Shifting ground has halted major structural steel work at the new Whistle Bend extended care facility, Public Works Minister Richard Mostyn confirmed this morning.

Mostyn told the Star he learned Tuesday the PCL Construction of Edmonton has sent home the Edmonton company subcontracted to erect the structural steel until it can assess the situation caused by the shifting ground.

The minister said he does not yet have answers to specific questions regarding the situation – but getting them is certainly a priority.

In fact, Mostyn pointed out, after hearing concerns being raised about construction of the new $147-million, 150-bed extended care facility, he instructed his staff five weeks ago to obtain an independent engineer’s assessment of the project.

“At the moment, there appears to be a problem with the foundation at the Whistle Bend site,” the minister said of the information he was given this week.

“The foundation has apparently shifted, is what I have been told.

“PCL is not wanting to put on the section that does not have steel yet because they are assessing the foundation where they have not put up steel.”

The Star has learned shifting ground has also halted work on a large section of the building where a good portion of structural steel has already been put up, though the minister said he does not have any information about that particular aspect of the project.

How long it will take to assess the problem, what might be involved in correcting it, if anything, and whether there will be any delays in the overall completion, Mostyn said he’s not yet received the information.

“Some good questions, and to be honest with you, I have asked myself the very same.”

Mostyn said all he knows today in terms of the overall schedule is that completion is scheduled for April 2018, and he’s not heard anything different.

Whether this week’s developments have added any urgency to completing the independent engineer’s assessment he commissioned, the minister simply said the matter was urgent, period.

“I certainly know there is a tremendous need for those beds in this community,” he said. “This is an important project, and we have to make sure it is done right.”

PCL’s head office in Edmonton was contacted this morning.

The Star was told by email from PCL’s media department that all questions regarding the Whistle Bend project were to be directed to the Department of Highway and Public Works.

The location of the new facility has been the subject of debate since it was announced by the former Yukon Party government.

Opposition, including opposition from Liberal Premier Sandy Silver when he was the lone Liberal MLA in the legislature, was centred largely around having such a facility so far from the downtown area and the Whitehorse General Hospital facilities.

Even then-Health and Social Services Minister Doug Graham said the location chosen was not an ideal one.

There was also opposition to having a “warehouse” type facility as opposed to smaller, extended health care facilities spread throughout Whitehorse and the rest of the Yukon communities.

While not as pronounced, there were also questions about the suitability of ground conditions in Whistle Bend.

PCL was awarded the contract to design and build the project for $114 million in December 2015.

The total project cost is estimated at $147 million.

The then-Yukon Party government announced it was planning on a 300-bed facility, but would begin with 150 beds first and then be added onto when required.

The Liberals have since said they will not proceed with the second 150 beds.

In an undisguised criticism of the previous government, Mostyn said had he been around when the project began, he would have made sure right from the start that the ground conditions were suitable.