Construction begins on new $108 million Swift Current long-term care centre

The Province and its partners begin construction today on the new 225-bed Swift Current long-term care centre. Construction is scheduled to be complete by spring 2016.

“We are excited to be breaking ground on this important project with the Cypress Health Region and our new partners – Plenary Health,” said Premier Brad Wall. “We are moving forward, on schedule, with our first public-private partnership project to be constructed. As a result of using a P3, we are saving taxpayers more than $16 million, which is a little over 13 percent, and providing additional value and innovation as well as creating jobs and economic prosperity in the local economy.”

“Our government is committed to the renewal of health care facilities in the province, for the benefit of Saskatchewan people,” said Minister of Health Dustin Duncan. “This project is an excellent example of how our government is investing tremendous resources to ensure seniors are receiving quality care.”

“Today’s sod turning event marks another milestone in our process towards a new long term care facility that will offer an enhanced living environment for our residents and their families,” commented Tyler Bragg, Board Chair of the Cypress Regional Health Authority. “Our staff have provided excellent long term care programs and services in the three current facilities located in Swift Current, but the proposed designs for the new facility will allow them to offer an improved model of care that will meet today’s long term care standards. Together with our local communities, we are excited about the future and can’t wait to continue our path towards construction of this new facility.”

“On behalf of the entire Plenary Health team, including Plenary Group, PCL Constructors and Johnson Controls, I am honored to be here today to celebrate the beginning of construction on the new Swift Current long term care center,” said Dale Bonner, Chair of Plenary Concessions. “This marks the beginning of a long-term relationship with the Province of Saskatchewan and the Cypress Regional Health Authority and we look forward to continuing to build on the great start to this relationship.”

“For those individuals that require the highest levels of care, it is really exciting to see this world class facility coming to our region,” stated Swift Current Mayor Jerrod Schafer. “Municipalities all have so much on our plates with our own infrastructure needs and confirming the 20 percent local share takes a lot of hard work and a positive vision for the residents of our region over the long term. I’m really proud of the way municipalities are standing shoulder to shoulder and look forward to reaching to others to finalize the local share.”

In today’s dollars, the total investment is $108.5 million over the lifespan of the contract. This includes the cost of design, construction, finance and maintenance. 

Together, the government and the Region selected Plenary Health as the preferred proponent team after leading a two-staged transparent and competitive P3 selection process through SaskBuilds. The facility is a design-build-finance-maintain over 30 years following construction. 

The new facility, which was a priority for the Region, will replace three aged facilities: Swift Current Care Centre, Prairie Pioneers Lodge, and Palliser Regional Care Centre. 

The Region will maintain full ownership of the facility and will operate all aspects of the direct care provided within the facility. Existing health region staff will provide services for residents and maintain the provincial standards and guidelines that have been set for long-term care programs and services within the province. 

SaskBuilds will release a value for money report and the project agreement (following Canadian best practice) in the coming weeks.

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