In January 2007, the Ontario government launched the first population-based colorectal screening program in Canada. The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care is collaborating with Cancer Care Ontario, the provincial agency that co-ordinates Ontario's cancer services and prevention programs, to develop and implement the screening program that will provide early detection of colorectal cancer.

The Ontario government will invest $193.5 million over the next five years to implement and expand the program. Experts recommend that all people aged 50 years and older should be screened for colorectal cancer.

The colorectal cancer screening program will increase access to screening for Ontarian's aged 50 years and older with an easy-to-use at home screening kit called the fecal occult blood test (FOBT).

The colorectal cancer screening program will also increase access to colonoscopies. Individuals who have a positive FOBT test, as well as those who are at an increased risk of developing colorectal cancer because they have an immediate family history of the disease, will be referred for a colonoscopy.