$143M in added spending lets Alberta start work on five ‘priority’ health care projects
By On-Site Staff
Financing Institutional
Alberta’s Minister of Health Tyler Shandro announcing the funding for the Foothills hospital project March 4. PHOTO: Province of Alberta
A series of new capital health care projects are set to get off the ground in Alberta in 2021 with the help of a $143 million investment from the province.
The government outlined plans for the new funding set aside in Budget 2021 at an event last week at the Foothills Medical Centre. A $23 million portion of the spending will go toward expanding the neonatal intensive care unit at Foothills hospital, Minister of Health Tyler Shandro said.
“This is great news for the smallest, newest, most fragile Albertans who need specialty care before or after they’re born,” Shandro said. “Calgary continues to grow and needs improved access to programs like the ones at Foothills. I’m pleased Budget 2021 supports priority capital projects that will boost health services for babies, moms and families, as well as many others as they face health challenges.”
The government contribution for the expansion at Foothills hospital is part of the project’s overall $83 million budget. Much of the balance will be provided by the Calgary Health Foundation.
Along with the new project at Foothills, the province will back work to relocate the intensive care unit at Calgary’s Rockyview General Hospital with $59 million; spend $35 million on a community health centre in La Crete, Alta.; support a new cyclotron and southern Alberta’s first radiopharmaceutical manufacturing facility with $18 million; and contribute $8 million to a project to demolish the old High Prairie Health Complex, freeing up the space for redevelopment.
In all, the province said the $143 million investment will create approximately 800 jobs.
