Grande Prairie City Council has taken a step toward addressing the region’s long-standing doctor shortage by approving the first reading of a loan guarantee for the Maskwa Medical Centre. The decision, made on April 2, 2026, supports the financing of the new not-for-profit facility, which is currently under construction next to the Grande Prairie Regional Hospital.
The facility is designed to improve local access to care by housing a medical residency program, a walk-in clinic, a pharmacy, a daycare, a restaurant, and various specialist offices. This project is a collaborative effort involving several partners, including the University of Alberta, Northwestern Polytechnic, and multiple local municipalities, such as the County of Grande Prairie and the MD of Greenview.
The need for the centre comes as the community faces a difficult healthcare landscape. As of May 2024, none of the city’s 49 family physicians were accepting new patients. This lack of access has left many residents, including senior citizens, struggling to find consistent care, often forcing them to rely on emergency rooms where wait times can last for many hours.
In addition to the City’s move, the MD of Greenview is also reviewing Bylaw 26-1016, which would guarantee a $5 million portion of the project’s loan through the Alberta Treasury Branch. The initiative builds on a 2024 provincial funding pledge of $224.8 million aimed at supporting rural medical training centres in the province. The new centre is expected to open between 2026 and 2027, providing a new foundation for medical training and patient services in the Peace Region.
