THE B.C. Liberals said on Wednesday that Premier John Horgan has confirmed what skeptical Kamloopsians already know — a badly-needed cancer centre for the region won’t be built anytime soon.

During the 2020 election, the BC Liberals promised enhanced cancer treatment at Royal Inland Hospital if elected. Soon after, Horgan promised a new cancer centre in Kamloops would be built in four years if the NDP was elected. However, NDP Health Minister Adrian Dix has confirmed the project is part of a 10-year provincial cancer plan, said the BC Liberals.

“The NDP continue to string Kamloopsians along when it comes to cancer care — just as they did in the 1990s when they made a similar promise of a Kamloops cancer centre, only it opened up in Kelowna instead,” said Todd Stone, MLA for Kamloops-South Thompson. “So we’re back at square one again on a proposed cancer centre. This time the Premier insists it’s a four-year timeline, yet his own Health Minister has clearly stated it’s a 10-year outlook — so which one of them is right? Who’s in charge here?”

“Back in February, the Premier told our local media that the business plan for the cancer centre was being developed. But when questioned in the Legislature recently, he admitted absolutely zero details have gone to Treasury Board and only a concept plan is in the works,” said Peter Milobar, MLA for Kamloops-North Thompson. “This admission by the Premier means there is no way he can honour his promise to build a centre in four years.”

The proposed cancer centre is supposed to help patients in Kamloops and the surrounding area — and it’s critical that Horgan follows through on his signature promise. However, with the project also nowhere to be found in the recent budget, it appears to be more ‘smoke and mirrors’ from the NDP, said the B.C. Liberals.