Year-in-Review: Adriana LaGrange talks recall, lawsuit, health care privatization, homeless shelter, and QEII widening

The organizer must obtain 11,174 signatures by March 5 for it to go any further, but LaGrange doesn’t seem to be losing sleep over it.

First elected in 2019, LaGrange recently spoke to rdnewsNOW to take a look back at 2025, and ahead to 2026.

“I have not heard that,” she said, in response to a question about a large portion of her constituents mobilizing against her. “I’ve had numerous people reach out with support, and I’m very proud of the work I’ve done for Red Deer-North over the course of six years.”

She calls the organizer’s submissions for her recall “misinformation,” and insists it has nothing to do with her performance as an MLA.

“If the people of Red Deer choose to recall me, that’s their decision. But I will continue to work and provide strong leadership, and work with integrity while I’m in the position of MLA and as minister.”

Reviewing 2025, LaGrange says it’s been especially gratifying, as a minister with a health portfolio, seeing redevelopment take shape at Red Deer Regional Hospital.

“Watching the cranes, and seeing the hole that’s been dug to put the new inpatient tower in is really exciting; as well, [plus] the work on the cardiac catheterization lab, with the interim lab being in place probably within the next year,” she estimated.

“I know for a long time, people just kept thinking [hospital redevelopment] was not going to happen. This $1.8 billion hospital also comes with workforce challenges, and we will probably be looking to hire 3,000 more health care professionals when the hospital is fully redeveloped.”

She notes too what Red Deer Polytechnic is doing with the Centre of Excellence for Rural Healthcare, and initiatives to come Covenant Health, as positives.

LaGrange says that as of now, hospital redevelopment is on time and on budget.

LaGrange was also asked about being named in the $1.7 million AHS lawsuit in early 2025, which she couldn’t comment on extensively due to it still being before the courts.

“I’ve always been very upfront about that. My focus as minister of health has always been to improve the health and well-being of all Albertans. Alberta Health Services was a huge monopoly that was trying to do everything, and not executing or accountable to the degree they should have been,” she said.

“We’ve already seen successes as we’ve refocused the health care system. We were stagnant in 2018 with 10,600 doctors in the province, but I’ve just received the latest update, and registered to practice in Alberta are 13,674 [doctors] as of December 15. That means better service for Albertans.”

She claims the number of nurses is also up more than 33 per cent since 2019, pegging Alberta’s number at over 50,000.

She added that stories of patients essentially living in hospital for years-on-end are unacceptable, and that it’s something she’s working to rectify.

What does she have to say to folks who think the UCP are attempting to privatize health care?

“We’re not looking to privatize health care. We want a really strong public health care system that also looks to other jurisdictions around the world which have universal publicly-funded health care, but also have a strong private stream,” she said.

“When I look at countries like Sweden, Norway, Germany, Australia and New Zealand, they have a dual practice system that functions quite well alongside a strong public system.

She explained that all clinics in Alberta are private enterprises anyway, but publicly deliver care.

“Chartered surgical facilities function very much the same way. They are privately owned businesses by doctors, but the surgeries are publicly-funded,” she said, asked about th.

“We’re looking at allowing for doctors to toggle between public and private a little but quicker, and less cumbersomely than they can right now. The top jurisdictions in the world do this and do it well.”

Fast forward to 2026, and LaGrange says continued advocacy around a permanent solution for Red Deer’s homeless shelter is top priority.

“We [also] want to bring a navigation centre similar to what’s been occurring in Edmonton and Calgary for the homeless population, as well as wraparound services. How do we help that process along? I think there will be some exciting news in the days and weeks to come on that,” she said, asked about the $7 million approved and re-approved for a permanent shelter by both the NDP and UCP in 2019.

“We’re also continuing to look at resources and supports for Westerner Park. They’ve been struggling over the last little while, but I see they are making progress.”

There’s also development in the Hazlett Lake area on Red Deer’s north end which she’s eager to observe.

Then there’s the expansion the QEII Highway, which began with preliminary work in 2025, and will likely see major steps taken in 2026.

The project is set to cut through precious wetlands of Maskepetoon Park, though the government has told rdnewsNOW previously they’re doing what they can to minimize how much they’ll disturb that natural area.

“I’ve shared that very same message which I’ve received from a number of constituents and others in the surrounding area. What I’ve [passed along] to my colleagues is the importance of making sure it’s well-engineered and that it does take into account the ability to mitigate the environmental impact as much as possible,” said LaGrange.

“We want to make sure we preserve those beautiful trails and the environment to the greatest degree possible, but understanding we need to do that widening. Perhaps there are options available that need to be explored.”

Added LaGrange: “I wish everyone a very happy and blessed Christmas. I hope people ramain safe and everyone has a prosperous 2026.”