Saskatchewan New Democratic Party leader Ryan Meili at a campaign stop in Prince Albert Wednesday surrounded by local NDP candidates. (Alison Sandstrom/paNOW Staff)

By Alison Sandstrom

promises

Meili promises new bridge and hospital for Prince Albert

Sep 30, 2020 | 5:51 PM

An NDP government would build a new bridge and a completely new hospital for Prince Albert, leader Ryan Meili told reporters at a campaign stop in the city Wednesday.

Offering voters a choice between what he called austerity and cuts under the Saskatchewan Party or investment in people, Meili said his party would spend on things that matter to Prince Albert families.

A new bridge, he said, is a clear need.

“We need to stop talking about it, get it built and get it built with Saskatchewan companies and Saskatchewan workers on the job,” he said.

Meili said the estimated cost of the bridge will be released in the NDP platform costing.

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Both the bridge and the new hospital would be built using what he called a Saskatchewan First model, “meaning Saskatchewan companies and Saskatchewan workers will be on the job site,” Meili said. “We’re standing up to the Sask. Party’s old boys’ club of corporate donors. We won’t send those jobs out of the province like the Sask. Party has done with so many projects.”

Meili called the $300 million expansion the Sask. Party government has promised at the Victoria Hospital a “glorified renovation” and said the NDP would instead build a complete new hospital.

Prince Albert Northcote MLA Nicole Rancourt, also at the press conference, said she’s heard from frontline workers the 69 additional beds in the proposed hospital expansion will not meet the current or future needs of Prince Albert and the North.

Meili said the two big ticket items would get paid for like any other capital project in the province.

“The Sask. Party has said they’ll put $2 billion aside for infrastructure that’s a reasonable thing to do,” he said. The one thing they won’t commit is making sure it’s Saskatchewan companies on the job and they sure haven’t committed to the right investments in Prince Albert.”

Meanwhile in a statement emailed to paNOW, a spokesperson for the Saskatchewan Party said the party’s record of supporting the people of Prince Albert was clear and cast doubt on the NDP’s spending plans.

“Mr. Meili and the NDP just made $650 million worth of spending promises with no disclosure of the costs and no explanation for how he is going to pay for it,” the statement said, in part. “It’s estimated that a new hospital would cost approximately $500 million, while a second bridge would cost approximately $150 million.”

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alison.sandstrom@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alisandstrom