EDITORIAL – $75,000 cancer clinic lobby is now a bigger waste than ever

An editorial by Mel Rothenburger.

SORRY TO REPEAT myself, but I’ve got to say again that spending $75,000 to lobby for something that’s already been approved is just nuts.

Last November, the Thompson Regional Hospital District board approved throwing that much money down the drain to pressure the provincial government on the construction of a cancer clinic in Kamloops.

The idea is to get the public onside. But the public is already onside. The need for a cancer clinic here has been obvious for many years. What hasn’t been obvious in the past is the provincial government’s commitment to build one.

But that commitment has now been made. Early last month, Health Minister Adrian Dix confirmed the business plan for a new clinic is now complete, and then came to town last week to reveal details.

His initial lack of communication around this important milestone was perplexing. But he did come, and construction is now planned to start next year. Why should the taxpayers of the regional hospital district fork over $75,000 so board members can claim later that they pushed Dix and the NDP into getting the clinic? A lobbying effort was needed years ago, not now.

I’ll bet you didn’t even know the district’s “Cancer Won’t Wait” campaign is underway. According to hospital board chair Mike O’Reilly, “We had no choice but to launch this campaign.”

Balderdash. There is no defining moment that forced the board to go the public lobbying route, no indication that the public is unaware of the need or that, even if people start writing letters, anything will change about the timeline.

So far, the campaign seems to consist of a rather rudimentary website with little information.

We certainly need a cancer clinic. The business plan is done. It’s up to the hospital board’s directors and other political leaders to stay on top of it, not to spend money on an unnecessary publicity campaign.

I’m Mel Rothenburger, the Armchair Mayor.

Mel Rothenburger is a regular contributor to CFJC Today, publishes the ArmchairMayor.ca opinion website, and is a recipient of the Jack Webster Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award. He has served as mayor of Kamloops, school board chair and TNRD director, and is a retired daily newspaper editor.  He can be reached at mrothenburger@armchairmayor.ca.