Province establishing corporation to improve mental health, addictions services
The province is introducing legislation to establish the Canadian Centre of Recovery Excellence as a Crown corporation to improve mental health and addiction services through research, evaluation and advice to the Alberta government.
Introduction of Bill 17, the Canadian Centre of Recover Excellence Act was done Tuesday afternoon in the
Alberta Legislature.
The purpose of CoRE, says the province, is to “advance and coordinate mental health and addiction research to inform and support government in building the Alberta Recovery Model for mental health and addiction.”
It will support the Ministry of Mental Health and Addiction and Recovery Alberta with research, data analysis and the exploration of global best practices.
Privacy protections have been legislated under Alberta’s Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIP) and the Health Information Act.
The 2024 budget provides $5 million in funding to support CoRE’s establishment.
CoRE will be set up as a public agency subject to provincial legislation and as an agent of the Crown, it will operate with the legal backing and authority of the provincial government.
“CoRE will be an essential partner to government in assessing mental health and addiction services that produce strong outcomes for Albertans on the path to recovery. The expanded research that CoRE will provide allows for more evidence-based decisions under the Alberta Recovery Model,” said Minister of Mental Health and Addiction Dan Williams in a statement.
There are three components to its mandate:
• To lead research/evaluation and innovation related to the province’s recovery approach to addiction treatment – Alberta Recovery Model.
• To advance public policy for mental health and addiction by providing an evidencebased approach to improving treatment and the delivery of mental health and addiction services to Albertans.
• To provide government with information necessary to better evaluate, plan, allocate resources and manage the health system and improve service delivery.
There will be limitations set on its power, in particular its abilities to accept certain sources of funding.
A board will oversee and manage CoRE, its duties which will include establishing policies and procedures regarding confidentiality and privacy, information collection, use and disclosure and research processes.
A research ethics board review will support ethical research conducted by CoRE or affiliates.
If the bill is passed, the province expects CoRE to become operational this summer.