Government of Canada increases health care services

NEWS PROVIDED BY
Public Services and Procurement Canada
Dec 07, 2017, 12:30 ET

GATINEAU, QC, Dec. 7, 2017 /CNW/ - Like all Canadians, the women and men who serve and protect us deserve a high standard of health care. The Government of Canada is committed to supporting veterans and members of the Canadian Armed Forces and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) by providing them with the mental and physical health care services they need.

The Honourable Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Public Services and Procurement, today announced the government has awarded 3 contracts totalling $310.9 million to Calian Group Ltd. to provide and manage health care services for Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC), National Defence and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

These contracts will be used to supplement each organizations' internal health care workforce in delivering health care and health care support services. Under these contracts, additional psychologists, dentists, registered nurses and other health care professionals will be provided by Calian Group Ltd. when required by the 3 departments.

By supplementing the existing health care workforce, Canada's current and former women and men in uniform will have access to timely, comprehensive health care from coast to coast to coast.

Quotes

"All Canadians deserve a high standard of health care, especially those who make great sacrifices to serve and protect us. I'm proud to announce these contract awards to Calian Group Ltd., as they will help ensure that our current and former women and men in uniform have all the health services and support they require, when they need them, wherever they are in Canada."

The Honourable Carla Qualtrough
Minister of Public Services and Procurement

"In Canada's Defence Policy, Strong, Secure, Engaged, our government made a commitment to modernize the Canadian Armed Forces' health system, in order to provide appropriate care to those who need it. The additional health care providers made possible by this contract will ensure our military members have enhanced access to comprehensive, timely and accessible health care."

The Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan
Minister of National Defence

"This agreement demonstrates our government's continued support for Canadians by streamlining engagement of health providers to support VAC's programs. Providing VAC's decision makers with access to health care professionals is important to the overall well-being of veterans as it ensures our staff are best able to support them. We will continue to streamline our processes and invest in similar initiatives to improve the lives of veterans and their families."

Sherry Romanado
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence

"We take the health and well-being of RCMP members very seriously, and we are committed to providing them with the care they need to heal from the injuries that are inherent to police work. This contract will help us provide better care for members all across the country."

The Honourable Ralph Goodale
Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness

Quick facts

These services will be used on an as-and-when-requested basis. The length for each contract is approximately 4 and a half years, with an option to extend by up to 8 additional years.
The estimated initial value of the individual contracts are:
$275 million for National Defence
$17.3 million for Veterans Affairs Canada
$18.6 million for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police
All 3 contracts include mandatory requirements to sub-contract with Aboriginal businesses.
As part of the industry engagement for this procurement, 3 Letters of Interest / Requests for Information (2 in 2013 and 1 in 2015) and a Request for Proposal were posted on Buyandsell.gc.ca.

For further information: Ashley Michnowski, Press Secretary, Office of the Honourable Carla Qualtrough, 819-997-5421; Media Relations, Public Services and Procurement Canada, 819-420-5501, media@pwgsc-tpsgc.gc.ca


http://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/government-of-canada-increases-health-care-services-capacity-for-veterans-and-members-of-canadian-armed-forces-and-royal-canadian-mounted-police-662572433.html