Two big promises from the BC Liberals for Kamloops today with $8.25 million in investments in the city meant for cancer treatment and mental health services.
Kamloops-North Thompson candidate Peter Milobar says $5 million of that will be to install two linear accelerators for cancer treatment at Royal Inland Hospital so that people will be able to get radiation treatment in the city. It would complement five such machines that are in Kelowna.
“We are going to continue to work hard to advocate to work with the BC Cancer Agency, to work with Interior Health, to work with the Royal Inland Hospital Foundation, and to work with the regional hospital board to make sure that two of those linear accelerators are located in Kamloops so that people in the Kamloops and surrounding areas can avoid that two hour drive to get the treatments they desperately need,” Milobar said.
He says as it stands many families have to commute to Kelowna or the Lower Mainland for this treatment, noting this new equipment in Kamloops will save stress and expenses.
“The realty is that over time almost a full two of those machines time is being taken up by residents of Kamloops and the surroundings areas,” Milobar added. “And we all know, and all studies have shown that when you are trying to access cancer treatment, the best result is not to be sitting in a car for two hours each way to go an get your treatment.”
The other $3.25 million will go towards creating a Foundry Centre a in the Tournament Capital which will offer mental health and counselling for people aged 12 to 24.
“They provide primary care, youth and family peer supports, walk in counselling, mental health and substance use services and social services, again, all under one roof which improves the access for youth to get the service and the supports that they really need,” Kamloops-South Thompson candidate Todd Stone added.
He says many other B.C. cities already have a Foundry Centre but there is not one in the Tournament Capital, making it the largest city in the Interior and the North without such a facility.
“Back in June, the NDP government announced eight new foundry centres in virtually every corner of the province. They forgot about Kamloops. Kamloops was passed over for the third year in a row.,” Stone said.
Stone says such a Foundry Centre would be “life-changing” for youth who need it.
The two Liberal candidates say these announcements would add to an election promise announced last week by Liberal Leader Andrew Wilkinson, to expand the Car-40 program, at a cost of $250,ooo per year.
Milobar is up against Conservative Dennis Giesbrecht, the NDP’s Sadie Hunter, Thomas Martin for the BC Green Party and independent candidate, Brandon Russell. Stone meanwhile is running against Dan Hines of the Green Party and the NDP’s Anna Thomas.
Election Day is Oct. 24.
