The latest site for a new hospital in Gatineau, Que., is a federal government complex northwest of the city core.
On Thursday morning, the federal government announced it will transfer the Asticou Centre to the Quebec government and the National Capital Commission for the new hospital.
It’s hoped the 600-bed hospital will open by 2034, later than the original target of 2032.
“Today is the start of an important journey that will lead to the construction of a much-needed, brand new hospital,” said Public Services and Procurement Minister Jean-Yves Duclos at a news conference Thursday morning.
The Coalition Avenir Québec promised western Quebec a new hospital during its successful 2018 election campaign.
The province wanted to build on boulevard de la Technologie in the city’s north end, then pivoted in 2022 to an industrial park in the city’s Hull sector.
The Asticou Centre at 241 blvd. Cité des Jeunes was on a list of properties the federal government was considering for sale or transfer.
The Outaouais has also been dealing with staffing shortages that have strained its health-care system.
Thursday’s announcement also included a high-volume medical clinic in downtown Gatineau. That facility will house a vaccination centre and lab, and is expected to open in 2026.
Province changed course
Two years ago, the province cancelled a plan to build the hospital on Gatineau’s outskirts after intense pushback from the public. The Asticou site is closer to the city’s core.
“We redid a very thorough analysis of all the available sites,” Quebec Health Minister Christian Dubé told reporters Thursday.
He said the federal government has been accommodating by offering up the new site.
“I think today we’re very, very pleased with that because it didn’t take years to do. It took months.”