Construction begins on new health facility
Saskatchewan News Network; Regina Leader-Post
Published: Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Dignitaries proudly dug into a patch of ground Monday at a ceremony marking the official start of construction on the Humboldt District Health Complex.
The $40-million facility is expected to open in 2010 with 34 acute-care beds, two of which will be dedicated to obstetrics.
The complex is expected to give patients from the area access to ambulatory outpatient care, emergency services, diagnostic imaging, day surgeries, therapies, chemotherapy and visiting specialists, according to a news release issued by the province.
The complex will also serve as a base for the delivery of community health services such as home care, addictions counselling and mental health services.
The Ministry of Health is the primary funding source for the capital project, providing $26 million toward the total cost of construction. Donations collected by the St. Elizabeth's Foundation, combined with contributions from 29 municipalities in the area, will add $13.3 million. The Saskatoon Health Region has dedicated another $3.2 million.
The existing Humboldt District Hospital will remain open until the new facility is ready, and then is slated for demolition.
"Humboldt and area residents have waited a long time for this to come," said Social Services Minister Donna Harpauer, who serves as MLA for Humboldt.
"This new health complex will provide improved access to health-care services for a growing community."
© The StarPhoenix (Saskatoon) 2008
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Another First Nations group proposing to develop a wind power project
First Nations eye wind power
Trevor Newell, Saskatchewan News Network; Regina Leader-Post
Published: Tuesday, August 19, 2008
REGINA -- As a result of an agreement signed Monday, there could soon be a new crop of windmills springing up on the Saskatchewan prairie.
All Nations Energy Developments Corp., which is owned by the Cowessess and George Gordon First Nations, signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Calgary-based TransAlta Corp. to develop a proposed 100-megawatt wind farm, which could be located on the Cowessess First Nation.
Grady Lerat, who sits on the All Nations Energy board of directors, said Monday's announcement was the result of more than three years of work by members of the First Nations, who've been studying ways to get involved in cost-effective, green energy production.
"Right now, I think wind energy is a viable product and I think it's cleaner for the environment, for sure," he said, referring to other methods of electricity production, such as coal-fired generators that carry pollution concerns.
Lerat said the project could provide the partner First Nations with additional financial resources, as well as valuable vocational opportunities for their young people.
"It gives us, I guess, a bigger capacity to help our students who are in universities and high schools to start working on science programs to further their development in that area. Over the next decade or so, we're going to need -- and all of Saskatchewan in general is going to need -- a lot of individuals who are up to speed on engineering and the other sciences," he said.
Lerat cautioned that a lot of work remains to be done before the proposed wind farm is operational -- notably securing a power-purchase agreement from SaskPower and finalizing plans for the optimal placement of the windmills, which calls for further study of both the existing electrical infrastructure and wind patterns -- but he said the MOU is a great start.
"It's a win-win for all parties," he said.
Jason Edworthy of TransAlta also said the MOU was a significant milestone in the development of the project, which is expected to take another two years to complete.
"Now that we have the (MOU), we're busy rolling up our sleeves and getting to work on all the plans that we need," he said.
Edworthy said TransAlta has been involved with other wind farms in Canada of similar size to that proposed in Monday's agreement. He said 100-megawatt farms are cost-effective ways to produce power.
"I think that's about the right size to make things economical and it tends to be the kind of size that fits into existing utility infrastructures reasonably easily," he said.
To produce 100 megawatts, Edworthy said the project could mean the construction of 30 to 35 80-metre-high towers, each housing three blades which turn in a circle with a 90-metre diameter. The cost to complete the project, which is to be covered by All Nations Energy and TransAlta, could range between $250 million and $300 million.
© The StarPhoenix (Saskatoon) 2008
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