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Sarah Hoffman

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The Honourable
Sarah Hoffman
ECA MLA
Hoffman in 2015
Deputy Premier of Alberta
In office
February 2, 2016 – April 30, 2019
PremierRachel Notley
Preceded byDave Hancock (2014)
Succeeded by
Minister of Health[a]
In office
May 24, 2015 – April 30, 2019
PremierRachel Notley
Preceded byStephen Mandel
Succeeded byTyler Shandro
Member of the
Legislative Assembly of Alberta
for Edmonton-Glenora
Incumbent
Assumed office
May 5, 2015
Preceded byHeather Klimchuk
Personal details
Born
Sarah Marjorie Hoffman

(1980-05-23) May 23, 1980 (age 44)
Political partyNew Democratic
Residence(s)Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Alma materConcordia University College of Alberta
University of Alberta
OccupationPublic school trustee, teacher

Sarah Marjorie Hoffman ECA MLA (born May 23, 1980) is a Canadian politician who served as the 10th deputy premier of Alberta and minister of Health in the cabinet of Rachel Notley. Hoffman was previously a member of the Edmonton Public School Board,[1] where she served from 2010 to 2015 and from 2012 onward as chair. Prior to her service on the school board, she was the research director of the Alberta Legislature New Democrat caucus.[2][3] After stepping down from the School Board, she was elected in the 2015 Alberta general election to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta representing the electoral district of Edmonton-Glenora for the Alberta NDP.[4] On May 24, 2015, she was sworn in as Minister of Health and Minister of Seniors for the province of Alberta.[5] Following a cabinet reshuffle on 2 February 2016, she retained the Health portfolio and became deputy premier.[6]

In 2024, she was a candidate for the post of leader of the Alberta NDP.

Background

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Hoffman has worked as both a teacher and researcher for the NDP before becoming involved in politics. She holds a BA and BSc from Concordia University College of Alberta, in religion and math respectively. She also holds a Bachelor of Education and a Master of Education from the University of Alberta, with a specialization in educational policy studies.[7]

Hoffman was first elected to the Edmonton School Board in 2010, and was acclaimed for a second term in 2013. She served as the vice-chair of the board from her initial election to 2012, and then as the chair from 2012 to 2015 when she resigned to run for provincial office.[8]

Hoffman is also a past member of the Girl Guides of Canada.

Political career

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Initial cabinet appointment

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Hoffman was appointed Minister of Health and Seniors, on May 25, 2015.[9] As health minister, Hoffman is responsible for policy, direction, legislation and standards of the health system in Alberta, which is delivered by Alberta Health Services.

Affordable housing was part of the NDP's campaign commitment to increase affordable housing for seniors, and was actioned in part through increasing funding for the Alberta Social Housing Corporation.[10] In 2016, Lori Sigurdson was given the seniors portfolio, while Brandy Payne was appointed Associate Minister of Health.

Under Hoffman's tenure, health care fees proposed under Jim Prentice and Stephen Mandel were soon reversed, and additional spending in health was initiated. Included in the budget was funding for new and existing medical centres, including the development of the Calgary Cancer Centre and repair of the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Edmonton, though Hoffman was criticized over the reduced level of funding available.[11] Hoffman's ministry also banned menthol tobacco products in September, a move which was designed to decrease the prevalence of smoking among youth.[12]

In 2017 Alberta Health Services discontinued both IVF and IUI services at the Lois Hole hospital for women when relevant physicians moved to a different clinic.[13]

Fentanyl crisis

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Prior to Payne's appointment as associate minister, Hoffman was responsible for her department's response to the fentanyl crisis in Alberta. The street drug killed 213 people in the first 9 months of 2015, and is projected to have increased use in 2016.[14] Hoffman outlined the province's response to the drug, stating that increased quantities of naloxone would be available to counter-act the overdose effects of fentanyl. The province has also engaged in an information campaign directed at youth, to prevent further use of the drug.[15] This campaign primarily targets schools, with posters being placed in prominent areas that outline the harmful effects of using the drug.

The response of the provincial and federal governments has been criticized, as access to the antidote remains low despite an increasing number of fentanyl-related deaths.[16] This problem is particularly pronounced on indigenous reserves, which have less available access to government clinics, and instead rely on a combination of provincial services and federal support to obtain the materials required to treat fentanyl overdoses. As part of the provincial government's response, Hoffman communicated with indigenous chiefs to find ways of increasing antidote supply on reserves in August 2015.[16]

Controversy

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Hoffman came under fire for comments made during question period, wherein she suggested the then opposition Wildrose Party was spending too much time with "sewer rats". Many Wildrose supporters said they felt the sewer rats comment had been directed at them. Hoffman later apologized for the remarks.[17]

Electoral record

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2023 general election

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2023 Alberta general election: Edmonton-Glenora
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
New Democratic Sarah Hoffman 12,443 69.20 +10.54
United Conservative Melissa Crane 5,056 28.12 -1.64
Green Julian Schulz 332 1.85 –
Solidarity Movement David John Bohonos 150 0.83 –
Total 17,981 99.14 –
Rejected and declined 156 0.86
Turnout 18,137 56.28
Eligible voters 32,227
New Democratic hold Swing +6.09
Source(s)
Source: Elections Alberta[18]

2019 general election

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2019 Alberta general election: Edmonton-Glenora
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
New Democratic Sarah Hoffman 11,573 58.67% -9.78%
United Conservative Marjorie Newman 5,871 29.76% 4.85%
Alberta Party Glen Tickner 1,985 10.06% 7.52%
Alberta Independence Clint Kelley 298 1.51% –
Total 19,727 – –
Rejected, spoiled and declined 84 48 10
Eligible electors / turnout 32,349 61.27% 8.03%
New Democratic hold Swing -11.14%
Source(s)
Source: "32 - Edmonton-Glenora, 2019 Alberta general election". officialresults.elections.ab.ca. Elections Alberta. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
Alberta. Chief Electoral Officer (2019). 2019 General Election. A Report of the Chief Electoral Officer. Volume II (PDF) (Report). Vol. 2. Edmonton, Alta.: Elections Alberta. pp. 124–127. ISBN 978-1-988620-12-1. Retrieved April 7, 2021.

2015 general election

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2015 Alberta general election: Edmonton-Glenora
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
New Democratic Sarah Hoffman 12,473 68.45% 42.82%
Progressive Conservative Heather Klimchuk 3,145 17.26% -20.98%
Wildrose Don Koziak 1,394 7.65% -9.25%
Liberal Karen Sevcik 553 3.03% -7.29%
Alberta Party Chris Vilcsak 463 2.54% -6.37%
Green David J. Parker 195 1.07% –
Total 18,223 – –
Rejected, spoiled and declined 72 46 14
Eligible electors / turnout 34,388 53.24% -2.44%
New Democratic gain from Progressive Conservative Swing 19.29%
Source(s)
Source: "34 - Edmonton-Glenora, 2015 Alberta general election". officialresults.elections.ab.ca. Elections Alberta. Retrieved May 21, 2020.

Notes

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  1. ^ Office known as "Minister of Health and Seniors" from May 24, 2015, to February 2, 2016.

References

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  1. ^ "2010 Edmonton Election" (PDF). Edmonton.ca. October 8, 2010.
  2. ^ "thestar.com - The Star - Canada's largest daily". thestar.com. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
  3. ^ "Edmonton Examiner". Edmonton Examiner. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
  4. ^ Staples, David (18 January 2010). "Story of the Oilers: Hanging out, hands in pockets, shirts not tucked in, goals against - Edmonton Journal". edmontonjournal.com. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
  5. ^ "Rachel Notley sworn in as Alberta premier, reveals cabinet," CBC News May 24, 2015.
  6. ^ "Rachel Notley adds six new ministers to her cabinet, three from Edmonton and three from Calgary". Edmonton Journal. 2 February 2016. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
  7. ^ "Honourable Sarah Hoffman (ND)". Legislative Assembly of Alberta. Government of Alberta. Retrieved 24 February 2016.
  8. ^ "Official Results". 2013 Edmonton General Election. Retrieved 24 February 2016.
  9. ^ "Rachel Notley names historic Alberta NDP cabinet". Beacon Energy News. May 25, 2015. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
  10. ^ Wood, James (February 3, 2016). "Province plans major push on affordable housing". Calgary Sun. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
  11. ^ Tucker, Erika (October 27, 2015). "Alberta budget: Calgary cancer centre delayed, Edmonton hospital funding falls short". Global News. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
  12. ^ Theobald, Claire (May 31, 2015). "Health Minister Sarah Hoffman announces the province will ban menthol tobacco products starting September 30". Edmonton Sun. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
  13. ^ "Edmonton's Lois Hole Hospital for Women to stop offering IUI, IVF fertility services | Globalnews.ca". globalnews.ca. 2017-11-03. Retrieved 2019-07-22.
  14. ^ Henton, Darcy (January 22, 2016). "Alberta ministers bring fentanyl to the fore in high-level talks". Calgary Sun. Retrieved 1 March 2016.
  15. ^ "Street drug fentanyl called Alberta's leading public health problem". CBC News. December 8, 2015. Retrieved 1 March 2016.
  16. ^ a b Giovannetti, Justin. "Alberta reserves struggle to access fentanyl antidote". The Globe and Mail. No. February 29, 2016. Retrieved 1 March 2016.
  17. ^ Bennett, Dean (14 March 2017). "Health Minister Sarah Hoffman apologizes for 'sewer rats' remark". calgaryherald.com. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
  18. ^ "32 - Edmonton-Glenora". officialresults.elections.ab.ca. Elections Alberta. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
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