South Health Campus considered for new cancer centre location

The premier of Alberta confirmed today the new Calgary cancer centre will not be built at the Foothills hospital, but the South Health Campus is being investigated as an alternative location.

Plans to build the cancer centre were announced in March 2013 by then-premier Allison Redford. The $1.3-billion project was expected to by completed by 2020.

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But in light of the recent economic downturn in the province, the government has been reviewing all capital projects because of an expected $7-billion hole in next year's budget.

Health Minister Stephen Mandel says they are exploring the South Health Campus because of the new fiscal constraints.

"We've got to look at different options," he said. "We have a pedestal already there that has, I assume, several hundreds of millions of dollars of investment in it. It's sitting there now. South Health Campus has great access. It's a phenomenal building."

Mandel says that from a practical point of view the foundation, parking, excavation and a lot of the mechanical work is already in place.

"When you're looking at options to be able to deliver the best product at the most reasonable price, you have to look at all the options," he said.

Mandel says nothing will be decided until the budget is worked out.

Prentice says at this point the cancer centre is not in the capital plan but he has had discussions with the finance minister, looking for ways to finance the hospital.

"We want to see a cancer centre constructed," he said. "We will look at creative ways to finance it and we will do that as quickly as possible working with the people that have been proposing this project and are passionate about it."