Alberta creating 2 mental health and addictions organizations, including Crown corporation

The provincial government unveiled Tuesday the first plank in its plan to reshape Alberta Health Services (AHS) into four distinct entities, outlining two new organizations that will manage delivery of mental health and addiction services. 

A new entity, Recovery Alberta, will be charged with delivering the mental health and addictions services currently handled by AHS. Operations are expected to move from AHS to Recovery Alberta by July 1 after legislation is passed.

In addition, the province said it would create a new Crown corporation, dubbed the Canadian Centre of Recovery Excellence, or CORE.

That project, which is intended to be operational by the summer, is tasked with building recovery-oriented systems of care "by researching best practices for recovery from around the world, analyzing data and making evidence-based recommendations."

The initial operating budget for CORE is $5 million, from this year's budget. It's anticipated to be the ongoing budget for the organization. However, that could increase if more funding is required to support operations, according to a spokesperson in the mental health and addictions ministry.

"Today's announcement of these two organizations marks an important step forward in transforming our health-care system," Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said in making the announcement.

Last November, Smith announced the provincial government would divide AHS into four agencies with a narrower focus — separating out services in primary care, acute care, continuing care and mental health and addiction care.

The goal, the premier said at the time, is to rein in a system that is too monolithic in favour of individual organizations more focused on specific functions. In reaction, front-line workers and unions said they weren't consulted and expressed concern the moves would drive away health-care workers and jeopardize patient care.

Legislation to establish Recovery Alberta and CORE will be introduced this spring. 

Kym Kaufmann, a former deputy minister of mental health and community wellness in Manitoba, will be the CEO of CORE. Kerry Bales, who is currently chief program officer for addiction and mental health and correctional health services within AHS, will be the CEO of Recovery Alberta.

Bales said work was being done around the transition from AHS to Recovery Alberta, adding the intention is for the move to not result in any changes to terms and conditions of employment.

"That includes pay, benefits, pensions and union affiliation. For patients, clients and families seeking support and resources, we are here for you the same way we've always been. All services remain open and available," Bales said.

Opposition NDP critic Janet Eremenko called the AHS reorganization "chaotic and expensive" and said it wouldn't solve the number of drug poisonings that have climbed to record numbers.

"We need to be measuring these critically, and we need to be following the evidence. I'm not sure that that's happening. If anything, we're doubling down on what this capital-R recovery model means for this government," she said.