By Jeff Henson

Provincial Politics

Notley talks health care, new schools during visit to Grande Prairie

Apr 13, 2023 | 2:10 PM

Even though the provincial election campaign does not officially start for a few more weeks, NDP leader Rachel Notley made a campaign-style stop in Grande Prairie Thursday.

Healthcare and education were the key points of Notley’s presentation.

Notley stated that she met with local healthcare workers during her visit.

“They told us that the Grande Prairie Regional Hospital is constantly at or near capacity. Worker burnout continues to be a real challenge. Morale is low, and resources just are not there for front-line healthcare.”

“The Emergency Department in Beaverlodge was without a physician more than a dozen times in 2022 and has already had the same situation occur several times this year. And when it closes, all EMS calls are rerouted to the Grande Prairie Regional Hospital, adding further stress to the staff there.”

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Notley added the NDP pledge to bring more doctors to Grande Prairie and other rural areas in Alberta, saying she is ready to put her plan for health care up against the United Conservative Party government’s track record over the past four years.

“Including timely access to a doctor for one million more Albertans. We will introduce what we are calling Family Health Teams, a re-imagining of primary health care. A system where several healthcare professionals work together in clinics to provide a one-stop shop for families and their health care needs.”

“And while Danielle Smith and the UCP dabble in new ways to make you pay to see a family doctor, we will work on better supporting those doctors with more allied health professionals to assist them in the critical work they do.”

Notley also stated that the NDP will be releasing its education platform in the coming days.

But while in Grande Prairie, she did pledge that an NDP government would fund the construction of a new Peace Wapiti Academy high school, as well as a new Kindergarten to Grade 8 Catholic school in the Windsor area subdivision.

“When it comes to Peace Wapiti, the goal is to build a new junior high and senior high to meet the needs of the growing community. The fact is, the UCP has ignored this problem for four years, and now just this year, only put forward a small amount of planning money.”

“What I am talking about is just moving forward, and funding the actual construction of the replacement school.”

As far as local candidates for the election, Notley confirmed that a nomination meeting for the Grande Prairie constituency will be held April 30, while a date for the Grande Prairie-Wapiti constituency nomination meeting will be announced in the coming days.