Plans to expand capacity at the F.W. Green Home in Cranbrook remain clouded in uncertainty.

At a recent regional hospital board meeting earlier in May, the matter came up once again, as local elected officials continue to push the province to make a decision on the project’s future.

The current plan proposes to expand the facility from 60 to 130 beds, by constructing a new building on the site, and rebuilding or renovating the existing structure.

Local directors say the project was submitted to the Ministry of Health for approval a few years ago, however, the original budgeted cost at approximately $35 million has now ballooned to over $100 million.

“The Ministry of Health is actively reviewing the Business Plan that was submitted for the FW Green Project,” reads a statement from a ministry spokesperson. “As with all capital projects, details regarding scope, schedule and budget will be announced after the Business Plan has been approved.”

Board chair David Wilks says he has a meeting with the province’s finance committee in June where he will push the province to make a decision on the project’s future.

“This is five years in the making now with regards to the Green Home,” said Wilks. “It started off at a $35-40 million project, it is now north of $100 million…completely on the delay of the province. There’s no other way of saying it; we’re ready to go.

“The finance committee, or whomever at the province, has to get off their collective derriere and decide what they want to do here, but we can’t sit here forever.”

Funding for health care capital projects is typically split 60 per cent by the province, and 40 per cent by local taxpayers through the regional hospital district.

The next regional hospital district board meeting will be held in August.