MLA Wright prioritizes rural care and access to family doctors after becoming Alberta health minister

The appointment marks Wright’s first cabinet position since being elected as MLA for Cypress-Medicine Hat in 2023.

Wright said his immediate focus will center on improving Albertans’ access to health services, particularly in rural communities.

“Ultimately, taking a look at some of the key priorities that matter to Albertans, like access to primary health services, getting attached to a primary health practitioner, [and] being able to address some of the rural health needs,” Wright said.

“Those are just some of the starting points. This is such a large and widely impacted file.”

Wright added that his goal is to ensure Albertans can access health care “when Albertans need them, where they need them and close to home.”

With experience advocating for healthcare projects in Medicine Hat, Wright said he felt prepared for the provincial role.

Wright pointed to several local initiatives he supported as MLA, including investments tied to the cancer centre at Medicine Hat Regional Hospital and efforts to restore maternity services in the city.

“The advocacy that I’ve been able to get across the line has been really impactful to healthcare down there,” Wright said.

“For me, it’s just continuing those advocacy points now across all of Alberta.”

Before joining the cabinet, Wright also served as parliamentary secretary for rural health, which he described as a “stepping stone into this role.”

Wright said his push to reopen the maternity clinic in Medicine Hat was driven by concerns about expectant mothers potentially needing to travel elsewhere for care.

“I’ve often shared this on stage with the premier that my first priority is always community first, everything else comes second,” Wright said.

“Knowing that there was a risk for new accepting mothers, whether it’s their first baby or whether it’s their fifth child, to know the risk of having to potentially travel somewhere else to get the necessary services to help deliver that baby was unacceptable to me,” he added.

“This is why it was so important to fight to get that clinic reopened, to make sure that we had the health services close to home when and where Albertans needed it most.”

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READ: Family Medicine Maternity Clinic set to reopen at Medicine Hat Regional Hospital

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Wright replaces Adriana LaGrange in the role as part of a broader cabinet shuffle announced by Smith on May 21, 2026.

by Jett Schwaier

MLA Wright prioritizes rural care and access to family doctors after becoming Alberta health minister

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