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

“Canada's New Government is committed to funding projects which canimprove the lives of those who live in northern, Aboriginal and ruralcommunities.” said Mr. Harris. “By making public health training andeducation-- geared to their specific needs -- available locally,Canada’s New Government is helping rural, northern, and Aboriginalcommunities become more resilient and better able to respond to publichealth challenges.”

This project, Building Capacity for Aboriginal and Rural HealthEducation, is funded through the Public Health Workforce DevelopmentProducts and Tools Contribution Program of the Public Health Agency ofCanada (PHAC). Partners in this collaborative project includeUniversity of Northern British Columbia, University of Saskatchewan,Lakehead University, the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, andMemorial University of Newfoundland.

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

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

Through its Workforce Development Division, PHAC works with partnersand stakeholders to mobilize Pan-Canadian action to improve Canada'spublic health workforce. This is a collaborative effort and includespublic health human resource planning; training, recruitment andretention strategies; the development of competency profiles; andpractice-based educational, training and professional developmentopportunities and incentives.

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

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From left:

Jim Randall - UNBC Dean of Arts, Social, and Health Sciences

Don Cozzetto - UNBC President

Dick Harris - MP for Cariboo Prince George