The MLA for Kamloops-North Thompson says the BC NDP are “playing games again” when it comes to yet another broken promise over the long talked about Kamloops cancer care centre.

Peter Milobar’s comments come as local Kamloops media – Radio NL, CBC and CFJC TV – were not able to ask the Health Minister or Premier questions during Tuesday’s news conference, where the province announced Canada’s first self-screening cervical cancer plan.

Milobar says that snub is likely not an accident, noting that promises around cancer care in Kamloops have been made and not kept going back years.

“They would have known that Kamloops media was going to be on the line, that they have questions that they’re not getting answers to and to not call on any Kamloops media to ask their question, yet they were willing to talk about Search and Rescue or public use of drugs and the court ruling,” Milobar said, noting that while those are all valid questions they’re not related to cancer care.

“If that doesn’t tell anyone about their lack of commitment level that this government has around cancer care in Kamloops, nothing else will. that is as clear as it is today of all days. Its literally an announcement around cancer care in British Columbia and they will not answer questions directly to cancer care in Kamloops.”

In May 2023, Dix told reporters the Kamloops Cancer Care Centre is set to open its doors to the first patient by 2027.

Most recently, Dix pledged the business case for a new cancer centre would be completed by the end of fall. After that deadline came and went, requests from NL for interviews or comment from the Health Minister throughout December and into January were not fulfilled.

“I’m starting to hear rumblings that in-fact patients won’t be seen in the Kamloops centre until late 2029, not 2027 as the Minister promised back in the spring,” Milobar said.

“We need access to these centres quickly and as soon as possible. Not with political games being played by the Minister and the Premier.”

Meanwhile, the Thompson Regional Hospital District has also launched a $75,000 advocacy campaign to pressure the BC government to put shovels in the ground at the Kamloops Cancer Centre.

Dix told reporters in May that typical new cancer care centre projects cost between $200 million to $300 million, however the total cost for the Kamloops facility will be revealed in the business plan.

A cancer centre has been promised to the City of Kamloops by successive governments since the 1990’s.