Cutting close to 10,000 health care jobs isn't going over well with the NDP.

Leader Rachel Notley says the whole idea of cutting positions in labs, housekeeping, food services and laundry is wrong headed.

"Jason Kenney's plans are completely irresponsible, frankly these plans are stupid," she says. "They will cause harm to patients, harm to communities, particularly to rural ones and they will harm our chances for an economic recovery."

She says anyone who's had a loved one in the hospital knows workers in these positions are essential workers.

Notley says the failings of for profit continuing care during this pandemic are well known and now the premier and health minister want to bring it to the front line of health care in Alberta.

She says the job losses will be felt mostly in rural Alberta.

"In many rural communities the hospital is the largest employer, destroying those jobs, or sending them into the cities, or out of the province altogether will be yet another heavy blow to local, rural economies that are already reeling under higher property taxes, higher school fees and the doctor exodus triggered by Jason Kenney and Tyler Shandro."

She says these cuts aren't about saving money but de-stabilizing public health care and creating a path to American style health care in Alberta.

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