Thank you for that question.
The Government of Canada has invested $15 million, in partnership with neurological health charities across Canada, to carry out Canada's first national population health study of neurological conditions. The study results will provide reliable information on the extent of neurological conditions and their effects on Canadians. The study will be completed this year, and a full report will be available in 2015. This information will help to inform the future program and policy decisions we make.
The government launched the development of the Canadian MS monitoring system in March 2011 to support efforts to improve the care and quality of life of Canadians who are suffering from MS. That system will increase our understanding of MS in Canada and its treatment.
There is much to learn about the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of neurological conditions. A total of $255 million has been invested by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research into neuroscience research since 2010. In addition, the 2011 budget committed $100 million to establish the Canada brain research fund in partnership with Brain Canada. This fund will support the very best Canadian neuroscientists and help accelerate discoveries to improve the health and quality of the lives of Canadians with neurological conditions.
Thank you.