Would newly proposed legislation have any real impact on getting doctors to work in Alberta faster?

Proposed legislation in Alberta to impose decision timelines for certification of professionals from other parts of Canada—and to penalize regulators who don’t meet these timelines—is nothing more than “political grandstanding,” according to a provincial advocacy group whose partners include healthcare workers’ unions. “It’s just a way for the government to bring attention away from their actions that have caused doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers to leave Alberta,” said Sandra Azocar, executive director of Friends of Medicare, which is headquartered in Edmonton. “It’s like they’re telling us ‘don’t worry about it, we’re bringing in doctors and nurses from other provinces.’” Bill 49—the Labour Mobility Act—would require the regulatory authorities governing more than 100 professions to make a registration decision within 20 business days after receiving a complete application. Read: 'Complacency, convenience, conspiracy:' Rural Albertans overrepresented in hospitals Regulators would have to acknowledge applications in writing within 10 days, and advice applicants within 10 days of making the decision. Failure to comply would result in penalties of $25,000 for individuals and $50,000 for corporations or organizations. “When you’re an Albertan and you get sick in B.C. or Saskatchewan, you don’t ask to see whether the doctor or the nurse is certified by their Alberta regulator, you just trust that other Canadian professionals are operating at effectively the same high and safe standard,” Premier Jason Kenney said, during a press conference before the bill was tabled, The Edmonton Journal reported. However, Andrea Garland, a spokesperson for the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta, said Bill 49, should it be passed, is unlikely to have an impact on the college. “CPSA is currently well within the 20 business day timeframe from the submission of a complete application and doesn’t foresee an issue,” she wrote in an email to The Medical Post. From a general perspective, Garland added, CPSA is required to ensure that physicians who wish to register in Alberta have the proper qualifications. Read: 4 docs not co-operating with investigations into COVID practices: CPSO “Our goal is to continuously review our registration processes to make sure they’re transparent, fair and timely for all applicants, and given that, we don’t anticipate a significant impact upon first glance (of Bill 49),” she wrote. When the proposed Act was introduced in the province’s legislative assembly on Oct. 25, NDP labour critic Christina Gray issued a written statement accusing the government of using the bill to conceal the fact it had been driving skilled professionals out of the province. In particular, she highlighted the government’s ongoing fights with the province’s healthcare workers. During a second reading of the bill three days later, Gray told the legislative assembly that a number of regulatory bodies who had been invited last year to information and consultation sessions felt these meetings were rushed, and that decisions had already been made. She also questioned whether Bill 49 was the answer to Alberta’s worker shortage problems. “I have to ask if the recognition of credentials within Canadian jurisdictions and the application timelines … are the biggest barrier for workers wanting to come to Alberta,” she said. “ I would suggest that when we’ve seen changes most recently, including a net outflow from Alberta to other jurisdictions over the last while … I don’t think that that’s because professional credentials are not being recognized in a fast enough manner.” If Bill 49 is passed, Alberta will become the first jurisdiction in Canada to legislate decision timelines for professional regulators. Alberta's Ministry of Labour and Immigration and the premier's office did not respond to a request for comment. Read: Alberta's Kenney rejects new health rules as COVID-19 cripples hospitals

Would newly proposed legislation have any real impact on getting doctors to work in Alberta faster?

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