SAC Alberta

SAC Alberta

SAC’s advocacy work in Alberta is supported by a Regional Advocacy Manager and guided by a Regional Advisory Group made up of Alberta members. Together, they identify and advance advocacy priorities that affect communication health in the province. Through collaboration with SAC’s national advocacy team, this work helps strengthen the voice of speech-language pathologists, audiologists, and communication health assistants and improve access to communication health services across Alberta.

Advocacy Priorities

As the national association representing communication health professionals, Speech-Language & Audiology Canada is committed to highlighting the professions and to raising the profile of communications health in Canada.

Alberta’s Health Care System

Alberta’s Health Care System

As Alberta Health Services moves toward a decentralized structure and introduces a mix of public and private health service delivery, the implications for speech-language pathologists and audiologists are still evolving. SAC will actively monitor these developments, keep members informed, continue to highlight the diverse practice settings of our professions, and advocate to ensure the perspectives of our members are included in the implementation of these healthcare changes.
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Increase Wraparound Services and Funding Mechanisms

Increase Wraparound Services and Funding Mechanisms

SAC will advocate for robust funding and comprehensive support systems to ensure children in Alberta have uninterrupted access to communication health services. This includes maintaining and strengthening programs such as Program Unit Funding (PUF) and Family Support for Children with Disabilities (FSCD), while promoting wrap-around services that address all communication needs effectively.
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Retention and Recruitment

Retention and Recruitment

SAC will continue to address provincial and federal developments in human health resources, with a focus on the systemic challenges impacting speech-language pathologists and audiologists. Advocacy efforts will highlight trends and issues contributing to workforce shortages, ensuring retention and recruitment efforts effectively support our professions.
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Equitable Access

Equitable Access

SAC will advocate for equitable access to speech-language pathology and audiology services across all stages of life. This includes engaging with decision-makers to address barriers that limit access and ensuring the essential services our members provide are available to everyone. SAC will also push for expanded public coverage for audiology services for Albertans without insurance, particularly children over six and seniors.
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Current Campaigns

SAC Email Campaign Backing Modernized Ultrasound Regulations for Alberta Speech-Language Pathologists 

A proposed regulatory change in Alberta could give qualified speech-language pathologists the authority to order and perform non-ionizing radiation ultrasound imaging, making it easier to use tools such as ultrasound biofeedback in clinical practice.  

The proposal recently submitted by the Alberta College of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists to Alberta Health’s Primary and Preventative Health Services, would modernize Alberta’s regulations to better reflect current clinical practice. SAC has consulted closely with the Government of Alberta and strongly supports this modernization, which will remove unnecessary administrative bottlenecks. This change would improve access to care across the province, and foster innovative research in clinical practice. 

SAC has responded to a consultation from the Government of Alberta that strongly supports this important regulatory modernization. 

Now, we need your help. 

SAC has launched this email campaign to give members a direct voice with provincial decision-makers. In just a few clicks, you can quickly send a letter of support directly to key officials to ensure the Government of Alberta authorizes this regulatory change. Members are also encouraged to visit the Alberta College of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists (ACSLPA) essentials page for additional details regarding the regulatory submission. 

Community Updates

SAC attends Treaty 6 historic healthcare announcement

Speech-Language & Audiology Canada (SAC) was honored to attend the historic celebration marking the 150th anniversary of the signing of Treaty 6. We extend our sincere gratitude to Dr. James Makokis for inviting SAC to attend and participate in this significant gathering. 

During the event, the Saddle Lake Cree Nation announced its decision to authorize clinicians to practice gender-affirming care on their lands, exercising inherent health sovereignty under the Treaty’s Medicine Chest clause.  

SAC is supportive of gender-affirming care, and is committed to inclusive, compassionate healthcare for all. Speech-language pathologists, audiologists, and communication health assistants play important roles in delivering this care, from supporting voice and communication alignment to providing person-centered, culturally safe services that honor and respect each person’s identity. 

We are grateful for the opportunity to stand alongside Indigenous leaders, community members, partner organizations, and healthcare professionals in support of accessible, inclusive healthcare across Canada. 

Upcoming Events

Alberta Provincial Advisory Group Expression of Interest

Thank you for your interest in joining the SAC Alberta Advisory Group. Appointments are based on a fair, transparent, and equitable review of applications. We encourage applications from speech-language pathologists and audiologists across Alberta. We welcome applicants from a variety of practice settings and value diverse geographic, linguistic, and cultural perspectives.

Advocacy News

Resources for Alberta Members

2025 Alberta Advocacy Workshop

This webcast aims to foster grassroots advocacy capacity among SAC-Alberta members and empower them to initiate and lead advocacy efforts in their respective settings, drawing on their specialized knowledge of these areas. The collective voices of passionate and driven members can create meaningful change on a larger scale.

Jarrad Marthaller, Public Affairs Advisor & Provincial Manager, Alberta, is a member of and supported by the SAC-Alberta Committee.

The committee is your connection to issues in province and your dedicated group or representatives to support our work.

Karin Bork
Shanda Duggleby Wenzel
Kathleen House
Nicole Salvador-McKeller
Paige Wood
Amber Darragh
Mayuri Hirani
Dana Robinson
Brie Schindel

Contact SAC Alberta

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