Federal Government Invests in Rural Health Education Program Expansion

April 3, 2007

B.C. Caucus Chair and Member of Parliament for Cariboo-Prince George, Dick Harris today announced, on behalf of Federal Health Minister Tony Clement, that Canada’s New Government will contribute up to $400,000, towards the project Building Capacity for Aboriginal and Rural Health Education.

“Canada’s New Government is committed to funding projects which can improve the lives of those who live in northern, Aboriginal and rural communities.” said Mr. Harris. “By making public health training and education– geared to their specific needs — available locally, Canada’s New Government is helping rural, northern, and Aboriginal communities become more resilient and better able to respond to public health challenges.”This project, Building Capacity for Aboriginal and Rural Health Education, is funded through the Public Health Workforce Development Products and Tools Contribution Program of the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC). Partners in this collaborative project include University of Northern British Columbia, University of Saskatchewan, Lakehead University, the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, and Memorial University of Newfoundland.

“This is a good example of how partnerships are able to accomplish what would not be possible by any one organization,” says UNBC President, Don Cozzetto. “Pooling our expertise in rural and Aboriginal health education will build public health capacity in rural Canada. Thank you to the Government of Canada for investing in this project.”

The project will produce: protocols and agreements for collaborative training of students by the partner universities; shared curriculum and course material for undergraduate, graduate and continuous learning; trained public health workers prepared to prevent public health crises or to respond effectively and quickly in the event of a crisis.

Through its Workforce Development Division, PHAC works with partners and stakeholders to mobilize Pan-Canadian action to improve Canada’s public health workforce. This is a collaborative effort and includes public health human resource planning; training, recruitment and retention strategies; the development of competency profiles; and practice-based educational, training and professional development opportunities and incentives.

Contact:
Rob van Adrichem, Director of Media and Public Relations, UNBC – 250.960.5622