Alberta’s evolving health‑care system is seeing another shift with the launch of a new online tool the province says will make it easier for residents to access assisted‑living supports.
Premier Danielle Smith unveiled what she called the Assisted Living Navigation Portal on Wednesday, describing it as a “one‑stop shop” for Albertans seeking help with finding care homes or managing health‑related needs.
The portal allows users to select categories such as searching for a care home, getting help with health needs, or both. The tool is a key component of the province’s Assisted Living Framework, first announced in December 2025.
Smith said the broader goal is to move Alberta toward a long‑term care model inspired by European systems.
“The Swedes encourage competition by putting a priority on user choice and person‑centered care,” she said. “And we’re looking to them for inspiration.”
The premier also claimed that the number of non‑acute patients occupying hospital beds, often those waiting for long‑term care placements, has declined in recent months.
But not everyone is convinced.
Rebecca Graff‑McRae, a public policy researcher with the Parkland Institute, questioned both the government’s data and the effectiveness of the new portal.
“Show me the numbers and show me the methodology of how you came by those numbers,” she said. “An online portal akin to Airbnb somehow improving overall accessibility, I think is really stretching.”
Graff‑McRae added that ongoing health‑care restructuring has already made it more difficult for patients to navigate the system.
“From what we are hearing so far, that seems really, really challenging,” she said.
The province maintains the new tool will streamline access and reduce pressure on hospitals. Albertans can access the new portal on the province’s website.