Health Care and Alberta’s Future: What’s at Stake?
Canada’s health care system is built on a network of shared funding agreements, national standards, workforce mobility arrangements, and coordinated regulatory systems that have evolved over decades. This month’s A&E spotlight explores how discussions about Alberta’s constitutional future raise important questions about the long-term stability of these systems, particularly regarding federal health transfers, the Canada Health Act, workforce recruitment, and access to medications and medical supplies.
Alberta’s health system is already facing significant pressures, including population growth, an aging population, rising mental health and community care needs, workforce shortages, and the growing impact of social determinants of health such as housing affordability and food insecurity. In this context, maintaining strong national partnerships and stable public funding is presented as an important factor in protecting universal access to publicly funded health care and ensuring Albertans continue to receive care based on need rather than ability to pay.
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Bill 13, the Regulated Professions Neutrality Act, often referred to as the “Peterson law,” limits professional regulators’ ability to discipline members for what they say or do outside of work.
Supporters say it protects freedom of expression and prevents regulatory overreach. But critics—including experts like Jared Wesley—warn it could weaken public protections and make it harder to address harmful or discriminatory conduct.
The legislation also removes requirements for training in areas like cultural competency, anti-racism, and unconscious bias unless directly tied to job performance. For healthcare professionals, this raises serious concerns about patient safety, equity, and quality of care—especially for marginalized communities.
As this law comes into force, the question remains: how do we balance freedom of expression with the responsibility professionals have to uphold trust, safety, and equitable care?
The Local newsletter was sent via MailChimp with updated member contact information from the Provincial UNA Office. It was sent to personal email addresses only. Please update your contact information in UNA’s DMS systemif you have not received our newsletter.
EDMONTON: CITY OF CHAMPIONS — OR FROSTBITE CAPITAL?
Edmonton is facing a growing crisis.
Since 2021, 188 frostbite amputations have been performed on people experiencing homelessness in our city, according to Taylor Lambert reporting for CBC News.
This isn’t just a statistic—it’s a system failure.
Our unsheltered population has nearly tripled since 2019. Patients are leaving emergency departments before being seen, only to return later with severe frostbite—often beyond the 72-hour window for treatment.
At the same time, EMS crews are responding to up to 30 opioid-related calls per day.
This is what happens when:
Shelters are inadequate or unavailable
Encampments are dismantled without support
Care is delayed or inaccessible
Addiction and homelessness are left unaddressed
The result? More suffering. More strain on healthcare. More preventable harm.
As healthcare workers and advocates, we have to ask: How did we get here—and what are we going to do about it?
Edmonton deserves better. So do the people living in it.
Click HEREfor the new spotlight on Frostbite in Edmonton
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United Nurses of Alberta, Local 196 
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