Two community groups are looking for answers about a pilot project designed to transport Jasper residents to Edmonton for medical appointments. 

The Jasper Health Advisory committee and the Jasper Senior’s Association are inviting MLA Robin Campbell to the community next month to discuss the next phase of the project, which would allow rural residents to attend appointments with medical specialists in the city. Campbell is invited to attend the senior’s dinner on Oct. 26, and the health advisory committee is also requesting a meeting with the provincial representative.

A year ago, MLA Robin Campbell told Jasper groups that his staff could help the proposal through the Northern Alberta Development council. Similar programs exist in British Columbia, so models already exist.

Health advisory club member Roger Maltby said the community hasn’t received an update on the project since last November.

“He offered the services of his office, but what has happened during the year,” Maltby said.

At the time MLA Campbell said he’d forward the requests to the regional health board, which was disbanded the very next day.

Health Advisory committee chair Angie Lemire said she’s disappointed Campbell hasn’t gotten back to the committee, but recognizes there have been several changes to Alberta Health Services during the past year. Lemire said she’s also applying to sit on the new health advisory council, which seeks to add another layer of community connectedness to local health services. The health boards will consist of 10 to 15 volunteers who will provide feedback about the health care system. The local board will stretch from Jasper west to rural areas such as Nestow and Clyde, north of Edmonton.

Despite the creation of the advisory committees, the Jasper Health Advisory Committee will continue to operate, Lemire said.

The group is a creation of the Town of Jasper and is not formally recognized by the provincial government.

The senior’s association also drafted a letter requesting information about the Northern Alberta Development council (NADC), and how well the request for a transportation service had been received by members of the provincial cabinet. They are also requesting timelines for the project, and a summary of the objectives made by the NADC in the past year.

Coun. Mike Day suggested the letter be narrowed in scope to allow for a more precise answer from Campbell. 

“Asking for an update on progress might work a little better,” Coun Day said, noting that a summary of objectives could range anywhere from three paragraphs to 30 pages worth of work.