(Photo: Wildrose Leader Brian Jean (right), and Fort McMurray – Wood Buffalo candidate Tany Yao at the Willow Square location on April 10, 2015. Bradley Karp / AFTERNOON REPORTER)
Fort McMurray – Wood Buffalo MLA Tany Yao is pushing the NDP party on its decision to go ahead with the Parsons Creek project.
In question period yesterday Yao pressed Health Minister Sarah Hoffman why the NDP is pursuing the tender for the Parsons Creek project and putting a greater focus on Willow Square.
“The first letter the Wildrose sent to the Premier was about seniors care in Fort McMurray, seniors care is an issue everywhere but nowhere is it more prevalent than in Fort McMurray. No other community our size has gone this long without a long-term health care facility,” said Yao in question period. “We wrote the Premier asking her to delay the tender of an ill-conceived senior’s project in Fort McMurray and to listen to the community.”
Minister Hoffman said the NDP agrees that a long-term care facility is long overdue but that they can’t break contracts that were already signed.
“We want to make sure that we follow contracts, that we’re not breaking contracts willy-nilly and that of course long-term care is an option as well as other types of supportive living for the seniors of Fort McMurray,” said Hoffman.
Ledcor Construction was awarded the $41.7 million Parsons Creek Continuing Care Centre project on May 13. Construction on the 100 unit facility is expected to begin shortly.
“Parsons Creek project is the wrong project in the wrong location, Wildrose campaigned for Willow Square, the NDP candidates up in Fort McMurray campaigned for Willow Square, the only ones who campaigned for Parsons Creek were the PCs,” said Yao. “Willow Square is a model for every other community instead of an ill-conceived multi-million dollar project is proceeding.”
Yao says he has a meeting with the Health Minister on Monday where he’ll discuss Parsons Creek, Willow Square and a proper funding model for HERO Medevac operated by Phoenix Heli-Flight.
