Government of Canada Announces Funding to Support 15 New Family Medicine Positions for Canada's North

News Release
2010-72
May 10, 2010
For immediate release

WINNIPEG - The Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health, today announced federal funding for a University of Manitoba pilot project to increase the number of family medicine residency positions for Canada's North.

The expansion of the Northern and Remote Family Medicine Residency Program, which constitutes an investment of just over $6.9 million, will provide extensive medical training for 15 additional family medicine residents over the next four years. These family physicians will have the necessary training and experience to practice medicine in under-serviced areas in rural and isolated regions of Manitoba, Nunavut and the Northwest Territories.

"The Government of Canada is working to ensure that all Canadians have access to quality health care services," said Minister Aglukkaq. "This project will strengthen the number of fully trained family doctors qualified to deliver health care to patients in Canada's rural and remote communities."

"We are grateful to the federal government for its extremely generous support to the Northern and Remote Family Medicine Residency Program," said Dr. David Barnard, President and Vice-Chancellor, University of Manitoba. "The program will improve access to physicians, health-care delivery and service to northern and remote communities, provide vital technology supports, and encourage more doctors to remain living and working in all areas of Manitoba."

The pilot project will concentrate on northern and Aboriginal health issues to provide more equitable health care for northern and Aboriginal communities and increase telehealth and tele-education capabilities for northern and remote residents and physicians.

"The Government of Manitoba is delighted with this significant federal investment to expand our unique, made-in-Manitoba pilot project launched just last year," said the Honourable Theresa Oswald, Minister of Health for Manitoba. "These new residency positions will go a long way toward improving care for rural, northern and Aboriginal Manitobans."

"The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs is pleased to support the expansion of the Northern and Remote Family Medicine Residency Program," said Grand Chief Ron Evans, Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs. "The success of this program demonstrates the importance of collaborative working partnerships between the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs, the University of Manitoba's Faculty of Medicine, the Manitoba First Nation Centre of Aboriginal Health Research and Health Canada to ensure sustainable and accessible health care for First Nations people in northern and remote communities in Manitoba."

Partners in this project include Manitoba Health, J.A. Hildes Northern Medical Unit, Manitoba Telehealth, Manitoba Regional Health Authorities, the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs and the Government of Nunavut.

Funding of $6,939,419 over four years is provided by Health Canada through the Pan-Canadian Health Human Resources Strategy.

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Health Canada
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Josee Bellemare
Office of the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq
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