Future of Shriners' Montreal hospital in jeopardy

The construction of a new Shriners children's hospital in Montreal mayagain be in jeopardy.

The Shriners of North America, a fraternal order thatruns 22 children's hospitals in NorthAmerica,are upset about what they considerbroken promises relating tothe construction of a new hospital site.

They are angry about the decontamination processat the proposed Quebec site of a new English hospital, part of McGill University Health Centre's superhospital project. It's also the site of a proposed Shriners hospital for children.

Officials from MUHC said they have chosennot todecontaminate the remaining 10 per cent of the site becauseit meets environmental standards. But the Shriners are disappointed.

Gene Bracewell, imperial treasurerof the Shriners of North America,said he was promised by government and hospital officials the entire site would be cleaned.

"They're not doing what they said they would do," he said. "And so, for that reason, I would not support that the Shriners consider building on that Glen yard's site."

Bracewell said hehas beendisappointed with the whole construction process,particularly with construction delays.

He said the Shriners no longer have a committee set up to study the Montreal projectand thathe personally does not like how it's going.

In 2005, the Shriners voted at a convention after a lengthy battle among members to build a new children's hospital that treats patients with severe burns and orthopedic conditions in Montreal instead of London, Ont.