Audit coming for Sask. Hospital after recent water concerns

Yet another issue has leaked about the brand new Saskatchewan Hospital in North Battleford (SHNB).

The list of problems, that already included insulation and roof issues, now includes undrinkable water due to the presence of copper and lead.

Because of the ongoing concerns, Saskatchewan’s New Democratic Party (NDP) is calling for a full audit of the facility.

“We are really trying to understand what all of the safety issues, what all the concerns are, what all the problems have been with construction to date and really to get a clear message of what’s going on from a cost point of view as well,” said NDP Leader Ryan Meili.

“Because this is a P3 project, a great deal of that contract is under wraps, they don’t share what the details are. We don’t know how much this is really costing the Saskatchewan people to get a product that is nowhere near what we were expecting.”

The P3 model stands for public-private-partnerships. This means facilities under this model like SHNB are owned and funded partly by a private party and partly by taxpayers.

The Ministry of Central Services deputy minister, Mike Carr, says the Saskatchewan government is taking steps towards performing an audit of the hospital to find out what is going on with the building.

“We want the assurance that the facility is operating as it’s designed and as it should,” he said.

“It’s not unusual to find circumstances where you are commissioning a new building, especially a building as large and sophisticated as this one, to find that you’ve got some challenges.”

However, Meili takes a different stance, saying in a press release that the “Sask. Party continues to let people down.” When it comes to public facilities like the SHNB, Meili says people are starting to see a pattern within the Sask. Party.

“Either we have hospitals that are old and falling apart or they’re building new ones and doing a bad job. An emergency room that’s too small in Moose Jaw, troubles with the children’s hospital not being able to open, safety issues in that facility and now you can’t drink the water in the Saskatchewan Hospital,” said Meili.

“In 2019 they built a hospital where there is lead in the water. It just doesn’t make any sense and it just points to poor management on the part of the Sask. Party.”

According to NDP Health Critic Vicki Mowat, SNC-Lavalin is responsible for “operating and maintenance in the facility,” which would include the drinking water.

Despite that and the problems with the roof that Graham Construction built, Carr doesn’t believe it’s necessary to reconsider future contracts with the two businesses.

“Well, in fact quite to the contrary, I think this experience demonstrates the value of the P3 model because it does demonstrate who has the liability for correcting deficiencies that have been identified,” said Carr.

“From my personal experience I would argue that what we are seeing is quite normal.”

Meili, on the other hand, doesn’t believe this is an everyday problem that occurs with new buildings.

One of the many non-potable water signs that are hanging in the Saskatchewan Hospital in North Battleford. (NDP Caucus)

“Well, they are putting up these signs on the walls and they are making it clear that nobody should be drinking the water,” he said, holding up a non-potable water sign, one of many that are on display throughout the hospital.

“Obviously that’s a significant enough concern and if they’re then saying, ‘Oh, it’s fine, no problem,’ that’s a really strange mixed message for them to be sending.”

Carr said the original test that found the water issue was done on Oct. 8, when discolouration was noticed in the water. They learned about the results on Oct. 17, and the warning signs were put up earlier this week.

Until the water problem is fixed, patients and staff will be supplied with potable water that, for the time being, will be paid for by the Ministry of Central Services, according to Carr. However, he said there is a “very real likelihood” that the bill will eventually be paid by either Graham Construction or SNC-Lavalin once the audit is complete.

Carr also expects the audit to take a “number of weeks” to complete.

— With files from CJME’s Evan Radford