Hinton residents, Alta are left without a doctor to write prescriptions and face a three-hour drive to Edmonton to try their luck at a walk-in clinic.

The number of doctors has dropped to eight family doctors, half of what is needed for a town of 10,000 residents. Among those remaining, some work part-time or are planning retirement.

The city council has officially declared it a health crisis and is looking for $500,000 to prevent doctors from closing shop.

Mayor Nicholas Niesen expressed disappointment that the city may be in a bind over something that is not a municipal responsibility.

Niesen stated in an interview: “It's completely ridiculous for municipal taxpayers to pay three times now – in our community – for healthcare that half of them can't even access.”

In an interview, Alberta's Health Minister Adriana LaGrange did not commit to fully addressing Hinton's needs.

LaGrange said: “I need to look at it and consider it in the context of the bigger picture and the support we provide not just to Hinton but to all communities across the province.”

She added, “What Hinton or any other community wants to do to make their community more attractive to the next incoming doctor, that is really something communities choose for themselves.”

Her office confirmed that the province recently appointed one doctor in Hinton and is working to attract five more.

Last year, Premier Danielle Smith promised United Conservative Party government that every Albertan would have a primary healthcare provider by the next election in 2027.

Funds from federal healthcare transfers have been diverted towards stabilizing family practices.

A new funding model for nurse practitioners has been introduced to accommodate more primary care patients, and negotiations are currently underway for a new compensation model for family doctors.

They are also working to streamline care for international medical graduates.

In that context, Tyler Gandam, president of Alberta's municipalities, which represent many cities and towns serving as healthcare hubs for more rural and remote communities, stated that grants and incentives funded by municipalities for doctors are becoming increasingly common.