The Yukon Liberals have raised more concerns in the legislature about government management of capital projects.

On Monday, interim leader Sandy Silver questioned higher estimates for the Whitehorse General Hospital expansion and whether the government had completed a needs assessment that supports the undertaking.

During question period Silver asked Health Minister Doug Graham why the cost estimate for the project has risen by $10 million to $15 million, from the original estimate of $50 million given in 2010 by Craig Tuton, the chair of the Yukon Hospital Corp.

On Nov. 7, CBC Yukon reported that Jason Bilsky, the corporation's CEO, said the estimates lay somewhere between $60 million and $65 million.

Monday, Graham said he had only heard of the $65-million estimate through the media.

"We are in co-operation with the Yukon Hospital Corporation, only now developing plans and a methodology to complete construction at the hospital, and we expect that we will have cost estimates to bring back to management committee sometime within the next few months,” he said.

During an interview at noon today, the minister explained that he expects Bilsky was referring to a preliminary estimate, but noted again that it has not been brought forward to him and he hasn't taken the figure to management board for approval.

So far, only $1.4 million has been approved for the hospital expansion, for planning for the expanded space to house the MRI unit and for initial planning and analysis for the emergency room expansion and some equipment.

Continuing his line of questioning Monday, Silver pointed to the government's track record managing capital projects.

"F.H. Collins; the new arrest processing unit (at the Whitehorse Correctional Centre); the cancelled Beaver Creek fire hall, and the list goes on and on,” Silver said.

"The last time the Yukon Party government embarked on a major, health-related capital expenditure — two hospitals and a new residence — it borrowed the money,” Silver recalled.

"The Auditor General criticized that decision in his report and said, and I quote, ‘The corporation could not provide us with any explanation regarding why the loans were secured through banks rather than from the Government of Yukon.'

Silver asked the minister whether a needs assessment had been completed for the hospital expansion.

"One of the main criticisms of the Auditor General's report on the Dawson and Watson Lake hospitals was that there were no needs assessments done prior to the decisions to build these facilities. There was simply verbal instruction from the premier (then-premier Dennis Fentie) to start building,” the Klondike MLA noted.

"When the chair of the hospital board appeared last spring in this House, he said — and I quote: ‘Don't worry, a needs assessment has been done.'

"Yet in an interview a couple of weeks ago, the president of the corporation contradicted this and said that next year would be spent, "creating a functional plan and a full needs assessment,'” Silver said, again quoting from a Nov. 7 CBC interview.

Today, Graham explained that an outside consultant has not, and will not, be hired to determine whether the ER expansion is necessary.

The hospital corporation and the department have already determined that it is, he said. Officials have used statistics such as patient volumes and wait times, and information from health professionals that work there.

"It's too small, it's not efficient, we know that for sure, and the volume of patients has probably overwhelmed the ability of the ER to handle it,” Graham said.

"From that, we know that we need to do something.”

But he confirmed that a broader assessment to help determine what the new ER should look like will be completed as part of the design work, noting that the detailed scope of the project is as yet undetermined.

As it stands, there's an oversight committee, made up of two deputy ministers and the CEO of the hospital corporation.

They are hiring a project manager and some expertise to assist with design and cost estimates for the project, Graham said.

He expects firmer cost estimates by the spring.

The current Whitehorse General Hospital is fewer than 20 years old.

Construction on the current building began in 1994, replacing a facility on the same site from the 1950s.

Bilsky could not be reached for comment before press time this afternoon.