FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 22, 1998

EDMONTON -- Hundreds of Albertans who are opposed to privatization in health care are expected to turn up at the Legislature tonight to listen to debate on Bill 37.

Last night, more than 200 people packed into the Legislature's public gallery to show their opposition to the bill, which would give the government power to approve private hospitals anywhere in the province.

After seeing the large group of protesters, the government decided to postpone debate on Bill 37 until today. But the protesters -- including seniors, nurses, teachers, students and others -- promised to return tonight.

"The government obviously wants to ram Bill 37 through with as little public scrutiny as possible," said Audrey Cormack, president of the Alberta Federation of Labour and one of the protesters. "But, we'll keep coming back every time it's scheduled for debate. We won't let the Tories undermine Medicare without a fight."

Bill 37 is scheduled to be debated during an evening sitting of the Legislature tonight, starting at 8 p.m. People involved in the campaign against the Bill will start taking their seats in the public galleries around 7:30 p.m.

"We intend to keep the pressure up on this issue," said Cormack. "This Bill threatens the future of Medicare in Alberta and we will do everything we can to stop it."