By Josh Hall

calling on premier to act

Alberta NDP launch petition to declare health care state of emergency

Feb 2, 2026 | 4:59 PM

There’s another petition for you to sign.

This time, it’s the Alberta NDP who are asking Albertans to consider signing a new legislative petition demanding a state of emergency be declared for the province’s health care system.

The NDP continue to cite the Edmonton father who tragically passed away in late December, as well as the stories of doctors and other health care professionals about the severe pressures being faced on the front line.

“Health care falls squarely under provincial jurisdiction, and Danielle Smith is the one in charge,” said Naheed Nenshi, Leader of the Official Opposition of Alberta.

“If Smith and her UCP government can’t manage the responsibilities they were entrusted by Albertans to deliver on, then it’s time for a new government that will. Alberta’s New Democrats are ready to be that government.” 

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The petition renews the calls to action demanded by Alberta’s New Democrats in January:  

• Declare a state of emergency for Alberta’s emergency rooms. Many sites are operating well above capacity, some as high as 115 per cent, with unsafe conditions and patients being treated in hallways. The declaration should remain in place until every hospital is operating at safe levels with no hallway medicine. Defining the situation as an emergency would signal that crisis‑level interventions, solutions and decision-making should be prioritized. 

• Reinstate a central command for coordination and decision-making. After dismantling Alberta Health Services into four separate agencies with four separate health ministers, frontline workers are sounding the alarm around a lack of clear decision-making without a single leadership team or agency responsible.  A strict command structure with clear decision management protocols (like what would have occurred under a single agency) needs to be reinstated immediately.  

• Reconvene the legislature to hold an emergency debate. Albertans know this crisis is happening and expect accountability from their elected representatives. An emergency session would allow the government to provide regular updates while the opposition holds it to account. 

The petition is available to be signed here.