Deputy minister becomes head honcho after AHS board dissolved again

By ANNA SMITH Local Journalism Initiative on February 1, 2025.

asmith@medicinehatnews.com

ANNA SMITH

asmith@medicinehatnews.com

Local Journalism Initiative

The government of Alberta provided an update on the ongoing restructuring of the health-care system on Friday, and a transition of the organization to a hospital-based service provider.

Recovery Alberta became fully operational last September. Today, Primary Care Alberta will become fully operational and Acute Care Alberta is established as a legal entity, moving that much closer to the proposed four-pillar model, with Assisted Living Alberta expected to be operational in the fall.

“We are at a critical time in our efforts to refocus the health-care system to better deliver health care to Albertans across the province, and this decision will allow us to be responsive to the health-care needs of Albertans,” said Health Minister Adriana LaGrange. “I want to thank the board for its time, effort and dedication to providing governance over the initial steps to refocus the health-care system.”

As of Friday, interim president and CEO Andre Tremblay took on an official administrator role in place of the board of directors to oversee all remaining activities to transition AHS to its role as a service delivery provider, said the province. He will also retain his position as deputy minister of the Ministry of Health.

The move was met with derision by the opposition NDP. Sarah Hoffman, Shadow Minister for Health, called it “déjà vu” and accused Premier Danielle Smith of incompetence for firing a board that she herself appointed.

“(This) shows just how chaotic…this government is,” said Hoffman in a statement. “Danielle Smith acknowledged that conservatives were failing on public health care and promised to fix it in 90 days. (Now), 834 days later, Albertans are still waiting for her to make good on that promise, but things are getting worse.”

She said the new health agencies have yet to deliver any substantive benefits to Albertans. Meanwhile, the situation is deteriorating for many people while Smith plays at politics.

“Nearly a million people still don’t have a family doctor,” said Hoffman. “Cancer patients are dying waiting for treatment, seniors aren’t getting the support they need and deserve, and too many are left immobile while enduring devastatingly long waits for critical surgeries.

“No one is asking for dismantling, mass firings, chaos, and new logos,” she added. “We all deserve public health care that is there when and where we need it. It’s time for the government to invest in making things better for us all.”

As official administrator, the province says, Tremblay will oversee completion of the system-refocusing initiative at AHS, while also aiming for a seamless transition to an acute-care service provider and hospital operator.

“Alberta Health Services will continue to play an important part in the delivery of health care to Albertans across the province,” said Tremblay. “As we continue to advance this important work, I look forward to working with the leadership team and staff across the organization as AHS transitions to a service delivery provider.”

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