REGINA - The opposition New Democrats have raised concerns again about a new addictions treatment facility in Lumsden.
This time, the NDP released a number of government emails which pointed to the amount of $800,000 being sent last summer to private operator EHN Canada to operate Willowview Treatment Centre. This was at a time when the facility was still closed to inpatients.
At a news conference in Lumsden, the NDP's critic Betty Nippi-Albright pointed to the government emails, obtained through the NDP's Freedom of Information requests, as raising concerns.
“The government emails we've now obtained through a Freedom of Information request shows that the Sask Party funneled $800,000 in secret payments to the facility over the summer while the facility still wasn't open. The government has redacted the total cost of the project. They've also delayed the release of three FOIs for correspondence and the total cost. The full cost of this facility remains an open question,” said Nippi-Albright.
“I'll tell you what's not an open question. The Sask Party has had no problem handing this business blank checks while wait times grow and this addictions crisis gets worse and worse. Last we heard, this place isn't fully operational. Where is this money going? This government is spending more and more and we aren't getting or receiving the results.”
Nippi-Albright demanded the government be “straight” with Saskatchewan people.
“Disclose the cost of the Lumsden Treatment Centre. Disclose the total cost of the Lumsden Treatment Centre. Provide a detailed breakdown of where the money has gone. Tell us how many patients have been treated to date and what the heck is going on in this place. Drugs are taking the lives every single day. This government needs to get serious about this crisis.”
According to one of those emails obtained by the NDP, EHN had "received" $1,556,800 to EHN in startup funds from Saskatchewan Health Authority as of April 16. In another email from Sept. 16, there was approval to pay EHN’s $400,000 for July and for August, for a total of $800,000.
When asked for a response, the Ministry of Health initially stated that "while the full current contract with EHN, known as EHN Willowview, had the startup amount of approximately $1.5 million, this amount was not paid as full inpatient services were not operational."
They later issued a statement in which they clarified: "EHN Willowview has received the full startup amount of approximately $1.5 million. Operationally, EHN was paid a reduced monthly rate while they hired and trained staff over the summer and worked through the required building enhancements. The $800K provided allowed this work to continue and for the startup of intensive day programming.
The NDP has consistently hammered the government for several months over delays to opening the 60 inpatient beds at the Lumsden treatment centre, which was planned to be a 24-hour facility. The 60 bed facility was announced in January of last year. The government has attributed the delays to renovations needed to bring the facility up to code.
The province states that "building enhancements were required by the RM for fire safety. EHN and the rural municipality worked together to address building renovations to enhance the property’s fire safety to safely accommodate inpatients."
The facility has been accepting patients since last October to what the province described as "intensive day treatment care," with services provided on-site during the day. Those participants would be in treatment at the facility seven days a week for a period of four to eight weeks, depending on the patient, and staff would be available for on call support after hours.
Earlier this year, the province announced that intake had begun for 20 of the 60 inpatient spaces at the EHN Willowview Recovery Centre. The province has said EHN is continuing to work with the Rural Municipality of Lumsden for approvals on renovations to enhance the property's fire safety. The province states a phased approach to adding the additional 20 to 40 inpatient spaces will start this spring as renovations are completed.
