CIHR Positioning in Government Priorities Reaffirmed in the Speech from the Throne

Following the Speech from Throne, the entire health research community should be very pleased with the government's reaffirmation of its commitment to "provide a further major increase in funding for the Canadian Institutes of Health Research... to enable the Institutes to enhance their research into disease prevention and treatment, the determinants of health, and health system effectiveness."

The Speech from the Throne is an excellent illustration of how the creation of CIHR reinforces and supports other key government initiatives, including the health of Canada's children and aboriginal people, and building and diversifying Canada's New Economy.

Indeed, CIHR is a pivotal element of the government's health and innovation agenda. Recent CIHR funding decisions will result in the creation of important new scientific knowledge, including new insights into proteomics, breast cancer, diabetes in Canada's aboriginal population, drug addiction, autism, and child development. Translation of this research will lead to improved health for Canadians, a more effective health care system and a stronger economy.

I encourage health researchers to find opportunities to talk publicly about their work and how it can lead to the knowledge Canadians want for themselves and their families as they search for answers about their health.

I am looking forward to working with the federal government to turn its commitment of "a major increase in funding" for CIHR into a level of funding for the future that is in harmony with the exciting challenge we were given just seven months ago.

With CIHR's 13 Institutes now in place, the Institute Advisory Boards soon to be announced, and the directions outlined in the Speech from the Throne, Canadians will "be among the first to generate new knowledge and put it to use."

Speech from the Throne - January 30, 2001 (PDF format)