Alberta politicians are set to return to the legislature this week for a spring sitting that is expected to see the first steps on sweeping structural reforms to a health-care system grappling to find and keep family doctors.
The sitting begins Wednesday and is to be followed Thursday by the release of the 2024 provincial budget, which Premier Danielle Smith has signalled will not keep pace with Alberta’s growth.
The United Conservative Party government committed late last year to spending $200 million to help family doctors keep the lights on while a new funding agreement with physicians is hammered out.
Physician shortages have been a recurring issue in several local communities, most notably in Fairview, which has had several days this month with no doctor coverage in the hospital emergency department.
The province has yet to release a list of bills to be introduced in the sitting but has indicated legislation is coming to begin the promised dismantling of Alberta Health Services – the $17-billion agency tasked with delivering front-line care provincewide.
NDP house leader Christina Gray says the NDP will push the UCP to fulfil its promises and fix chaos and overcrowding in health care and education.
Gray said the NDP would also continue to challenge recently announced changes by Smith to rules for transgender youth.
The NDP also finds itself in new territory for the first time in a decade.
A leadership race is underway to replace Rachel Notley as leader. Notley has said she is staying in the job until a replacement is picked June 22.
– Kyle Moore, Trending 55 Newsroom
