(December 1, 2021) – Barry Petten, PC Official Opposition Shadow Minister for Transportation and Infrastructure and MHA for Conception Bay South, says Minister Elvis Loveless needs to immediately address the cost and schedule impacts of thousands of deficiencies found with two long-term care facilities in Central Newfoundland.

Document obtained through access to information details months of delay, thousands of deficiencies, and a kitchen ventilation system that risks spreading airborne grease into individual rooms of seniors living in the long-term care facilities.

“The sheer volume of issues with these two homes is deeply concerning. Thousands of deficiencies have been identified, leading to the facilities opening day going from May to a mystery. These issues means 120 long-term care beds are unavailable in our province,” said Petten.

“How could the Liberal government allow this many substantive issues from going unaddressed? Where is the project oversight by Transportation and Infrastructure? What does it mean for the cost estimate of these facilities, given we are now six months past the original opening date? The Minister needs to address these concerns directly: when will these facilities open and how much more money will the tax payer have to pay?”

Petten says if the magnitude of these issues were allowed to happen in these two facilities, it raises questions about other major infrastructure projects undertaken by the Liberal government.

“The Liberals have committed to a public-private partnership (P3) model for major infrastructure projects. With the extensive list of issues with these two P3 projects, it raises question of government’s ability to manage these P3 projects, like the Adult Mental Health and Addictions Facility and the replacement for the Waterford Hospital,” said Petten.

“What’s more is the lack of transparency with the public. In August speaking with NTV, the Minister of Health said staffing issues were the reason for the delay. This ATIPP suggests that was not the case and the issues were known months before the Minister’s public statement. All these factors taken together shake my confidence in government’s ability to get these projects right.”

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Contacts:

David Maher

Director of Strategic Communications

(cell) 709-725-0984

DavidMaher@gov.nl.ca