Alberta
Albertans as young as 58 with health conditions now eligible for the jab as province moves to 2B vaccine stage

From the Province of Alberta
Phase 2B vaccine appointments available through AHS
Albertans born in 1963 or earlier with underlying health conditions now have another way to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
As part of Phase 2B of Alberta’s vaccine rollout, anyone born in 1963 or earlier with eligible health conditions can now book appointments with Alberta Health Services (AHS) online or by calling 811.
Anyone with eligible health conditions born in 1963 or earlier can also continue booking at participating pharmacies in Calgary, Edmonton and Red Deer. In the coming weeks, as more vaccine supply is available, pharmacies across Alberta will begin to offer bookings.
As Phase 2B rolls out, additional birth years for Albertans with underlying health conditions will be added in the coming days, based on vaccine supply.
By April 23, all Albertans born in 2005 or earlier with eligible high-risk underlying health conditions will be able to book an appointment through pharmacies and AHS.

“We are expanding the vaccine rollout as quickly and safely as possible. Now, Albertans born in 1963 or earlier with diabetes, disabilities, cancer and many other conditions can book through AHS, offering another chance to get the vaccine as soon as possible. I know this will bring peace of mind to those with high-risk health conditions and their loved ones, and we will continue to put pressure on the federal government until every last dose arrives.”
“Launching Phase 2B provides more Albertans, their families, and our communities across the province the hope of brighter days ahead. Our staff are working diligently, every day, to ensure we are providing vaccine to eligible Albertans as quickly and efficiently as possible and appreciate everyone’s patience as we work to include more eligible Albertans in the weeks ahead.”
Eligible health conditions
Phase 2B of Alberta’s vaccine rollout focuses on those who have at least one of the following underlying health conditions:
- A missing spleen or a spleen that is no longer working
- Cancer
- Chronic heart disease and vascular disease
- Chronic kidney diseases requiring regular medical monitoring or treatment
- Chronic liver disease due to any cause
- Chronic neurological disease
- Chronic respiratory (lung) diseases
- Diabetes requiring insulin or other anti-diabetic medication to control
- A weakened immune response due to disease or treatment
- Anyone who is currently pregnant
- Severe mental illness or substance use disorder requiring a hospital stay during the past year
- Severe obesity
- Severe or profound learning disabilities or severe developmental delay
- Solid organ, bone marrow or stem cell transplant recipients
Additional information on eligible health conditions, including examples, is available at Alberta.ca/vaccine.
Individuals are not required to provide proof of health condition, such as a doctor’s note. However, you may want to talk to your doctor or pharmacist to help you understand if your condition is on this list.
Alberta’s government is responding to the COVID-19 pandemic by protecting lives and livelihoods with precise measures to bend the curve, sustain small businesses and protect Alberta’s health-care system.
Quick facts
- Anyone eligible in Phase 1 and 2A of Alberta’s vaccine rollout who hasn’t yet received the vaccine can continue to book their appointment through a participating pharmacy or AHS.
- As of April 4, more than 690,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine had been administered to Albertans.
Alberta
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says conservatives must learn to win in ‘big cities’

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith speaks at the Canada Strong and Free Network in Ottawa on Thursday, March 23, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
Ottawa (CP) – Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says conservatives must learn how to win in “big cities.”
Smith made the comment to a room of conservatives gathered in Ottawa for the annual conference of the Canada Strong and Free Network, formerly called the Manning Centre.
With Albertans set to go the polls in a provincial election this year, Smith says the United Conservative Party has more ground to gain in the province’s two largest cities: Calgary and Edmonton.
Smith replaced Jason Kenney as party leader and premier last fall, after he resigned following a leadership review where he received only 51 per cent support.
Kenney faced considerable backlash leading up to that vote for his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, and Smith told today’s crowd that the party had lost “a lot” of its base.
Smith’s belief that conservatives must make inroads in large cities is shared by the federal Conservatives, with Leader Pierre Poilievre spending many of his weekends in Metro Vancouver and the Greater Toronto Area — areas where his party has struggled to gain ground in the past several elections.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 23, 2023.
Alberta
Toffoli’s two-goal effort leads Flames in 5-3 win over Sharks

San Jose Sharks goalie Kaapo Kahkonen, right, takes a drink as Calgary Flames players celebrate a goal during first period NHL hockey action in Calgary, Alta., Saturday, March 25, 2023.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
By Darren Haynes in Calgary
Led offensively by two guys with Stanley Cup rings, the Calgary Flames kept their faint playoff hopes alive on Saturday.
Tyler Toffoli scored two goals and Nazem Kadri notched the game-winner as the Flames won 5-3 over the San Jose Sharks to climb two points closer to a playoff berth.
“They’re a desperate team, they have some skill. And obviously with (Erik) Karlsson on the back end, he can take over games, and I thought we did a good job sticking together and finding a way to win,” said Toffoli, whose 31 goals equals a career high.
Combined with Winnipeg’s 4-1 loss to Los Angeles, the Flames moved to within four points of the Jets, who occupy the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference. Both teams have eight games remaining including one head-to-head.
“We can’t really worry about what other people are thinking,” Toffoli added. “We just have to win every game we can, and every game we win keeps us in it and gives us a chance.”
Toffoli played for Darryl Sutter in 2014 when he was the coach of the Stanley Cup-winning Los Angeles Kings.
“He’s a winner,” said Sutter. “Can’t teach it, thankful to have him.”
Kadri won his Stanley Cup last season with Colorado.
“Ideally you want to find yourself to not be in this position this late in the season,” Kadri said. “But it’s hard to win in months like these leading up to the playoffs and we’ve given ourselves a chance so that’s really all that matters.”
Tied at 3-3, Kadri scored the go-ahead goal 5:45 into the third period. On his first shift moved onto a line with veteran Milan Lucic and rookie Walker Duehr, he banged in a rebound from the side of the net after Kaapo Kahkonen had stopped shots from both of his linemates.
“Great work ethic by them,” said Kadri, who has goals in consecutive games after a 16-game goal drought. “That’s what Walks and Looch are good at, staying on pucks and being tenacious and I just tried to get simple and go to the net as that’s where most of the pucks are going.”
Toffoli put the game away scoring into an empty net with 1:10 remaining.
“It was a real gut-check game. We had nine games in 15-and-a-half days for everybody in this room that travels with us and it was hard for us,” said Flames coach Darryl Sutter.
MacKenzie Weegar and Duehr added the other goals for Calgary (33-26-15), which won for just the second time in its last nine games at the Saddledome (2-5-2). Jacob Markstrom made 28 saves.
Logan Couture, Nico Sturm and Martin Kaut replied for San Jose (19-39-15), which had its winless skid extended to nine games (0-6-3). Kahkonen had 25 stops.
Erik Karlsson had two assists to reach 68 on the year and surpass his previous career-high of 66 in 2015-16 and break the Sharks record for helpers by a defenceman. Brent Burns previously held it with 67 in 2018-19.
“We just want to come every day and work hard and make the most out of a bad situation,” said Karlsson. “Today everybody showed up and we tried to play the way we need to to be competitive and I think we were for the most part of 60 minutes.”
The Flames saw their 2-1 lead entering the second period disappear after surrendering two goals to the visitors.
Sturm drove hard to the net, got his outstretched stick on the end of a hard centring pass from Noah Gregor and neatly deflected it in at 4:52.
Twenty-two seconds later, Steven Lorentz ripped a shot off the goalpost and Kaut knocked in the rebound.
The lead was short-lived, though, with Duehr answering back for Calgary 25 seconds later. He buried a one-timer on a dish from Trevor Lewis.
“Losing sucks,” said Couture. “Tonight was one of our better efforts. We’re realistic in here. We know where we’re at. We lost a bunch of guys at the deadline. We moved out six or seven of our full-time players. I liked our compete. We fought to the end. We can be proud of that.”
The Flames opened the game with a bang, grabbing a 2-0 lead before the Sharks even got a shot on net.
Couture cut into the deficit at 14:27 when he went hard to the net and was set up for a tap-in thanks to a slick pass from Karlsson.
MILESTONE FOR BACKLUND
Mikael Backlund played in his 900th career game Saturday. A first-round pick by the Flames in 2007, the 34-year-old centre is third on the franchise’s all-time games played list behind Jarome Iginla (1,219) and Mark Giordano (949).
BLUE LINE SHUFFLE
The Sharks made two changes on the blue line, welcoming back Matt Benning (undisclosed) and Jacob MacDonald (upper body) from injuries that had sidelined them for one and nine games, respectively.
UP NEXT
Flames: Conclude their home stand on Tuesday against the Kings.
Sharks: Return home to host Winnipeg on Tuesday.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 25, 2023.
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