October 30, 2024 – Toronto, Ontario

The federal government is committed to helping small and medium-sized businesses bring their innovations to life from coast to coast to coast and ensuring that people can benefit from their creative ideas and solutions.

Today, the Honourable Rechie Valdez, Minister of Small Business, announced that the First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) will join the Coordinated Accessible National (CAN) Health Network. This partnership will enable FNHA to deliver health care innovations developed by small and medium-sized businesses to over 200 First Nations communities across British Columbia.

Through the federal government’s $42 million investment, the CAN Health Network is connecting small businesses delivering medical innovations with hospitals and health care providers, which gives these providers market-ready solutions to address health care challenges.

For health tech entrepreneurs, this initiative provides the tools and connections needed to access the Canadian health care market. Through the CAN Health Network, they can test their innovations, connect with the government procurement process and access opportunities that help them scale and grow.

In the nearly five years since it launched, the network has successfully connected 74 Canadian businesses working in health technology with different orders of government across the country. This initiative is enabling entrepreneurs across Canada to grow, all while strengthening our universal health care system by encouraging homegrown innovation.