Alberta NDP MLA Janet Eremenko (Calgary-Currie) said as World AIDS Day passes and the world strives to eradicate HIV by 2035, it is clear the province is falling behind. Since 2019, Eremenko said the number of reported HIV cases in Alberta has almost doubled, with a 73% increase between 2022 to 2023. “The premier has repeatedly attacked public health experts — professionals trained to prevent increases just like this — all to score political points with her base,” said Eremenko in a Monday speech during Question Period in the Legislative Assembly of Alberta. “Will the premier admit the exponential growth in HIV rates is a consequence of her government’s political interference and mismanagement of Alberta’s public health system?” However, Alberta Health Minister Adriana LaGrange said she would not admit that, as it was false. “In fact, we have dedicated $12.4 million for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV, just in Budget 2024,” said LaGrange. “We recognize that numbers are up, but we also recognize that 55% of those that have been diagnosed with HIV in the last year have come from out of province, have obtained those diseases out of province.” At the moment, LaGrange said the Alberta government was looking at what more it could do and would continue to do more. While LaGrange spoke about following the Canada Health Act, Eremenko said she should know Albertans outside of Alberta or otherwise are a responsibility of the government. “Another critical factor contributing to the rise of HIV/AIDS is Alberta’s primary care crisis,” said Eremenko. “The AMA (Alberta Medical Association) reports that over 650,000 Albertans are currently searching for a family doctor.” Frontline healthcare workers have sounded the alarm. These healthcare workers have said one of the best ways to reduce HIV case numbers is to prevent transmission in the first place and that requires adequate, accessible harm reduction. Eremenko questioned what Alberta Premier Danielle Smith will do about it. Although the question was meant for Smith, LaGrange said the Alberta government continues to work with the AMA to get more family physicians in the province. “In fact, Mr. Speaker, working with the college of physicians and surgeons to streamline the processes, I can tell you that we’ve gone from overall 10,600 physicians in the province to 12,126 physicians,” said LaGrange. “While the members opposite would have you believe they’re just registering for the sake of registering, we’re seeing by their billing that they are in fact practicing here in the province.” She pointed out Alberta NDP MLAs “have nothing to say on this because their record was abysmal.” If people want to prevent the spread of HIV, Eremenko said it begins with education. “Teaching youth and young adults about safe practices and how to protect themselves is critical,” she said. While the Alberta government’s opt-out sex education system was not broken, she said it insists on meddling with it. She predicted switching to an opt-in sex education system will reduce student participation, increase unsafe sexual activity, and lead to a rise in HIV and other STIs. She called on Smith to halt the shift from an opt-out to an opt-in system and listen to experts about the best ways to prevent HIV. Alberta Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides called Eremenko’s comments “nothing but conjecture and fearmongering from the NDP.” “And we know that that’s no surprise though because that’s their standard operating procedure,” said Nicolaides. “In 2019, Mr. Speaker, they were telling Albertans that if elected, a Conservative government would blow up hospitals, would do all sorts of things.” Meanwhile, none of those claims came to fruition. Nicolaides said an opt-in system ensures parents are informed about their children’s education and become equal partners in fostering essential learning at home. He concluded by saying the comments Eremenko made are not based on any kind of fact or information. World AIDS Day happened on Sunday, and doctors, researchers and community advocates raised the alarm about the significant increase in HIV rates across Canada, including Alberta.The annual report conducted by Alberta Health found the number of reported HIV cases almost doubled since 2019 and increased 73% between 2022 and 2023. “Our clinics are busting at the seams,” said Calgary physician and Freddie co-founder Dr. Caley Shukalek to CTV News Calgary.
