The Conservative government will spend nearly $1 million to ensure that Canadian businesses are prepared for the next wave of the swine flu, regardless of how severe or innocuous it turns out to be.
At a news conference in Ottawa, Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq announced that a $926,600 contract had been awarded to the International Centre for Infectious Diseases, which will develop strategies that businesses can use to cope with any further H1N1 outbreak.
The Winnipeg-based ICID will work out the strategies in co-operation with the Canadian Chamber of Commerce.
Aglukkaq said the initiative will produce "extensive communication programs," designed to reach some 300,000 small- and medium-sized businesses in Canada.
"While some resources are currently available to these businesses, they tend to be very detailed, complex and seemingly overwhelmingly difficult to translate into an operational plan and response," she said.
Further information for businesses will be released in the fall, with more detailed information on public health measures, Aglukkaq said
Canada has seen 66 swine flu deaths since the start of the outbreak, as of Tuesday morning.
David Butler-Jones, the country's chief public health officer, said it is difficult to say how the H1N1 flu will evolve in the coming months.
"Businesses need to be able to prepare for the pandemic in both the worst and best scenarios," Butler-Jones said at the same news conference in Ottawa.
Such planning can help businesses learn more about responding to crisis situations, even those that are not health-related, he said.
Later Wednesday, Aglukkaq will go before a House of Commons committee to face questions on the government's pandemic preparation measures. The meeting was called by opposition MPs who have criticized the government's handling of the pandemic so far.
The health committee will also hear from federal officials and medical experts.
Liberal MP Carolyn Bennett, a member of the health committee, spoke to Â鶹´«Ã½ Channel prior to the news conference on Wednesday morning.
She said that opposition members want to ensure that Canada is prepared for whatever may happen in the fall.
"If it's milder than we expected, then we will have done our job," Bennett said.
With files from The Canadian Press and Â鶹´«Ã½ Channel
