Expert Panel provides recommendations to reduce cost escalations on Burnaby Hospital Phase 2

Vancouver, B.C. – Infrastructure BC has released 25 recommendations from an independent review panel that assessed the status of the Burnaby Hospital Phase 2 Project.

The Burnaby Hospital Phase 2 Project proposes to include a new BC Cancer centre and an acute care tower, which will feature support for general medicine, medical and radiation oncology, cardiac telemetry, and critical care, a new medical imaging department with two CT scanners, a spiritual-care suite, public spaces and hospital support services.

A proponent team including a construction firm and an architectural firm, was selected in July 2024. Fraser Health Authority, on behalf of the Province, has been working alongside these firms as well as Infrastructure BC and BC Cancer (collectively referred to as the Alliance), to develop a comprehensive project proposal. This project proposal was to include details on the construction schedule, cost, risks, and how the parties would work together to deliver the project within the approved budget of $1.8 billion.

The Project Board, which provides governance for the project and includes representatives from Fraser Health, BC Cancer and government, retained three experts to determine if the Alliance could develop a proposal that was within the agreed upon scope, budget and timelines as required by government to advance the project. Retaining such a panel of industry experts is a common, well-established practice for large, complex projects.

These experts are referred to as an independent Peer Review Panel. The members of the panel were:

• Damian Joy of Ernst & Young Orenda Corporate Finance Inc.
• Michael Schur of Gensler Architecture & Design Canada, Inc.
• Tim Spiegel of Spiegel Consulting Ltd.

The independent Peer Review Panel delivered its report to the Project Board on January 23, 2026. The panel provided 25 recommendations that the Alliance should consider as they develop a comprehensive proposal that will be within budget, reduce duplication and meet the needs of patients for generations to come.

As part of Budget 2026, the timeline for this project has been adjusted as part of the ongoing efforts to strategically sequence the Provincial capital plan. The next steps are for the Project Board to carefully consider the 25 recommendations and provide guidance to the Alliance on the relative priority of the recommendations, expectations for additional information, and how the recommendations should be incorporated into the comprehensive proposal. In some cases, the Alliance had already started implementing some of these recommendations at the time the PRP Report was completed. In addition, Infrastructure BC will also take the 25 recommendations into account for similar projects moving forward.

Quick Facts

• The business case for the Burnaby Hospital Phase 2 project was approved in 2023.
• Phase 1, which includes the new six-storey acute care centre, opens on March 10, 2026.

Learn More:

To learn more about the Burnaby Hospital Redevelopment and read the Peer Review Panel’s recommendations, please visit:
https://www.infrastructurebc.com/project/burnaby-hospital-phase-2-and-bc-cancer-centre-project/

For more information on the Alliance Delivery Model, please visit: https://www.infrastructurebc.com/publications/competitive-alliance/

Media contact:
Media Relations
Kathy Cloutier
Director, Corporate and Government Relations
kathy.cloutier@infrastructurebc.com