I take great pleasure in congratulating tonight's award recipients at the Canadian Health Research Awards.
Health research is critical in protecting and promoting public health. Researchers such as those being honoured tonight provide us with the evidence of when and how to intervene to improve the health of Canadians. Preventing chronic diseases and diminishing the impact of infectious disease outbreaks can reduce demands on our health care system, ensuring its ability to care for Canadians when they need care. That is why research is at the core of the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC). Canadians everywhere benefit from the close partnership between PHAC and CIHR.
Canada's health researchers are known throughout the world for their achievements. I look forward to continued contributions to the health of Canadians from CIHR and from the researchers it supports.
Carolyn Bennett
P.C., M.P., MD
Minister of State for Public Health
