Government Submissions

Below is a list of all ACAHO government submissions beginning with the most recent. Should you wish to see a list of ACAHO's government submissions by year, please choose which year you wish to view in the menu bar.

Members of ACAHO serve a unique and very essential role in the health care system, they: (1) play a critical role in improving access to a range of quality specialized health care services (as well as some primary care services); (2) train the next generation health care providers; producing a workforce that is skilled, diverse and adaptable; and (3) support and conduct the large majority of publicly-funded health research in the country, and advance leading-edge innovative practices into the…

Canada has many of the right ingredients to succeed in the knowledge based economy including a highly skilled workforce and some of the best research hospitals, educational institutions and research centres in the world. By working in partnership, we can put these resources to work to make Canada a leading life sciences nation and a key player in the global economy.Our seven leading national health organizations (see Appendix I) are united in the belief that the federal government can turn our…

In keeping with the spirit of the request from the Standing Committee, the Association is submitting one recommendation in each area of strategic focus.  This is a departure from past ACAHO Briefs where we have identified a series of linked recommendations that recognize the role of the federal government when it comes to capacity-building in the health system, and its critical relationship to supporting and nurturing science and technology as they relate to health research.  

ACAHO is very pleased to appear before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Health to discuss the impact of the 2004 Health Accord. Four years into the Accord, it is difficult - given its breadth of coverage - to say that it is has been an unqualified success or unmitigated failure. Rather, the Association is of the view that efforts to-date point to important pockets of success where progress is being made, and others where more work is required. With this in mind, the Association will…

"The Health Accord has contributed to a number of pockets of success where progress is being made when it comes to wait times, and others where more work is required. This has been noted in the Association's two reports on wait times (called "Wait Watchers") that identify a number of strategies to improve patient flow through in the system. That said, there are other areas where direct investments are needed. One critical area is the training, recruitment and retention of health…

This policy Brief is in support of the federal government's Science and Technology Strategy and ACAHO's three recently developed policy documents that focus on the role of Canada's Research Hospitals in relation to science and technology. ACAHO commends the federal government for releasing its Science and Technology Strategy in May 2007.  Overall, the document is thoughtful and cogent, and identifies a range of key policy issues and solutions, in addition to providing an overarching…

From the perspective of the Association of Canadian Academic Healthcare Organizations (ACAHO), we believe that there are important areas where the federal tax system can be more effectively aligned to meet a number of public policy objectives, including: improving the health status of Canadians; the overall functioning of the health system; and contributing to the country's economic prosperity.

SES Research's national survey revealed that overall Canadians would support changing current government policy to allow publicly-funded hospitals and other healthcare facilities to claim the full amount of the GST they pay on goods and services. To follow are a few key highlights of the research: Awareness of GST policy towards hospitals and other healthcare facilities was low. Support for changing GST policy to allow hospitals and other healthcare facilities to claim full value was…

Given the focus of the Association's membership, we believe that there are several areas where there is a "comparative health policy advantage" where the federal government has a significant and natural role in improving the health and health care of Canadians, and also to continue to position Canada as a global leader when it comes to harnessing the full economic and social dividends that come from investing in research, innovation and commercialization.In the view of the Association, to do so…

ACAHO believes that it has a unique perspective and fundamental role - not to mention contribution - to bring to the deliberations of The Minister of Finance as you prepare the government's 2006 Budget. Given the range of policy challenges that are before us, the Brief focuses on four strategic areas that are critical to the future of health and health care in Canada: 1. Timely Access to Care and Capacity Building 2. Canada's Health Research Enterprise 3. Strengthening Public Health…

ACAHO believes that there are a number of convergent public policy opportunities where the federal government can invest and look forward to a series of "dividends"- be they health, social and/or economic - that will pay many returns to Canada. More specifically, the Association is of the view that there is a need to build on the federal government's recent track record and continue to improve the strategic alignment between investing in the health of Canadians, and the future wealth that can…

ACAHO believes that it has offered to the Standing Committee on Finance a series of cohesive and targeted policy measures that are consistent with the values of Canadians, the mandate of the federal government, and focus on a strategic combination of financial and structural initiatives that are required to place teaching centres/hospitals and the health system on a more sustainable footing, now and into the future. ACAHO looks forward to remaining an active and constructive partner in the…

ACAHO believes that is has offered to the Standing Committee on Finance a series of cohesive and targeted policy measures that are consistent with the values of Canadians, the mandate of the federal government, and focus on the strategic combination of financial and structural initiatives that are required to place teaching centres and the health care system on a more sustainable footing, now and into the future.As the process continues, ACAHO looks forward to being an active and constructive…

ACAHO believes that is has offered to the Standing Committee on Finance a series of policy measures that are consistent with the values of Canadians, and focus on the strategic combination of financial and structural initiatives that are required to place teaching centres and the health care system on a more sustainable footing, now and into the future. As the process continues, ACAHO looks forward to being an active and constructive partner in the national dialogue about the future of health…

The Committee has asked the Association to focus on three specific questions that arise from the recommendations in the Committee’s recent report, “The Health of Canadians – The Federal Role, Principles and Recommendations for Reform – Part I.”

If there is one constant that all Canadians are experiencing - it is the pace of change and adaptation in their lives. From the difficulties in balancing the demands of work life with the rewards of family and friends, the introduction of new technologies to an increasingly competitive and interdependent world economic order, Canadians are feeling an increasing sense that there are fewer and fewer public institutions that they can depend on and turn to. This is a particularly important point…