Cancer Care Ontario is the provincial agency responsible for continually improving cancer services. As the government’s cancer advisor, Cancer Care Ontario works to reduce the number of people diagnosed with cancer, and make sure patients receive better care every step of the way.

Cancer Care Ontario created the first comprehensive provincial cancer services and cancer control plan in 2004, the Ontario Cancer Plan. The first of its kind in Canada, the Ontario Cancer Plan is a three-year roadmap for how Cancer Care Ontario, the Ontario government and all those involved in cancer prevention and care will reduce the number of people diagnosed with cancer and continually improve patient care. Two complementary provincial strategies underpin the Ontario Cancer Plan: Targeting Cancer: An Action Plan for Cancer Prevention and Detection (Cancer 2020), the province’s cancer prevention action plan, and the Information Management/Information Technology Strategic Plan.

Ontario Cancer Plan

Cancer Care Ontario has released the second Ontario Cancer Plan, with the launch of the Ontario Cancer Plan 2008-2011 in March 2008. The plan is designed to transform Ontario’s good cancer system into a great cancer system that will give Ontarians – no matter where they live, what language they speak, and what income they make – access to high-quality, timely and patient-focused care. The plan is organized around six goals that span the continuum of cancer care.

1. Reduce the incidence of cancer
2. Reduce the impact of cancer through effective screening and earlier detection
3. Ensure timely access to effective diagnosis and high-quality cancer care
4. Improve the patient experience along every step of the cancer journey
5. Improve the performance of Ontario’s cancer system
6. Strengthen Ontario’s ability to translate cancer research into improvements in cancer services and control

Cancer 2020

Cancer 2020 is a comprehensive action plan aimed at reducing cancer incidence and mortality in Ontario by the year 2020. These objectives will be achieved through increased efforts in two areas: cancer prevention and early detection.

Cancer 2020 focuses on key areas such as diet and nutrition, healthy body weight, physical activity, alcohol consumption, ultraviolet radiation, tobacco use reduction, exposure to environmental and occupational carcinogens, and screening.

2008-2011 Information Strategy

Cancer Care Ontario’s Information Strategy is a critical companion to the Ontario Cancer Plan 2008-2011. Building on Cancer Care Ontario’s 2002–2007 information strategy, the 2008-2011 Information Strategy will enhance our ability to use information, information technology and eHealth innovations to improve safety and quality of care, drive innovation, and improve the performance and accountability of the cancer system. The 2008-2011 Information Strategy will focus on harnessing information and technologies like the Internet to support health professionals, better inform the public about cancer, and enable patient self-care.