Opposition NDP calls for more government action on health crisis as Smith’s media silence hits four weeks

By MEDICINE HAT NEWS on February 3, 2026.

The opposition NDP has issued a petition demanding further action from the UCP government on the health-care crisis in the province’s hospitals.

The NDP is calling on Premier Danielle Smith to address Albertans and acknowledge the ongoing crisis conditions across the health-care system.

Smith has not been present at a media availability since Jan. 2.

“Albertans deserve to know from their premier what actions she has taken to address this crisis,” said an NDP press release Monday.

Only one of four health ministers, Minister of Hospital and Surgical Health Services, has held a media availability to provide updates to the press in the past month.

The legislative petition reiterates earlier demands issued by the NDP in January, including the declaration of a state of emergency for Alberta’s emergency rooms, the reinstatement of a central command for health-care decision-making and reconvening the legislature to hold an emergency debate.

At an unrelated press conference Jan. 21, Minister of Assisted Living and Social Services Jason Nixon responded to a question about the NDP’s demand in January that legislature be recalled.

“I don’t think calling back the legislature and spending a bunch of money and bringing everybody back into there to talk about something we all agree has to be fixed,” he said.

Many hospitals are operating well above capacity. At the Jan. 15 press conference, Acute Care Alberta CEO David Diamond said the average capacity at the 16 largest hospitals across the province was 102 per cent. Some centres faced capacity overages as high as 110 to 120 per cent last month.

“Health care falls squarely under provincial jurisdiction, and Danielle Smith is the one in charge,” said Opposition Leader Naheed Nenshi. “If Smith and her UCP government can’t manage the responsibilities they were entrusted by Albertans to deliver on, then it’s time for a new government that will.”

The petition is available to the public at https://www.albertandpcaucus.ca/take-action/petitions/health-care-emergency.