May 17, 2004
For Immediate Release

News Release

Government of Canada announces National Collaborating Centre for Public Policy and Risk Assessment

MONTREAL - The Honourable Pierre Pettigrew, Minister of Health, and the Honourable Dr. Carolyn Bennett, Minister of State for Public Health, announced today that Quebec will be home to the National Collaborating Centre for Public Policy and Risk Assessment, one of six regional centres for collaboration on public health that will work closely with the Public Health Agency of Canada.

"Together with the centres for Determinants of Health and Environmental Health, the National Collaborating Centre for Public Policy and Risk Assessment will make an invaluable contribution to our understanding of the impact of public policy on Canadians' health and well-being," said Minister Pettigrew. "Understanding all the factors that have an impact on the health of Canadians is essential for improving and safeguarding the health of Canadians," 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 Public Policy and Risk Assessment will focus on public health policy and risk assessment. The centre's work will include the broad assessment, management and communication of risks to health and the possible mitigating actions, with emphasis on the social determinants of health and the physical environment. The goal of this research is to minimize risks that play a role in acute and chronic diseases.

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 Quebec 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 Quebec, federal investments to support public health improvements include $23.6 million for front-line workers and $70.8 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.

-30-

---

Media Inquiries:
Nathalie Howson
Health Canada
(514) 283-2046

Sébastien Théberge/Adèle Blanchard
Office of Minister Pettigrew
Minister of Health
Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs
Minister Responsible for Official Languages
(613) 957-0200

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

Public Inquiries:
(613) 957-2991