MOUNTAIN VIEW COUNTY - Mountain View County council has agreed to provide $15,000 towards the Central Alberta Health Campus project in Sundre.
The move came by way of motion at the recent, regularly-scheduled council meeting, held in person and online.
The Town of Sundre and the Sundre Hospital Futures Committee had requested the county provide the funding in support of the joint initiative campus.
“In conjunction with the Town of Sundre, the committee has hired P3 Capital Partners Inc. to develop a strategy for constructing a new hospital and establishing a rural healthcare campus in the town,” administration said in a briefing note to council.
“The $45,000 cost for the engagement of P3 Capital Partners is currently being shared equally between the Town of Sundre and the committee.”
During discussion of the matter, reeve Angela Aalbers said the county’s funding contribution will money well spent.
“I think it is a great initiative,” said Aalbers. “I think that the group that council has supported as far as the terms of reference in the lobby efforts along side of P3 Capital Partners, the Town of Sundre and the Sundre Hospital Futures Committee has been a great collaboration.
“This is also something that is not just going to benefit the Sundre hospital, but I think it’s going to benefit all of our rural hospitals within Mountain View County, including Didsbury and Olds, and probably expand way beyond our municipality but further into rural Alberta.”
The Central Alberta Health Campus project has “traction with the province, the minister of health and the premier,” she said.
Coun. Greg Harris said, “This is a small amount to make sure this keeps rolling.”
Deputy reeve Dwayne Fulton said he would like to see the funding come from the tax rate stabilization reserve instead of the health grant budget.
Coun. Alan Miller said the funding will support a worthwhile cause.
“I will definitely support this motion,” said Miller. “I think it is a great opportunity for our county to get involved more at the grassroots. I know our doctors and nurses desperately need the training and some of that training is only provided by our rural health campuses that potentially will be built.”
Council carried a motion supporting the $15,000 contribution, with the money coming from the county’s tax rate stabilization reserve.
