Home : Media Centre : Speeches
Notes for an address by
The Honourable Carol Skelton, P.C., M.P.
Minister of National Revenue and
Western Economic Diversification Canada
B.C. Cancer Foundation Research Announcement
Vancouver, British Columbia
July 11, 2006
Corresponding Document: News Release (2006-07-11)
Check Against Delivery .
Thank you Mary. Good morning ladies and gentlemen. It is a pleasure to be here in beautiful Vancouver on behalf of the Government of Canada and as Minister responsible for Western Economic Diversification.
This is a special moment for me to be here at the B.C. Cancer Research Centre, surrounded by some of the world’s top researchers and scientists.
Your ongoing work to cure a relentless disease gives hope to so many and your research success inspires us all.
You have promises to keep to Canadians and so does Canada’s new Government. We made five key promises – including healthcare – in which you will play an important role as your innovative efforts continue to work miracles.
Your Government also places priority on investments in skills development, research and development - the drivers of our future economic well-being.
This disease has a dramatic impact on the Canadian economy through increased health care costs and the specialized services required to give patients the best chance possible to win the battle with cancer.
But there is hope. And that hope is here in this room today.
With dedicated researchers, like you, new advances in technology and age-old human resilience, the question becomes not “if” but “when” a cure can be found.
I am here today to help resolve that complex equation… to push the timeline for a cure.
Western Economic Diversification Canada will provide an investment of $420,000 to the B.C. Cancer Foundation for a new Micro-Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scanner.
This equipment, with the complicated name, will help medical researchers accurately diagnose cancer and develop new drug treatment therapies.
I am told that Positron Emission Tomography has become an invaluable tool for the early diagnosis and monitoring of cancer progression.
This investment will lead to breakthrough healthcare opportunities through new treatments and future cures, and it will create economic benefits as treatment is accelerated and research leaves the lab for the factory.
I am proud to say that the Government of Canada will continue to make investments in cancer research.
That’s why Federal Budget 2006 announced $52 million per year to the Public Health Agency of Canada and Health Canada to allow them to work with partners towards implementing the Canadian Strategy for Cancer Control.
This investment will improve screening, prevention and research activities, and improve coordination among the federal government, cancer advocacy groups, and the provinces and territories.
The fight against cancer is far from over but we are making significant progress. In fact, Canada is becoming a world-leader in cancer research.
Canadian Cancer Society researcher Dr. Shoukat Dedhar has discovered an advanced method of anti-angiogenesis, a method that destroys blood vessels in a tumour and prevents the growth of new vessels. (Canadian Cancer Society News Release February 7, 2005)
This new discovery has significant potential to control different types of cancer such as colon, breast, and brain cancer, with minimal side effects.
Canada is also leading the field in developing new drugs and technologies to make cancer treatment more effective and easier to tolerate.
This includes the development of new “smart” cancer drugs, such as the one being tested against prostate cancer by Canadian Cancer Society researcher Dr. Kim Chi. (Canadian Cancer Society News Release April 19, 2006)
These new drugs directly target malignant cells while sparing healthy, non-cancerous ones.
The commitment and caring of people in this room, and organizations such as the B.C. Cancer Agency and the B.C. Cancer Foundation, are the reason why Canada is a world leader in cancer research – and will continue to be part of the advance guard.
From the Government of Canada and all Canadians, thank you for your dedicated efforts in bringing hope and giving back the chance for life to all those afflicted by this terrible disease.
My colleagues and I look forward to your future successes and innovative breakthroughs in cancer research right here in British Columbia.
We thank you as politicians, as people, and because there are many cancer survivors among us.