Both of the opposition parties believe the agreement for government to build the St. Clare’s replacement should be paused, or cancelled outright following concerns about the process that led to the decision.

Government announced last week that the new hospital will be built in Kenmount Crossing.

Ten acres of the land needed for that project has been donated by H3, which is part of a larger 64-acre agreement between the company and the province. AllNewfoundlandLabrador has since reported that deal is worth $23-million.

In the House of Assembly yesterday, the opposition grilled government on why they didn’t issue a request for proposals for a site, and why the selection was made while a report by Deloitte on the master plan for the hospital, which was to include site options, has not yet been completed.

Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Fred Hutton says the site component is only a portion of what the firm will be looking at in their report.

As for why there was no RFP for the land, Hutton says government isn’t required to do that.

He says government can choose the land, and the tendering process only kicks in for when things are being built.

Both PC Leader Tony Wakeham and NDP Leader Jim Dinn believe government should scrap the deal.

Wakeham says the deal should be cancelled because government needs to know that it is the best option. Dinn concurs, noting that government needs to show proof as to why this is the best choice.