County of Grande Prairie council approved its 2026-2027 advocacy priorities on August 10, 2026, setting its sights on three key areas: fixing electricity distribution pricing, securing provincial money for Highway 40X, and boosting local healthcare.
The county will lobby the Province of Alberta to adopt a new electricity distribution model. Right now, households in affected areas of northern Alberta pay about $118 a month in distribution costs, compared to roughly $34 in other service areas. Businesses can pay nearly three times more. The Fair Electricity Distribution Alliance says over 25 municipalities want equal rates across the province.
Another top ask is funding for Highway 40X, a proposed connector linking Highways 40 and 43. The Alberta government says functional planning wrapped in 2010 and detailed design was due in 2025, with construction expected to start in 2026. The route would improve traffic flow, safety, and regional supply chains.
On healthcare, the county backs Maskwa Medical Centre in seeking approval for a specialized diagnostic clinic, set to open in mid to late 2026 next to the Grande Prairie Regional Hospital. Council also wants the province to create a catheterization lab at that hospital, which opened in 2021 and serves northwestern Alberta.
Reeve Amanda McDonald said the priorities were chosen to address infrastructure needs and urgent healthcare and economic challenges facing residents. The county also supports Northwestern Polytechnic’s push for a $69.9 million provincial investment to expand skilled trades programming at its Grande Prairie campus.
