News Release

1999-87
June 19, 1999

Ministers Rock and Anderson announce funding for health initiatives in British Columbia

VICTORIA - Federal Health Minister Allan Rock and David Anderson, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans and Member of Parliament for Victoria, today announced over $3.5 million in funding from the Government of Canada for community health and research initiatives across British Columbia. Ministers Rock and Anderson made the announcement following a meeting with community health stakeholders at Victoria's Blanshard Community Centre.

The federal government will provide funding to the Government of British Columbia for drug and alcohol treatment; the Health Association of British Columbia to develop initiatives related to the health of west coast and aboriginal communities; the Fetal Alcohol Syndrome/Effects (FAS/E) Support Network of British Columbia to investigate FAS/E ; and the University of Victoria for two research projects.

"The February 1999 federal budget represented a major reinvestment in the health of Canadians," said Minister Rock. "From additional research funding to investing in the health of our children through the prevention of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and Fetal Alcohol Effects, the budget has enabled the Government of Canada to establish new partnerships and tackle new issues that will be of benefit to all Canadians."

"The federal government recognizes the structural challenges currently facing west coast and aboriginal communities," said Minister Anderson. "Addressing these health and social issues will ensure that British Columbia's west coast communities become healthier communities."

Announced Funding

1) The province of British Columbia is expected to receive over $1.6 million per year for the next two years for alcohol and drug treatment programs across the province under the Alcohol and Drug Treatment and Rehabilitation Program (ADTR). The ADTR program is one element that supports the federal government's efforts to reduce the harm associated with the abuse of alcohol and other drugs to individuals, families and communities.

2) The Government of Canada will establish a partnership through an initial grant of $30,000 with the Health Association of British Columbia to begin researching and measuring the health status of people in west coast and aboriginal communities - particularly as it relates to the changing economic climate on northern Vancouver Island and B.C.'s north coast.

This partnership will complement Health Canada's existing initiatives in west coast and aboriginal communities. Currently, the federal government is providing close to $6 million in annual funding to west coast and aboriginal communities for health promotion and child development, and for a variety of First Nations health initiatives including health programs, solvent, drug and alcohol abuse and mental health crisis intervention.

3) Health Canada, in partnership with the National Strategy on Community Safety and Crime Prevention of Justice Canada and Solicitor General Canada, will contribute nearly $150,000 to the FAS/E Support Network of British Columbia. The funding will be used to strengthen working partnerships, identify current training materials and more clearly define the needs for training on FAS/E in communities across Canada. This is the first phase in the development of a manual for community caring that could be used across Canada as a blueprint for effective, community-based networks.

4) Through the National Health Research and Development Program, Health Canada will provide $67,444 in funding to the University of Victoria for two research projects. One project will identify and explore the factors influencing the physical activity/inactivity levels of adolescents while the second project will focus on the mental and physical health of couples who cohabitate, compared to people who are single, married, divorced/separated or widowed.

The funding announced today complements the more than $25.2 million for community health and research projects already announced by the Government of Canada in British Columbia since the beginning of 1999.

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