July 4, 2005
For Immediate Release

News Release

Public Health Goals Underway for Canada

OTTAWA - The development of Canada's first national public health goals passed an important milestone Wednesday, June 29, at a meeting of health leaders and elected officials with Federal Minister of State (Public Health) Carolyn Bennett. The meeting was the first session planned to take stock of the input that has been gathered through an extensive consultation process that began on March 29, 2005.

"The question we have for Canadians is how do we keep as many people healthy for as long as possible and where do we as individuals, families, communities and governments need to focus our attention," said Minister Bennett.

"The meeting last week was encouraging in the amount of interest and excitement around the goals. We clearly need to continue our efforts to engage as many Canadians as possible in this process to make sure we set goals that reflect the priorities of Canadians," the Minister added.

Under the co-leadership of Minister Bennett and Theresa Oswald, Manitoba 's Minister Responsible for Health Living, Canada's federal, provincial and territorial governments last March embarked on a national consultation process with public health experts and Canadians to define national public health goals that will be supported in all areas of the country.

"We've had great input on the goals to this point and now we're moving on to the next step," said Minister Oswald. "It is gratifying to learn that leaders in the field of public health agree we are on the right track."

To date, the Ministers have completed 14 consultations in communities across Canada . Today both Ministers are participating in the 15th consultation, a roundtable on infectious diseases in Canada. Tomorrow, July 5th, Ministers Bennett and Oswald will take part in a roundtable on the development of public health goals for Canada in Toronto. Central to this event will be the mandate of the National Collaborating Centre for Public Health Methodologies and Tools Development. Minister Bennett will be available to answer questions from the media.

Additional information on the Canada-wide consultation process and an electronic survey are available at www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/hgc-osc/ to enable as many Canadians as possible to become directly involved.

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Backgrounder:

• Public Health Goals Consultations

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Media Inquiries:

Jean-Mathieu Dion
Public Health Agency of Canada
(613) 948-7970

Tricia Geddes
Office of the Minister of State (Public Health), Carolyn Bennett
(613) 299-6940

Jonathan Hildebrand
Office of the Minister of Healthy Living, Theresa Oswald
(204) 945-1494