By Glenn Hicks

New, or redeveloped? NDP wants clarity on P.A. hospital future

Sep 28, 2018 | 5:25 PM

Will the province build a new hospital in Prince Albert, or will the future project be a redevelopment?

The opposition NDP said a Request For Proposals put out by the government earlier this month is raising questions about Premier Scott Moe’s commitment to a new facility.

The NDP said the ministry RFP of Sept.4 shows consideration of both a “greenfield” (new) project and a “brownfield” option, which the NDP referred to as a “refurbished” option.

“We want him (Moe) to act out on his promise,” Prince Albert Northcote MLA Nicole Rancourt told paNOW. “I’d like to see the Premier honour the promises that he made; this is a lot about transparency and delivering on promises.”

During his campaign for the premiership in October, Moe spoke in Prince Albert and promised a new hospital, telling an audience he would ensure such a facility would be fully funded by the province.

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A spokesperson for the Premier, Jim Billington, reaffirmed with paNOW in March: “ as the Premier indicated, a new hospital will be built in Prince Albert when finances allow. 100% of the capital infrastructure cost will be funded by the Government of Saskatchewan. “

When asked for comment Friday regarding the NDP’s concerns about refurbished versus new, the government provided a statement from Minister of Health, Jim Reiter. It said in part, “ as committed by Premier Moe, one of our next major health care capital investments will be to redevelop the Prince Albert Victoria Hospital when finances permit.”

The statement adds, “[the RFP] may include redeveloping and expanding the existing site or building a new hospital.  How we move forward will depend on which option best meets the current and future health care needs for the people of Prince Albert, the surrounding area and Northern Saskatchewan. “

For Rancourt, the suggestion of a redevelopment rather than new is not what the citizens of Prince Albert and area have been lead to expect.

“We know there could be some structural issues with regard to the [existing building] so we would like to have a new, bigger hospital that could expand the health care that’s needed in the region and also provide the services.”

glenn.hicks@jpbg.ca

On Twitter:@princealbertnow