Yukon gov't mum on Whistle Bend facility operation costs

Yukon opposition parties want to know how much it will cost to operate and maintain the planned Whistle Bendextended care facility.

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The issue came up Wednesday in the legislature, with both the NDP's Lois Moorcroft and Liberal leader Sandy Silver nipping at the government's heels on the issue.

Moocroftsaidthe government has budgeted $146 millionto buildthe 150-bed facility (which may later be expanded to300 beds),but hasn't divulged what it willcost torunthe facility once it's built.

"Either the minister doesn't know the cost, or he's refusing to tell Yukoners. Neither is acceptable," Moorcroft said.

Health minister Mike Nixon told Moorcroft his department is working on "tightening up" the operational and maintenance numbers, saying "we don't have an answer for the member opposite today."

Auditor general's advice

Silver pointed to a 2013 auditor general's report that criticized the Yukon government for failing to consider the operation and maintenancecosts of large projects such as the hospitals in Dawson City and Watson Lake.

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The Liberal leader pressed the government to explain how it's followingthe auditor general's advice in the case of the Whistle Bend facility.

"Why is the Yukon Party ignoring the advice of the auditor general when it comes to financial management of projects?" Silver asked.

He also accused the government of rushing ahead with construction in an election year, saying it shows how "politics trumps good financial managment."

"The government doesn't know what they are, even though construction is already well underway."

Premier DarrellPasloski responded by touting his government's track record.

"The best indicator of financial management is a party that runs a consistent, modest surplus and is the envy of the country byhaving money in the bank," he said.

Pasloski also said, again, that the Liberals and NDP would cancel the Whistle Bend project.

The government is aiming to havethe facility built by2018.