Google "lawyer shortage Alberta" to see that this is a long-standing problem.

I don't know what the cause of the problem is:   not enough graduating lawyers?   too many working in more lucrative corporate law settings?   

When it gets to the stage that murder trials are being delayed, that's a breaking point.

Not sure what the solution is, but unless the appointment criteria and process is changed, i.e. loosened (which could bring unintended consequences), there won't be any quick fixes.