The demolition of the Souris Valley Extended Care Centre, which will likely go ahead in 2006 unless an alternate use is found, will cost an estimated $7 to $9 million, according to the Minister responsible for Saskatchewan Property Management (SPM).

At a luncheon in City Hall attended by local businessmen and city councillors, Labour minister Deb Higgins reportedly quoted a price tag of $7 to $9 million for the demolition of Souris Valley.

She did not give any further concrete details at the luncheon or at a press conference afterwards, such as a date when the facility's demolition would begin.

It was earlier reported in the July 27, 2005 edition of the Weyburn Review that the search for an alternate use of Souris Valley was in its "last gasp," and that the heat would be shut off in the facility this winter.

Higgins, however, did express optimism that an alternate use can be found for the facility, indicating the government was still researching a few proposals.

"It's a huge part of Weyburn and has been part of this community for many years. So finding a proposal and an option for the building, without a doubt, is preferable," she said.

Dylan Clarke of the South East Regional Economic Development Authority (SEREDA), a member of the Alternate Use Committee for Souris Valley, confirmed Thursday that there were still a couple of proposals being considered by the government.

However, Clarke also said that the City of Weyburn, SEREDA and a few other stakeholders have proposed a new feasibility study for whether Souris Valley could be used as a "learning centre."

This could mean specialized training, schooling for foreign students, or university courses being taken at Souris Valley, said Clarke. Though Souris Valley has been used primarily to house mental health care and long-term care services, many health care professionals received training at Souris Valley throughout the years, he noted.

The duration of the study could take two to three months, so approval will need to come from the government soon. Clarke said the cost of the study would be, very roughly, in the neighbourhood of $50,000, far less than the cost of demolition.

"So we're saying, why not look at putting X amount of dollars into a study and exhausting all the opportunities before you commit to demolition," he said.

The study will not be done without the approval of and funding from the government.

When asked if any proposal, even an unlikely one, would be preferable to demolishing the facility, Higgins said "liability" is the main issue.

"I guess we want to make sure it's a viable alternative, and that people realize the age of the building and the amount of money it may take to get it up and operating to today's standards," she said.

"We don't want something tried that isn't viable, that ends up leaving (the building) or failing. The facility's left in a lurch, and then what do you do?" she added.