Chelsae Petrovic has been named the Parliamentary Secretary for Health Workforce Engagement. (Photo: Chelsae Petrovic)

By David Opinko

Southern Alberta MLA to assist health minister

Mar 21, 2024 | 9:31 AM

CLARESHOLM, AB – The Government of Alberta has named a new person to its healthcare portfolio.

Livingstone-Macleod MLA Chelsae Petrovic will serve as the Parliamentary Secretary for Health Workforce Engagement under Minister of Health Adriana LaGrange.

LaGrange says she looks forward to working with Petrovic in the weeks and months to come.

“With her health care background, she will bring a very important perspective to our refocusing work. The voice of every health care worker is critical to understanding what is actually happening on the front lines and what needs improving,” says LaGrange. “Chelsae will help us incorporate those voices to strengthen the health system for all Albertans.”

Petrovic, a former licenced practical nurse, spent 13 years in the healthcare sector before being elected the mayor of Claresholm in 2021. She became her riding’s MLA in the 2023 provincial election.

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Premier Danielle Smith says Petrovic’s experience will aid in the province’s work to consult with healthcare workers and make any necessary changes to the system.

“Albertans deserve a better, stronger health care system. Addressing issues that have been allowed to grow for decades is a major job. Chelsae will play a pivotal role in ensuring that we continue to hear from the hard-working men and women who serve on the front lines of health care. I am confident her work will help lead to a stronger system,” says Smith.

The Alberta NDP was not pleased with Petrovic’s appointment.

NDP Health Critic Luanne Metz says Smith has shown “incredibly poor judgement” in the decision.

She pointed to an instance in 2023 where Petrovic went on a podcast and said, “Maybe the reason you had a heart attack was because you haven’t taken care of yourself. You’re extremely overweight, you haven’t managed your congestive heart failure, you haven’t managed your diabetes and there’s no personal accountability. But they come into the hospital and all of a sudden it’s everyone else’s problem but their own.”

Metz adds that the role of government should be to ensure people have public health care when and where they need it, not to judge people for their health conditions.

READ MORE: Southern Alberta UCP candidate says people who have heart attacks should be held accountable

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