Cancer is the critical issue missing from Canada’s economic growth and productivity agenda

Canada is in a prolonged period of economic uncertainty. Slow growth, inflationary pressure, persistent workforce shortages and a new wave of tariffs dominate our national conversation. Governments are searching for ways to strengthen long-term growth and build a more competitive, thriving economy. 

Yet one of the biggest drivers of lost productivity and rising costs is happening quietly, almost entirely outside the economic debate: cancer. 

The upcoming Canada Health Transfer negotiations offer a rare opportunity to change course and ensure rising cancer challenges are treated as a core part of Prime Minister Mark Carney’s economic growth strategy. 

Cancer is not just a health issue. It is one of Canada’s most pressing — and most overlooked — economic challenges. And unless we confront it, Canada will struggle to build the resilient economy we know we need in this time of global uncertainty. 

Every year, preventable cancers, delayed diagnoses and barriers to timely care cost taxpayers billions. They strain provincial budgets, pull people out of the workforce, reduce productivity and disrupt families.  

The human reality behind these numbers is becoming harder to ignore. 

Cancer remains the leading cause of death in Canada. Between 2020 and 2040, cancer deaths are expected to rise 44%. More young adults — people in the middle of building careers, families and futures — are being diagnosed with cancer than ever before. Colorectal cancer rates in younger people are now 2 to 2.5 times higher than previous generations. Progress against cervical cancer has stalled. And in too many parts of the country, a postal code still determines whether someone can access screening or early detection. 

In 2024, cancer cost Canada $37.7 billion, a number projected to rise by 23% over the next decade. These costs show up in lost wages, reduced workplace productivity, caregiver burnout and increased pressure on provincial budgets. They also show up in household finances: 2 in 5 people diagnosed with cancer say out‑of‑pocket costs made saving for retirement difficult. 

The overlooked truth is that preventing and catching cancer early is one of Canada’s most powerful economic tools. Four in 10 cancers are preventable. Early detection saves lives and reduces treatment complexity. Yet Canada continues to pay a premium for late-stage cancer treatments because we are not investing in early-stage solutions. 

Canada’s healthcare system is not just a public service — it is one of the country’s largest economic engines. It supports nearly two million workers, drives innovation and research, and contributes approximately 8% of Canada’s GDP. Strengthening cancer care strengthens the economy. 

But governments too often treat cancer care as a cost to contain rather than a growth enabler. With more young Canadians being diagnosed with cancer, failing to invest in prevention and early detection will directly undermine labour force development, productivity and long-term competitiveness. 

With the upcoming Canada Health Transfer negotiations, Canada is at a pivotal moment to rethink how it confronts cancer’s growing impact on people, budgets and the economy. 

If governments dedicated just a 1% annual increase to the Canada Health Transfer — about $575 million per year — specifically to cancer care, Canada could take meaningful steps to modernize prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment and innovation nationwide. Targeted funding ensures dollars go directly to improving cancer outcomes, not into general budgets where their impact can be diluted. 

The human impact would be profound: more cancers prevented, more cancers found early, more people surviving and living a higher quality of life. The economic impact would be equally significant: fewer late‑stage treatments, fewer workforce disruptions —including for caregivers — lower long‑term health spending and stronger household financial stability. 

Canada can either invest now or pay far more later in lives lost, productivity drained, growth stymied and budgets strained. The Canada Health Transfer negotiations are the moment to act. 

If governments are serious about strengthening Canada’s economy, they must start by strengthening Canada’s cancer system. Canada needs a transformational investment in cancer care. Fixing our economy depends on it. 
 

Andrea Seale is the Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Cancer Society. 

The views expressed are those of the author(s). Canada Healthwatch publishes a range of perspectives and does not necessarily endorse the opinions presented.