Minister Dix in Kamloops May 2023 (image credit – CFJC Today)

By Michael Reeve

CANCER CARE

Dec 29, 2023 | 1:00 PM

KAMLOOPS — Back in May, B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix announced a cancer care centre is to be built in Kamloops on the Royal Inland Hospital campus. In that announcement, the minister stated that the business plan for the new centre would be completed by the end of the year.

“We started the work on this after 2020, got approval to go forward, prepared the concept plan, we got the funding approved, it’s in the 10-year capital plan, we announced the concept plan today,” stated Dix on May 25, 2023. “Because we were really confident about that, we started the business planning earlier. It usually takes 12-to-18 months. Instead, you will see the business plan approved in the next six months. Certainly before the end of 2023.”

With only days remaining in the year, the Ministry of Health has been unable to confirm to CFJC, through email or an interview, that the promise from Minister Dix has been met. B.C. United MLA Todd Stone wasn’t surprised that the government isn’t meeting its own deadline.

“Let’s be clear — the NDP have misled the people of Kamloops and this entire region for decades when it comes to cancer care,” said the Kamloops-South Thompson MLA. “What we are hearing from and seeing from the NDP government today is no different than what has happened in previous years. Adrian Dix actually promised that there would be business plan on the table for everyone to see by the end of the fall.”