At the appointment of Dr. Kevin Keough as Chief Scientist for Health Canada

Speaking Notes
for
Allan Rock
Minister of Health

Ottawa, Ontario
January 4, 2001

Check against delivery.

Thank you and good morning.

You know it makes sense that we're in this building this morning for this event. After all, it was named after a Canadian scientist who gained international renown for an astonishing breakthrough: the discovery of insulin. Dr. Frederick Banting won the Nobel Prize for Medicine in 1923 as a result of that achievement.

We are here today to tell the world that that tradition of inquiry and of excellence and of commitment continues at Health Canada.

And I am particularly proud to share the podium with some of Canada's foremost leaders in health research:

• Dr. Alan Bernstein, president of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR);
• Dr. Roberta Bondar, chair of the Science Advisory Board; and
• Dr. Yves Morin, vice chair of the Science Advisory Board.

But today we're focussing on another Canadian researcher whose 28 years of research experience have brought him a reputation not only in Canada but around the world. Dr. Kevin Keough is a key player in many of the important research enterprises of this country. He was an outstanding member of the Medical Research Council. He was one of the scientists who participated in the creation of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. He has been a significant contributor to Genome Canada, and now he has agreed to become the first chief scientist for Health Canada.

The creation of the office of chief scientist was a team effort. As you have heard, the recommendation came first from the Science Advisory Board. It was thought that by creating that office we would foster greater leadership, coherence and expertise in the overall strategic direction of our scientific responsibilities. But it was also [former Deputy Minister] David Dodge who understood immediately the practical importance of that recommendation and who carried it forward to the point where today we're able to make this announcement.

In his new position Dr. Keough will champion science both inside and outside Health Canada. To be sure, he will make certain that we continue the high quality of our health science research here at the department. But he'll also ensure that we forge links among scientists here at Health Canada and elsewhere in this country and around the world.

Dr. Keough will provide expert scientific advice to Health Canada officials on national and international scientific trends. He'll also report on public and private sector developments, as well as establish partnerships, thereby building on the department's scientific strengths.

As Chief Scientist, Dr. Keough will lead us toward improving the quality of science, which will undoubtably benefit Health Canada scientists, as well as all Canadians from coast to coast. Under his guidance, Canada will continue to garner international acknowledgment as a leader in the global advancement of health research.

One of Dr. Keough's first priorities will be to build more bridges between the research community and the department.

As you know, I created the Science Advisory Board four years ago because I thought that I should have an independent, arm's length body consisting of those who have unquestioned expertise in scientific matters to advise me on the basic question: "Does Health Canada have the science capacity to fulfill its responsibilities to the Canadian people?"

I was delighted that Dr. Roberta Bondar assumed the chair of that board, and that Dr. Yves Morin became vice-chair. And I want to thank both of them, and all members of the council, today for the outstanding work they've done over these past years in providing excellent advice to me and to the department in relation to our science capacity.

The board has been instrumental in promoting the integrity, quality, the leadership and the comprehensiveness of our science. Some important examples of the board's advice include the creation of the Office of Consumer and Public Involvement which has now been done, the establishment of a peer review process for our scientists which is now in progress, as well as their recommendations on the drug review process which we are actively pursuing.

The result of these efforts, and indeed of the work of the Science Advisory Board, will be better research support, better policy-making, ultimately better service to Canadians.

And Dr. Kevin Keough will now become an integral part of that effort. He will be an enormous asset to the department as an agent of change, providing strong leadership backed by a scientific credibility, based on decades of excellent work. And so, Kevin, I say to you this morning both thank you and congratulations. I am sure that we're all going to benefit from your expertise.

Clearly health is the number one priority for Canadians. We saw that for ourselves during the recent election campaign. Wherever I was in the country, Canadians made it clear to me that health and health care are their first priorities. And their expectations of government are very high, but they're also very reasonable. They ask us to ensure that they live in a healthy environment, that they get good advice with respect to health matters, and of course that they have timely access to quality health care. That's a tall order.

Much of that responsibility is on our shoulders here at Health Canada. We're going to fulfill it. We're going to discharge that responsibility along lines of excellence and one of the ways we're going to be certain to do that is to make sure that we have the science capacity in our department to fulfill that responsibility.

And I'm delighted today that Kevin Keough is joining us to ensure that we succeed in that effort.

Thank you Kevin. And thank you all for being here and being part of this announcement today.