Cancer Won't Wait Campaign Reacts to B.C. Budget Omission

KAMLOOPS, B.C. – While we were pleased to learn about the approval of the business case just weeks ago, the Thompson Regional Hospital District is disappointed to not find mention of the Kamloops Cancer Centre in the 2024 B.C. Provincial Budget.

• We are concerned that the lack of mention of the Centre may represent yet another delay from the provincial government, adding to the decades of disappointment this region continues to face in accessing local cancer care.
  

• We acknowledge Minister Dix's comments that the lack of mention in yesterday's budget was due to a missed printing deadline. Our team will be closely monitoring future Ministry of Finance budget updates including the Q1 report in September for confirmation of our project in the B.C. Government's spending commitments.
  

• We continue to advocate for the well-being of cancer patients in our region who require daily radiation treatments, which are shown to have drastically improved outcomes if delivered locally.
  

• Cancer Won’t Wait for the health system to play catch up to address these problems and a mention in the provincial budget would have been one step closer to shovels in the ground.
  

• We encourage everyone in our communities to visit CancerWontWait.ca to get involved in the campaign and share their stories.

The Thompson Regional Hospital District (TRHD) is administered by the Thompson Regional Hospital District Board, under the Hospital District Act, and is located within the Interior Health Authority. Like all Regional Hospital Districts in B.C., the TRHD generally exists to borrow funds and finance construction projects or equipment purchases at facilities within its boundaries. Capital projects are cost-shared between the Province of B.C. and TRHD.

For all media inquiries, contact: info@cancerwontwait.ca