YORKTON — Saskatchewan NDP MLA Aleana Young says documents obtained through Freedom of Information legislation show no funding has been allocated for a proposed new hospital in Yorkton over the next three fiscal years.
Speaking in Yorkton, Young said records received from the Saskatchewan Health Authority contradict statements from the Saskatchewan Party government that money had been committed to the project.
“Freedom of Information requests, which have been returned to us from the SHA, have made clear that not a penny of money has been set aside for 26/27, 27/28, or 28/29,” Young said.
SaskBuilds and Procurement Minister Sean Wilson rejected the NDP's characterization of the project's status.
“Building Yorkton a new hospital continues to be a priority for this government,” Wilson said in a statement. “Currently, this generational project is in the pre-design phase.”
Wilson said the pre-design phase includes development of a clinical program, land acquisition planning, creation of an indicative building design and establishing general contractor requirements. He said the project will advance to the design phase once those steps are complete.
The government did not respond to a request for details on what elements of the pre-design phase have been completed, or provide a timeline for moving the project into the design phase, by publication time.
Wilson said the government would continue to keep residents of Yorkton and east-central Saskatchewan updated as the project progresses.
He also accused the Opposition of misrepresenting the status of the project.
“It is unfortunate that the NDP keeps misleading the people of Yorkton and area on the progress of this project,” Wilson said. “This is just another example of why nobody in Saskatchewan takes the NDP seriously.”
The Regina South Albert MLA said Yorkton residents have heard promises of a new hospital for years.
“People will undoubtedly recall the Sask. Party government's 15 years of promising a new hospital to the people of Yorkton. This comes back every election cycle,” she said.
She also criticized the length of time the project has remained in planning stages.
“The Minister of SaskBuilds and Procurement claimed that there was funding to keep the hospital in the pre-design phase where it has been for 12 years,” Young said. “Twelve years for pre-design, frankly, is embarrassing.”
Young said Opposition members questioned Rural and Remote Health Minister Lori Carr during a legislative committee meeting this spring after Carr indicated funding had been committed to the project.
According to Young, the records subsequently obtained through FOI requests did not identify funding allocations for the hospital in current or future capital plans.
Young argued delays have increased the eventual cost of the project and pointed to planning work previously funded by the community.
“This would have saved hundreds of millions of dollars if it had been built when it had been committed to,” she said.
Young said a community-funded design study completed years ago was never acted upon by the province.
“The report was undertaken from the local community, and then sits on a shelf,” she said.
