"The planned long-term health care facility for Corner Brook is much needed," said Mr. Joyce. "Premier Williams committed to building this facility during the election, as did Tom Marshall, within their four year mandate," said Mr. Joyce. "If the funding is not committed in this year’s budget, I feel that this $55-60 million facility cannot be completed in this time frame and I urge the Premier to make this a priority for the province.

"Recent decisions have been taken regarding other health care projects in the province and I wonder what plans are in order for Corner Brook. The cancer clinic for Grand Falls-Windsor and the Grand Bank health care facility have both been put on hold over the past several weeks. Does this mean that the Corner Brook facility will be the next project to be cancelled by this government?

"Our Liberal government realized that the province would be hard pressed to come up with the $55-60 million required for this facility, and that is the reason we were examining a public-private partnership for this initiative. Premier Williams and Mr. Marshall stated during the election as one of their election commitments that this long-term care facility would be publicly built and publicly funded.

"I call upon Premier Williams to reiterate his commitment to a long-term health facility for the people of Corner Brook and the Bay of Islands."