Media Releases

December 19, 2002

Wall Renews Call for New Regional Hospital in Swift Current

Swift Current MLA Brad Wall stood in the Legislature this week to ask the provincial government to commit its share of funding to a new regional hospital for the southwest.

“The local partners in the southwest have developed a plan to put in place the local financial commitment needed to build a new hospital,” said Wall during a Members’ Statement to the Legislative Assembly on December 17^th, 2002.  “All that is needed is for the government to commit its 65% share of the funding required for a new facility.”

Under the provincial government’s current funding formula, the local community must contribute 35% of the cost of capital construction projects while the provincial government provides 65%.

Wall pointed out that the Dr. Noble Irwin Foundation is prepared to raise money for a new regional hospital and local municipalities have also thrown their support behind the proposal as well.

“However, the government maintains that the cupboard is bare and that there is no money for a new hospital,” added Wall.  “Yet they manage to find money to invest in Australia, Mexico, Chile, Georgia and Tennessee through the Crown Corporations.”

Wall noted that since 1998 the provincial government has taken over $100 million out of the southwest in oil and gas land sales.

“We are simply asking for the government to reinvest some of that money back into the southwest and to commit its 65% of funding for a new regional hospital.”  Wall concluded.