Alberta’s government has been leading the country in creating a system focused on recovery by building on evidence-based best practices from around the world. In five years, Alberta has removed user fees for treatment, increased publicly funded treatment capacity by 55 per cent and built two recovery communities with nine more on the way. Alberta’s government has also pioneered new best practices such as making evidence-based treatment medication available same day with no cost and no waitlist across the province through the Virtual Opioid Dependency Program.
Alberta’s government is bringing forward legislation to establish the Canadian Centre of Recovery Excellence (CoRE). If passed, the Canadian Centre of Recovery Excellence Act, 2024 will establish CoRE as a crown corporation to inform best practices in mental health and addiction, conduct research and program evaluation and support the development of evidence-based policies for mental health and addiction. Budget 2024 provides $5 million to support the establishment of CoRE.
“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.”
Alberta is gaining an international reputation as a leader in building a mental health and addiction system. Establishing CoRE will expand on this leadership by supporting a continued, evidence-based approach to addressing mental health and addiction challenges. CoRE will continue the practice of Alberta’s government in connecting with leading local and international experts to ensure Alberta remains a leader in the field.
Similar to the Health Quality Council of Alberta (HQCA), CoRE will also provide oversight to the health care system, support the evaluation of mental health and addiction system performance and develop recommendations to improve the delivery of services. If passed, the Canadian Centre of Recovery Excellence Act will establish CoRE with the ability to collect data to support the evaluation of health outcomes for those who access mental health and addiction supports. As is the case with HQCA, and any organization accessing information in the health system, CoRE will be held to high standards to protect the privacy of Albertans.
The Canadian Centre of Recovery Excellence Act includes amendments to the Financial Administration Act (FAA) and the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIP) to establish CoRE with similar provisions as the HQCA.
Quick facts
- If legislation is passed, CoRE is expected to become operational this summer.
- Budget 2024 will invest more than $1.55 billion to continue building the Alberta Recovery Model.
- This includes $1.13 billion to support the establishment of Recovery Alberta as the health agency responsible for mental health and addiction services.
Related Information
- Canadian Centre of Recovery Excellence
- Refocusing health care in Alberta
- Bill 17: Canadian Centre of Recovery Excellence Act
Related news
- Refocusing health care: mental health and addiction (April 2, 2024)
- Refocusing on patient-centred care (Nov. 8, 2023)
- Streamlining mental health and addiction care (Aug. 3, 2023)