Despite the plethora of questions asked by the Thompson Regional Health Board around the status of the Kamloops Cancer Care Centre in Kamloops – there weren’t many answers from Interior Health.

The questions included when – and if – there were any details about the long promised facility that could be shared publicly.

TRHD Board Chair Mike O’Reilly, speaking on NL Newsday said he saw two sides at Thursday’s meeting.

“One was, the questions that were asked are a reflection of exactly what we are hearing in the community. If we, the residents of the hospital district area are very frustrated and they want this and that, that was shared today,” he said.

“On the other side, you know, I saw IH Executive Director Tracy Rannie in a very difficult spot because that’s not her decision that goes through BC Cancer; and at the end of the day, it is Health Minister Adrian Dix or Premier David Eby that need to come and make the decision.”

However, O’Reilly says the lack of information as to where the project is at is frustrating, noting his hope was that the province would have used some of its surplus dollars towards the long-promised Cancer Care Centre.

“My fear is that in a surplus year, we are not a priority and we can’t get money… What’s it going to be like in a difficult year, which the provincial government projecting and forecasting.”

It came following a move by Interior Health to pull its funding request to the board to help pay for the Cancer Care Business Plan.

O’Reilly also explains that he asked whether or not the funding request being pulled, will delay the Cancer Centre getting to Kamloops.

“And the answer back was, ‘there’s that conceptual planning,'” he explained.

“I think some things are going on in the background, but at the end of the day what we know publicly, is no more than what we knew 30 years ago, the needle has not moved on the dial, and that is extremely frustrating.”

Director Dale Bass questioned the years of delays on the project at Thursday’s board meeting.

“How much of this is Adrian Dix’s Ministry fault, how much of this is just process, and when will we get this thing because it’s frustrating and it’s stressful.”

RIH Executive Director Tracie Rannie responded saying she is unable to comment on that question.

“What I can say is we have partners so we work with BC Cancer, we work with the ministry, and I can tell you that there is planning in behind, but nothing has been approved.”

As for who makes the approvals, Rannies says there is a process behind it

“I’m happy to take that conversation offline, I do believe there is a meeting that is being set up to discuss that conversation.”