The Opposition is trying to connect dots that don’t exist.

That’s the government line in response to criticism of Monday’s surprise announcement of a new hospital to replace St. Clare’s.

Both the Tories and NDP would welcome the facility. But they question the timing, as well as conflicts with contractors like Marco, which is already building the new mental health centre and prison. The company also reportedly provided a $150,000 line of credit for the Liberal Party in the last election.

Infrastructure Minister Elvis Loveless says the CEO of Marco has earned the contracts he has landed.

He says Chris Hickman doesn’t need government favours when it comes to securing business, and he “pats him on the back for that,” adding Marco continues to build buildings that are badly needed in the province.

Loveless would not provide an estimate of the cost of the new hospital, and said to his knowledge no feasibility study has been done.

Meanwhile, Monday’s announcement was out of the blue for many, with the Opposition suggesting it was all about “changing the channel” from the controversy dogging the premier over his stay at John Risley’s Labrador lodge.

PC interim leader Barry Petten says replacing St. Clare’s has never come up in budget estimates meetings, adding government is playing “psychological games” with its residents.

He challenged government to provide a feasibility study that would show the idea has been in the works for some time, as opposed to a fluff announcement that could amount to nothing.

The NDP’s Jim Dinn noted there are several key recommendations in the Health Accord, but a replacement for St. Clare’s isn’t one of them.

He says he has no issue with the new hospital, except for the fact it was not identified at all in the Health Accord, unlike other specific areas such as ambulance services, virtual care and collaboration clinics.