The hospital isn't going to be built. The sooner the community accepts that, the better. Yes, money has already been spent on some site preparation, but there have been plenty of projects both in the public and private sector abandoned after some initial funds were spent on a given site. And yes, further funds were allocated towards the project earlier this year, but they are only a fraction of what completion would actually cost and could easily be shifted elsewhere.
With the absence of any Edmonton MLAs on the government side there is absolutely no one of any consequence fighting for this project. It will almost certainly be "indefinitely postponed due to global economic uncertainty and a precipitous rise in construction, material and labour costs."
The UCP will undoubtedly take a page out of the City of Edmonton's book: the Transportation department and a spineless City Council blamed rising construction costs for their decision to cheap out on the Heritage Valley LRT project, replacing an elevated station and above-grade crossing with a couple of bus benches on a concrete island (an "LRT station") and an at-grade crossing that cross your fingers and pluck some four-leafed clover won't cause major backups on Ellerslie.
The UCP government will probably do something similar and replace the Southwest Edmonton hospital project in favour of a "more affordable facility capable of delivering greater value for taxpayers": a walk-in clinic in a strip mall.
Of course, there will be an extra fee to see a doctor at the new clinic.
edmonton.ctvnews.ca
