**** NSHC Media Release
Health Care Advocates Call for Release of QE II Documents
The Nova Scotia Health Coalition is calling on the provincial government to immediately release critical documents regarding the redevelopment of the QEII Health Sciences centre and for the existing call for proposals to be put on pause until those documents can be scrutinized by the public.
The QEII redevelopment is the largest health infrastructure project in Atlantic Canada’s history and has been mired in secrecy since it was first announced. Recent news that a proposed parkade will be built on the commons and require that municipal land be purchased or expropriated has raised further alarm bells for the Coalition.“This is a two billion dollar project that will redefine health care in Nova Scotia and have a huge impact on Halifax’s streetscape, it’s absurd that contract and planning details are being withheld from the public,” said Chris Parsons, the Coalition’s Provincial Coordinator.
The Coalition is calling for the province to publicly release the report and business case produced by consulting firm Deloitte in 2018, the call for proposals released to approved bidders for the main QEII redevelopment in 2019, and all other pertinent planning documents. In addition, the provincial government should free Halifax municipal officials from their non-disclosure agreement to clarify the nature of discussion between provincial and city officials and to allow for full consultation with community members. Until those documents are released the planning and bidding process should be paused.
“The public should have a say in critical decisions about public health care and public lands, that’s impossible as long as these documents remain secret,” added Parsons.
In October 2019, the Nova Scotia Health Coalition, along with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives – Nova Scotia, released a scathing report on secrecy concerning the P3 proposal process and the QEII redevelopment. It details how out of step the redevelopment process has been with national norms and the province’s own procurement guidelines. It is available for download at https://www.nshealthcoalition.ca/reports-research.
The Nova Scotia Health Coalition is a political but non-partisan organization committed to defending, strengthening and extending public health care.
