Calgary (Rajeev Sharma): Alberta’s government is committed to enhancing health infrastructure to ensure that all Albertans have access to high-quality care when and where they need it. When designing health care infrastructure projects, it is common to include shelled (unfinished) and vacant spaces to accommodate future growth and adapt to changing needs and demand.
All shelled and vacant space within Alberta’s health facilities will be identified and assessed to determine viable opportunities for future development. Strategically developing existing spaces is a cost-effective way to expand health care capacity faster, improving access to services and reducing wait times for patients across the province.
If passed, Budget 2025 will help fulfil this commitment responsibly through the $10-million Develop Shelled and Vacant Space Capital Program. Under the new program, shelled and vacant spaces will be developed within existing health facilities throughout Alberta.
“Developing spaces that aren’t finished or are vacant is a faster and more affordable way to expand health care infrastructure. I am looking forward to identifying these development opportunities so we can increase capacity for Albertans as soon as possible.”Adriana LaGrange, Minister of Health
Sites under consideration include the Peter Lougheed Centre and Tom Baker Centre in Calgary; the Mazankowski Heart Institute and Kaye Clinic in Edmonton; and the Queen Elizabeth II Ambulatory Care Centre in Grande Prairie.
The funding in the Capital Plan will be used to expedite development of these spaces, including comprehensive project costing and detailed planning before construction begins. By completing this groundwork upfront, the government will be able to make well-informed decisions during the approval process for future budgets.
Alberta Infrastructure will lead the two-year planning process under the direction of Alberta Health, ensuring alignment with health care program and service needs.
“This initiative to identify construction and renovation opportunities for underutilized spaces in hospitals will help our government improve health care capacity and better serve the needs of Albertans. We are proud to lead this program.”Martin Long, Minister of Infrastructure
Once the planning process is complete, additional capital funding will be allocated for construction under the new program. The design phase for selected projects could start as early as fall 2025.
“Alberta Health Services will use existing facility space to expand hospital capacity and improve access to care. This investment will support patients by increasing beds and surgical capacity in our hospitals.”Andre Tremblay, interim president and CEO, Alberta Health Services
This initiative is part of an even bigger ongoing expansion of hospitals across Alberta. If passed, Budget 2025 would include $265 million to increase operating room capacity as part of the Alberta Surgical Initiative capital program, as well as $11 million to advance plans for a stand-alone Stollery Children’s Hospital and $2 million to support plans for inpatient towers at both the Grey Nuns and Misericordia community hospitals that will add up to 700 beds.
These investments build on the recently completed $84-million expansion of the intensive care, coronary care and endoscopy units at Rockyview General Hospital, which has increased staffed bed capacity by almost 50 per cent, as well as the opening of the world-class Arthur J.E. Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre in Calgary. The centre adds 160 inpatient beds within its 127,000 square metres of space, including more than 9,200 square metres dedicated to research. Both projects have already substantially increased capacity in the Calgary corridor.
Budget 2025 is meeting the challenge faced by Alberta with continued investments in education and health, lower taxes for families and a focus on the economy.
