SNC-Lavalin locked in dispute with government over MUHC superhospital cost

Construction on the newMcGillUniversity Health Centre superhospital has wrapped up, but a dispute over the cost of the building has cast a shadow overthenew medical centre.

The budget for the hospital was $1.3 billion, butSNC-Lavalinran up an extra $172 million.

The provincial government andSNC-Lavalinhave gone to a mediator to negotiate the payment.

The engineering giant is asking the government to cover the extra costs, but Health Minister Gatan Barrette said the government is not going to pay a penny more than the original price.

"The issue is that some work has been done, with or without authorization depending on whom youre talking to. This has to be negotiated and reviewed, but at the end of the day if we dont have any demonstration that we are responsible, we will not pay. Period," Barrette said.

The hospital is scheduled to open by the end of April 2015.

Now that the keys have been officially handed over to hospital management, the next step will be moving in equipment and preparing for patients.

Barrette said thehospital will provide "maximum quality care."

'It's very well equipped top of the classwithout any doubtin Quebec. On top of that its on time. Patients will be there on schedule," he said.