Even though local eyebrows are being raised, BC’s Health Minister is insisting the Kamloops Cancer Care Centre is still on track to open its doors in 2027.

Adrian Dix says despite uncertainties, the Cancer Care Center is still going ahead, with the business plan set to be released by the end of December.

The business plan – is set to outline details about what the facility will look like, and how much it is projected to cost.

“We are proceeding, period. We are going ahead, period. We are on track, period. I know there is always a lot of discussion about these things but I am enormously committed.”

“I believed for decades that a cancer centre in Kamloops makes sense and it is my job to deliver that and all of the political discussion about that is interesting. We are in the implementation phase now, the decision has been made, there will be a cancer centre in Kamloops.”

Due to a projected increase in Cancer diagnoses, Dix says he knows the importance of having a radiation therapy centre in the Tournament Capital.

“We are going to see an increase in demand on Island Health and you could do that by building bigger in Kelowna and Victoria or you could respond to it by adding in Nanaimo and Kamloops; I strongly believe it makes sense to do that in Nanaimo and Kamloops and I think the community is supportive.”

Dix’s comments come as the Thompson Regional Hospital District is set to launch its $75,000 advocacy campaign – to pressure the BC government to put shovels in the ground at the Kamloops Cancer Centre.