Thank you, CMA

August 27, 2020

Dear Members:

This is a big shout out and THANK YOU to the Canadian Medical Association from Alberta physicians. 

Through these extremely troubling and disruptive times, the support of our CMA friends and colleagues has been unwavering.

The CMA has steadfastly supported us throughout this year as we have seen the foundations of our profession threatened:

• A fair negotiated agreement and rate arbitration dismissed
• Our contract terminated (Bill 21)
• Our freedom to practice restricted in 2022 (Bill 21)
• Imposition of a funding framework that destabilizes medical practices
• Self-regulation diminished, potentially bureaucratized and removed
• Bill 30 introducing the corporatization of medicine

With the CMA, and the Provincial and Territorial Medical Associations, we stand together across Canada to address the need for recognition and support for physicians to be able to fulfill their social contract with society.

Canadians have been promised a strong public health care system by their governments.

Physical and psychological safety, as well as financial supports, are required for physicians to fulfill their calling to serve, heal and advocate for and with citizens. Physicians must have a voice free from political intimidation to advocate for the health needs of our society. Physicians are uniquely qualified and it is essential they have a place at the table of health care reform and a meaningful role in the stewardship of the health care system.

Our consistent messaging, our robust grassroots advocacy and the power of our unity is a clear message to government that we will continue to be a bulwark for the health care needs of our patients and a sustainable system.

Working together, the CMA and AMA have always had a close relationship. In recent years, the Memorandum of Understanding between the Associations has seen united advocacy, establishment of the Well Doc initiative in Alberta and direct financial support for the AMA in getting to a negotiated agreement with our government, including our charter challenge that is currently proceeding.

At no time has the CMA’s support been more needed or appreciated. In his address to the virtual CMA Annual General Meeting this past weekend, Dr. Sandy Buchman said:

“The situation in Alberta is beyond words. The antennae are raised because this can happen to any groups of physicians in any jurisdiction in Canada. It is kind of ‘there but for the grace of god go we.’ We have been in the forefront of supporting the AMA in their negotiation and discussion with government….we will continue to do more, we are in this for the duration. We need to show solidarity with our Alberta colleagues.”

Dr. Buchman also wrote a letter to all Alberta-based CMA members in the last week of his presidency to share his continued support and some encouraging words. I look forward to continuing to work with him and the CMA leadership under newly installed CMA President, Dr. Ann Collins.

Through the CMA, we have also received much appreciated support from our fellow Provincial and Territorial Medical Associations. The relationship between the CMA and the PTMA’s is strengthening and evolving for the greater good of our profession and the health care for our patients across Canada.

CMA, thank you again from Alberta!

In your service,

Christine P. Molnar, MD, FRCPC

President, Alberta Medical Association