YORKTON — Saskatchewan’s long-discussed plan for a new hospital in Yorkton is drawing renewed criticism after the provincial government labelled it in the “pre-design” phase.
Premier Scott Moe’s government and SaskBuilds Minister Sean Wilson both used the term during question period on Wednesday, March 5, describing the project as still in early planning.
But critics point to earlier work that suggests the project had already advanced well beyond that stage more than a decade ago.
A report from February 2012 outlined that final conceptual plans had already been presented to the public, including detailed layouts for a proposed new facility in Yorkton. The plans were developed by Cannon Design, which the Sunrise Health Region had contracted.
At the time, the proposed hospital was expected to be significantly larger than the existing Yorkton Regional Health Centre, with updated facilities designed to address growing demand in the region.
The 2012 planning documents also indicated the project could be completed in roughly four years, including both design and construction phases.
Opposition critics say the renewed “pre-design” label raises concerns about the project’s progress.
Jared Clarke, the NDP’s rural and remote health critic, said the timeline appears to have stalled despite years of prior work.
"The Sask Party has had the designs for a new, desperately needed hospital in Yorkton for 14 years and, still, they play political games while patient care suffers," Clarke said.
He added that the need for a new facility has been well documented, with earlier assessments describing the current hospital as outdated.
Cannon Design representatives previously described the existing Yorkton hospital as "functionally obsolete," citing undersized rooms, inefficient layouts and limited support space.
Clarke questioned what the government now means by returning to an earlier planning phase.
"What exactly does 'pre-design' mean?" he said. "We know this hospital has been needed for two decades and it now seems farther away from completion than ever."
The Opposition has also tied the issue to broader concerns about the province’s health-care system, arguing delays in infrastructure contribute to ongoing service pressures.
Meanwhile, NDP Leader Carla Beck has committed to prioritizing construction of a new Yorkton hospital within the first year if her party forms government.
The province has not provided a detailed timeline for when the project could move beyond its current stage.
For now, the timeline for a new hospital in Yorkton remains uncertain, as the Sask. Party government has yet to confirm any concrete timelines but has committed to building the facility.
