Rachel Notley urged to build Calgary cancer centre, not review
Goverment says it needs time to understand finances before putting shovels in the ground
Advocates for a Calgary Cancer Centre are urging Premier Rachel Notley to stick to her campaign promise and start construction rather than conducting another review.
During the election campaign, Notley said she was committed to building a long-awaited "one-stop shop" for cancer patients at the Foothills hospital.
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But yesterday the new premier told CBC in an interview with David Gray on the Calgary Eyeopener that her government needs to conduct a thorough review of all the facts before she makes an announcement.
That doesn`t sit well with the Concerned Citizens for the Calgary Cancer Centre.
"When it comes to the due diligence on the project, it has been done by leading experts in the field. It's been scoped. It's been budgeted," said John Osler, a representative with the group. "The next step is to put a shovel in the ground and I encourage the new government — in the strongest of terms — to get on with this project that is so important for cancer patients and their families in southern Alberta," he said.
Osler says the group has asked for a meeting with the premier and members would be happy to provide her with any information she needs.
Stick to campaign promise, group says
Advocates for a Calgary Cancer Centre want Alberta's new premier to stick to her campaign promise. Before the election, Notley said her party was committed to building the long-awaited cancer centre at the Foothills hospital as originally planned.
But she now says she needs to thoroughly review the situation before making any announcement.
"We recognize that the government wants to take some time to understand the financial state of affairs of the province.," said Osler.
"But the comprehensive cancer centre need in Calgary was urgent 10 years ago and it gets more and more urgent with each passing day. So I again urge the new premier to make the announcement and get on with the comprehensive cancer centre, as promised," he said.
The group has asked for a meeting with Premier Notley, but has not yet heard back.