Calgary Cancer Centre rally protests possible deferral
The drop in oil prices has led to a provincial review of all capital projects
A rally was held today at the McDougall Centre to protest the possible deferral of the Calgary Cancer Centre.
The $1.3-billion facility was promised by then-Premier Alison Redford in March 2013 and planned to be built on the Foothills Medical Centre campus.
- New cancer centre slated for Calgary
- Tom Baker Cancer Centre replacement could see delays, says province
But Premier Jim Prentice has said the project is now under review because of the government's multi-billion dollar revenue shortfall.
The Calgary Eyeopener spoke with Myka Osinchuk, CEO of the Alberta Cancer Foundation, Wednesday morning.
- Click the Listen button to hear the interview on the Calgary Eyeopener
Osinchuk said she doesn't know where the new cancer centre is on the government's current list of infrastructure priorities.
But she says the need for a new centre was identified in 2002, given that the 30-year-old Tom Baker Cancer Centre has been running at capacity for more than a decade.
Osinchuk says currently cancer patients must go to at least five separate facilities to access care and services.
The new cancer centre is planned to centralize services in one location including diagnostic, outpatient and treatment services, dedicated research space and a bone marrow transplant unit.