Edmonton emergency physician Paul Parks, a past president of the Alberta Medical Association and a prominent critic of Premier Danielle Smith's government, has announced he will seek the Alberta New Democratic Party nomination in Cypress-Medicine Hat, The Globe and Mail reports.
The south-east Alberta riding is safely conservative and is held by Justin Wright of the governing United Conservative Party, the minister for primary and preventative health services. NDP leader Naheed Nenshi called Dr Parks an extraordinary candidate, though others may yet stand for the nomination.
Dr Parks has campaigned for years over overcrowding in emergency departments and has opposed the government's moves towards private health care delivery and the break-up of Alberta Health Services. He said advocacy through normal channels was no longer working, and also cited the government's use of the notwithstanding clause. The government says health care has improved.
Source: The Globe and Mail