The minister of transportation is casting doubt on assumptions that the old Grace Hospital site is being considered for construction of a new hospital to replace St. Clare’s.

The provincial government last year outlined its intention to replace the aging hospital in the heart of the capital city, with many eyeing the nearby plot of land where the old Grace once stood as the likely location for a new hospital.

Minister John Abbott threw cold water on that concept when talking to reporters yesterday.

“My assessment right now (is) that this site would not be large enough” says Abbott, “that’s going to be a much larger building and it’s going to need a larger space.” An assessment on other possible locations around the city is currently underway.

Abbott admits, available land of the size needed is not exactly plentiful in the capital city region. He says they are however looking at a couple of options.

“If you look at the space that we have say for the Western Memorial Regional Hospital…taking up quite a number of hectares, we’re looking at that kind of space, either in the north end of the city (or) the west end of the city” says Abbott although he admits, it’s still a bit early to say for certain.