News Release
1999-109
September 13, 1999
Group led by Vancouver Public Library establishes western operation of Canadian Health Network
VANCOUVER - Health Minister Allan Rock and Raymond Chan, Secretary of State (Asia-Pacific) and Member of Parliament for Richmond announced today that a consortium led by the  Vancouver Public Library will receive funding to become the Western Regional Operating Partner of the Canadian Health Network (CHN).
"When it is fully operational, the CHN will provide Canadians with up-to-date and credible information to help them make more informed and better decisions about their health," said Minister Rock, speaking at a news conference at the Vancouver Public Library. "Investment in the health lane of the information highway demonstrates the federal government's commitment to improving the health of Canadians."
In the February 1999 budget, the Government of Canada announced $328 million in funding over the remainder of 1998-99 and the following three years for a number of initiatives concerning information technology and health. The Canadian Health Network is one of those initiatives aimed at providing Canadians with the facts they need to make informed decisions about their health.
The ministers also announced the selection of four CHN affiliates in the areas of violence, relationships, alternative health and youth. The B.C. Council for Families has been selected for the relationship affiliate, the British Columbia Institute Against Family Violence is one of three partners to provide the affiliate function in the violence area; the Tzu Chi Institute for Complementary and Alternative Medicine is one of two partners selected as the alternative health affiliate; and the McCreary Centre Society is part of a group which will provide leadership in supplying and reviewing information in the youth area.
The total funding to establish the Western Regional Operating Partner and the four new CHN affiliates is up to $1.95 million this year. Each CHN affiliate will receive up to $300,000 this year. The Western Regional Operating Partner will receive up to $750,000 this year. Future funding will be reassessed on a yearly basis. The CHN vision is to build on the knowledge and expertise of existing health and health-related organizations across Canada.
The CHN is a national Internet-based service that currently provides information on health promotion and disease prevention. It will ultimately also provide information on self-care and the performance of the health system. As a CHN operating partner, the consortium will identify a network of health information providers in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, the Northwest and Yukon Territories and create links with existing provincial, territorial and local networks.
The consortium is led by the Vancouver Public Library, and comprises the Medical Library Service of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia. As CHN's operating partner for Western Canada, it will provide leadership in ensuring that CHN address particular regional health information.
"This consortium brings a strong understanding of region-wide health issues, significant expertise and capacity in meeting consumer and health intermediary information needs. Its excellent reputation and rigorous standards will help to enhance the credibility of the CHN," said Minister Chan.
"On behalf of the Western Regional Operating Partnership, I want to say that we are thrilled and honoured to be part of this dynamic health initiative and we look forward to working with other agencies and partners committed to the success of the Canadian Health Network,"said Sue Yates, Regional Manager Central - Vancouver Public Library.
Other CHN partners will include organizations with expertise in areas such as AIDS/HIV, cancer, environmental health, healthy living, injury prevention, mental health, tobacco and violence. Others will focus on population groups like seniors, children, youth and women.
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Media Inquiries
Blair Parkhurst
Health Canada
(604) 666-2706
Bryan Hayday, CEO
Canadian Health Network
(416) 408-4499 ext. 2237
Madeleine Aalto, Director
Vancouver Public Library
(604) 331-4003
Public Inquiries
(613) 957-2991
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