MLA for Chestermere-Strathmore Chantelle de Jonge chatted with StrathmoreNow about some hot-button issues affecting Strathmore and Chestermere residents.
De Jonge talked about what the Alberta government is doing to help make the lives of people in the area easier.
She mentioned her government is looking to lower the cost of taxes and electricity.
"Lowering the cost of power is a top priority for our government. We're in the process of modernizing our entire electricity system to provide those long-term solutions to lower utility bills to protect Alberta ratepayers."
De Jonge says the province has a plan to expand housing in Strathmore and Chestermere.
"I think we're seeing substantive growth in housing in and around Chestermere, however, fewer starts in Strathmore."
According to the province, Strathmore had 31 housing starts in 2023. Additional numbers say there have been 29,901 homes under construction across Alberta from January to August of 2024.
She added that the province is working on a plan to bring in more homes to Chestermere and Strathmore.
Another issue affecting residents in Strathmore is the lack of family doctors.
According to the Primary Care Networks, the town only has one practice accepting new patients at the Calgary Rural PCN Strathmore Clinic.
De Jonge acknowledged that the municipality is struggling to attract and retain doctors.
She says her government is working on a physician comprehensive care model with the Alberta Medical Association but hasn't released it yet. According to de Jonge, it is supposed to be unveiled sometime this fall.
"I think this will be very welcomed news by family physicians across the province. I look forward to seeing that announcement come in a short time."
De Jonge also discussed the potential of paying for the education of doctors to try to keep them in the province.
"We are looking at that as an option to bring physicians into areas like rural communities where there may be a shortage and retain them."
She says last year the province implemented a new model to train physicians in Grande Prairie and Lethbridge with a plan to expand the program into other rural areas.
New schools are also an important topic with residents, as earlier this week Chestermere City Council announced new sites for a high school and recreation centre.
De Jonge says the plan is for the Rocky View Schools to work on the design of the new high school and apply for funding from the provincial government.