ACTION ALERT: Save the Canadian Health Network

December 10, 2007

As noted on the Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario website, "The Canadian Health Network, Canada’s leading web-based source for health information, is slated for closure on March 31, 2008. As a national, bilingual, non-commercial, and quality-assessed web portal for health information, the Canadian Health Network has been providing a significant service for Canadians since 1999."

The CanWest News Service story - This report states, "The federal Conservative government is axing a popular, bilingual and user-friendly website that provides citizens and medical professionals with reliable, non-commercial information on how to stay healthy and prevent injury and disease."

The Toronto Star report - On the Conservative government's new website for health information, the Toronto Star says, "What's missing from the new database is any reference to the links between health and the environment, disease and poverty, or violence and gun control. Nor does it touch sensitive topics such as abortion, genetically modified foods or sexual abuse. It completely overlooks mental illness."

The Canadian Health Network is not to be confused with the Canada Health Infoway, which has been referred to as the Canadian health information network. This is a system funded by the federal government to improve the storing and sharing of electronic health records among clinics, hospitals, pharmacies and other health facilities.

The Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario and Community Health Nurses’ Initiatives Group have sent an open letter to Federal Minister of Health Tony Clement urging him to save the Canadian Health Network. Click here to view their 2-page letter.

They are asking people to:

Sign a petition which states, "We the undersigned support the Canadian Health Network. We demand that the funding cut required of the Public Health Agency of Canada be rescinded, that full, stable funding for the Canadian Health Network be restored immediately, and that this valuable Canadian health information resource continue to be developed to become the best of its kind in the world."
If applicable, write a letter to Minister Clement directly through their website. You can send their sample letter as is, or modify it as you wish, perhaps with personal examples of how the CHN has helped you in your practice. Please make sure to sign your name and RN title at the bottom of the letter.