April 21, 2015 (Ottawa) – HealthCareCAN, the national voice of hospitals and healthcare organizations, is pleased that some of the requests made to the federal government were heard.
“We congratulate the government and Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) on the allocation of $1.33 billion over six years,” said Mr. Bill Tholl, president & CEO, HealthCareCAN. “CFI has transformed many of our health research enterprises. At the same time, the absence of any additional funding for the granting councils for this year is problematic. It is not possible to take a time-out from health research and we are very concerned about the struggle researchers will experience in light of the gap in funding for the Canadian Institutes for Health Research. We are also concerned about adequate coverage for indirect costs through the research support fund and we want to work with the government to find solutions to this problem.”
Further, we applaud the extension of the Employment Insurance Compassionate Care Benefits from six weeks to six months. This is an excellent move on the part of the federal government in supporting Canadians who care for their frail elderly relatives. We also support continued investment in the Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement, including the focus on palliative care. Further to the seniors strategy, we support the establishing of the Canadian Centre for Aging and Brain Health Innovation to be based at Baycrest Health Sciences in Toronto. We hope that there will be partnership opportunities for many health organizations from across the country in this endeavor and we are very pleased that the budget recognizes the importance of academic health science centers.
Lastly, we are encouraged by the extension of the mandate of the Mental Health Commission of Canada for the next 10 years, and we look forward to an increased annual budget, so that we can continue to work with the Commission on various initiatives, including the advancement of psychological health and safety in the Canadian workplace.
About HealthCareCAN
HealthCareCAN is the national voice of healthcare organizations across Canada. We foster informed and continuous, results-oriented discovery and innovation across the continuum of healthcare. We act with others to enhance the health of the people of Canada; to build the capability for high quality care; and to help ensure value for money in publicly financed, healthcare programs. Website: www.healthcarecan.ca / Twitter: @HealthCareCAN
For further information and/or to arrange an interview, contact:
Ms. Basia Vanderveen
Tel.: (613) 241-8005, Extension 205
Mobile : (613) 316-6464
E-mail: bvanderveen@healthcarecan.ca