Transition of public health professionals to the Government of Alberta cancelled

EDMONTON – The Health Sciences Association of Alberta (HSAA) welcomes the Government of Alberta’s decision to cancel the previously planned transition of public health professionals to direct employment with the Government of Alberta.

Public Health Inspectors will be moved to Primary Care Alberta (PCA), fall 2026. Other public health staff will transition to either PCA or Health Shared Services, depending on job function.

The decision means that in the interim, public health professionals will retain all existing wages, benefits, seniority and other protections in their current Collective Agreement, negotiated by HSAA.

“We are grateful that the government listened to the many concerns raised by public health professionals and Albertans,” said HSAA President Leanne Alfaro. “These professionals play a vital role in protecting the health of Albertans, and they belong within the public health-care system. It is a privilege to represent this important group of health-care professionals.”

We thank our members for their support and advocacy throughout this challenging time. 

HSAA has consistently maintained that public health professionals should remain part of Alberta’s integrated public health-care system and continue delivering the essential services Albertans rely on every day, including food safety inspections, communicable disease investigations, drinking water safety, outbreak response and other critical public health functions.

HSAA also thanks the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE) for its collaboration throughout this process, as well as the United Nurses of Alberta (UNA) and CUPE Alberta for standing alongside HSAA in advocating for Alberta’s public health professionals.

“We appreciate the government’s willingness to listen and make a decision that protects both the public health system and the professionals who deliver it,” said Alfaro. 

HSAA represents more than 30,000 specialized health-care professionals working in communities across Alberta.

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Media Inquiries:  
Renato Gandia, Communications Officer  
403-512-9230 | rgandia@hsaa.ca