May 17, 2004
For Immediate Release

News Release

Government of Canada announces National Collaborating Centre for Infectious Diseases

WINNIPEG - The Honourable Reg Alcock, Treasury Board President and Minister Responsible for the Canadian Wheat Board, on behalf of the Honourable Dr. Carolyn Bennett, Minister of State for Public Health, announced today that the Prairies will be home to the National Collaborating Centre for Infectious Diseases, one of six regional centres for collaboration on public health that will work closely with the Public Health Agency of Canada.

"Facilities and universities throughout the Prairies have been recognized as international leaders in infectious diseases and life sciences research," said Minister Alcock. "The National Collaborating Centre for Infectious Diseases brings these experts together to safeguard the health and well-being of Canadians. It also provides a foundation for them to make an even greater contribution to advancing the global understanding of emerging diseases such as SARS and West Nile virus," he added.

Acting as catalysts, the National Collaborating Centres will help strengthen the capacity of the public health system by creating and fostering linkages among researchers, the public health community and other stakeholders to build on existing strengths across the country. The centres will facilitate the sharing of knowledge and help put it into practice at all levels of the public health system across Canada.

The regional centres are part of several critical initiatives to improve our public health system announced today by Minister of State for Public Health Dr. Carolyn Bennett. These include the establishment of two pillars, in Ottawa and Winnipeg, for the new Public Health Agency of Canada, as well as the appointment of an Acting Chief Public Health Officer for Canada.

"The health of Canadians is the top priority of this government," said Minister Bennett. "The National Collaborating Centres for Public Health will provide national focal points for key priority areas in public health, building on established regional expertise. They will accelerate the development and implementation in public health practice of new research findings and best practices."

Specifically, the National Collaborating Centre for Infectious Diseases will focus on addressing the present and future risks of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases in Canada.

Also being announced today by the Honourable Rey D. Pagtakhan, Minister of Western Economic Diversification is a $3 million federal contribution from Western Economic Diversification Canada towards an International Centre for Infectious Diseases that would take advantage of the cluster of infectious disease resources in Winnipeg and also respond to recommendations in the joint Canada-Manitoba task force report Fighting Disease - Fostering Innovation.

The Government of Canada is enhancing the country's capacity to respond to infectious and chronic diseases with an initial investment of $15 million over two years for the six National Collaborating Centres for Public Health. Each centre will concentrate on a specific theme, reflective of regional expertise, that will contribute to building Canada's excellence in a range of public health specialty areas. The investment in the Prairie region for these federal activities is approximately $2.5 million over two years.

Today's announcement builds on the commitments the Government of Canada laid out in its Speech from the Throne and in the 2004 Budget. In Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, federal investments to support public health improvements include $16.8 million for front-line workers and $50.4 million for new vaccine programs. As well, Budget 2004 provides funding for other federal activities in public health, such as strengthening preparedness against infectious diseases, creating emergency response teams, replenishing the national emergency stockpile system, and investing in federal laboratories and surveillance systems.

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Media Inquiries:
Heather Plett-Laurendeau
Health Canada
(204) 789-5046

Suzanne Cowan
Office of the Minister of State (Public Health)
(613) 941-8081

Lise Jolicoeur
Office of Minister Alcock
(613) 868-0773

Public Inquiries:
(613) 957-2991