Health-care redevelopment plans for New Waterford, Glace Bay on hold

Advertisement 1 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Breadcrumb Trail Links HomeAtlantic CanadaCape BretonNews Cape Breton health-care redevelopment plans for New Waterford, Glace Bay put 'on pause' MLAs, former Nova Scotia Health employee slam provincial minister's move, fearing projects will not move forward Author of the article: By Ian Nathanson Published Sep 13, 2026 Last updated 4 minutes ago 6 minute read Work on a new health centre and long-term care facility for New Waterford has been paused by the provincial government, according to Health and Wellness Minister Michelle Thompson. PHOTO BY SUPPLIED Article content Two MLAs and a former Nova Scotia Health employee, all from Cape Breton, are upset that plans for a new health centre and long-term care facility for New Waterford, as well as expanding the Glace Bay Hospital, have been put on hold and face a provincial government review. Article content The province’s Health and Wellness minister, Michelle Thompson, revealed word of the review after Kendra Coombes, NDP MLA for the riding of Cape Breton Centre-Whitney Pier, questioned the minister in the provincial legislature last week over the lack of progress in the projects. Article content Article content Article content Coombes specifically wondered why construction has apparently stalled on the health centre and long-term care facility in New Waterford — especially since the former Breton Education Centre building has long been demolished and the remaining land levelled in anticipation of the new build. Article content Cape Breton Centre-Whitney Pier MLA Kendra Coombes speaks at Province House on Sept. 8: “People in New Waterford have been waiting eight years for the health centre that they were promised.” PHOTO BY PROVINCE OF NOVA SCOTIA Article content “People in New Waterford have been waiting eight years for the health centre that they were promised,” Coombes said on Sept. 8, during the opening day of the fall legislative assembly session in Halifax. “After five years of this government, people are still waiting … and after $55 million in contracts, the new health centre is still only in development.” Article content The centre and its accompanying long-term care facility comprise a community hub that’s been in the works since 2018, when the Liberal government under Stephen McNeil first unveiled the Cape Breton Regional Municipality Health Care redevelopment project — plans which also including…