News Release
1999-81
June 11, 1999
Canada opens first facility in the world combining human and animal research
WINNIPEG - Health Minister Allan Rock and Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Lyle Vanclief announced today that Canada's new world-class, internationally-recognized federal laboratories complex for human and animal health in Winnipeg has met all requirements for biosafety certification and may now begin full operation. At its official opening today, Ministers jointly announced that the new complex will be named The  Canadian Science Centre for Human and Animal Health.
The $172-million state-of-the-art complex, equipped with the world's best technology and jointly operated by Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, incorporates laboratories classified at Levels 2 and 3, and houses Canada's first Level 4 biocontainment laboratories. The Centre will employ close to 250 people.
The primary laboratory component for Health Canada is the Laboratory Centre for Disease Control (LCDC), Canada's national organization responsible for the identification, investigation, control and prevention of disease.
"The new facility will allow for research to be performed on the most dangerous and contagious disease-causing agents, including level 3 and 4 pathogens, and for Canada to have the capacity to respond quickly to a localized or national disease outbreak. The scientists and personnel at this facility will significantly contribute to world-wide diagnostic and scientific research goals," said Minister Rock.
The National Centre for Foreign Animal Disease, the scientific component of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency's national animal health program, is designed to protect Canada's food supply and agricultural industry.
"By enhancing Canada's ability to remain free of serious foreign animal diseases this centre will play a crucial role in the protection of the Canadian food supply. Our ability to diagnose disease and respond to outbreaks is essential to protecting our animal resources and contributes to international confidence in Canadian animal products," said Minister Vanclief.
Dr G. H. Brundtland, Director-General of the World Health Organization said, "I should like to congratulate the Government of Canada for creating a new, state-of-the-art laboratory facility for studying the most highly pathogenic infectious agents that cause disease in humans and animals. As we take stock of the health problems facing the world in the next millennium, industrialized as well as developing countries have come to realize that infectious diseases will remain on the agenda for many years to come." She added, "Canada, by making this important investment and commitment, will play an increasingly significant role in national and international efforts to detect and contain dangerous infectious agents. At WHO, we look forward to close collaboration with the new Canadian federal laboratories."
The new facility has been designed and built to meet or exceed Canadian and international standards for biosafety. Internationally recognized specialists with expertise in containment and biosafety have worked with federal officials from the beginning to ensure that national standards for construction and operation have been met.
Level-4 certification will enable the new laboratories to begin full operation of all programs. Certification includes review of the mechanical and architectural drawings and specifications, review of the commissioning test results and operational protocols, staff training and on-site inspection. Once operational, each laboratory will be retested and certified annually.
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Media Inquiries
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