Canadian Partnership Against Cancer and Prime Minister Stephen Harper

The Conservatives: The organization was set up by the Conservative government in 2006 to implement a Canadian strategy for cancer control, according to Hamilton Spectator. Its funding and mandate have been renewed twice already, with the current term and cash set to run out in 2017. The Conservatives announced Saturday that the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer would be given a renewed five-year mandate and $50 million a year beginning in 2017 if they form the next government. The group focuses on improving access to cancer screening and detection, especially in vulnerable populations like First Nations communities, as well as on improving patient care and on data collection. It came as Prime Minister Stephen Harper was spending the weekend out of the public eye, and the low key nature of the pledge perhaps underscores an issue raised by the Canadian Cancer Society ahead of the election — that health care is no longer seen as a top priority on the national agenda. Saturday pledge is the first foray into health care policy the Conservatives have made since the campaign began in August. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.