Prime consultant selected for Corner Brook long-term care facility

Premier Danny Williams, MHA for Humber West, and Tom Rideout, Minister of Transportation and Works, along with John Ottenheimer, Minister of Health and Community Services, and Tom Marshall, MHA for Humber East and Minister of Justice and Intergovernmental Affairs, today announced the selection of a prime consultant to provide design services for the nursing home of the long-term health care facility in Corner Brook.

Subsequent to government�s recent request for expressions of interest for consulting services, the joint venture of John Hearn Architects Inc. and Ron Fougere Associates Ltd. has been selected to develop design strategies for the construction of the nursing home to be situated on site at Sir Wilfred Grenfell College.

�Our government has repeatedly demonstrated a commitment to this much needed facility for the west coast,� said Premier Williams. �I am extremely pleased to see another significant step towards the completion of the long-term care facility, which is another illustration of our government�s commitment to improved health care for the people of Newfoundland and Labrador. In our last budget we allocated tens of millions of dollars to improve facilities, reduce wait times and purchase new equipment for the people of our province. These are blueprint commitments that I am proud we have delivered upon. I, along with the people of Corner Brook, look forward to future updates regarding the completion of this facility for residents of the region.�

� I am extremely pleased with the progress our government has made in following through on its commitment to propose, plan and construct this facility, which will make a tremendous contribution to health care in our province,� said Minister Rideout. �In only a few short months, we have been able to select a consultant to assess potential construction properties, and a site was chosen in an expedient manner. The appointment of a prime consultant allows us to take another significant step toward ultimately realizing our commitment.�

�The selection of a prime consultant allows us to complete a critical component of the project and brings us one step closer to breaking ground this fall,� said Minister Ottenheimer. �This long-term care facility is greatly needed for our seniors and we look forward to building a first-class facility that will improve access to a wider range of options for care and offer seniors an improved quality of life.�

�Today, the long-term care facility is another step closer to becoming a reality,� said Minister Marshall. �I am delighted that this facility is moving forward according to plan and will soon be ready to provide our seniors with the quality care they deserve.�

Media contacts:

Elizabeth Matthews, Office of the Premier, (709) 729-3960, 690-5500 elizabethmatthews@gov.nl.ca
Lori Lee Oates, ABC, Transportation and Works, (709) 729-3015, 690-8403
Carolyn Chaplin, Health and Community Services, (709) 729-1377, 682-5093

2005 07 15                            3:45 p.m.