News Release

1997-53
September 24, 1997

Health Minister puts moratorium on cuts and launches science and regulatory review

Ottawa - Health Minister Allan Rock today announced that he is putting a six-month moratorium on cuts to the Health Protection Branch as part of a three-year project to review and strengthen the science and regulatory capacity of his department.

"Canadians depend on Health Canada to protect them from a wide range of risks to their health," said the Minister. "Health Canada must have access to the most uptodate science and the ability to regulate a wide range of products, from pharmaceuticals and food to toys and household products. Today we are launching a project to strengthen Health Canada's capacity to do just that," he said.

"The bottom line is the health and safety of Canadians," said Mr. Rock. "That is my bottom line too."

The Minister will appoint an independent Science Advisory Board to provide him with expert advice on how Health Canada's health protection program can be strengthened through legislation and regulation, scientific capacity, surveillance, new programs and the development of a new risk management framework. The Board will become a permanent feature of the health protection program.

"I intend to conduct this science and regulatory review through consultation with consumers, stakeholders, employees, the public and the provinces," said the Minister. "In addition, the Science Advisory Board will have a role to play in the consultations," he said. A consultation document will be released as part of this process.

"In fact, this will be an extensive, comprehensive project that will guide us as we design the next generation of risk management and health protection," Mr. Rock noted. It will take three years to complete, although changes could be introduced as early as next year.

The moratorium is being imposed on $12 million in anticipated Program Review cuts. These include:

• planned reductions in environmental health services such as evaluations of toxic chemicals and activities in support of the Great Lakes Action Plan;
• reductions announced in July in food research including projects on nutrition, food additives and food packaging;
• the future of the primate breeding colony and monkeys used in experimental research which is under review by the Royal Society;
• alternative funding options for the Drug Analytical Services which provides testing of illicit drugs for law enforcement agencies for proceedings in criminal court cases;
• changes to Health Canada services to support the Federal Nuclear Emergency Plan;
  • consideration of reductions in health surveillance activities in the Laboratory Centre for Disease Control.

The Minister emphasized that he has no plans to create an independent agency to replace the Therapeutic Products Directorate (former Drugs Directorate).

"Over the years, Canada has been recognized internationally for its risk management programs," said the Minister. "Canadians can be assured that as we look to the future, we still have in place a strong and effective science and technical program with some 1150 scientists and 350 technical support staff in the Health Protection Branch. I want to ensure that we are using this strength to best effect," said the Minister. Overall, Health Canada's staff of 6,300 includes some 2,200 scientific and technical employees.

"There have also been changes over the last twenty years in the world of science, the world of communications technology, and the world of travel. All of these impact on how a modern health protection and risk management system operates. It is an appropriate time for us to build the next generation of Health Canada's health protection program," said Mr. Rock.

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Media Inquiries:
Krystyna Pottier
Health Canada
(613) 957-2985

Public Inquiries:
(613) 957-2991