Filling in health care gaps
By Chantelle de Jonge Chestermere-Strathmore MLA
Families, farmers, and seniors across Alberta all want access to health care close to home. Albertans should not have to travel long distances for essential services, whether for a routine check-up, a visit to a family doctor, or a follow-up appointment for an injury.
That’s why Alberta’s government is taking decisive action to ensure rural Albertans receive the care they need, when and where they need it. We are making significant progress through two impactful programs, which are key components of Alberta’s Rural Health Action Plan and the broader Modernizing Alberta’s Primary Care System initiative. These strategies will address regional gaps and foster an equitable health care system that better serves all Albertans.
The $16-million Rural and Remote Family Medicine Resident Physician Bursary Pilot Program is actively working to ensure long-term physician access in underserved areas. This initiative supports 74 family medicine residents who have committed to practicing in rural and remote communities between now and July 2027.
The pilot program is open to medical students from any Canadian university matched to a family medicine residency program at the University of Alberta or the University of Calgary. Applications are open until early 2026 or until all funding is committed.
In addition to supporting rural doctors, our government’s $6-million Rural Team Recruitment Grant is helping clinics expand their care teams and improve access to health services locally. This grant will assist rural clinics and community organizations in hiring additional non-physician health professionals, such as nurses, pharmacists, and physiotherapists.
These multidisciplinary teams are crucial for improving access to primary care by ensuring a full range of health services is available locally. In its initial round of funding, 29 clinics across the province will receive support which includes several rural communities.
Approximately 52 new full-time health professionals are expected to be hired through this first phase of the program. A second intake of the grant program is expected to open soon, further expanding the grant’s reach.
Our government understands the unique challenges facing rural communities, especially where health care is concerned. These strategic investments represent meaningful progress toward a more responsible and equitable system for all Albertans.
As we continue to strengthen healthcare across the province, Alberta is also securing its long-term prosperity through prudent financial planning. The Alberta Heritage Savings Trust Fund has reached a record high of $30-billion, following a $2.8-billion contribution.
Alberta is growing the Heritage Fund for what matters most – saving for the future to ensure a strong health care system, quality education and the lowest tax environment in Canada. By investing in the Heritage Fund, by 2050 Alberta will be on the path to energize its economy, create new opportunities, and fund projects that make life better for all Albertans.
This $2.8-billion contribution marks a new record for the fund and keeps the province on track to reach its goal of $250 billion by 2050. The goal is to grow the fund to the point where, after 2050, Alberta would be able to withdraw some of the income the fund earns each year while still allowing it to grow over time. Those withdrawals could help cover fluctuations in resource revenue, invest in important infrastructure and keep taxes low.
As always, please feel free to reach out to my office with your feedback and questions (Chestermere.Strathmore@assembly.ab.ca).
(Chantelle de Jonge is the MLA for Chestermere-Strathmore and the Parliamentary Secretary for Affordability and Utilities)