Alberta’s government is investing roughly $330 million over three years to support health capital projects in rural communities across the province.
If passed, Budget 2025 will provide $15 million to support project planning, which includes conducting facility and functional assessments of rural hospitals to determine what capital planning solutions and services are required to maximize each facility’s potential.
“Rural Albertans should be able to access the health care services they need close to home. The new Rural Hospital Enhancement Program will ensure we are continuing to make data-driven decisions, and that resources are being appropriately deployed to address the areas with the greatest need,” said Minister of Health Adriana LaGrange.
Once project plans for each facility are developed, they will be used to inform future capital planning discussions and funding decisions for new projects.
Projects include:
- $25 million to complete projects approved under the Rural Health Facilities Revitalization Program
- $20 million in planning funds for primary care centres in rural, remote and Indigenous communities
- $80 million to develop the La Crete Maternity and Community Health Centre
- $1 million in planning funds for the Cardston Health Centre
- $18 million to fund furnishings, equipment and information technology infrastructure for the Mountview Health Complex in Beaverlodge
- $170 million in capital lease costs for the Mountview facility
The first phase of planning under the Rural Hospital Enhancement Program will evaluate 20 facilities across the province:
- Myron Thompson Health Centre in Sundre
- Whitecourt Healthcare Centre
- Brooks Health Centre
- Hinton Healthcare Centre
- William J. Cadzow - Lac La Biche Healthcare Centre
- St. Joseph’s General Hospital in Vegreville
- Drumheller Health Centre
- Slave Lake Healthcare Centre
- Edson Healthcare Centre
- Killam Health Care Centre
- Drayton Valley Hospital and Care Centre
- Pincher Creek Health Centre
- Athabasca Healthcare Centre
- Valleyview Health Centre
- Barrhead Healthcare Centre
- Northwest Health Centre in High Level
- Peace River Community Health Centre
- Central Peace Health Complex in Spirit River
- Lacombe Hospital and Care Centre
- Milk River Health Centre
The Rural Health Facilities Revitalization Program was created in 2021 with total funding of $140 million to execute 44 projects in rural communities across the province.
The $25 million in 2025-26 will complete the remaining projects being supported by this program.
Sign up to get the latest local news headlines delivered directly to your inbox every afternoon.
Send your news tips, story ideas, pictures, and videos to news@centralalbertaonline.com.
CentralAlbertaOnline encourages you to get your news directly from your trusted source by bookmarking this page and downloading the CentralAlbertaOnline app.