Premier Danielle Smith:

Declare a health care state of emergency

Our ERs are crumbling into chaos

The Alberta Medical Association and frontline workers are calling for it. Albertans are waiting hours for care they might never get. It’s time to call this what it is: a crisis.

The health care system is broken, and band-aids aren't fixing it.

What this means

  • Blocked Beds: Patients waiting in ERs for hours because hospital wards are full.

  • Preventable Tragedies: 8-hour wait times leading to devastating outcomes.

  • System Failure: Hospitals not functioning 24/7 and no plans for predictable surges.

Why it matters

This isn't just about wait times; it's about life and death (as we have seen). When ERs are overflowing with patients who have nowhere else to go, the entire system gridlocks. Frontline workers are facing burnout and moral injury, forced to make impossible choices every shift.

We don't need US-style private healthcare or more bureaucracy. We need safe staffing, real capacity, and a government that faces reality.

Take action now

Albertans deserve better than a healthcare system on the brink of collapse.

Tell Danielle Smith to declare a State of Emergency for Alberta’s healthcare. 

Demand real solutions–more beds, more staff, and public funding that keeps up with our population.

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Why I'm Supporting...

jessica b

edmonton, AB

We're Canadian! We're supposed to have good health care for ALL not just the rich!

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204 Report

veronica m

edmonton, AB

I am supporting because I believe healthcare is be a human right. It should not be only quality care to those who can afford it. The ultra rich, and the very poor deserve equal high-quality healthcare. To let someone suffer just because they can’t afford it is abhorrent. I want to know if I’m going into my old age that I will be taking care of if I get sick and not shoved into a low quality facility. It’s terrible that when people need to go to the emergency that they’re not getting the kindness and care they deserve. You can’t put a price tag on peoples lives and their health.

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160 Report

lise p

edmonton, AB

Critical situation and changes need to take place now

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120 Report

walter t

edmonton, AB

The last hospital built in Edmonton was in 1988, the Grey Nuns hospital. Back then Edmonton's population was 576,249 and metro 797,000. Now in 2025 Edmonton's population is 1.2M and metro 1.59M, that's almost doubled and no new hospitals built. The problem is obvious and all these organizational restructuring changes the government is currently undertaking will not make a difference. I would not even call it a bandage solution as it completely misses the mark and adds to the confusion. Under the Alberta Advantage the government tells people to relocate to Alberta. More new residents just adds to the dilemma we are currently dealing with. Deal with all our infrastructure shortfalls first including more newly built hospitals that are fully and properly staffed. It's a no brainer.

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163 Report

sharon n

calgary, AB

People shouldn't be dying while in hospital emergency rooms or waiting days in hospital halls. I have a referral to a hematologist. I hope I'm still alive to see him. All this is ridiculous. Do better.

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100 Report

tom k

calgary, AB

Health is universal. Everyone needs health. Health care should be available to everyone, rich or poor. And just because you are rich, you should not be able to jump in front of a poor person who is in front of you!

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96 Report

arleen t

enoch, AB

I support universal healthcare in Alberta. NO for profit clinics.

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107 Report

Tell the Premier: Declare a health care state of emergency

Albertans deserve better than a healthcare system on the brink of collapse.

Sign the petition

michelle m

edmonton, AB

It’s ridiculous that people are not being seen in a timely manner.

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41 Report

anika h

edmonton, AB

I am supporting this because our healthcare system is in a terrible state . This has real life consequences for every day Albertans. People’s quality of life is suffering and people are dying because of an overburdened and underfunded system. Healthcare is the responsibility of our provincial government and should be their number one priority. Instead of introducing a two tier system that will drain the public care even more, they should invest in the public care to improve services and to attract medical professionals. There is no country in this world that improved their health care by setting up a private system within a public system. But our government doesn’t make decisions based on science or facts as it has proven many times. A for profit system will NEVER improve Healthcare as the goal is to maximize profit, not the health of people.

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39 Report

claire m

airdrie, AB

I don't want another parent, husband, father, wife, mother, child or sibling to needlessly die because our health care system has been underfunded, understaffed, under-supported and under-prioritized!!

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34 Report

pat m

cochrane, AB

People are dying waiting for help in our emergency rooms. This has gone on long enough.

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32 Report

core g

edmonton, AB

I worry for the sick who need urgent care, especially seniors like me.

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27 Report

katie b

calgary, AB

Because I trust medical professionals who are on the front line and have been sounding the alarm about the state of Alberta's healthcare system.

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care
25 Report

kimberley o

edmonton, AB

Our health care system is in shambles - thanks to UPC.

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28 Report

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jodi m

medicine hat, AB

IsI am a chronic pain patient, and this is out of control

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16 Report

breanna s

calgary, AB

Unreasonable healthcare has killed my mother and already left or untreated or worse. We all deserve better. Health care is for everyone, any class, gender, status. This impacts everyone.

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15 Report

sylvia s

edmonton, AB

No one should have to wait 6 hours in an overflowing ER as I did and no one should have to died of a Heart Attack without receiving care or attention. This health care system is a disaster, fix it now, save lives!!

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17 Report

howard s

edmonton, AB

I am experiencing a decline in our health system since last living in Alberta. We have moved back in 2024, and with our health declining, we need proper medical attention. I read that many dollars are wasted on frivolous plans to start up a new police force; money going to private schools from public school funds; private medical centres being supported more and more putting public health systems at risk; and, approval of monies for coal exploration when studies show the major harm it has to our environment world wide.

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21 Report

gary h

leduc, AB

I sat in a hospital emergency waiting room with my wife for way too many hours while her life was very frightening. We are retired and know your health is your quality of life.

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12 Report

brenda m

edmonton, AB

I won’t sit back quietly while Danielle Smith dismantles our Public Health System in favour of lining the pockets of Sam Mraiche and herself. She does not act in the best interests of Albertans.

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29 Report
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Tell Danielle Smith to declare an immediate State of Emergency for Alberta’s healthcare.

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