Ministry of Health (Alberta)

Last updated

Ministry of Health
Agency overview
FormedApril 19, 1919 [1] : 283 
Jurisdiction Alberta
Headquarters Edmonton, Alberta
Annual budget C$22,253,389 (March 31, 2019) [2]
Agency executives
  • Adriana LaGrange, Minister of Health
  • Mike Ellis, Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions
Website https://www.alberta.ca/health

Alberta's Ministry of Health is a ministry of the Executive Council of Alberta whose major responsibilities include setting "policy and direction to achieve a sustainable and accountable health system to promote and protect the health of Albertans." [3]

Contents

On April 16, 2019, Tyler Shandro replaced Sarah Hoffman as Minister of Health following the 2019 Alberta general election. [3]

On June 9, 2023, Adriana LaGrange replaced Jason Copping as Minister of Health. [4]

The annual budget as of March 31, 2019, was C$22,253,389. [2]

The Edmonton, Alberta-headquartered Alberta Health Services (AHS), was established in 2008 as the "first province-wide, fully integrated health system" in Canada. The AHS delivers medical care on behalf of the Government of Alberta's Ministry of Health. [5] The AHS serves 4.3 million Albertans and has a staff of 125,000 staff and 10,000 physicians. [6] : 3 

History

The Department of Public Health was established on April 19, 1919 by the Department of Public Health Act, [7] to replace the Public Health Branch of the Department of Municipal Affairs. [1] : 283  In 1967, the name was changed to the Department of Health. [1] : 283  In 1971, during the premiership of Progressive Conservative Peter Lougheed who served as the premier from 1971 to 1985, the Department of Health was dissolved by the Department of Health and Social Development Act, [8] when the departments of Health and Social Development were merged to become the Department of Health and Social Development. In 1975, this department was renamed Social Services and Community Health. [1] : 283  And from 1975 to 1988 a separate Department of Hospitals and Medical Care also existed, separate from community health. [1] Between 1971 and 1988, the administration of most community health programs shifted to six regional offices. [1] : 283 

In 1988, during the Progressive Conservative premiership of Don Getty, the Department of Health was re-established in 1988, with a merger of the Department of Community and Occupational Health and the Department of Hospitals and Medical Care. [1] : 283  By 1988, the department no longer provided direct services; its role was to regulate, support, and supervise the "provision of services and programs through community-based organizations and board-governed institutions." [1] : 283 

During the tenure of Progressive Conservative Premier Ralph Klein, who served from 1992 to 2006 Alberta's healthcare system was redesigned. [1] : 283  With a focus on eliminating Alberta's deficit, [9] deep cuts were made in provincial health representing health spending per capita declining from C$1,393 in 1992 to $1,156 in 1995. [9] Under the 1994 Regional Health Authorities Act, 17 regional health authorities were created, replacing hundreds of local hospital boards, long-term care and public health services. At the same time, Klein established provincial health authorities for cancer, mental health and addiction services. Per capita spending on health was cut from CA $1,393 in 1992 to $1,156 in 1995. [9] By 1994, the health department's responsibilities "were limited to overall healthcare policy, providing direction to the healthcare system and regional health authorities, and setting standards for service providers." [1] : 283  The department was dissolved in 1999 and replaced by the Ministry of Health and Wellness. [1] : 283  Health services in Alberta had undergone several governance reorganization under Premier Klein, which had resulted in fewer separate public organizational entities, in 1996, [10] [11] 2003, [12] and 2006. [13] The Ministry of Health and Wellness, which was established in 1999, replaced the Department of Health. [1] : 295  Under Progressive Conservative Premier Ed Stelmach, who served from December 2006 to October 2011, major reforms to Alberta's health-care system were introduced.

On May 15, 2008, then-Health Minister Ron Liepert, announced the creation of "Canada's first province-wide, fully integrated health system"—the Alberta Health Services (AHS)—as a quasi-independent agency of the Alberta government with a mandate to public health services throughout the province. The AHS brought "together 12 formerly separate health entities in the province including three geographically based health authorities, Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission (AADAC), Alberta Mental Health Board and Alberta Cancer Board. [14] On April 1, 2009, through the Health Governance Transition Amendment Act, the Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission (AADAC), Alberta Mental Health Board and Alberta Cancer Board, were dissolved. [15] : 12–3  [16] : 44–49  As well, the Act consolidated the $13-billion-a-year system with its nine regional health authority boards— Aspen Health Region, Calgary Health Region, Capital Health Region, Chinook Health Region, David Thompson Health Region, East Central Health Region, Northern Lights Health Region, Palliser Health Region, and Peace Country Health Region into one provincial governance board, a public corporation. [17]

Since 2019

The August 2019 UCP mandated Blue Ribbon Panel on Alberta's Finances led by Janice MacKinnon—former Saskatchewan health minister—said rising health costs need to be addressed. [18] The panel reported that Alberta was getting comparatively "substandard outcomes for the money it pays." [19] Alberta spent $20.6 billion on health in 2019, which represents over 40% of the operating budget. [19]

Alberta Medical Association Master Agreement

Bill 21, which was passed in the fall of 2019 during the premiership of Jason Kenney, gave the Alberta government the right to unilaterally end the long-standing master agreement with the Alberta Medical Association (AMA) which ends on March 31, 2020. [20] When Health Minister, Tyler Shandro, terminated the agreement on March 30 and introduced a new fee structure, the AMA responded by filing a lawsuit on April 9 citing the unilateral termination of the master agreement with the Alberta government, the "government's conduct during negotiations", and Bill 21 as "some of the reasons for filing the claim". [21]

AHS review and recommendations

A December 31, 2019 performance review of Alberta Health Services by Ernst & Young—commissioned by the UCP government—made numerous recommendations to cut costs and increase efficiencies, and set an "aggressive" timeline of three years for implementation of a "massive overhaul" of Alberta's health-care system. [22] [6] On February 3, 2020 Minister Shandro announced the reports findings. The 57 recommendations in the report are aimed at saving about $1.5 billion to $1.9 billion annually. [23] These included "performing more surgeries in private clinics and outsourcing services such as housekeeping and food." [23]

Ministry structure

Alberta's Ministry of Health includes "Health Services and Legislation", "Health Assessment and Grants", and Public Health. The ministry also has oversight of the Alberta Health Government Board, and other boards.

Chief officers and ministers

The chief officers of the Department of Public Health from 1919 to 1967, include Alexander Grant MacKay (1919–1920), Charles Richmond Mitchell (1920–1921), Richard Gavin Reid (1921–1923), George Hoadley (1923–1935), Wallace Warren Cross (1935–1957), Joseph Donovan Ross (1957–1967). [1] : 291 

Ministers of Health from 1967 to 1971, include Joseph Donovan Ross (1967–1969), James Douglas Henderson (1969–1971). [1] : 291  Ministers of Health from 1988 to 1999 include Nancy J. Betkowsk i (1988–1992), Shirley McClellan (1992–1996), and Halvar Jonson (1996–1999). [1] : 291 

The Ministers of Health and Wellness from 1999 to 2012 include Halvar Jonson (1999–2000), Gary Mar (June 2, 2000 – November 25, 2004) and Iris Evans (November 25, 2004 – December 15, 2006) under Premier Klein, [1] : 295  Ron Liepert (March 12, 2008 – January 15, 2010) and Gene Zwozdesky (January 15, 2010 – October 12, 2011), and Dave Hancock (December 15, 2006 – March 12, 2008) under Stelmach, Fred Horne (October 12, 2011 – May 8, 2012) under Premier Redford. [24] Stephen Mandel was Minister of Health and Seniors from September 15, 2014 to May 24, 2015 under PC Premier Prentice.

Ministers of Health from 2016 to present are Sarah Hoffman (February 2, 2016 – April 30, 2019) in the cabinet of NDP Notley, and Tyler Shandro (2019- September 20, 2021), Jason Copping (September 21, 2021 - date) in the cabinets of Premier Jason Kenney [3] and Danielle Smith.

Main agencies: Alberta Health Services and Covenant Health

The Edmonton, Alberta-headquartered Alberta Health Services (AHS) was established on May 15, 2008 as a quasi-independent agency of the Alberta government with a mandate to deliver public health services throughout Alberta. [14] The AHS, which is the "first province-wide, fully integrated health system", delivers medical care on behalf of the Government of Alberta's Ministry of Health. [5] According to the December 31, 2019 Ernst & Young AHS performance review, the AHS serves 4.3 Million Albertans and has a staff of 125,000 staff and 10,000 physicians. [6] : 3 

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ralph Klein</span> Premier of Alberta from 1992 to 2006

Ralph Philip Klein was a Canadian politician and journalist who served as the 12th premier of Alberta and leader of the Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta from 1992 until his retirement in 2006. Klein also served as the 32nd mayor of Calgary from 1980 to 1989.

Lyle Knute Oberg is an Albertan politician and former member of the Legislative Assembly. He is also a physician and business executive.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ed Stelmach</span> Premier of Alberta from 2006 to 2011

Edward Michael Stelmach is a Canadian politician who served as the 13th premier of Alberta, from 2006 to 2011. The grandson of Ukrainian immigrants, Stelmach was born and raised on a farm near Lamont and fluently speaks the distinctive Canadian dialect of Ukrainian. He spent his entire pre-political adult life as a farmer, except for some time spent studying at the University of Alberta. His first foray into politics was a 1986 municipal election, when he was elected to Lamont County council. A year into his term, he was appointed reeve. He continued in this position until his entry into provincial politics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2008 Alberta general election</span>

The 2008 Alberta general election was held on March 3, 2008, to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta.

Mary Anne Jablonski is a Canadian politician and former Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta representing the constituency of Red Deer North as a Progressive Conservative.

Ronald Liepert is a Canadian politician from Alberta who serves as the Member of Parliament for Calgary Signal Hill in the House of Commons of Canada. He previously served in the Cabinet of Alberta as Minister of Finance, Energy, Health and Wellness and Education under premiers Ed Stelmach and Alison Redford. From 2004 to 2012, he was a Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, representing the constituency of Calgary-West, as a Progressive Conservative legislator. On April 12, 2014, Liepert won the federal Conservative nomination in Calgary Signal Hill, defeating incumbent Rob Anders, and was elected to parliament in 2015. He was re-elected in 2019 and 2021.

Alberta Municipal Affairs is a ministry of the Executive Council of Alberta. Its major responsibilities include assisting municipalities in the provision of local government, administering the assessment of linear property in Alberta, administering a safety system for the construction and maintenance of buildings and equipment, and managing Alberta's network of municipal and library system boards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Guy Boutilier</span> Canadian politician (1959–2024)

Guy Carleton Boutilier was a Canadian politician, who sat as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1997 to 2012. He was elected as a Progressive Conservative, and served in several capacities in the Cabinet of Alberta under Premiers Ralph Klein and Ed Stelmach before being ejected from the PC caucus in July 2009; he joined the Wildrose Alliance Party after sitting as an independent for a year.

Alberta Health Services (AHS) is the single health authority for the Canadian province of Alberta and the "largest integrated provincial health care system" in Canada. Headquartered in Edmonton, AHS delivers medical care on behalf of the Government of Alberta's Ministry of Health. It operates 850 facilities throughout the province, including hospitals, clinics, continuing care facilities, mental health facilities and community health sites, that provide a variety of programs and services. AHS is the largest employer in the province of Alberta. In 2019, AHS served 4.3 million Albertans with a staff of 125,000 staff and 10,000 physicians, and an annual budget of $15.365 billion. Sean Chilton is the Acting President and CEO of AHS and reports to Dr. John Cowell, the AHS Official Administrator. The Official Administrator is accountable to the Minister of Health and the Premier.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alberta Provincial Police</span> Canadian police force from 1917–1932

The Alberta Provincial Police (APP) was the provincial police service for the province of Alberta, Canada, from 1917 to 1932. The APP was formed as a result of the Royal North-West Mounted Police (RNWMP) leaving the prairie provinces during the First World War due to a lack of sufficient resources in light of its increased responsibilities for national security and reluctance to again enforce Prohibition law recently put into effect by the Alberta government after its experience doing so during territorial times. The RNWMP was replaced by the newly created Alberta Provincial Police on March 1, 1917, which remained responsible for provincial policing until 1932, when it was eliminated as a cost-cutting measure during the Great Depression. The APP was known for its tumultuous beginning, battles against rum-runners and bootleggers during prohibition in Canada and the United States, as well as its remarkable efficiency and professionalism which endeared the force to Albertans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stephen Duckett</span>

Stephen John Duckett is a health economist and think-tanker who has occupied many leadership roles in health services in both Australia and Canada, including as Secretary of the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing. He is current health program director at the Grattan Institute, an Australian public policy think tank, Emeritus Professor of Health Policy at La Trobe University, and Chairperson of South Australia's Health Performance Council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ted Morton</span> Canadian politician (born 1949)

Frederick Lee Morton, known commonly as Ted Morton, is an American-Canadian politician and former cabinet minister in the Alberta government. As a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, he represented the constituency of Foothills-Rocky View as a Progressive Conservative from 2004 to 2012. He did not win reelection in the 2012 Alberta general election. Morton was a candidate for the leadership of the Progressive Conservative Association in its 2006 and 2011 leadership elections. Morton is currently Professor Emeritus of Political Science at the University of Calgary.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tyler Shandro</span> Canadian politician (born c. 1976)

Tyler Shandro is a Canadian politician who served as the minister of justice and solicitor general of Alberta from February 2022 to June 2023. A member of the United Conservative Party (UCP), Shandro was elected to represent Calgary-Acadia in the Legislative Assembly of Alberta in the 2019 provincial election. He was Alberta's minister of health from 2019 to 2021, and minister of labour and immigration from 2021 until he was named justice minister in 2022. He lost re-election in the 2023 provincial election.

Friends of Medicare is Canadian non-profit organization that advocates for the Canadian universal public health system. The group was founded in September 1979 in Edmonton, Alberta. Friends of Medicare is a coalition of many individuals and organizations, from physicians to patients, seniors’ organizations, cultural and community groups, and labour unions. It has played a role in defending the principles of Canada's universal public health system both in Alberta and nationally.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Premiership of Jason Kenney</span> Aspect of Canadian politics

The premiership of Jason Kenney spanned from April 2019 until October 2022, when Jason Kenney and his cabinet were sworn in by Lieutenant Governor of Alberta, Lois Mitchell. Kenney was invited to form the 30th Alberta Legislature and became the 18th Premier of Alberta, following the 2019 Alberta general election where Kenney's United Conservative Party (UCP) won a majority of seats in the Alberta Legislature leading to the resignation of Premier Rachel Notley. Kenney stepped down as leader of the UCP party on May 18, 2022, after receiving 51.4% of the UCP party members' votes. His premiership ended shortly after Danielle Smith won the subsequent leadership election and was sworn in as premier.

<i>Health Statutes Amendment Act, 2020</i> Omnibus health bill in Alberta, Canada

The Health Statutes Amendment Act, 2020, otherwise known as Bill 30, is an omnibus bill introduced on July 6, 2020, by the Canadian province of Alberta's United Conservative Party's (UCP) Minister of Health Tyler Shandro. Its passed its 1st reading on July 6, its 2nd reading on July 23, and its 3rd reading on July 29. It was the last piece of legislation during the spring session of the 30th Alberta Legislature.

The MacKinnon Report, officially titled Report and recommendations: Blue Ribbon Panel on Alberta’s Finances, is the official report documenting the findings and conclusions of Blue-Ribbon Panel on Alberta's Finances into the economy of Alberta and the province's finances. The Panel was chaired by former Saskatchewan finance minister Janice MacKinnon, and was submitted to the Minister of Finance Travis Toews on August 15, 2019, and subsequently released to the public on September 3, 2019.

Ontario Health is a Crown agency of the Government of Ontario. Described as a "super agency", Ontario Health oversees much of the administration of the Ontario healthcare system, with the stated goal of integrating services split between organizations.

The following is a timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in Alberta.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Premiership of Danielle Smith</span> Danielle Smiths time as premier of Alberta and her policies

The premiership of Danielle Smith began on 11 October 2022 when she was sworn in by Lieutenant Governor of Alberta, Salma Lakhani. Smith won the 2022 United Conservative Party leadership election to replace then Alberta Premier Jason Kenney on October 6, 2022, and was appointed as the 19th Premier of Alberta. Her cabinet was sworn in on 22 October.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 An administrative history of the Government of Alberta, 1905-2005 (PDF) (1st ed.). Provincial Archives of Alberta. June 19, 2017. p. 567. ISBN   978-0778547143 . Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  2. 1 2 "2018-2019 Annual Report" (PDF). open.alberta.ca. March 31, 2019. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  3. 1 2 3 "Minister of Health". Government of Alberta. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  4. ↑ "Ministry of Health" . Retrieved November 10, 2023.
  5. 1 2 "Alberta Health". Alberta Health. Government of Alberta. Archived from the original on January 7, 2014. Retrieved January 4, 2014.
  6. 1 2 3 Alberta Health Services Performance Review Summary Report (PDF). Ernst & Young (Report). December 31, 2019. p. 101. Retrieved April 5, 2020.
  7. ↑ "An Act respecting the Department of Public Health". April 19, 1919. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  8. ↑ "The Department of Health and Social Development Act" . Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  9. 1 2 3 "Explosive Change in Klein's Alberta, 1992–2000". Canadian Museum of Civilization . History of Canadian Medicare 1989–2007. 2007. Retrieved April 5, 2020.
  10. ↑ Philippon, D. J. and S. A. Wasylyshyn (1996). Health-care reform in Alberta. Canadian Public Administration 39(1): 70-84.
  11. ↑ Reay, T. and C. R. Hinings (2005). The Recomposition of an Organizational Field: Health Care in Alberta. Organization Studies 26(3): 351-384.
  12. ↑ Hinings, C. R., A. Casebeer, et al. (2003). Regionalizing Healthcare in Alberta: Legislated Change, Uncertainty and Loose Coupling British Journal of Management 14:S1(December): S15-S30.
  13. ↑ Casebeer, A., T. Reay, et al. (2006). Experiences of Regionalization: Assessing Multiple Stakeholder Perspectives across Time. Healthcare Quarterly 9(2): 32-43.
  14. 1 2 "Who We Are". Alberta Health Services. Alberta Health Services. Archived from the original on January 7, 2018. Retrieved January 6, 2018.
  15. ↑ Liepert, RON (2009). Provincial health structure: Alberta (Report). Health Innovation Report. Archived from the original on January 24, 2010. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
  16. ↑ Philippon, D. (2009), Health care system reorganization: expectations, approaches and impact, Health Innovation Report
  17. ↑ Markusoff, Jason; McLean, Archie. "Tories create health superboard: Stelmach plan will see single body rule nine regions". Archived from the original on May 9, 2009. Retrieved June 12, 2008.
  18. ↑ MacKinnon, Janice (August 2019). Report and Recommendations: Blue Ribbon Panel on Alberta's Finances (PDF) (Report). p. 82. Retrieved November 1, 2019.
  19. 1 2 Bennett, Dean (December 30, 2019). "'Significant changes': Alberta eyeing major reforms to health system in 2020". Calgary Herald. Retrieved November 8, 2020.
  20. ↑ Bruch, Timm (February 20, 2020). "Province implements new framework for physician pay". CTV Calgary. Retrieved November 8, 2020.
  21. ↑ Knight, Demi (April 9, 2020). "Alberta Medical Association files lawsuit against provincial government". Global News. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
  22. ↑ Russell, Jennie; Rusnell, Charles (October 13, 2020). "Alberta Health Services to lay off up to 11,000 staff, mostly through outsourcing". CBC. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
  23. 1 2 Fieldberg, Alesia (February 3, 2020). "AHS review recommends up to $1.9B in annual cost-saving cuts". CTV Calgary. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
  24. ↑ "Alison Redford remakes Alberta cabinet in major shuffle of ministers". National Post. December 7, 2013. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.