Alberta’s Health Minister Stephen Mandel say low provincial revenues, tied to slumping oil prices, may delay a number of capital health projects, including the $1.3 billion cancer centre planned for Calgary.
According to Mandel, at least a dozen capital health projects will need to be reassessed.
Construction on the new Calgary cancer centre was scheduled to begin in 2016 but the project will likely be delayed.
The centre was critical to improve treatment for patients in an already overcrowded system which includes the Tom Baker Cancer Centre.
On Thursday, crude prices fell another $1.60, closing at $54.87.
Myka Osinchuk, the CEO of the Alberta Cancer Foundation, says the organization is disappointed but not discouraged by the impact the changing economic climate has had on the new cancer treatment centre.
“We are extremely disappointed by this news but will continue to work with the government to ensure the project moves forward,” said Osinchuk in a statement to CTV. “The Alberta Cancer Foundation is committed to ensuring Calgarians have the care they desperately need but like everyone else, we are aware of the economic situation in this province and will continue to work to see this important facility through.”
The Alberta Cancer Foundation promised $210 million to the project.
With files from CTV's Camilla Di Giueseppe
