GRANDE PRAIRIE, Alta. — Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach has given the official go-ahead and the cash to go with it for a new regional hospital in northern Alberta.
The premier announced in Grande Prairie on Tuesday that the government will provide $520 million for the new health centre.
The hospital will have two cancer radiation units, meaning patients won’t have to travel to Edmonton or Calgary for treatment.
“Our goal here is to have cancer treatment in Grande Prairie, Lethbridge (and) Red Deer, so we’ll move cancer treatment out of the two major centres,” Stelmach said. “It’ll also help reduce the waiting times in the major centres and provide better service, reduce the travel dramatically.”
He said the project will involve a partnership with Grande Prairie Regional College to provide job opportunities for students.
“We’ve got to do more so that we can keep our youth in the communities that they were raised in, so that they can provide health services.”
Construction is expected to start next spring.
Some services could be available at the new hospital by the fall of 2014.