Who we are
Cancer Action Now is a national alliance of patient groups, professional associations, and life science companies whose goal is to champion closing the gaps in cancer identification and improve care so that Canadians have a chance to live longer, better lives than anyone else in the world.
Our Guiding Principles
- CANA believes in a broad tent approach to seeking improved cancer outcomes for Canadians inviting a diverse group of stakeholders to come together towards this goal.
- Multi-sector membership includes patient groups; healthcare providers and organizations; academics and research institutions; and private industry.
- Patient and health professional representatives of the Alliance lead activities with government, in the media and on social media with support and counsel from CANA’s Co-Chairs and the CANA Secretariat.
- Patients and health care professionals inform initiatives with their lived experiences.
- All activities of CANA are conducted in accordance with the best interests of the patients and
- CANA aims to be inclusive and diverse ensuring a health equity lens is applied to all CANA activities.
- Governance is aligned to the Innovative Medicines Canada Code of Ethical Practices, The Canadian Medical Association’s Code of Ethics and Professionalism, The Canadian Nurses Association Code of Ethics and the Canadian Cancer Society’s Community Guidelines.
Industry participation governance
- Industry members are invited to CANA’s proceedings as directed by the Steering Group as guests.
- Industry members are non-voting members to ensure CANA has a patient and professional organization led voice.
Funding
Cancer Action Now is supported by grants from industry members of the alliance. Multi-partner funding expands resources and eliminates bias. Funding and budgeting decisions are made by CANA’s Steering Group with counsel from co-chairs and the secretariat.
Governance
CANA is overseen by an elected Steering Group that coordinates the work of the Alliance as a whole, two elected co-chairs, voluntary working groups made up from Alliance membership and a secretariat who provides strategic counsel, logistical and execution support to the Alliance.
Alliance
CANA is made up of organizations focused on cancer who are interested in participating. Members can choose when, whether and how much they participate in CANA activities.
Alliance Membership
Membership is open to patient organizations, professional associations, non-governmental organizations, Indigenous groups, groups advocating for equity deserving populations, pharmaceutical and private corporations operating within Canada.
An organization or individual interested in becoming a member of the Cancer Action Now Alliance should meet the following criteria:
- Interest in supporting and promoting the aims and general principles of the Cancer Action Now Alliance.
- Organizations must include a focus on cancer and operate in the oncology space, as well as, be
involved in the areas of education, awareness and/or advocacy in cancer in Canada.
- Organizational objectives aligned with those of the Cancer Action Now Alliance.
- Attend and engage in monthly alliance meetings, participate in sharing alliance tools, reports
and messages, join alliance initiatives or activities.
- Act in a collaborative and transparent manner with other members.
- Agree to adhere to the Cancer Action Now Alliance’s guiding principles and industry
participation governance.
- For patient organizations, the organization must be a registered not for profit or hold charitable status.
- For pharmaceutical organizations, the company must abide by the IMC code of ethical practices.
All final decisions regarding granting membership status are voted on by the Cancer Action Now Alliance Steering Group.
Steering Group
The CANA Steering Group is composed of 10 members, of whom a maximum of three represent the private sector and seven members represent patient or professional organizations. The CANA Steering Group is overseen by the two co-chairs.
Co-chairs
CANA’s steering group is overseen by two co-chairs elected from the broader alliance and by the broader alliance. All alliance members are eligible to express their intent to take on a co-chair role, as long as they represent patient or professional organizations. Private industry members are not eligible for co-chair roles.