Pallister accuses Kinew of 'playing political football with cancer patients'

Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister is accusing the Opposition NDPof stoking the fears of cancer patients by alleging their care is at risk.

Pallister rippedthe NDPon Tuesday, one day after Opposition Leader Wab Kinew said a governmentaudit ofCancerCareManitoba would likely lead to funding cuts.

Pallister said Kinew'stactics were similar to those used in the 2016 provincial election, when theNDPsuggesteda Tory government wouldforcepatientsto buy theircancer care drugs out of pocket.

"Theyfalsely spread the story that families facing cancer will have to pay for their own cancer drugs," said Pallisterduring question period. "Playing political football with cancer patients, Madame Speaker, the member should apologize to families affected by cancer."

NDP leader Wab Kinew, however, arguedhis worries are justified.

History of funding cuts

The province previously orderedCancerCare to find$2.5 million in savings and scrapped a new $300-million facility to handle growing demands for the treatment centre.

"The premier may not like it, but those are all facts," Kinew said.

The Opposition party, which revealed the province's intentionfor an operation review on Monday, againassertedthe Tory governmentdoes not have the best interest of cancer patients in mindif its review of CancerCarefocuses on dollars and centsrather than patient care.

The request for proposal statesthe chosen firm will review the "overall operational efficiency and fiscal performance" of CancerCare.

The exercise seems pointless, Kinew argued, after the KPMG report already made recommendations concerningthe organization last year.

"In their ask for this review, it's only focused onthe money."

In astatement, the province said the KPMGreport offered a broad analysis of the health-care system, while the new operational review is focused on evaluating CancerCare's performance with similar organizations nationwide.

Kinew said CancerCare is already the gold standard in terms of care.A Canadian Institute for Health Information report found all cancer patients in Manitoba received radiation treatment within four weeks, which only one other province could claim.

Any reductions in service would be devastating, Kinewsaid.

"We know that this is crucial because right now CancerCare is the best in the country."