Tom Baker Cancer Centre replacement could see delays, says province

Construction on Calgary's new cancer centre could be delayed because of decreased revenues from falling oil prices.

Premier Jim Prentice says the drop in oil prices will put a $6.275 billion hole in next year's budget.

Steve Buick, a representative from theministry of health, says all capital projects in Alberta are being assessed.

He saidthe planto build a new centre at the Foothills Medical Centrehad not been shelved but could be delayed.

"The Alberta government is reassessing all capital projects in light of our current revenue situation. Government is looking at options to go forward with the Calgary Cancer Centre. This project or any project might have to be delayed or altered, but there has been no decision yet. Decisions for moving forward will be made through the budget process," he said in a statement.

Plans to build the new cancer centre were announcedin March2013.The Alberta government teamed up with the Alberta Cancer Foundation (ACF) to raise the necessary funding. Atthat time, the ACF had already committed $200 million towards the project.

The final cost was estimated to be around $1.3 billion.

Tom Baker centre outgrown

The new centre will replace the Tom Baker Cancer Centre, which many say has been stretched beyond itslimits for some time.

"The Tom Baker Cancer Centre was outgrown more than 10years ago.Population and incidences of cancer have increased dramatically," said Lynn Van Hyfte, vice president of fund development with the Alberta Cancer Foundation (ACF).

"Today cancer patients here decampacross the city to get their care and thats not optimal.

In Alberta, 16,000 people are told they have cancer every year. Van Hyfte says that rate is growing and is expected to double by the time the centre would have opened in 2020.

Van Hyfte saidthe ACF remains committed to the vision of "one centre, comprehensive care, in one place," and they will continue towork with the government and the community to see the centre builtbut understands the project may take more time.

Its the practicality of the economics that were in, that with oil revenues down, this is a very big ticket item, its an expensive project," she said.

"Were all very practical about it but the needs of cancer patients dontgo away while the prices of oil drops."

Construction was scheduled to begin in 2016.