Premier says cancer centre going ahead
Critics believe Calgarians frustrated due to repeated delays over the years
Premier Jim Prentice says he’s committed to building a Calgary cancer treatment centre, but it may be located on two sites.
Prentice said Thursday his government intends to move forward with the long- awaited cancer treatment hospital, but it will be up to Health Minister Stephen Mandel to determine how it will proceed.
“There may be a need to separate the clinical side of cancer care from research facilities,” he told reporters at Government House. “We’re all concerned. We want to see a cancer centre. We want to see it done in the best way possible, and the minister is working constructively with people to get there.”
Mandel declined an interview, but his press secretary Steve Buick said the government is still looking at the Calgary South Campus for a cancer centre but may utilize space in the Tom Baker Clinic at the Foothills Hospital for research in the future.
“If we go to South Campus, then obviously we could do something more — particularly in terms of research — on the existing Foothills site, but there’s no decision to do that and the decision will be in the budget,” Buick said. “I realize there’s a lot of concern about the project in Calgary and a lot of speculation, but ... I would urge people to wait the week or so until the budget comes out and see what we’re able to commit to.”
Advocates for a one- stop comprehensive cancer treatment centre have been frustrated over delays and design and site changes on a project that has been in the planning stages for nearly a decade.
John Osler of Concerned Citizens for the Calgary Cancer Centre told Global TV the city’s care doesn’t stack up against other Alberta cities.
“I think Calgarians can fairly ask: Why does Edmonton have a comprehensive cancer centre, and why are Calgary cancer patients going to three, four, five sites just for basic cancer care?”
Government officials haven’t released details of what the new hospital will feature. The previous proposal, unveiled in March 2013, would have offered space for diagnosis, treatment and research.
Liberal Leader David Swann said Calgarians are fed up with the confusion coming out of Alberta Health Services and the health minister’s office.
“This has become a political football going into this election and I think it’s very disturbing that we can’t seem to follow through on a
We’re all concerned. We want to see a cancer centre. We want to see it done in the best way possible.
thoughtful, well- planned development,” Swann said. “Suddenly it becomes a political decision about how this is going to be messaged and managed for greater success at the polls.”
Wildrose Leader Heather Forsyth said the centre is desperately needed and the wait times for cancer treatment are “frightening when you are living with cancer.”
“Calgarians, quite frankly, should be outraged,” she said. “Cancer patients should be outraged.”
NDP MLA Brian Mason questioned how the PC government can allocate funding to repair the flood- damaged Kananaskis golf course but balk at building necessary cancer facilities.
“It’s clear that health care spending and particularly the cancer hospital long promised to Calgary is not among their priorities.”