain to provide services, she wrote.
The AMA said if Albertans choose to separate, not only would the medical workforce shrink, but health care in an independent Alberta would be left in limbo.
Premier Danielle Smith's United Conservative Party government has put 10 questions on the ballot.
The first nine questions are about Canada's Constitution and immigration, including whether the government should impose limitations and financial fees for newcomers and temporary workers accessing health care.
The 10th asks whether the province should stay in Canada or hold a second, binding referendum on leaving the country.
The association also has questions about the effects of the immigration questions on health care, Fell said, should the government receive a mandate on them.
Fell said she wrote to the province's health ministers last week for more clarity.
She asked what doctors should do when someone needs medically necessary care but their eligibility cannot immediately be confirmed, and how questions about eligibility should be resolved without delaying care.
"Physicians often need to make clinical decisions before a patient's identity, residency status or coverage can be verified," she said.
"Our position is straightforward: uncertainty about coverage should not unnecessarily delay care, and physicians and their staff should not be placed in the position of determining or enforcing a patient's immigration or coverage status."
Fell said the AMA hopes to hear from the government soon.
Hospitals Minister Adriana LaGrange's office said it is reviewing the association's letter.
"It would be inappropriate to speculate on the outcome of the referendum or any technical legislative, policy or program changes that may follow until Albertans have had their say," her office said in an email Tuesday.
Advance voting continues until Saturday, with the official referendum day on Oct. 19.
With files from Edmonton Journal, CBC News and The Globe and Mail