Province spending nearly $5B to help ‘strengthen’ northern Alberta communities

The province will spend nearly $5 billion to create jobs, schools and urgent care centres in Alberta's north.

The province is spending $4.9 billion to help create jobs, schools and urgent care centres in northern Alberta to “strengthen” the region.

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“This includes making investments that will strengthen communities across the province’s north and help to ensure their long term diversification and prosperity,” said Minister of Jobs, Economy and Trade, Matt Jones.

More than $255 million will be spent over three years to plan and design five new schools in Cold Lake, Fairview, Grande Prairie and two schools in Fort McMurray.

The province says the schools will make room for more students in the community with new schools replacing existing aging ones.

The minister says the north is vital to the province’s success and the funds will help attract more investment while developing key sectors.

“Alberta’s northern communities are vital to our province’s identity, prosperity and success and our government is helping them tackle the opportunities and challenges that they face head on,” Jones said Tuesday.

As for jobs, $1.5 million over three years will go towards the Northern Alberta Development Bursary to help attract and retain professionals in the north.

The funding package also includes new urgent care centres planned for Cold Lake and Fort McMurray and completing the expansion of Slave Lake’s EMS station.

The province says $1.25 billion will also be invested to improve infrastructure, specifically for expanding emergency routes.

Earlier this month, the province announced it would be spending $311 million on roads to increase safety and mobility in the north.