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The UCP fired its heaviest artillery at Alberta doctors Thursday, cancelling their funding contract, cutting a key pay element and enabling 10 more changes through a cabinet order in council.

Doctors were fearful some of this would happen, but stunned by the extent of it.

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They will immediately challenge the contract cancellation in court, said Dr. Christine Molnar, president of the Alberta Medical Association.

“They have chosen to tear up a viable contract before the end of term.

“I believe this is the first time this has happened in Canada. A first for Alberta. A sad day for health care.

“We had offered a short-term saving of three per cent, around $150 million. We had informed them that another offer was to be delivered tomorrow (Friday).

“This is a betrayal of the process that we entered into in good faith. As a result of their actions, physicians feel betrayed.”

Molnar said she was not told Thursday’s announcement was coming, despite having spoken to Health Minister Tyler Shandro as recently as Monday.