Rose makes private push for health care 4 By Dave Dormer ,Calgary Sun
Hospitals in Alberta should be run as private, not-for-profit facilities, members of the Wildrose Alliance decided Saturday during a policy session.



“We think our members, as long as they don’t have to pay out of pocket for medically necessary treatment, they don’t care who owns the facility, that’s what came out today,” said leader Danielle Smith. Under the Wildrose Alliance framework, public funding would follow the patient but allow them to choose where they want to receive treatment.

But the idea didn’t sit well with Friends of Medicare head David Eggen.

“I don’t know why they’re so set on private delivery, we know it’s more expensive, doesn’t achieve better health outcomes and is a lot less transparent.”
Another high-profile policy resolution voted on Saturday saw members call for the abolition of the Human Rights Commission.

Instead, the Human Rights Act would be enforced by the provincial court system.

“The only thing that will change is instead of adjudicating human rights complaints in front of a tribunal of bureaucrats, they’re going to be adjudicated in a court ...” said Airdrie-Chestermere MLA Rob Anderson.

That move was applauded by Sun News Network host Ezra Levant, who spent $100,000 defending himself against a human rights complaint after publishing cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed in the now defunct Western Standard magazine.

That complaint was later withdrawn, leaving Levant out of pocket with no recourse.

“The Alberta Human Rights commission is almost 40 years old and not only is it obsolete, it’s become a kind of Frankenstein monster, it’s actually destroying our human rights.”

Dave.Dormer@sunmedia.ca