EDMONTON — This morning, Premier Smith and Minister LaGrange announced that the government is partnering with Covenant Health, Alberta’s Catholic public hospital operator, to create two new health care facilities in Airdrie; a new Urgent Care and Birthing Centre as well as a Primary, Surgical and Ambulatory Care Centre.

EDMONTON — Last night, NDP candidate Kyle Campbell surprised many by winning the provincial by-election in South Calgary constituency of Calgary-Shaw. Most recently held by former UCP cabinet minister Rebecca Schulz, many political watchers considered the constituency a safe conservative riding.

EDMONTON — Private, for-profit plasma collector Grifols has announced they are temporarily pausing blood plasma collection at all of its donation centres across Canada, including collection sites here in Alberta. This news came after months of public scrutiny on the company’s operations following the deaths of two individuals who sold their plasma at a Grifols site in Winnipeg.

No matter where you live, or who you are, you and your family deserve timely access to quality public health care — when and where you need it. 

That's why Friends of Medicare and well-known public health care advocate, Dr. Paul Parks are touring the province to hear from Albertans on what we are experiencing in our health care system, and to discuss what changes could make our lives and our health better. 

EDMONTON — Health Canada has confirmed to CBC News that two people died after giving blood plasma at pay-for-plasma collection centres run by Grifols in Winnipeg — one in October of 2025, and another in January of this year. This follows news that another Winnipeg man is suing over mechanical equipment failure that caused serious kidney injury after his plasma was withdrawn at a Grifols-owned Canadian Plasma Resources location.

EDMONTON — Yesterday, the Minister of Health announced yet another restructuring change for Alberta health care, creating another new agency called Cancer Care Alberta and sharing that later this year, cancer care will fall under Acute Care Alberta. No details were provided on how this will improve patient care, reduce our unacceptably long cancer treatment wait times, or address concerns from frontline health care workers.

EDMONTON — The 2025 provincial budget will be tabled in the legislature next Thursday, February 27th. Heading into the budget, the provincial government continues to roll out their expensive and chaotic restructuring of public health care in Alberta, while doubling-down on their failing privatization strategies.

EDMONTON — Every year, February 4th marks World Cancer Day, an important day to raise awareness and mobilize for improvements to cancer care. This year, we are calling on the Alberta government to publicly share more information on the plans for the continued operations of the new Arthur J.E. Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre. Friends of Medicare was pleased to see the new centre finally begin taking appointments in October, but we remain concerned that the public has yet to be provided a plan for full operations at this new facility.

EDMONTON — Yesterday, the Office of the Minister of Health confirmed to DiscoverAirdrie that the controversial proposal to build a facility to house a primary care clinic as well as a second urgent care centre in Airdrie has been approved. Airdrie remains by far the largest city in Alberta without a hospital.