Almost a year into office, the Conservatives are preparing to spend more time and money studying a problem the government already knows exists.
Last week, the government issued a request for proposals to assess the condition of St. Clare’s Mercy Hospital and determine what repairs are needed, despite a Facilities Condition Index being completed just four years ago.
That assessment ranked St. Clare’s as being in the poorest condition of all provincial facilities and concluded that further investment in its aging infrastructure was not recommended.
Just months after taking office, the Conservatives cancelled the plan to build a new hospital to replace St. Clare’s. At the time, Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Barry Petten admitted he did not know how much it would cost to repair the aging hospital. Days later, he told reporters the cost could run into the hundreds of millions of dollars.
Almost a year later, the Minister still appears to have no clear plan for the future of St. Clare’s, and taxpayers are now being asked to pay for another evaluation of a building the government already knows is in poor condition.
On the same day the Minister cancelled the plan to replace St. Clare’s, he announced plans to build a health clinic in his own district. This announcement was made without the necessary costing or planning.
Newfoundland and Labrador needs a government that plans ahead and delivers results, not one that continues to commission studies while health care infrastructure deteriorates.
The Official Opposition is calling on Minister Petten to stop wasting time and money on unnecessary evaluations and provide a clear, costed plan to address the future of St. Clare’s and improve health care delivery in our province.
The Conservatives have broken numerous promises in their first year in office, while Newfoundlanders and Labradorians continue to wait for any meaningful update on their promise of free hospital parking.
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