New Grande Prairie hospital delayed until 2019

Grande Prairie Regional Hospital is $89 million over budget and won't be completed until 2019, two years later than previously announced.

Health Minister Sarah Hoffman confirmed Wednesday that quotes that came in last year for interior electrical and drywall work were considerably over budget.New requests for proposals will be issued early next year.

The Alberta government says the cost overrun was also caused by site preparation starting before planning was complete.

The announcement prompted a tense exchange between Hoffman and Grande Prairie-Smoky MLA Todd Loewen.

Loewen, a Wildrose MLA, said at a meeting in early September Hoffman toldhim, Grande Prairie Mayor Bill Given and GrandePrairie-Wapiti MLA Wayne Drysdalethat the hospital was "on time, on budget, and definitely not going to be scaled back."

He said she told himto ask about the new hospital during legislaturequestion period so "she could proudly in the house make those same statements."

Hoffman denied that claim and suggested Loewen was "making up untruths."

"The honourable member did not bring staff to that meeting, but I did, and we have very detailed minutes of that meeting and what I said in that meeting," she said.

When it opens, the new hospital will have eight operating rooms instead of 10. Building interiors will be redesigned and simplified to save money.The mental health services wing will be built, but finishing will be postponed until an undetermined future date.

The project was first announced bythen-premier EdStelmachin 2007.

The government, meanwhile,is also holding off on renovating the existing Queen Elizabeth II Hospital in Grande Prairie as a way to save money.