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The Saskatchewan NDP say multiple comments and actions by Premier Scott Moe show an intention to increasingly privatize the province’s health-care system. 

During a December year-end interview with Rebel News, Moe said access to health care is the top issue that will face the province in 2026. 

He said to improve timely care, the province is doing more hiring and over the next few months there will be “a very open discussion — you’re seeing some of it in Alberta recently, too — but a very open discussion about delivering health care in a very innovative way.” 

NDP Leader Carla Beck said with the introduction of Bill 11 in Alberta, which would pave the way for a “dual practice” model there, it’s “pretty clear” Alberta intends to allow the establishment of private health insurance and a two-tier health-care system. 

“Scott Moe maybe has lacked the courage to use the word privatization, but that’s exactly what he’s talking about here,” the Opposition leader said.

“If he wants to have an open discussion, have the courage to come back into the legislature. Let’s let him say exactly what he’s planning to do when it comes to privatization.”

Beck said the Saskatchewan Party government’s handling of the health-care system raises the question of whether “they are dismantling public health care in order to make way for privatization by stealth.”  

Alberta’s Bill 11 would allow physicians to bill under the public system and charge patients directly for “non-plan services.” 

It changes the Alberta Health Care Insurance Act to “allow Alberta employers to offer their employees access to private health services from a physician through their health plans,” according to the province’s website.  

Saskatchewan NDP health critic Meara Conway said allowing private insurers to get a foothold in health care should be concerning for all Canadians.

Moe’s comments to Rebel News come in the wake of his refusal to commit to not following Alberta’s example during the last session of the provincial legislature, she said. 

On Dec. 2, Saskatoon Fairview NDP MLA Vicki Mowat asked the premier if he would commit “that he will not further privatize health care like [Alberta Premier] Danielle Smith.” 

Moe said the province will use all tools, “support all the initiatives” that will improve health-care services and tackle surgical wait times. 

“Part of those are going to be privately delivered but publicly funded surgeries to lower our wait-list and to provide access to those surgical theatres in a quicker fashion,” he said. 

Province will pursue ‘innovative approaches’

In response to criticism of Moe’s Rebel News interview, the province said in a statement that the NDP “can attempt to frame this anyway they want, but the fact remains our government will continue to pursue innovative approaches to ensure Saskatchewan families can access high-quality healthcare close to home.

“That includes delivery of some publicly funded, privately delivered health services,” the statement said. 

The NDP say new ideas are needed in health care, “but reject new ideas,” the government’s statement added. 

Conway said there is “no shortage of solutions” for fixing the existing system. 

The Opposition started a provincewide consultation process in September. 

Conway said while the NDP is not ready to release the results of that consultation yet, after meeting with “hundreds” of health-care providers and patients, “not one” has said more privatization is needed.