Liberal Leader Pat Duncan is calling on Health Minister Peter Jenkins to come clean with his plans for the Thomson Centre.

Duncan suggested during question period Wednesday, and again in an interview this morning, that Jenkins has failed in his commitment to seek public consultation on what the expensively-renovated centre should be used for.

Not only did the minister twist off at the suggestion of no consultation, but countered that Duncan was adrift with her knowledge of the situation.

The former Liberal premier, however, pointed out there was $2.7 million in last year's capital budget but none in this year's budget. That suggests the building is ready for occupancy, she said.

If the building is ready for occupancy, Duncan insisted, then Jenkins should fulfill his commitment to seek public consultation on its future use.

'The question I am trying to figure out from the minister is: what is it going to be used for?' Duncan said today.

She understands the minister plans to put in facilities for a medical detox centre and a palliative care unit. She wants to know if the minister is seeking to turn over ownership of the building to the Yukon Hospital Corp., which operates Whitehorse General Hospital.

Duncan said a detox centre for those who need the supervision of a doctor while they detoxify is not compatible with a palliative care unit for those in the final stages of life.

While she has nothing against the hospital corporation, Duncan believes that before the minister turns over any control of the Thomson Centre to the corporation, he should at least discuss it publicly.

She said she would pursue the hospital corporation angle during this afternoon's question period.

Jenkins said this morning the building is not ready for occupancy, and that there will be some $1.3 million carried over from the $2.7 million-renovation/repair budget for the last fiscal year.

There will be a medical detox centre and mental health services going in this year, he said.

Jenkins said future uses in addition to office space provided for non-governmental organizations will be a product of consultation among department staff, in keeping with services his department is responsible for providing, and in consultation with the hospital corporation.

The palliative care services at Copper Ridge Place are adequate, he said.

But yesterday during question period, he said its palliative care services will be going into the Thomson Centre.

The minister lashed out at Duncan's suggestion of no consultation. He cited several of his own examples where the 2000-02 Liberal government failed to consult under Duncan's leadership, including on the new one-stop-shop government building across Quartz Road from Wal-Mart. The Duncan regime arranged a 10-year lease for the relatively new building.

The Thomson Centre opened in 1992 as a palliative care centre amid huge fanfare. Barelly a decade later, it was discovered there were serious and costly problems with the roof construction and related moulding from moisture that came through the roof.

Repairs to date are in the millions.

The main Alberta-based contractor for the building is deceased.