Province invests to improve death investigations for Alberta families

Jun 2, 2026 | 5:11 PM

The Government of Alberta announced they’re investing in infrastructure and technology to bolster death investigations and provide answers for families faster.

As a result, the province will invest $125 million over four years for a new facility for the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) in Edmonton. They’ll also invest $4.4 million to replace and upgrade toxicology equipment to improve the detection of synthetic drugs.

“By building a new Edmonton facility and upgrading the tools used by our forensic experts, we are strengthening a service that Albertans rely on in some of their most difficult moments, helping families get more timely answers, supporting the justice system and maintaining the highest standards of medical examiner services,” said Mickey Amery, Minister of Justice and Attorney General.

The new Edmonton facility, the province explained, will support the OCME to complete death investigations more quickly and help provide faster answers for grieving families.

The new facility will offer specialized space for examinations and autopsies, improved laboratory and storage capacity, and enhanced ability to respond to complex cases and mass casualty events.

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“Replacing infrastructure built in 1983 with a modern facility is about more than expanding space – it’s about helping families,” said Martin Long, Minister of Infrastructure. “This $125-million investment delivers the new, critical infrastructure needed to provide faster answers and ensure Alberta families are supported during their most difficult moments.”

The new toxicology equipment will help them identify and measure alcohol, drugs and opioids in deceased individuals. This move, they added, should result in faster completion times, improved accuracy and stronger reliability.

“Investing in a new Edmonton facility for the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner strengthens the foundation of medical examiner services across Alberta,” said Akmal Coetzee-Khan, Alberta’s Chief Medical Examiner. “This modern, purpose-built space will help improve efficiency and support more timely, detailed investigations, so we can provide answers to grieving families and meet the needs of Albertans and our justice system for years to come.”

by rdnewsNOW staff

Province invests to improve death investigations for Alberta families

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