Town treads lightly before supporting parkade

Chris Clegg
South Peace News

The M.D. of Big Lakes is supporting the High Prairie community health council’s lobby to construct a parkade at the Queen Elizabeth II Hospital in Grande Prairie. However, the Town of High Prairie is taking a more cautious approach before agreeing to support the endeavour. CHC member George Keay brought forth the issue at the May 9 CHC meeting when he suggested more parking was desperately needed at the QEII. He was concerned about patients attending medical appointments and having to walk long distances to get inside the very busy QEII. The M.D. council approved unanimously to support the CHC’s lobby at their May 23 meeting. However, later that night, town council was not so enthusiastic. Town CAO Larry Baran says council’s discussion centred around the risk of proposing another construction project to Peace Country Health at a time when the funding for the High Prairie Hospital was not truly committed and in use. “As Mayor John Brodrick said, it would be too easy for someone in Edmonton to come to the conclusion that funding for the new hospital in High Prairie hasn’t been committed, and the project seems to be dragging, so let’s reprofile some of the funding and take care of something that High Prairie also wants, and they build a parkade and use some of our hospital funds,” says Baran. In short, town council is very afraid of losing the money for the High Prairie Hospital, despite assurances from the Alberta government, including Lesser Slave Lake MLA Pearl Calahasen, that the money is in place. Council is prepared to support the parkade request once the High Prairie Hospital’s construction has started. “They agree with the CHC’s recommendation for a parkade. Until then, they will remain silent,” says Baran. CHA chair Nona Elliott is away on holidays and could not be reached for comment. Baran says Brodrick spoke to Elliott after the meeting and she understood and appreciated council’s decision.

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