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EDMONTON — Alberta’s Opposition NDP says cancer patients are facing worsening wait times for surgery and is calling on the provincial government to take immediate action.
The party points to data from the province’s cancer wait times dashboard showing that in January 2023, 53 per cent of the five most common cancer surgeries were completed within medically recommended timelines. By January 2026, that figure had dropped to 40 per cent.
For breast cancer surgeries, the NDP says the rate fell from 70 per cent within recommended timeframes in 2023 to 43 per cent in 2026.
NDP health critics say the trend reflects a broader crisis in the health-care system and are calling on the government to present a plan to reduce wait times and reverse what they describe as cuts to cancer screening, prevention and research.
The Opposition says timely access to surgery is critical, arguing early detection and treatment are key to improving outcomes for patients.
The provincial government is disputing those claims, saying there have been no cuts to cancer funding.
In a statement, the Ministry of Primary and Preventative Health Services says $31.8 million is being invested in cancer research, screening and prevention this year, along with $653 million through Primary Care Alberta to improve access to screening and patient supports.
The ministry says Cancer Care Alberta’s budget is estimated at $1.2 billion for 2026–27, an increase of $250 million from the previous year.
Officials say changes to budget line items reflect internal reallocations, with funding now delivered through Primary Care Alberta and Cancer Care Alberta.
The government says the funding increases are intended to expand programs and improve access to care for Albertans.
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