Kamloops Liberal candidates promise to prioritize cancer treatment, youth mental health support centre

The two B.C. Liberal candidates running in Kamloops announced today they will be working hard to ensure that $8.5 million is invested in cancer treatment and mental health services in the city.  

Peter Milobar, the incumbent in Kamloops-North Thompson, and Todd Stone, the incumbent in Kamloops-South Thompson, said they will prioritize investing $5 million to install two linear accelerators for cancer treatment at Royal Inland Hospital.

“The B.C. Liberals understand that rural British Columbians need access to convenient local healthcare,” Milobar said in a media release.

The investment would allow cancer patients in the Interior to receive their radiation treatment in Kamloops, saving countless patients and their families added the added stress and expenses of travel, the candidates said.

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They also announced their commitment to pushing for a $3.25 million investment from the provincial government to create a Foundry Centre in Kamloops.

“A Foundry Centre in our community would be life-changing for youth who require substance use services, mental health supports and counselling," Stone said in the release.

Foundry Centres offer young people aged 12 to 24 primary care, youth and family peer support, walk-in counselling, mental health support, substance use services and social services all in one facility.

The Liberals have also recently promised a $250,000 increase in funding to ensure the Car 40 mental health program is available 24/7, according to the release.

Stone is running against Dan Hines for the B.C. Green Party and Anna Thomas with B.C. NDP.  Milobar is up against Conservative Dennis Giesbrecht, Sadie Hunter with B.C. NDP, Thomas Martin for the B.C. Green Party and Brandon Russell, an Independent.

B.C. Election Day is Oct. 24.

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