Alberta
Red Deer Regional Hospital redevelopment cash needed now – Rachel Notley
From the Alberta NDP
KENNEY MUST REVERSE HIS BROKEN PROMISE AND FUND THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE RED DEER REGIONAL HOSPITAL: NDP
Alberta’s NDP are calling on Premier Jason Kenney to fund the redevelopment of the Red Deer Regional Hospital after breaking his promise to do so by not funding the project in this year’s budget.
In February 2020, Kenney promised $100 million towards a full redevelopment project with construction starting in 2021. However, the UCP’s most recent Capital Plan only provided $5 million for the hospital redevelopment this year.
“You cannot start construction on the expansion of a major hospital with $5 million. Promise made, promise broken by Jason Kenney,” said NDP Leader Rachel Notley.
“Red Deer Regional Hospital is a crucial healthcare facility, not just for the people of the City of Red Deer, but for families right across Central Alberta. But the city and the region have outgrown the hospital. We need more capacity in the emergency department and we need more specialized care,” said NDP Infrastructure Critic Thomas Dang.
“Now more than ever we all understand just how critical hospital capacity is. Jason Kenney promised to redevelop the Red Deer Hospital, but like so many of his promises, he has failed to deliver.”
Red Deer Hospital did not receive the promised funding to begin construction despite UCP MLA for Red Deer-South Jason Stephan campaigning on a promise to advocate for an expanded hospital.
“Jason Stephan has spent more of his time seeking to expand the number of people who will need the current hospital rather than expanding the actual hospital. He took an international Christmas vacation while the rest of us were locked down and many Alberta families made excruciating sacrifices. Now he’s publicly undermining the health measures that we all need to uphold to keep our families friends and communities safe,” said Notley.
“It’s an incredible failure of leadership from Jason Kenney to abandon his promise to the people of Red Deer to expand this hospital and then allow a quarter of his caucus to put lives at risk in Red Deer and across Alberta.”
Premier Danielle Smith issued the following statement following the implementation of U.S. tariffs:
“The tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump are an unjustifiable economic attack on Canadians and Albertans. They also represent a clear breach of the trade agreement signed by this same U.S. President during his first term. These tariffs will hurt the American people, driving up costs for fuel, food, vehicles, housing and many other products. They will also cost hundreds of thousands of American and Canadian jobs. This policy is both foolish and a failure in every regard.
“This is not the way it should be between two of the world’s strongest trading allies and partners. We would much rather be working with the U.S. on mutually beneficial trade deals than be caught in the middle of a tariff war.
“Alberta fully supports the federal response announced today by the Prime Minister. I will be meeting with my cabinet today and tomorrow to discuss Alberta’s response to these illegal tariffs, which we will announce publicly tomorrow.
“Now is the time for us to unite as a province and a country. We must do everything in our collective power to immediately tear down provincial trade barriers and fast-track the construction of dozens of resource projects, from pipelines to LNG facilities to critical minerals projects. We must strengthen our trade ties throughout Europe, Asia and the Americas for all our energy, agricultural and manufactured products. We also need to drastically increase military spending to ensure we can protect our nation. There is no time to waste on any of these initiatives.
“I will have more to say tomorrow.”
Alberta
Former Chief Judge of Manitoba Proincial Court will lead investigation into AHS procurement process
Deputy Minister of Jobs, Economy and Trade Christopher McPherson has issued the following statement on an independent third-party investigation into procurement and contracting processes used by the Government of Alberta and Alberta Health Services (AHS):
Deputy Minister of Jobs, Economy and Trade Christopher McPherson has issued the following statement on an independent third-party investigation into procurement and contracting processes used by the Government of Alberta and Alberta Health Services (AHS):
“While serving as Acting Deputy Minister of Executive Council, Premier Danielle Smith asked me to establish a credible, independent, third-party investigation into the procurement processes used by the Government of Alberta and AHS and their outcomes.
“I have informed Premier Smith that the Honourable Raymond E. Wyant, former Chief Judge of the Provincial Court of Manitoba, will lead this investigation. I asked Premier Smith to issue a ministerial order to facilitate his work and she has done so. Judge Wyant’s work on this matter begins immediately.
“Judge Wyant was appointed to the Manitoba bench in 1998 before becoming Chief Judge in 2002. Prior to his service on the bench, Judge Wyant worked as a criminal defence lawyer and Crown attorney and was acting deputy director of Manitoba prosecutions at the time of his appointment to the Bench. He has also taught law for many years at Robson Hall at the University of Manitoba.
“Judge Wyant will review the relevant legislation, regulations and policies related to procurement typically used by Government of Alberta departments and agencies, specifically AHS, and their application to the procurement of pharmaceuticals and to services offered by chartered surgical facilities. Questions that Judge Wyant will consider are outlined in the attached terms of reference, and include whether or not any elected official, Government of Alberta or AHS employee, or other individuals, acted improperly during the procurement processes. Judge Wyant will make recommendations to the government for improvement or further action as appropriate.
“Appointed under the Government Organization Act, Judge Wyant will operate independently of government. The Government of Alberta will provide Judge Wyant with access to all relevant documents held by its departments and AHS, as well as facilitate interviews with relevant individuals.
“Judge Wyant has been given a budget of $500,000 to undertake this important work, including to retain legal and audit assistance at his discretion. He is being paid $31,900 per month, which is the same remuneration rate as the Chief Justice of the Alberta Court of Justice.
“To ensure additional independence, Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction will hold the budget for this third-party investigation.
“Judge Wyant will deliver an interim written report by May 30, 2025. A final written report and recommendations will be delivered by June 30, 2025, and it will be posted on alberta.ca.”
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