Over-budget hospital is shedding its siding

THE LATEST WOE The stripping of the new siding off the Dawson City hospital is seen this morning. Right: a close-up of the problem.

The saga of the Yukons new hospitals continues.

The siding on the new Dawson City hospital will have to be replaced because the specially designed product has begun falling off.

The cement product had been chosen because it met the requirements of Dawsons heritage advisory committee and is non-combustible, Val Pike, a spokesperson for the Yukon Hospital Corp., said today.

Once we started putting the siding on the building, it was discovered that the product wasnt suitable for the fluctuations in climate in Dawson and the product started to fall off once it was installed, Pike told the Star.

The product is now being removed. The corporation, in collaboration with the heritage advisory committee, is looking at replacement options.

Pike said the corporation hopes to have the new product installed in the next month, and it shouldnt impact the opening of the hospital in the fall.

The corporation doesnt know at this point how much the debacle will cost; officials are looking into what may be covered under the product warranty, Pike said.

The new hospitals in Dawson and Watson Lake have been the subject of continued controversy since a scathing report by the Auditor General highlighted shoddy planning that resulted in cost overruns and delays.

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Over-budget hospital is shedding its siding