Billions Sent, No Records Kept? Health Canada Reports No Enforcement Files for Alberta regarding Federal Health Transfers.
On Dec 19th, 2025 I submitted a formal Access to Information and Privacy(ATIP) request to retrieve records related to compliance and enforcement actions between the Federal government and Alberta regarding Federal Health Transfers. Despite several rounds of clarifying and scope modification, Health Canada states, "Having completed a thorough search, we regret to inform you that we were unable to locate any records responsive to your request."
The condensed timeline is below.
Dec 8, 2025: Original letter sent to Health Canada, Provincial Ministries, and Federal Ministries.
Dec 19, 2025: ATIP request submitted to Health Canada: “HCA Enforcement and Compliance Records – Alberta” (AORS EA2025_0148580)
Dec 19, 2025: CHA Division generic reply
Dec 22, 2025: Scope modification request received (ATIP Division, Health Canada)
Dec 30, 2025: Scope modification sent
Jan 6, 2026: Scope modification accepted
Jan 9, 2026 : ATIP acknowledgment received from Health Canada
Jan 13, 2026: Office of the Information Commissioner clarified scope; no timeline provided
Feb 23, 2026: Update requested from HC on ATIP
Feb 23, 2026: Alberta Ombudsman complaint/investigation request submitted
Feb 25, 2026: Health Canada official response: ‘no records available’
Feb 25, 2026: Federal + Provincial Health Minister contacted RE: ATIP response
Mar 2 2026: Complaint filed with Office of the Information Commissioner of Canada - Confirmation Number: ACC-2026-03-0362
My letter to Ministers Feb 25th 2026:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1UCpAzJ73MnvOLGCLDy3uIHmNXi2DZZwJ/view?usp=sharing
HC Final Response:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Z6oxNwydIsYmHx58CblkiOjN2GrzhQtm/view?usp=drivesdk
Thank you for sharing, signing, and staying engaged. I am currently waiting on responses from:
- Alberta Ombudsman
- Alberta Health Minister(s) or MPs
- Federal Health Minister- Honourable Marjorie Michel
- The Information Commissioner of Canada
- Office of the Auditor General of Canada
Canada Health Transfer
What is the Canada Health Transfer (CHT)?
The Canada Health Transfer, or CHT, is the largest major federal transfer to provinces and territories. It provides long-term predictable funding for health care and supports the principles of the Canada Health Act (CHA).
- CHT payments are made on an equal per capita basis to provide comparable treatment for all Canadians, regardless of where they live.
- Since 2017-18, total CHT funding has been legislated to grow in line with a three-year moving average of nominal gross domestic product (GDP), with total funding guaranteed to increase by at least 3 per cent per year.
- CHT funds have at times been withheld for violations of the CHA in relation to extra billing and user charges. Health Canada produces an Annual Report on the extent to which provincial and territorial health care insurance plans have satisfied the criteria and the conditions for payment under the Act.
- In Budget 2018, the government announced legislative amendments to allow CHT deductions to be reimbursed when provinces and territories have taken the steps necessary to eliminate extra-billing and user charges in the delivery of public health care. This was done to encourage provinces and territories to take corrective action to align their public health care systems with the principles of the CHA, as well as to recognize those that have addressed issues of non-compliance.