Infrastructure minister backs contractors at new Corner Brook hospital, despite remaining deficiencies

Around 260 building deficiencies remain inside the new acute care hospital in Corner Brook, but Infrastructure Minister John Abbott says it's nothing to be concerned about. (Colleen Connors/CBC )

Infrastructure Minister John Abbott says the provincial government has full faith in the contractors of the new acute care hospital in Corner Brook, despite messaging from the opposition party of there being remaining building deficiencies.

In a news release on Monday, PC health critic Barry Petten said his party received an access to information response that shows 2,748 deficiencies inside the yet to be opened hospital. Those deficiencies ranged from damaged floors and ceiling tiles to water leaks and "rough finishes."

Speaking with reporters on Tuesday, Abbott said data is old news.

"When he requested the information, he was given two reports: An initial report of just, I think there's 2,748 deficiencies," Abbott said. "The second report, that number had come down to 339 and currently stands at 261 so-called deficiencies."

Abbott said many of the remaining issues are related to the floor trim inside the hospital, or could be things like blemishes on the hospital's walls. He said government inspectors are going through each room in the building and that he has full confidence in the builders.

"This contract has worked quite well," Abbott said. "In our view, this is definitely no smoke, no fire. But Mr. Petten decided to raise it, obviously, for his own reasons."

Abbott, left, says he has full faith in the contractors at the hospital. PC MHA Barry Petten brought forward concerns of deficiencies at the hospital obtained through access to information. (Danny Arsenault/CBC)

Abbott said the hospital is still on track to open in the spring, with all deficiencies needing to be addressed by April as part of the contract. If those deficiencies aren't addressed, he added, it is at the responsibility of the contractor.

In November, Premier Andrew Furey said the core construction of the building was finished, with final work inside to be completed in the coming months.

The province made a $320-million progress payment — 50 per cent of the contract value — to the Corner Brook Health Partnership in the fall.

While Petten said it's good that the majority of deficiencies seem to have been addressed, he questioned why the payment was made if there were still some remaining.

"You wouldn't take a new home … with deficiencies and pay, make payments and open the mortgage. You wouldn't do the final sign off until everything was completed," he told reporters.

"What makes the hospital any different? Especially with public money. Because it's not Liberal money or Andrew Furey money, this is public funds and they have a right to know."

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