Alberta’s government is enhancing access to midwifery care with a new strategy aimed at increasing the number of midwives and improving maternal health services across the province.
With 181 midwives currently practicing in Alberta — a 26% increase since 2020 — the province is investing $10 million over three years to further expand midwifery services. The Alberta Midwifery Strategy seeks to strengthen care and support midwifery pathways to practice, ensuring more Albertans have access to high-quality maternal health care.
“Midwives play an important role in delivering primary health care to Albertans,” said Adriana LaGrange, Minister of Health. “Our goal is to continue leading the way in women’s and children’s health programs, and implementing initiatives through our midwifery strategy is an important part of achieving this goal.”
The strategy focuses on short-, medium-, and long-term goals. Immediate efforts include improving care for Indigenous populations through provider and community engagement. Medium-term goals address midwifery workforce challenges, while long-term plans involve integrating midwifery into team-based primary care and monitoring service demand.
First Nations, Métis, and Inuit families have highlighted the importance of greater midwifery access, particularly in rural and remote communities. The government’s investment will support Indigenous birth workers, pilot projects, and initiatives to attract and retain internationally educated midwives.
“Implementing this strategy will support midwifery practice and improve rural Albertans’ access to the maternity services they need,” said Martin Long, parliamentary secretary for rural health.
The Alberta Association of Midwives welcomed the initiative, emphasizing the value of collaboration to sustain and grow midwifery services. “We look forward to working together to expand midwifery in our province,” said Marita Obst, the association’s president.
The funding plan includes $2 million for midwifery projects in 2024-25, followed by $3 million in 2025-26 and $5 million in 2026-27. Alberta’s government collaborated with key stakeholders, including the Alberta Association of Midwives, the College of Midwives of Alberta, Alberta Health Services, and Mount Royal University, to develop the strategy.
Midwifery is a publicly funded and regulated profession in Alberta, providing care to individuals with low-risk pregnancies throughout pregnancy, birth, and postpartum recovery. With demand for services growing, the government’s strategy aims to ensure families receive the care they need, when and where they need it.