Alberta Record

· Bill / Governance Change · enacted

Bill 22: Community Health Councils Become Discretionary

Amends the Provincial Health Agencies Act to change community health councils from a mandatory element of regional health authority structure to a discretionary one, subject to ministerial approval.

Moderate impactLocal autonomyCentralization of powerHealth system governanceHealth-care bodiesThe public, directly

What changed

  • Amended the Provincial Health Agencies Act to repeal Section 10 of the former Regional Health Authorities Act, making community health council establishment discretionary for provincial health agencies or regional health authorities, requiring ministerial approval (Section 40(18) of the Provincial Health Agencies Act).
  • Empowered the Minister to direct a provincial health agency or regional health authority to disestablish community health councils (Section 10(5) of the Provincial Health Agencies Act).
  • Stipulated that community health councils must be established in accordance with an approved health plan and regulations (Section 10(2) of the Provincial Health Agencies Act).

Why it matters

  • Reduces local autonomy and community input in health care governance by making community health councils optional rather than a guaranteed part of the system.
  • Centralizes control over the existence and operation of community health councils with the Minister, who can order their disestablishment.
  • May diminish the role of community-level advisory bodies in shaping health services and providing local perspectives.

Other governance concerns

  • Reduced community participation in health governance
  • Ministerial control over local advisory bodies

Primary sources (1)

Secondary sources (1)