Alberta Record

· Bill / Governance Change · enacted

Bill 22 — Reduced Autonomy and Discretionary Status for Community Health Councils

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 and control.

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

What changed

  • Repealed and substituted Section 10 of the former Regional Health Authorities Act, making the establishment of community health councils discretionary for provincial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