Infrastructure Minister Prasad Panda and health Minister Tyler Shandro highlighted the funding during an announcement Thursday in Calgary

By Shaun Penner

Old hospital demolition

Old High Prairie Health Complex demolition funded in Budget 2021

Mar 4, 2021 | 5:17 PM

The provincial government has highlighted two health care projects in Northwestern Alberta which will receive a total of $43 million in Budget 2021.

The projects in High Prairie and La Crete were outlined during an announcement Thursday in Calgary. Health Minister Tyler Shandro said $8 million over the next three years will be going towards the demolition of the old High Prairie Health Complex, in preparation of redevelopment of the land.

“The community has been asking for us for this for years,” said Shandro. “They’ve been asking previous governments as well for years. And we’re pleased to support it.”

Alberta Health Service also received approval back in February to also demolish the old J.B. Wood Nursing Home and old EMS station, alongside the old hospital.

These buildings, which are each about 55 years old, were vacated in April of 2017 when all of those services were moved to the new High Prairie Health Complex and J.B. Wood Continuing Care Centre.

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“This is great news – thank you to the Premier and the provincial government for supporting this project,” said Barry Sharkawi, President of the High Prairie Chamber of Commerce, in a release from AHS. “The old buildings are an eyesore and a safety risk, and this project makes our whole community happy.”

The demolition of the buildings and remediation of the land is expected to take about 10 months to complete.

Shandro also said Thursday that $35 million will be put towards a new community health centre in La Crete, which will provide primary and ambulatory care, maternal health care, mental health and diagnostic services.

“The government and AHS has been working closely with La Crete (officials) for more than a year, to identify the health care service needs and the gaps in the community,” said Shandro.

A total of $1.3 billion will be going towards the health ministry in Budget 2021. Of that, $48.7 million is included for the completion of the Grande Prairie Regional Hospital.