Victoria Hospital. (file photo/paNOW Staff)

By Glenn Hicks

new hospital

Planning funds a positive move towards new or redeveloped P.A. hospital

Mar 20, 2019 | 6:12 PM

Prince Albert’s mayor says the funding in Wednesday’s provincial budget for planning for the redevelopment of the P.A. hospital virtually assures him the long-awaited project will be announced next year. However, the Saskatchewan Health Authority is more guarded regarding the time frame.

Greg Dionne sounded buoyant following Finance Minister Donna Harpauer’s budget announcement that P.A. and Weyburn would share $5 million for pre-construction planning for their respective hospital projects.

“You’re not going to spend $5 million on construction plans and then not go ahead with construction,” Dionne told paNOW. “So, that was the biggest thing we were looking for and the commitment we’re moving forward. I’m really excited about next year’s budget when they’ll announce the hospital.”

The odds I’d say are 90 per cent _{– Mayor Greg Dionne}

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Dionne was convinced the big announcement the city has been waiting for would come in 2020, especially given it’s a provincial election year.

“Nothing is guaranteed, in case there’s a financial disaster that could happen,” he said. “But if you asked me the odds, I’d say they are 90 per cent.”

Scott Livingstone, the chief executive of the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA), wasn’t as forthright in his predictions for when the final decision would be made. But he said the funding for planning was a key next step after “a large amount of money” had already been spent on functional planning.

It’s a very positive sign _{– Scott Livingstone, SHA}

“It’s a very positive move in ensuring Prince Albert and Weyburn are the priority projects for the SHA in capital replacement; we don’t have any other proposals of this nature that are advancing,” he told paNOW. “It’s a decision for government [to make] … and I couldn’t say it’s a lock for next year, but I will say it’s a very positive sign,” Livingstone said.

The government and Premier Scott Moe have previously suggested the P.A. Hospital was the number one capital priority, so how does the Weyburn facility fit into the overall picture?

Livingstone said the community of Weyburn was on the radar screen for some time and had to raise 20 per cent of the total funding to get their project going while the government had decided the new or redeveloped P.A. Hospital would be funded at 100 per cent.

“I would say this [planning funding] is a good sign for both facilities; I don’t think either is being favoured over the other and I’d say they are both a priority for replacement,” he said.

—

glenn.hicks@jpbg.ca

On Twitter:@princealbertnow