FREDERICTON (CNB) – The firm SNC Lavalin Inc. has been selected as the preferred proponent to build the new psychiatric hospital in Campbellton, Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Claude Williams announced today.

"The new, state-of-the-art facility will support the move toward better care for New Brunswickers with serious mental illnesses, with an increased focus on recovery, rehabilitation and community-based support," said Williams. "The next step will be to finalize the agreement with the proponent.”

A final agreement will be negotiated in the coming weeks. The hospital will replace the aging Restigouche Hospital Centre. Construction is scheduled to begin in the fall. The facility is to be substantially complete by July 29, 2014.    

SNC Lavalin Inc. is a Quebec-based company with offices in New Brunswick. Members of the team include:

●    member (project management and facilities management): SNC Lavalin Inc. – Montreal;
●    Quebec participant (architectural): Parkin Architects Ltd. – Toronto;
●    constructor: Bird Design - Build Ltd. –  Saint John;
●    architectural and LEED: ADI Ltd. (exp. Inc.) – Fredericton;
●    mechanical engineering: John MacLean Management Ltd. – Moncton; and
●    civil, structural and electrical engineering: SNC Lavalin Inc. – Montreal.

"The establishment of this new facility is an important component in ensuring that New Brunswickers with serious mental illnesses receive the care they need in an environment that allows them to participate in their recovery, lead purposeful lives and contribute to their communities," said Health Minister Madeleine Dubé. "Under the framework of our Action Plan for Mental Health in New Brunswick, this project supports the delivery of a patient-centred health-care system to best meet the needs of individuals and local communities."

The facility will accommodate 140 beds in seven in-patient units, along with education and research services, clinical support services and administration and general support services.

"This is a welcome announcement as it is important for us to have our staff, patients and families find themselves in an environment conducive to a higher level of care and treatment," said Joey Caissie, president and chief executive officer, Vitalité Health Network. “This is very important news for us as the Restigouche Hospital Centre is the province's forensic psychiatry facility and it is also an important component within Vitalité Health Network as its tertiary psychiatric care facility."

The hospital will provide a modern standard of health care for Vitalité Health Network patients in the areas of:

●    tertiary rehabilitation psychiatry;
●    older adult psychiatry; and
●    intellectually disabled psychiatry.

The hospital will provide forensic psychiatry services for the entire province.


22-07-11