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    Overdose prevention site planned for new St. Paul’s Hospital — but government mum on details

    soreceryBy No Comments7 Mins Read

    Providence Health Care is inviting bids to convert the new hospital’s roof into a ‘semi-conditioned, exterior overdose prevention site’

    New St Paul's hospital
    The new St. Paul’s Hospital at 1002 Station St. (False Creek flats) in Vancouver on Sept. 21, 2026 Photo by Arlen Redekop /PNG

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    B.C.’s health ministry said this week that construction on the $2.26-billion St. Paul’s Hospital, located at 1002 Station St. in the False Creek Flats, is now complete and the targeted opening day for patients is early 2027. But it looks like there’s still more to build.

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    A recent request for proposal issued by Providence Health Care, which runs St. Paul’s, is inviting bids to convert the new hospital’s roof into a “semi-conditioned, exterior overdose prevention site.”

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    It is anticipated that the contract will start on Oct. 28 with the work expected to be complete by Jan. 29.

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    During a media tour in the spring, Providence Health Care did not say whether the new hospital would include an overdose prevention site like the one at the current Burrard Street location.

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    A spokesperson for Providence said that’s because moving the OPS to the new location was only recently decided. Providence declined a request for an interview on the plan, citing the upcoming provincial election, but confirmed the money to build it was included in the $2.26-billion budget.

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    Postmedia asked B.C.’s infrastructure ministry about the RFP on Monday. On Wednesday, the ministry responded with a statement:

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    “Due to the ongoing election campaign, government is now in a temporary caretaker mode and communications are limited to critical health and public safety information.”

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    The new 548-bed hospital has been hailed by government as a state-of-the-art integrated campus of care, nearly double the size of the Burrard Street location. It will have private rooms and bathrooms for patients, which experts say promotes faster healing and better sleep for patients and reduces the spread of infectious diseases.

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    1. Construction continues on the new St. Paul's Hospital on the False Creek flats in Vancouver on July 17, 2024.
      Construction continues on the new St. Paul’s Hospital on the False Creek flats in Vancouver on July 17, 2024.Photo by Jason Payne /PNG
    2. Construction continues on the new St. Paul's Hospital on the False Creek flats in Vancouver on July 17, 2024.
      Construction continues on the new St. Paul’s Hospital on the False Creek flats in Vancouver on July 17, 2024. (Photo by Jason Payne/ PNG) (For story by Derrick Penner) [PNG Merlin Archive]Photo by Jason Payne /PNG
    3. Construction continues on the new St. Paul's Hospital on the False Creek flats in Vancouver on July 17, 2024.
      Construction continues on the new St. Paul’s Hospital on the False Creek flats in Vancouver on July 17, 2024. (Photo by Jason Payne/ PNG) (For story by Derrick Penner) [PNG Merlin Archive]Photo by Jason Payne /PNG
    4. Construction continues on the new St. Paul's Hospital on the False Creek flats in Vancouver on July 17, 2024.
      Construction continues on the new St. Paul’s Hospital on the False Creek flats in Vancouver on July 17, 2024. (Photo by Jason Payne/ PNG) (For story by Derrick Penner) [PNG Merlin Archive]Photo by Jason Payne /PNG
    5. Construction continues on the new St. Paul's Hospital on the False Creek flats in Vancouver on July 17, 2024.
      Construction continues on the new St. Paul’s Hospital on the False Creek flats in Vancouver on July 17, 2024. (Photo by Jason Payne/ PNG) (For story by Derrick Penner) [PNG Merlin Archive]Photo by Jason Payne /PNG
    6. Construction continues on the new St. Paul's Hospital on the False Creek flats in Vancouver on July 17, 2024.
      Construction continues on the new St. Paul’s Hospital on the False Creek flats in Vancouver on July 17, 2024. (Photo by Jason Payne/ PNG) (For story by Derrick Penner) [PNG Merlin Archive]Photo by Jason Payne /PNG
    7. Construction continues on the new St. Paul's Hospital on the False Creek flats in Vancouver on July 17, 2024.
      Construction continues on the new St. Paul’s Hospital on the False Creek flats in Vancouver on July 17, 2024. (Photo by Jason Payne/ PNG) (For story by Derrick Penner) [PNG Merlin Archive]Photo by Jason Payne /PNG
    8. Construction continues on the new St. Paul's Hospital on the False Creek flats in Vancouver on July 17, 2024.
      Construction continues on the new St. Paul’s Hospital on the False Creek flats in Vancouver on July 17, 2024. (Photo by Jason Payne/ PNG) (For story by Derrick Penner) [PNG Merlin Archive]Photo by Jason Payne /PNG
    9. Construction continues on the new St. Paul's Hospital on the False Creek flats in Vancouver on July 17, 2024.
      Construction continues on the new St. Paul’s Hospital on the False Creek flats in Vancouver on July 17, 2024. (Photo by Jason Payne/ PNG) (For story by Derrick Penner) [PNG Merlin Archive]Photo by Jason Payne /PNG
    10. Construction continues on the new St. Paul's Hospital on the False Creek flats in Vancouver on July 17, 2024.
      Construction continues on the new St. Paul’s Hospital on the False Creek flats in Vancouver on July 17, 2024. (Photo by Jason Payne/ PNG) (For story by Derrick Penner) [PNG Merlin Archive]Photo by Jason Payne /PNG
    11. Construction continues on the new St. Paul's Hospital on the False Creek flats in Vancouver on July 17, 2024.
      Construction continues on the new St. Paul’s Hospital on the False Creek flats in Vancouver on July 17, 2024. (Photo by Jason Payne/ PNG) (For story by Derrick Penner) [PNG Merlin Archive]Photo by Jason Payne /PNG
    12. Construction continues on the new St. Paul's Hospital on the False Creek flats in Vancouver on July 17, 2024.
      Construction continues on the new St. Paul’s Hospital on the False Creek flats in Vancouver on July 17, 2024. (Photo by Jason Payne/ PNG) (For story by Derrick Penner) [PNG Merlin Archive]Photo by Jason Payne /PNG
    13. Construction continues on the new St. Paul's Hospital on the False Creek flats in Vancouver on July 17, 2024.
      Construction continues on the new St. Paul’s Hospital on the False Creek flats in Vancouver on July 17, 2024. (Photo by Jason Payne/ PNG) (For story by Derrick Penner) [PNG Merlin Archive]Photo by Jason Payne /PNG
    14. Construction continues on the new St. Paul's Hospital on the False Creek flats in Vancouver on July 17, 2024.
      Construction continues on the new St. Paul’s Hospital on the False Creek flats in Vancouver on July 17, 2024.Photo by Jason Payne /PNG
    15. Construction continues on the new St. Paul's Hospital on the False Creek flats in Vancouver on July 17, 2024.
      Construction continues on the new St. Paul’s Hospital on the False Creek flats in Vancouver on July 17, 2024. (Photo by Jason Payne/ PNG) (For story by Derrick Penner) [PNG Merlin Archive]Photo by Jason Payne /PNG
    16. Construction continues on the new St. Paul's Hospital on the False Creek flats in Vancouver on July 17, 2024.
      Construction continues on the new St. Paul’s Hospital on the False Creek flats in Vancouver on July 17, 2024. (Photo by Jason Payne/ PNG) (For story by Derrick Penner) [PNG Merlin Archive]Photo by Jason Payne /PNG
    17. Construction continues on the new St. Paul's Hospital on the False Creek flats in Vancouver on July 17, 2024.
      Construction continues on the new St. Paul’s Hospital on the False Creek flats in Vancouver on July 17, 2024. (Photo by Jason Payne/ PNG) (For story by Derrick Penner) [PNG Merlin Archive]Photo by Jason Payne /PNG
    18. Construction continues on the new St. Paul's Hospital on the False Creek flats in Vancouver on July 17, 2024.
      Construction continues on the new St. Paul’s Hospital on the False Creek flats in Vancouver on July 17, 2024. (Photo by Jason Payne/ PNG) (For story by Derrick Penner) [PNG Merlin Archive]Photo by Jason Payne /PNG

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    But the project has also drawn criticism over its escalating cost and construction delays. When it was announced in 2019, it had a budget of $1.9 billion and was slated to open this year. The Health Ministry has blamed the cost increase on fluctuating interest rates.

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    1. SkyTrain expansion under construction in Surrey.

      New St. Paul’s Hospital, Surrey rapid transit and Highway 1 expansion among $4 billion in capital budget not spent by province

    2. Bowinn Ma, minister of infrastructure during a tour of the new St. Paul's hospital on Station Street In Vancouver.

      How Vancouver’s St. Paul’s aims to become the hospital of the future

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    B.C. Conservative infrastructure critic Misty Van Popta said the additional money spent beyond what was initially budgeted for the hospital’s construction could have built three high schools or a much-needed long-term care centre.

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    “We’ve got a systemic problem with this government not being able to figure out their fiscal house and allowing egregious cost overruns,” she said.

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    Van Popta also criticized the government for saying the hospital was complete when there’s still a request for proposal out on an overdose prevention site.

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    “Is that fair to the public to not know what the government is doing with major infrastructure projects of that magnitude?” Van Popta said, adding she was blocked from attending the tour of the hospital and has run into transparency problems with the government on major infrastructure projects.

     

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