May 17, 2004
For Immediate Release

News Release

Government of Canada announces National Collaborating Centre for Infrastructure, Info-Structure and New Tools Development

TORONTO - The Honourable Stan Keyes, Minister of National Revenue, on behalf of the Honourable Dr. Carolyn Bennett, Minister of State for Public Health, announced today that Ontario will be home to the National Collaborating Centre for Infrastructure, Info-Structure and New Tools Development, one of six regional centres for collaboration on public health that will work closely with the Public Health Agency of Canada.

"Recent public health issues have made it clear that we need to continue to refine our public health tools," said Minister Keyes. "Our significant regional expertise in places like Hamilton, Guelph and Windsor, and working with experts in the Toronto area who had first-hand experience with SARS, will help the Centre develop information and communication tools and approaches that not only meet the day-to-day requirements of public health professionals but that also have the flexibility to respond to various demands, including emergencies," 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 Infrastructure, Info-Structure and New Tools Development, led by the Ontario Public Health Agency and drawing on expertise throughout the province, will focus on how public health information is gathered and used through, for example, disease surveillance systems. The goal is to ensure that public health professionals can easily draw from, use and contribute to the information they need to do their jobs. The centre will also investigate how this information can help to improve health human resource training and planning, as well as work on citizen engagement, health promotion and social marketing.

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 Ontario 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 Ontario, federal investments to support public health improvements include $38.4 million for front-line workers and $115.2 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:
Debbie Paine
Health Canada
(416) 973-4183

Caroline Jacques
Office of Minister Keyes
(613) 995-2960

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

Public Inquiries:
(613) 957-2991