Alberta minister optimistic about ER doctor deal, doesn’t blame physicians for delay

Alberta’s hospital minister says doctors aren’t to blame for the delay in the province’s plan to bring on physicians to reduce pressure in emergency departments.

Minister Matt Jones said on Tuesday he’s optimistic the government and doctors can find a way to hire the emergency department triage liaison physicians (TLP) he previously promised for February.

“We certainly want to deliver the support that hospitals require, that patients expect, and we’re going to do so. I would like to continue to work with the AMA in good faith and try to get this done,” he said.

This comes after the Alberta Medical Association (AMA) released a statement on Monday responding to the premier telling reporters to ask them about the TLP rollout.

“Contrary to what was stated in a government press conference today, the delay has not been on the AMA’s end and is not solely related to the compensation rate for the TLP as an (alternative relationship plan),” AMA president Dr. Brian Wirzba said.

He says the updated rates and processes to modernize the plan were submitted to Minister Adriana LaGrange in April 2025 for implementation.

“We were informed this morning (Monday) through the appropriate governance structure that the rates and conditions are being reviewed and that a meeting involving the AMA and our Section of Emergency Medicine will be forthcoming,” Wirzba said. “We are hopeful that progress can now be made.”

Jones says several meetings regarding compensation requests on base pay, overtime, and enhanced liability regarding the TLP are planned and upcoming.

“We continue to work through those requests by the AMA, and there are meetings being scheduled to do just that, and again, I’m optimistic we can find a solution,” he said.

The hospitals minister pledged in January to expedite emergency room patients in the wake of stories of suffering and potentially preventable hospital deaths, which was delayed.

Meanwhile, the AMA says doctors want to take on the jobs; however, weeks of confusion among government ministries and agencies about who is responsible for contract conditions have left negotiations in limbo.

“We need to ensure that the role and remuneration are structured in a way that is aligned with the clinical services and related patient outcomes the TLP is intended to achieve,” Wirzba said.

“The public is rightfully concerned about the (emergency department) crisis. The AMA and our ED physicians see no need to delay the resolution of the TLP ARP when patients are waiting for care.”

Jones says if they can’t come to terms with physicians soon, contingency plans include looking to bring in nurse practitioners, triage nurses, or boosting emergency room budgets.

“If we can come to terms with physicians in the near term, we would look at leveraging nurse practitioners, triage nurses or providing global budget increases to emergency departments so that they can address any staffing or other financial pain points that they’re dealing with,” he said.

“I’m optimistic that we can come to a resolution and implement this position. That is certainly my preference.”

With files from The Canadian Press