Hogan Court Patients Number - QP
THE SPEAKER « » : The honourable Leader of the NDP.
CLAUDIA CHENDER « » : Earlier this year, the Auditor General described the government's original purchase of the unfinished Hogan Court hotel as "highly unusual" and concerning. The deal included negotiating with a developer who didn't own the property, payment of that developer's tax Bill, and forgetting to include the driveway in the final agreement, among other irregularities. This project has been plagued from the start. Can the Premier tell me how many people have received care at the Hogan Court facility?
THE PREMIER « » : This is a new initiative in health care. It's one I'm very proud of. New initiatives are hard. Big initiatives are hard. Big, new things are even harder, but you know what? We are doing the work. We are transforming health care, and 68 people will be receiving care in that facility in December. I would encourage the member to challenge those 68 as to whether they're happy to be there. We'll see.
CLAUDIA CHENDER « » : The government has had an expert opinion from the start that this was an ill-suited and unfit location. Patients, as it turns out, are not hotel guests. After project delays, challenges, and criticism, the Province was approached with a sweetheart deal by Shannex to buy the building. The catch? We pay their mortgage and construction costs, and they don't pay us for the building for two more years. Is this "More, faster"? How many people right now are benefiting from this new, exciting facility?
THE PREMIER « » : Yes, we are embarking on big projects. We're transforming health care in this province, and that's a new thing. You know, we didn't see the prior government do that. We didn't see the NDP do that when they were in government. You know what the NDP did when they were in government? (Interruption)
THE SPEAKER « » : Order. The honourable Premier has the floor.
The honourable Premier.
THE PREMIER « » : Do you know what the NDP did when they were in government? They actually cut health care spending, and now they complain about the state of health care. They didn't act on a report they had in their hands about a looming retirement crisis for doctors. Instead, they cut funding from health care. We're investing record amounts, and I am not ashamed to invest in Nova Scotians. Nova Scotians have a right to expect that their government cares enough to invest in their health care, not cut health care spending.
CLAUDIA CHENDER « » : Do you know what the NDP did when they were in government? They brought in collaborative emergency care - the first province in the country. The Auditor General's February report also found a laundry list of misuses of procurement, processes, and public dollars associated with this project - a laundry list - including a questionable $18 million to an advisory firm, part of which was to advise on the purchase and development of Hogan Court, even though the government already knew from another firm that it was a bad idea. Now, with millions spent and no value realized, this government just gave another million-dollar, untendered contract to that same advisory firm. This project clearly isn't good value for money. How can the Premier continue with a straight face to assure Nova Scotians that this project has any value . . .
THE SPEAKER « » : Order.
CLAUDIA CHENDER « » : . . . for them?
THE SPEAKER « » : Order.
THE PREMIER « » : These projects take time. We didn't break it. We're fixing it. We're investing in health care, we're building, we're investing in people, and you know what? We're seeing the results. Today, more doctors than there were three years ago. Today, more nurses than there were three years ago. We will continue to invest in Nova Scotians and not cut health care like the NDP did when they had their chance with the keys.