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ABOVE: The Alberta Government is hinting that the South Calgary Health Campus will be the home of a new cancer centre.Jill Croteau reports.

CALGARY – Alberta’s health minister is giving hope that a new cancer centre slated to open in Calgary in 2020 will go ahead, but a spokesperson said it’s less likely to be at the Foothills Hospital campus.

“The minister has committed the cancer centre as one of his highest priorities for this year’s budget and the people of Calgary should certainly be optimistic,” said Alberta Health spokesperson Steve Buick. “The minister is looking hard at the South Campus as a potential alternative to Foothills. It’s an attractive option for the new cancer centre but no decision has been made.”

The Tom Baker Cancer Centre ran out of space over a decade ago, and since then care has been spread out throughout the city.

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The government had put aside $181 million with the Alberta Cancer Foundation committing another $200 million. Construction was originally slated to begin some time in 2015 or 2016.

Plans for the centre include inpatient beds, advanced cancer diagnostic and treatment technologies, an outpatient facility and a dedicated research space.

With files from Heather Yourex and The Canadian Press