What Bill 55 Really Means
Bill 55 has now passed. And while the government would like us to believe it’s just a step toward “efficiency,” those of us who have spent our lives defending public services know exactly what this is: another calculated move toward the privatization of our healthcare system.
This legislation gives the Health Minister broad authority to hand over the operation of public hospitals to private corporations. It removes transparency. It invites private interests into spaces meant to serve the public.
Healthcare Is Not a Business
When profit enters healthcare, patients lose. Staffing is cut. Corners are turned into cost-saving opportunities. Accountability disappears.We’ve seen this story before — and the ones who suffer most are those already struggling. Albertans deserve care that puts people first, not shareholders.
This Fight Is Personal
I’ve spent decades advocating for workers and defending public services. Like many of you, I have relied on Alberta’s public health system during some of the most difficult times in my life. That system must be protected, not dismantled.
This is not just about policy. It’s about values. It’s about the kind of province we want to live in, and the future we’re building for our families and communities.
What We’ll Do Next
Under my leadership, AUPE will be relentless.
- We will shine a light on what this bill means for patients and healthcare workers.
- We will hold the government accountable for every decision made behind closed doors.
- We will push back against the creeping privatization of care.
- We will build public campaigns.
- We will organize with other unions and healthcare advocates
- We will make sure Albertans know exactly what's at stake.
Our Responsibility to Albertans
As the union that represents thousands of healthcare workers, our duty goes beyond bargaining tables. We are here to defend public health care itself — for the workers who keep it running, and for the people who depend on it every day.
The passage of Bill 55 is not the end.
It is a warning and a call to action.
In solidarity,
Sandra Azocar, Candidate for AUPE President
