Infrastructure Minister Fred Hutton was grilled in the House of Assembly once again on Thursday regarding government’s deal to purchase land in Kenmount Crossing to build a new hospital.
Opposition leader Tony Wakeham pressed Hutton on a new water tower that’ll have to be built to service the site, which he estimates could cost upwards of $20-million.
He also asked Hutton about the price of the land. Government will be paying H3 about $24-million for the rest of the land, but Wakeham says there’s a 70-acre plot currently for sale in the area that is listed at around $1.7-million.
Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Fred Hutton (VOCM News)
Hutton believes government is not overpaying for the land, because it is in an area that has already been developed and serviced. He argues that “any developer” will say there is a “big difference” between unserviced and serviced land.
Both PC leader Tony Wakeham and NDP leader Jim Dinn say government needs to show proof that it is a good deal.
They both question how government can know it is a good deal if an independent appraisal hasn’t been done.
