Nova Scotia Liberal Party Leader Zach Churchill. Image: submitted.

Nova Scotia’s Liberal leader says it will be years before a healthcare expansion in Halifax is complete.

Zach Churchill is reacting to last week’s announcement by Premier Tim Houston of an expansion to the Halifax Infirmary, Cobequid and Dartmouth General.

He says the timelines will be long.

“And now we’re in a situation where there’s a skilled labour shortage, and the cost of everything to build is a lot higher. I think we’re most likely going to see delays with those,” says Churchill.

The Premier said the build will happen over the next five years, and add 400 new hospital beds.

Churchill says it doesn’t provide immediate relief to a healthcare system that is desperate need of improvement.