Monday, February 3, 2014
Ottawa, ON
Check Against Delivery
Good morning.
Thank you Linda for that warm introduction. I want to begin by thanking the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer for inviting me to speak with you today. With tomorrow being World Cancer Day, what better time to come together as partners and advocates in the fight against cancer.
As each of you know, cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide.
While Canada fares better than most countries, the statistics are still staggering:
- It is estimated that more than 187,000 Canadians were diagnosed with cancer in 2013.
- Approximately two in five Canadians will develop cancer in his or her lifetime.
- One in four Canadians will die of the disease, and
- One third of all cases of cancer could be prevented if more people adopted healthy lifestyles and embraced screening and early detection efforts.
What sometimes gets lost in the statistics is that there are real people and families behind these cold, hard facts and that this disease touches all of us in one way or another.
And today, I want to acknowledge those people and talk about what we are doing to help reduce the impact cancer has on Canadians.
I am proud to say our Government has funded a unique partnership model that's making a real and tangible difference. Of course, I'm talking about the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer.
The work you're doing with cancer experts, researchers, charitable organizations, governments, national health organizations, patients and survivors to implement Canada's Cancer Control Strategy is unprecedented in this country.
The Canadian Partnership for Tomorrow project, in particular, is a landmark study that's following 300,000 Canadians over their lifetimes to learn more about the causes of cancer. The patterns and trends identified through this study will provide information to develop new strategies in the fight against cancer and related chronic diseases.
But the Partnership extends far beyond this legacy research project.
Along with the partnerships you have forged, your work is advancing early detection and clinical care for Canadians with cancer. It's also promoting a patient-centred approach throughout one's cancer journey.
It's supporting the development of cancer control approaches with - and for - First Nations, Inuit and Métis people.
And, through it all, you continue to report on cancer system performance and accelerate the translation of cancer knowledge into concrete action.
But what does this work mean for Canadians?
It means people across the country are seeing new and innovative programs being developed. It means people are seeing more cancer screening and early detection programs put in place. It means people are seeing investments turned into practical strategies for both prevention and treatment.
It means people are given hope.
Investments in long-term data collection and research are necessary if improvements in prevention and health outcomes are to be achieved. It will help us save lives.
On behalf of the Government of Canada, I'm proud to support investments in the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer.....up to $50 million a year since 2006. This funding helps coordinate cancer control work right across the country.
Before closing, I want to congratulate the Partnership on its Canadian Partnership for Tomorrow project and thank you for your ongoing dedication to saving lives.
Together, these are still our best defense against this insidious disease.
I want to end today, with a message of hope, to all people fighting Cancer.
Do not give up. Continue fighting every day.
We are behind you. We support you and we will find a cure.
Thank you.
