September 24, 2004
Winnepeg, Manitoba

Delivering on a commitment to help protect the health and safety of
Canadians, Prime Minister Paul Martin today launched the new Public Health
Agency of Canada and announced the appointment of the country’s first-ever Chief
Public Health Officer (CPHO).

Dr. David Butler-Jones, based in Winnipeg, will head the Agency,
providing leadership in the government’s efforts to keep Canadians healthy and
ensuring Canada is prepared in the event another serious infectious disease hits
our shores.

“Today's announcement is another step in ensuring we have the best
possible system for ensuring the health and safety of Canadians. Canada's Chief
Public Health Officer must demonstrate clear leadership, not only in times of
emergency, but also in helping Canadians stay healthy and out of the hospital,”
said Prime Minister Martin. “Dr. Butler-Jones has the qualities and expertise
to launch our Public Health Agency and to make it a success.”

At the recent First Ministers’ Meeting, the Prime Minister and the
Premiers signed a 10-year action plan that will lead to better health care for
all Canadians. Improving the public health system in Canada is key to ensuring
the sustainability of the health care system. The creation of the Public Health
Agency reinforces the commitments the First Ministers made in the 10-year plan.

“The Public Health Agency is an integral part of our government's plan
to protect and enhance the health of Canadians,” said Health Minister Ujjal
Dosanjh. “The fact that this announcement comes so soon after striking the 10
year health care accord is another sign of the high priority that the Prime
Minister and the government attach to health care reform. I am delighted that a
person of Dr. Butler-Jones's quality and experience has agreed to serve as the
CPHO.”

Dr. David Butler-Jones brings to the position an extensive background in
public health. He has most recently served as the Medical Health Officer for Sun
Country Health Region and Consulting Medical Officer for the Saskatoon Health
Region in Saskatchewan. From 1995 to 2002, he was the Chief Medical Officer of
Health for the Province of Saskatchewan.

Dr. Butler-Jones was a member of the National Advisory Committee on SARS
and Public Health chaired by Dr. David Naylor. The creation of the Agency and
this appointment were key recommendations found in the Committee’s report,
Learning from SARS: Renewal of Public Health in Canada.

“I am pleased and proud to accept this appointment and look forward to
working closely with the Minister of Health, the Minister of State for Public
Health and the Medical Officers of Health from every province and territory to
design an effective, coordinated public health system that serves our citizens.
By coordinating our efforts, we will have a much greater impact on the health
status of Canadians,” said Dr. Butler-Jones.

Focussed on more effective efforts to prevent chronic diseases, like
cancer and heart disease, prevent injuries and respond to public health
emergencies and infectious disease outbreaks, the Public Health Agency of Canada
will work closely with the provinces and territories to keep Canadians healthy
and help reduce pressures on the health care system.

Minister of State Dr. Carolyn Bennett emphasized the importance of this
broad mandate. “We know from experience that we have to be prepared to respond
to new public health threats. At the same time, over two-thirds of all deaths in
Canada result from four types of chronic diseases. By targeting the causes of
these diseases, we can greatly improve the health of Canadians and help to
reduce the demand on the health care system,” she said.

The Agency will have offices, management, staff and expertise all across
Canada and will work with a network of specialized centres across the country to
address specific public health issues in Canada. Winnipeg, the location of
Canada’s only Level 4 microbiology lab for human health, will become the home of
the International Centre for Infectious Diseases (ICID) and it is expected to be
a world leader in research, training, commercialization and innovation in
addressing the threat and impacts of infectious diseases.

“I am pleased that the base of research expertise in Manitoba will
contribute to the growing network of knowledge nationally and internationally
and frame positive improvements in our public health system,” said the President
of the Treasury Board and Minister Responsible for the Canadian Wheat Board, Reg
Alcock.

Through Budget 2004, the Government of Canada committed $665 million in
initial funding to strengthen Canada’s public health system. This includes $100
million for increased front-line public health capacity, $300 million to support
new vaccine programs and $100 million for improved surveillance systems.
Funding of $165 million over two years was also committed for other federal
public health initiatives, such as strengthening preparedness against infectious diseases, creating emergency response teams, replenishing the national emergency stockpile system, investing in federal laboratories and surveillance systems and establishing the six National Collaborating Centres for Public Health. Funding for the Agency also includes the $404 million budget being transferred from the Population and Public Health Branch of Health Canada which forms the backbone of
the Agency.

* * *

BIOGRAPHY - DR. DAVID BUTLER-JONES

Dr. David Butler-Jones, Canada’s first Chief Medical Officer of Health, will
head up the newly created Public Health Agency of Canada, providing leadership
on the government’s efforts to protect the health and safety of Canadians. Dr.
Butler-Jones brings to the position an extensive background in public health and
has most recently served as the Medical Health Officer for Sun Country Health
Region and Consulting Medical Officer for the Saskatoon Health Region in
Saskatchewan. He is also an Associate Clinical Professor with the Faculty of
Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan and has taught at both the
undergraduate and graduate levels.

Throughout his career, Dr. Butler-Jones has been an advocate for public health
in Canada and around the world. Dr. Butler-Jones was a vocal supporter of the
recommendations included in Dr. David Naylor’s report, Learning from SARS:
Renewal of Public Health in Canada and, as the past-president of the Canadian
Public Health Association, gave his public support to the creation of a national
health agency and the appointment of a Chief Public Health Officer.

From 1995 to 2002, Dr. Butler-Jones was Chief Medical Health Officer for the
Province of Saskatchewan and Executive Director of the Population Health and
Primary Health Services Branch for the province. He has worked in many parts of
Canada and has experience with consultations and work exchanges in places as
diverse as the Dominican Republic, Turkey, Scotland, Brazil, Kosovo, and Chile.

Dr. Butler-Jones was a member of the National Advisory Committee on SARS and
Public Health chaired by Dr. David Naylor. The creation of the Agency and this
appointment were key recommendations found in the Committee’s report, Learning
from SARS: Renewal of Public Health in Canada. He is currently a member of the
National Climate Change and Health Assessment Committee and the Canadian
Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Advisory Board for the Institute of
Population and Public Health.

In the past, Dr. Butler-Jones has served as: