CANADA'S LEADING WEB-BASED SOURCE FOR HEALTH INFORMATION WILL CLOSE ON MARCH 31, 2008

Facts about the Canadian Health Network (CHN):

- 20,000+ quality, peer-reviewed resources in English and French.
- In-depth information on 25 health topics and population groups electronic newsletter.
- CHN is used by 395,000 people (unique users) monthly (5.4 million+ a year).
- 40% of users are health professionals, who share information withclients.
- Francophones visit CHN in higher proportions.
- 94% of users recommend the site to others.
- Third party evaluation is high and costs have been dropping.
- Entirely focused on needs of users without profit or sale motives.

The Federal Government has a surplus. Eighty per cent of the 15 million Canadians on-line seek health information on the internet. CHN fulfills the Federal Government's commitment to individual engagement and responsibility for health and supports organizations building healthy
communities.

1. Please voice your opposition by writing the Federal Government to urge them to:

- Reconsider the Public Health Agency of Canada cut in grants and contributions.
- Reinstate these funds to the Public Health Agency of Canada, specifically for CHN.
- Continue the CHN program.

Tell the Government how you use CHN and how valuable it is in your work, to your clients and to you personally (contact information is below).

2. Ask your organization, board and other organizations to write letters.

3. Join Friends of CHN ([log in to unmask]). Health librarians, nurses, health promoters and others are joining forces to oppose the CHN closure. You and your networks are needed in this fight.

Please write today to:

The Right Hon. Stephen J. Harper
Prime Minister
Office of the Prime Minister
80 Wellington St.
Ottawa K1A 0A2
Telephone: (613) 992-4211
Fax: (613) 941-6900
E-Mail: [log in to unmask]
PM's website: http://www.pm.gc.ca/

The Hon. Tony Clement
Minister of Health Minister's Office
Health Canada
Brooke Claxton Building
Tunney's Pasture
Postal Locator: 0906C Ottawa, ON K1A 0K9
Fax: (613) 952-1154
E-mail: [log in to unmask]
Direct correspondence right on the website:
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ahc-asc/minist/health-sante/contact/index_e.html

Please copy:
Dr. David Butler-Jones
Chief Public Health Officer
Public Health Agency of Canada
130 Colonnade Rd, A.L. 6501H
Ottawa, ON K1A 0K9
Fax: 613-954-8529
Email: [log in to unmask]
Direct correspondence right on the website:
http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/contact_cpho_e.html

Your Member of Parliament (you can find him or her at:
http://canada.gc.ca/directories/direct_e.html#mp)

Opposition party health critics:

- Liberal: Robert Thibault (West Nova): [log in to unmask]
- NDP: Judy Wasylycia-Leis (Winnipeg North): [log in to unmask]
- Bloc: Christiane Gagnon(Quebec): [log in to unmask]
- Green Party: Health Promotion critic Blake Poland:
[log in to unmask]

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Thank you.