Hospital beds. Alberta has 177 hospitals in the province.
How Many Hospitals are there in Alberta?

Alberta has a variety of types of medical and patient care facilities. It is important to first be clear on the definition of “hospital” and “Acute Care Facility”, which we will do below.

How many hospitals are there in Alberta? Alberta has 177 total hospitals, of which 106 are considered acute care hospitals.

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Difference Between Hospital and Acute Care Facility

The Alberta Health Act defines a hospital as “a facility that provides inpatient services and has been designated as a hospital under the regulations.” The regulations under the Alberta Health Act further define a hospital as “a facility that provides inpatient services and is licensed under the Act.“

The definition of an acute care facility in Alberta is not specifically defined in legislation or regulations, but is generally understood to refer to a type of hospital that provides short-term, intensive treatment for medical conditions that require immediate attention.

More AHS Facility and Bed Statistics

In Summary

  • Alberta has 177 Total Hospitals
  • 106 are considered “Acute Care Facilities”

A man smoking. Marijuana use is legal in Alberta since the passing of the Canadian Cannabis Act.
Is It Legal to Use Marijuana in Alberta, Canada?

The rules and laws about cannabis use in Canada are largely determined at the Federal level. However, individual provinces and territories have some say on the specifics of how the issue is handled.

Is Marijuana legal in Alberta, Canada? With the Cannabis Act, Marijuana has been legal in Alberta and everywhere in Canada, since October 17, 2018. This includes both recreational and medicinal use.

The Canadian Cannabis Act legalized and created regulations for the possession, use and sale of cannabis products. This brought it from the illegal underground world to a legal, commercial, but regulated world.

Medicinal use of marijuana was already allowed in Canada under certain circumstances, but this opened the door to a wider recreational audience.

Marijuana Restrictions in Alberta

While the Cannabis Act is a Federal law that applies across Canada, there are certain nuances that are managed provincially.

One example of this is that you must be 18 years old to possess or use marijuana in Alberta. Other provinces and territories have set that limit to 19 years old.

Provincial and Territorial Jurisdiction

Provinces and territories have jurisdiction over:

  • how cannabis is sold
  • where stores may be located
  • how stores must be operated
  • who can legally sell cannabis
  • possession limits
  • minimum age
  • where cannabis may be used in public
  • setting added requirements on personal cultivation

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Alberta Marijuana Regulations and Restrictions

In Alberta, cannabis is legal within the following parameters:

  • Age restriction: You must be 18 years of age or older to purchase, possess or consume cannabis. Children are not allowed to enter cannabis retailer shops, even if accompanied by an adult.
  • Possession limit: Adults are allowed to possess up to 30 grams of dried cannabis in public.
  • Purchase limit: You can purchase up to 30 grams of dried cannabis or equivalent from a licensed retailer.
  • Cultivation limit: You are allowed to cultivate up to 4 plants per household for personal use.
  • Use restrictions: Cannabis use is prohibited in public places, including parks, schools and other places where children gather.
  • Driving restrictions: It is illegal to drive under the influence of cannabis.
  • Advertising restrictions: Cannabis products cannot be advertised to minors or in a manner that promotes excessive use.
  • Packaging and labeling requirements: All cannabis products must be properly packaged and labeled with health warnings and product information.
  • Export/Import restrictions: It is illegal to export cannabis outside of Canada or to import it into the country without a government-issued permit.
  • Workplace restrictions: Employers may have their own policies regarding cannabis use in the workplace and drug testing policies.

Where Can You Buy Marijuana in Alberta?

Cannabis products must be sold by authorized retailers. This is regulated through the AGLC (Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis). You can easily search for a licensed dealer near you here.

In Summary

  • Marijuana use is legal across Canada as of the the Cannabis Act of 2018.
  • Provinces and Territories have some say in how to manage certain aspects of the law.
  • You must be 18 years of age to buy or possess cannabis in the province of Alberta, while other provinces and territories are 19.
  • The Cannabis Act legalized cannabis for both recreational and medicinal purposes

building construction site work outside in heat. Alberta does not have temperature restrictions for workers.
What Temperature Can You Refuse to Work in Alberta?

Every Canadian has the right to refuse unsafe work in the workplace in general. When it comes to temperature specific issues, each provinces handles things a little differently.

What temperature can you refuse to work in Alberta? Alberta does not have specific legal requirements when it comes to workplace temperature. However, employers must still provide a healthy and safe environment including maintaining an adequate indoor temperature and air quality.

This is often called the “general duty clause”, which requires employers to ensure the health and safety and welfare of their employees as much as it is reasonably practicable for the employer to do so.

Employers should adopt good practices and accepted industry standards to fulfill their duties. Part 2 of Alberta’s Occupational Health and Safety Code requires employers to also assess and control hazards that workers may be exposed to at the work site.

Alberta Guidelines for Working in the Heat and Cold

There are no temperature restrictions for work in Alberta, but the safety guidelines recommend an indoor temperature of 23-28°C in summer and 20-25°C in winter, when the relative humidity is closer to 30%.

In Summary

  • There are no official temperature restrictions for working in Alberta.
  • Alberta only has a set of guidelines for worker health and safety.
  • Any Alberta worker has the right to refuse unsafe work.

Holding milk in a field of cows. It is illegal to buy, sell or give away raw milk in Alberta, Canada.
Can You Buy Raw Milk in Alberta?

Raw milk is milk that is unpasteurized. There is a process to ensure the health and safety of dairy products across Canada, not just Alberta.

Can you buy raw milk in Alberta? You can not buy, sell or give away raw milk in Alberta or anywhere in Canada. Raw milk is unpasteurized and has not met the health and safety standards of the various agencies that regulate the dairy industry.

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Raw milk from any livestock such as cow, goat, water buffalo etc, is unlawful to sell or even give away for free.

Not only is it illegal for a dairy producer to offer the raw milk to the market, they also have to meet other minimum standards. The health of the animal that creates the raw milk is also regulated.

Raw milk is to be pasteurized and processed before it can be offered commercially to the general public.

It is perfectly legal to drink unpasteurized (raw) milk from your own livestock. For example, many farmers drink raw milk from their own cows. There are also ways to pasteurize milk from your own animals.

Dairy Farmers do not have just one simple government body to deal with. There are several different agencies that oversee every step of the process from the equipment, the handling of the livestock and of course, the final product.

In Summary

  • You can not buy raw milk in Alberta. It is unlawful for a Dairy producer to sell or give away unpasteurized milk.
  • This restriction applies to all milk producing livestock, not just cows.
  • Several agencies and regulations that oversee the dairy industry, such as the Dairy Industry Act.
  • It is legal to drink raw milk from your own livestock.

woman smoking cigarette. Menthol cigarettes are banned in Alberta and the rest of Canada.
Can You Buy Menthol Cigarettes in Alberta?

The laws on cigarettes and vaping have got much more restrictive over the years. Not just in the province of Alberta, but across Canada in general.

Can you buy menthol cigarettes in Alberta? You can not legally buy or sell menthol cigarettes in Alberta. They are banned across Canada.

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Alberta was one of the first provinces in Canada to ban menthol cigarettes on September 30, 2015. Nova Scotia was the first province to ban them.

Many more provinces eventually followed suit. Eventually, most Canadian Provinces had a menthol cigarette ban.

Finally, the Federal Government of Canada introduced a country wide ban in October of 2017. This covered the final few provinces.

Many flavoured tobacco products were initially banned excluding menthol, then menthol was later added to the restrictions.

The main concern was that flavoured tobacco products were targeting minors.

In Summary

  • You can not buy or sell menthol cigarettes in Alberta.
  • Flavoured tobacco and vaping products were initially restricted without a menthol ban. Soon after, menthol was included in the ban.
  • Alberta was one of the first province to introduce the menthol ban.
  • The concern was that flavouring of these types of products were targeting the underage population. Studies showed that a third of minors who smoked, were smoking menthol after the initial flavouring ban.

close up photo of lighted cigarette. Minors can sell cigarettes legally in alberta, canada.
Can a Minor Sell Cigarettes in Alberta?

Alberta has very strict laws when it comes to selling tobacco and vaping products. Stores must hide these products from view of minors. Selling these products to minors comes with severe consequences.

But what about an underaged employee of the store?

Can a minor sell cigarettes and vaping products in Alberta? An employee who’s under 18 is allowed to sell tobacco and vaping products; but an employee who’s 17 or younger who smokes or otherwise uses a tobacco or vaping product is breaking the law.

This is taken directly from the Alberta Health Services Tobacco Retailer Toolkit.

The Alberta Tobacco Retailer Toolkit

While it is highly illegal to sell these products to minors, it is ok for a minor employee of a retailer to participate in the selling side of the transaction.

All of this is under the assumption that the retailer (employer) did an adequate job of training the employee and equipped the store properly according to the tobacco and vaping regulations.

In Summary

  • A minor employee is allowed to sell cigarette and vaping products in Alberta. They can not buy them.
  • Retailers must follow all tobacco and vaping laws, which includes proper training on selling these products, regardless of the age of the employee.
  • Violations of these regulations lead to expensive fines and legal consequences.
brewery man smiling. you can not make homemade moonshine in alberta canada. You must have a license.
Can You Make Moonshine in Alberta?

They call it ”moonshine” because people used to make it at night. They secretly made it at night because it was illegal. Moonshine is a high proof spirit that is outlawed in many places around the world due to health and safety concerns.

Can you make moonshine in Alberta? It is illegal to make moonshine in Alberta without proper legal permissions. It is possible for a brewery to manufacture and sell moonshine in Alberta with permits and licensing.

Here is an interesting read about an Edmonton man who started making moonshine. He took all the necessary legal steps with the Alberta:

To take his white lightning to market, de Groot said he had to work closely with the Canada Revenue Agency and the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission to attain the proper licences.

Read The CBC Article here

Without the proper licensing from the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission, the average citizen is not allowed to make moonshine privately. It is considered to be highly dangerous.

The most relevant section of the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Act is the following:

Taken from the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Act.

Read the Full Act here

Moonshine is considered to be a ”spirit”. According to this act, an adult may make cider, wine and beer up to a certain legal quantity. However, you can not make spirits without a license.

In Summary

  • Moonshine is illegal or controlled in many places in the world. It gets it’s name from illegal brewing at night time.
  • It is not legal to make homemade moonshine in Alberta.
  • It is possible to make moonshine in Alberta with proper licensing.
  • Other types of homemade alcohol are legal to brew in Alberta without licensing. You can make beer, wine and cider. There are legal quantity limits.

maxillofacial jaw surgery is covered by alberta health care if deemed medically necessary.
Is Jaw Surgery Covered by Alberta Health Care?

In general, the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (AHCIP) covers pretty much everything that is deemed medically necessary. It also partially covers many other specific medical services.

Is jaw surgery covered by Alberta Health Care? Yes, jaw surgery is covered by the Alberta Health Care Plan if it is deemed medically necessary by your physician.

If it is deemed cosmetic or not medically necessary, it will not likely be covered. Most dental services are not covered, though some specific dental services are covered.

The best way to be sure in your specific situation is to talk to your physician. The Doctor or Dentist will guide you in the right direction.

If you are feeling adventurous, you can find the complete list of Alberta covered services here. It is essentially the costs that can be billed the AHCIP for those services. It is long and tedious, but you may find your specific jaw surgery needs on the list. You will need to download the pdf or open it in your browser.

In Summary

  • Maxillofacial surgery is covered by Alberta Health Care as long as it is deemed medically necessary by your physician.
  • Cosmetic or ”not medically necessary“ services will not typically be covered.
  • Most dental procedures are not covered by AHCIP though some specific instances are partially covered.
  • If this is all confusing, it’s understandable. Your doctor or dentist will guide you through the process and make the necessary referrals. You can also contact AHCIP here directly and ask them.

computer desk laptop stethoscope. Alberta health care does not expire unless you are a temporary worker.
Does Alberta Health Care Expire?

Alberta did away with health care premiums back in 2009. These days, the Alberta Health Care plan (AHCIP) covers most essential needs without a premium.

You simply need to be registered with the Alberta Health care program, and you will be issued a card with a number. That number is attached to your identity.

Does Alberta Health Care Expire? No. Alberta Health Care does not expire. Your Alberta Health Care number stays the same and never needs to be renewed.

However, if you are outside of Alberta for more than 212 days (7 months), you will need to re-register when you return to the province. This could be due to long term work outside of Alberta, long term vacationing or if you move.

It should also be noted that there is a such thing as a temporary AHCIP plan that does have an expiry date. These are AHCIP plans for temporary workers from outside of Canada with a work permit.

Pharmacist working in the lab. Alberta pharmacists can prescribe uti medication.
Can Alberta Pharmacists Prescribe Antibiotics for UTI?

Yes. Pharmacists can prescribe antibiotics for UTI in Alberta. In fact, pharmacists in Alberta can prescribe any schedule 1 drug.

The only thing they can not prescribe are controlled substances like illegal narcotics.

It is possible to get a uti prescription directly from a pharmacist in Alberta, without seeing a doctor.

That being said, pharmacists must also ensure that they are only providing direct prescriptions when having all the available information about your particular case. If they don’t feel comfortable with it, or believe they have limited information, they may require you to first see your doctor.

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