A cancer care centre for Kamloops – that was a promise made by NDP Leader John Horgan, part of his 10-year cancer care plan.

“A cancer diagnosis has touched nearly every family, including my own,” said Horgan, while in Vancouver. “Under our plan, British Columbians will receive better care that’s closer to home as they go through their cancer journey.”

“Patients should be able to get the services they want, not just in the Lower Mainland not just in our major urban centres, but in rural communities as well.”

Kamloops-South Thompson NDP candidate Anna Thomas says that is great news for the city and the region, as people right now have to travel to Kelowna or the Lower Mainland for treatment.

“We need that. We definitely do need that, and that is something I would advocate for,” she said. “The NDP you know, if nobody gets left behind and I strongly believe that.”

“This is one more example of how John Horgan is putting the needs of people at the centre of his plan for moving BC forward.”

The NDP say their plan will include new clinicians, renovations and upgrades to existing cancer centres, improved access in rural communities, and genomic testing for entire families.

“What makes the announcement of a cancer centre so important is that it’s part of an overall, comprehensive cancer plan,” added Kamloops-North Thompson NDP candidate Sadie Hunter.

“This integrated system will make sure that patients in Kamloops get the best possible care without having to go to Vancouver or other centres.”

A cancer care centre in Kamloops has been something Mayor Ken Christian among others has been wanting to see for some time.

Liberals Say NDP Making Up Plans on the Fly

Just yesterday, the two B.C. Liberal candidates Peter Milobar and Todd Stone unveiled a $5 million plan to install two linear accelerators for cancer treatment at Royal Inland Hospital so that people will be able to get radiation treatment in Kamloops.

Milobar – the Kamloops-North Thompson candidate – says people should be skeptical about the NDP’s plan for cancer care in the Tournament Capital.

“We’ve been working behind the scenes for a couple of years, so surely the Health Minister would have been aware of the need for as the equipment ages out in Kelowna and needs to be replaced,” he told NL News. “It was only a few weeks ago they announced a PET Scanner going into Kelowna, which is good and needed, but there was no mention of the equipment needed in Kamloops.”

“Now, all of the sudden a day after we announced our commitment to Kamloops, the announce a ten year plan.”

The NDP announced a cancer plan yesterday while unveiling their platform, and released more details today.

Milobar adds there is no timeline in that 10-year NDP plan as to when Kamloops would get that cancer care centre. He says their plan would see work on a cancer care within two to three years of being elected.

“Skeptical about such a rushed promise. I think its very much make it up as they go,” he added. “The 10 year plans they keep trotting out all have check in dates well past the term of any government. Its laughable that they keep saying they will deliver based on 10 year plans, when they are so far away from delivering in the short term.”

Thomas though, wasn’t buying those arguments from the Liberals.

“I find it ironic though right off the top that you know the Liberal government has been there for 16 years. They had lots of time to do that and I just find it ironic now that its coming out now that the election has been called,” she added.