By Troy Gillard

ALL EYES ON NEXT WEEK

City seeks hospital expansion, shelter funding, Crown prosecutors from provincial budget

Feb 18, 2020 | 8:40 PM

Hospital expansion, a 24/7 permanent shelter and additional Crown prosecutors are The City of Red Deer’s top three wishes of the provincial government.

City officials will be watching closely for news regarding all three items when the next provincial budget tabled on Feb. 27.

“This provincial budget is unlike any other as we continue working to respond to critical social and economic challenges that we hope will be provincially prioritized,” Mayor Tara Veer said Tuesday. “Investment in a 24/7 permanent shelter and funding for Red Deer Regional Hospital expansion are critical needs that must be addressed for the health and wellbeing of our city as a whole. An investment in justice, especially additional crown prosecutors for Red Deer, is also a top priority to strengthen the court’s ability to uphold charges and obtain justice for victims of crime.”

It’s been just over a year since the former NDP government committed to Red Deer hospital expansion if they were re-elected last spring. That didn’t happen, of course, and the current UCP government has yet to make an announcement regarding hospital expansion.

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Councillor Ken Johnston, an impassioned voice for hospital expansion, says the current state of vital medical services in Red Deer remains a blight that has gone unaddressed for far too long.

Red Deer also received a $7 million funding commitment for a 24/7 shelter from the former government last March. But the UCP put that funding on hold pending a review and it was not included in the most recent provincial budget tabled in October.

There is good news for Red Deer in that construction on the city’s new courthouse (justice centre) will commence this spring. However, city officials say more Crown prosecutors are still needed in order to ensure important criminal cases do not fall by the wayside due to lengthy court delays.

Also included on the city’s advocacy list for the province is the need for more ambulances for Red Deer. The city currently has five full-time ambulances currently in services compared to nine in 2008 before responsibility for ambulance service was taken over by Alberta Health. City officials have also recommended the establishment of a non-ambulance service for routine inter-facility transfers.

Other social advocacy items for the city include a provincial action on addictions response, needle debris and affordable housing.

Infrastructure priorities include the future of historic Parsons House, Michener and J.J. Gaetz House, and Valley Park Manor, which continues to sit empty and be a target of vandalism and other illegal activity.

The City of Red Deer is also concerned over the province’s move to take 40% of ticket fine revenue, up from 26.7%, which could have an impact on Red Deer’s police funding.

City officials have also submitted several recommendations for reducing red tape for Albertans and businesses.

RELATED: Government silent on Red Deer hospital expansion: NDP

RELATED: Government silent on Red Deer hospital expansion: NDP

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