'A monumental day': Enoch Cree Nation, Alberta agree on new surgical facility west of Edmonton
A new "culturally safe facility" offering roughly 3,000 publicly funded orthopedic surgeries will be built on First Nations land just west of Edmonton, the Alberta government and the Enoch Cree Nation announced Wednesday.
The chartered surgical centre will be open to Indigenous and non-Indigenous patients starting in June 2025 and will help to reduce wait times, Health Minister Adriana LaGrange promised calling it an "innovative partnership."
"Today is a significant moment in our ongoing journey to reconciliation in Alberta," added Indigenous Relations Minister Rick Wilson.
"This…will be a testament to our commitment to working hand-in-hand."
The facility will be operated by the First Nation in partnership with Alberta Health Services and is one of the first of its kind in the country.
"This isn't tokenism, this is reconcili-action," Chief Cody Thomas said during the media announcement.
"The intent of our treaty was to share and I'm always going to stress that…This is a monumental day for us as a First Nation."
Chief Thomas said Enoch will pay for and own the building, which will include other medical facilities, at a cost of up to $50 million.
Alberta provided planning funds for the project and will staff the facility. The province currently has contracts with three other chartered operators in Edmonton which provide orthopedic surgery spaces in exchange for service fees.
AHS performed a total of 292,500 surgeries in 2022-23 and Alberta's budget includes an $80-million increase, aimed at performing 20,000 more.
In April, Enoch and Alberta agreed to build a $30-million addictions treatment centre in the First Nation, which is expected to be open as soon as next year.
With files from CTV News Edmonton's Amanda Anderson
A rendering of a new chartered surgical facility to be be built in Enoch Cree Nation. (Credit: Enoch Cree Nation)
Officials announce a new chartered surgical facility, on September 6, 2023, to be built in Enoch Cree Nation. (Amanda Anderson/CTV News Edmonton)
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
Federal government grants B.C.'s request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces
The federal government is granting British Columbia's request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces, nearly two weeks after the province asked to end its pilot project early over concerns of public drug use.
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
Stormy Daniels took the witness stand Tuesday at Donald Trump's hush money trial, describing for jurors a sexual encounter the porn actor says she had with him in 2006 that resulted in her being paid off to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
MPs agree Canadian gov't should improve new disability benefit
The federal government needs to safeguard the incoming Canada Disability Benefit from clawbacks and do more to ensure it actually meets the stated aim of lifting people living with disabilities out of poverty, MPs from all parties agree.
King Charles too busy to see son Prince Harry during U.K. trip
Prince Harry will not be seeing his father King Charles during his current visit to Britain as the monarch will be too busy, Harry's spokesperson said on Tuesday.
Boy Scouts of America changing name for first time in 114 years, aiming for inclusivity
The Boy Scouts of America is changing its name for the first time in its 114-year history and will become Scouting America. It's a significant shift as the organization emerges from bankruptcy following a flood of sexual abuse claims and seeks to focus on inclusion.
opinion Tom Mulcair: Trudeau's handling of Poilievre's 'wacko' House turfing a clear sign of Liberal desperation
When Speaker Greg Fergus tossed out Pierre Poilievre from the House last week, "those of us who have experience as parliamentarians simply couldn't believe our eyes," writes former NDP leader Tom Mulcair in his column for CTVNews.ca
Security guard shot, seriously injured outside of Drake's Toronto mansion
A security guard working at Drake’s Bridle Path mansion in Toronto was seriously injured in a shooting outside the residence early Tuesday morning, police said.
Katy Perry's mom was fooled by AI images of the singer at the Met Gala
Katy Perry did not attend the Met Gala on Monday, but some of the singer’s fans – and even her mom – thought she did.