The under-construction Red Deer Justice Centre in downtown Red Deer on Jan. 14, 2022. (rdnewsNOW/Sheldon Spackman)

By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19) and Sheldon Spackman

Hospital, Justice Centre, and Recovery Centre

Infrastructure Minister provides hospital expansion update, among others

Jan 14, 2022 | 1:20 PM

“I want the people of Red Deer and region to rest assured this project remains a top priority for our government,” Alberta Infrastructure Minister Prasad Panda says regarding hospital expansion.

Speaking with rdnewsNOW, Panda was asked about the Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre expansion project, and the urgency behind it.

He noted, as we reported in early December, that the business case is now complete and in the hands of the Treasury Board ahead of next month’s provincial budget.

Says Panda: “I’m optimistic we’ll see some funding in the budget for sure.”

Last year, the UCP’s capital budget and plan included $5 million for hospital expansion, plus a commitment for another $19 million in 2022, and $35 million in 2023 – a grand total of $59 million over three years.

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In 2020, Premier Jason Kenney announced $100 million for the expansion project.

“When it comes to shovels in the ground, I’m more eager than anyone else because I want to make sure that this important project commences construction as soon as possible,” Panda, the MLA for Calgary-Edgemont, says.

“As I’ve said before, with complex projects like this, which are multi-year and long-term, they need to be planned properly. It takes time up front. If we don’t do that, the issue would be like what we’ve had with projects like the Grande Prairie Hospital where we experienced significant cost and schedule overruns, which no Albertan wants to see.”

Panda outlines the necessary steps, including a needs assessment, business case, deciding on programming and services, then dealing with design, and finally construction.

He says some of these are being done simultaneously by the government alongside Alberta Health Services.

“There’s work to be done, but people are working to move this project ahead,” he promises.

Panda also surmises that the global pandemic has delayed expansion, with the provincial health authority last year being so dialed in on COVID management. He doesn’t believe global supply chain issues have or will be a problem.

“By the time we get to construction, hopefully the markets will have stabilized,” the minister says. “I can understand the anxiety (of residents). This has been a longstanding desire for the people of this region. I thank them for being patient.”

—

One project which potentially faces delays due to the aforementioned supply chain issues is the Red Deer Justice Centre.

Announced in March 2017 by the former NDP government, construction on the $207 million project is well underway and very noticeable for anyone driving through the downtown core.

“The concrete foundation is largely complete. Concrete is being poured on levels three and four, and some walls are going up already,” says Panda. The building will be nine storeys when finished.

“There is still the ongoing pandemic, however, and there are supply chain challenges, but Alberta Infrastructure is really pushing hard to get this project done by spring 2023.”

Panda reiterates that the new Red Deer Justice Centre will offer court-goers a state-of-the-art experience, not to mention it will expedite the overall caseload.

“This is one project, in spite of the pandemic, that our team has worked hard to keep on time and on budget,” Panda adds. “I want to thank local skilled trades-workers who’ve kept the work going and are keeping it on track.”

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Panda also touched on the recovery centre being installed on the city’s north end.

That project is slated for completion this fall, Panda saying Alberta Infrastructure has been “aggressive” towards that target.

Construction commenced last summer, he notes.

“We are going modular on this facility, so you don’t see a lot of construction,” he explains. “Off-site, we are trying to build modular rooms to bring in and install.”

The 75-bed recovery centre, which is one of five announced across the province to aid with addiction and mental health challenges, is costing about $5 million to build.

It is to be located just off Highway 2A, within the Chiles Industrial Park.

The Alberta Government announced Friday it will unveil its budget on Feb. 24, with the Speech from the Throne on Feb. 22.