{"id":26361,"date":"2026-04-30T16:18:40","date_gmt":"2026-04-30T16:18:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/26361\/"},"modified":"2026-04-30T16:18:40","modified_gmt":"2026-04-30T16:18:40","slug":"province-cancels-burnaby-hospital-agreement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/26361\/","title":{"rendered":"Province cancels Burnaby Hospital agreement"},"content":{"rendered":"

The provincial government is cancelling a multiparty agreement signed less than two years ago to build Phase 2 of the Burnaby Hospital redevelopment project, raising concerns the project has been cancelled.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have been consistently reassured by our Burnaby MLAs and [Infrastructure] Minister [Bowinn] Ma that this project is not cancelled \u2014 but a terminated contract with no confirmed start date sounds like a cancellation,\u201d Burnaby Hospital Foundation president and CEO Kristy James said in a statement Wednesday after hearing the news.<\/p>\n

\u2018Milestone\u2019 agreement<\/p>\n

The $1.7-billion Phase 2 project was approved by the province\u2019s treasury board in 2023, and the alliance development agreement was signed and approved on June 21, 2024<\/a>, with core partners Fraser Health, the Provincial Health Services Authority (B.C. Cancer), PCL Constructors Westcoast Inc., Parkin Architects Western Ltd. and Infrastructure B.C.<\/p>\n

The agreement was celebrated as a milestone moving the project closer to design and construction.<\/p>\n

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\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cAs one of the largest cities in the province, ensuring increased access to health care in Burnaby is a significant priority for our government,\u201d Burnaby\u2013Deer Lake MLA Anne Kang said in a provincial news release at the time. \u201cWe are thrilled that substantial advancements have been made in the Burnaby Hospital redevelopment project, bringing us closer to the realization of Phase 2.\u201d<\/p>\n

In February, however, the province announced it was pausing Phase 2 in a bid to manage fiscal pressures in the face of a $13-billion deficit.<\/p>\n

And earlier this week, staff at Burnaby Hospital got an email informing them the province was cancelling the alliance contract.<\/p>\n

The province has repeatedly said the project will move ahead despite the timelines being \u201cadjusted,\u201d but with Phase 2 notably absent from the province\u2019s three-year capital plan and no new timeline announced, local health care advocates are not reassured.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf the provincial government, including our local MLAs, are truly committed to this project, we are asking for a firm start date,\u201d James said.<\/p>\n

The Burnaby Hospital Foundation has already raised more than $25 million for Phase 2 alone and James said the delay and lack of clarity will damage trust in the community and among donors.<\/p>\n

She said she is concerned delaying the much-needed project will only add to the cost.<\/p>\n

Local MLAs mum<\/p>\n

Freshet News requested an interview with Infrastructure Minister Bowinn Ma.<\/p>\n

She was unavailable but sent an emailed statement saying planning work on Phase 2 will continue despite the cancellation of the contract.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know how important this project is to patients, families, staff and the Burnaby community,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Ma said the province is working with Fraser Health to further consider the findings of an independent review panel<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cPlans will be refreshed to ensure the project delivers the services the community needs in a financially sustainable way,\u201d Ma said.<\/p>\n

She repeated the province was \u201ccommitted to advancing plans\u201d on the project.<\/p>\n

Kang, the MLA of the riding the hospital is in, has not responded to multiple requests for comment on the province\u2019s decision to pause Phase 2.<\/p>\n

Freshet News readers have expressed disappointment at the lack of communication from Burnaby\u2019s MLAs regarding their government\u2019s postponement of the project.<\/p>\n

\u201cI always thought the role of our MLAs was to support local issues that are important to Burnaby,\u201d Burnaby resident Ken Pett wrote in a letter to the editor<\/a> earlier this month.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe health and well-being of Burnaby residents should be a top priority, and our MLAs should be working together to move all elements of this provincially funded project forward \u2014 a project that was promised by the NDP provincial government 10 years ago.\u201d<\/p>\n

[email\u00a0protected]<\/a><\/p>\n

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