Alberta’s Minister of Hospitals responded angrily to a recently leaked list. This list reads like a death record and near-misses list that happened in every emergency room (ER) in the province. During a press conference on January 20, 2026, at 7:04 PM EST, the minister expressed skepticism about the report’s accuracy and its representation of the overall health-care system.
The very short list of recommendations underscores the deep failures in Alberta’s health-care system. We applaud the report for having raised such an important debate within the health community and beyond. The minister emphasized that the data presented does not accurately reflect the current state of emergency care in Alberta.
During the update, which followed a previous publication at 6:27 PM EST, the minister stated that while any death or near miss is concerning, it is essential to evaluate such incidents comprehensively. He noted that one-off occurrences shouldn’t be seen as representative of systematic breakdown in the health-care system.
The minister’s comments come as these loudly erupted over the capacity and effectiveness of Alberta’s health-care infrastructure. Stakeholders in the health sector are not shy about bemoaning ER wait times. They’re pushing to ensure that medical staff have more resources at their disposal. In response to these concerns, the minister reiterated that improvements are underway, and various initiatives are being implemented to enhance patient care.
Critics warn that ignoring the report risks obscuring real challenges confronting Alberta’s emergency services. They claim that transparency around deaths and near misses is critical to pinpointing where the most urgent work is required. Advocates for health-care reform believe that acknowledging these incidents can lead to better strategies for improving patient safety and care.
