Dave Sullivan
Northern News Services

Fort Smith (Feb 11/02) - A sagging monument to the ghost of health care past has to be demolished, but the price tag is a very visible $1.5 million.

Until last week local officials hit up any government department that would listen, looking for help bringing down a long abandoned church hospital. The huge wood complex dominating Fort Smith's downtown is laden with asbestos and PCBs.

Letting the four-storey building stand is just asking for trouble, say both the town's mayor and RCMP detachment commander.

For 16 years the building has been an albatross around the neck of its landlord, Uncle Gabe's Friendship Centre.

Grand renovation plans went sour soon after the centre paid nearly $40,000 in 1986 for the Diocesan Religious Education Centre.

Another $149,000 was spent on consultants and blueprints.

Turmoil plaguing Uncle Gabe's board over the former hospital and convent peaked in 1995, when the fire marshal ordered its demolition. The friendship centre dove into a tailspin over the $1.5-million liability, said executive director George Newman.

Board members resigned after being told they could be personally responsible and lose their homes, he said.

"They were intimidated. Board members left and the stress levels went up."

Hired just three months ago, Newman informed the battered board the Catholic diocese is legally responsible, as the original installer of the hazardous materials. The bill of sale does not have a clause transferring environmental liability.

A Catholic diocese spokesperson could not be reached by press time.

Newman said suing the church will be pointless.

That means taxpayers must step in because sexual abuse lawsuits have brought the Roman Catholic Church in the Diocese of Mackenzie-Fort Smith close to bankruptcy, says MLA Michael Miltenberger. The diocese is part of the Ecclesiastical Province of Grouard-McLennan.

Miltenberger was involved with a tentative deal struck last week in which the GNWT will buy the hospital for an undisclosed amount, making it eligible for more government help in tearing it down.

"This is the best possible way. Otherwise it could be sitting here another 20 years," Miltenberger said.

"If we get title, it opens the door for us to actively pursue and access the money we think is there to take that sucker down."

RCMP Sgt. Marion Lamonthe said safety is the biggest worry the way things stand now.

With the most recent cold snap, youths had been breaking in and lighting bonfires.

A few months ago, a youth who had an accident inside had to be medevaced, Lamonthe said. A few days later a half dozen more youths were seen inside.

"It's extremely dry in there. If there was a fire they wouldn't have a chance to get out."