Alberta minister, new permanent chief health officer eye renewed collaboration

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, right, and Minister of Health Adriana LaGrange provide an update on what steps the government is taking related to allegations by former Alberta Health Services CEO Athana Mentzelopoulos, in Calgary, Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

EDMONTON — Alberta’s primary care minister and its first permanent chief medical officer of health since the last one was fired say they’re looking forward to working together as the province enters a new era.

Primary and Preventative Health Services Minister Adriana LaGrange says she believes she can build a strong health system across Alberta with Dr. Vivien Suttorp, who has been the South Zone’s lead medical health officer for the past 17 years.

“We’re entering into a new era and, as Dr. Vivien Suttorp has said, it’s an opportunity to really strengthen public health within our province,” LaGrange said Friday during a news conference about the respiratory virus season.

Suttorp said she was swayed into applying for the position after seeing passion and leadership from public health workers and government ministries working to restructure the health system in recent years.

The restructuring has included the dismantling of the Alberta Health Services conglomerate into four agencies. Premier Danielle Smith has also said she plans to introduce legislation to let doctors choose to work in the public and private health systems simultaneously.

“This is a unique time in Alberta,” Suttorp said.

Suttorp is the province’s first permanent medical health officer since 2022, when Smith fired Dr. Deena Hinshaw.

Hinshaw grew in popularity during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in the spring of 2020. But as the pandemic progressed and the province went back and forth on restrictions, her celebrity-status plummeted.

Hinshaw became a scapegoat for Albertans frustrated with the changes, and she received death threats. Smith campaigned on a promise to fire Hinshaw and did so after she became premier.

Dr. Mark Joffe replaced Hinshaw on an interim basis, but left the job before his contract expired earlier this year. Dr. Sunil Sookram was then appointed to the job temporarily.

In 2023, Hinshaw was reportedly hired then removed from a role with Indigenous Wellness Core, a program in Alberta Health Services focused on Indigenous health. Accusations flew that the government was behind her removal.

During the Friday news conference, Suttorp was asked if she’s concerned about facing a similar fate as Hinshaw did if things go wrong in the public sphere.

“Everybody owns public health,” she responded.

“Together we can improve the health of all Albertans.”

Sharif Haji, the Opposition NDP’s shadow minister for Primary and Preventative Health Services, said he’s happy to see Alberta “finally” has a permanent chief medical health officer.

“It is essential the premier and her UCP government now fully support Dr. Suttorp and the crucial work public health does to protect the health and well-being of Albertans,” he said Thursday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 19, 2025.

Fakiha Baig, The Canadian Press