Home / Advocacy Projects / Proton Beam Radiation Therapy in Canada
Canada is the only G7 country without a clinical Proton Beam Radiation Therapy facility in operation.
September 26, 2025: CBC News
Why Canadian taxpayers spend millions on U.S. medical treatments
"CBC spoke with multiple radiation oncologists across the country who regularly refer children and teens to the U.S. for the newer treatment. Several pointed out that Canada is now the only G7 country without a clinical proton beam therapy facility. "The data I've seen suggests there's enough volume to justify having at least one machine in Canada, probably two," said Dr. Glen Bauman." (CBC News Website)
January 16, 2025: CBC News
Ontario teen with brain cancer heading to Florida to access treatment unavailable in Canada
"Hailey Merrylees, 17, from London, Ont., has to travel to the University of Florida in March to receive proton beam radiation therapy for her brain tumour because the treatment isn't available in Canada yet. Although OHIP is paying for the treatment, her family is incurring costs for travel, meals and living accommodations for a minimum of four weeks." (CBC Website)
2025: ACCESS-ACCES
Enabling Canadian Participation: Proton & Photon Registry
Currently, there is no system in place to document the number and demographics of the patients who are referred to, or receive, proton radiation therapy. The clinical outcomes for those patients who receive either proton or photon radiation therapy are also unknown. Canada is joining the prospective, international Proton/Photon Consortium Registry. Six Canadian centers (Alberta Health Services, BC Children’s Hospital, CHU Sainte-Justine, IWK Health Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children and Stollery Children’s Hospital) will enroll children treated with radiation therapy to generate the data needed to evaluate the benefits and side effects of both proton and photon radiation therapy in children and the practice patterns of pediatric oncologists in Canada. (ACCESS-ACCES Website)
March 14, 2024: Edmonton Global
New Proton Therapy Treatment Centre named in Ben Stelter’s honour announced
"Today, WestCan Proton Therapy Inc. announced their plans to invest in Canada’s first proton therapy treatment centre to be built in Edmonton. The centre will officially be named in honour of Ben Stelter, well-beloved six-year-old superfan and Edmonton Oilers team ambassador whose father, Mike, was a recipient of proton therapy. The Ben Stelter Centre for Proton Therapy and Neuroscience represents approximately $120 million in investment and is expected to create 250+ jobs during construction, as well as up to 100 permanent positions. This marks a historic moment in healthcare advancement in the Edmonton Region." (Edmonton Global Website)
February 26, 2024: The Conversation
Proton beam therapy: A modern treatment for cancer, but not in Canada (yet)
"Proton beam therapy is a more precise treatment that can better focus radiation on a cancer, reducing the side-effects of treatment. However, proton therapy is not available in Canada. Currently, Canadians do not have easy access to this key cancer treatment." (The Conversation Website)
June 1, 2023: International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics
Proton Therapy in Canada: Toward Universal Access and Health Equity With a Publicly Funded Facility
"PBT is commonly recommended for treatment of pediatric tumors, tumors in adolescent/young adult (AYA) populations, and some adult tumors requiring radiation therapy that may compromise pituitary, visual, intellectual, or auditory functions, or in the setting where normal tissue tolerances may be exceeded with conventional photon radiation therapy. As of May 2022, there were 114 PBT facilities in clinical operation across 20 countries. Canada is the only G8 country without a clinical PBT facility in operation or under construction." (Link to Article)
April 1, 2022: University Health Network (UHN)
Government of Ontario planning grant to help establish first hospital-based proton radiation therapy centre in Canada
"The Ontario Ministry of Health on Friday announced a $5 million "planning grant" to assess the feasibility and plan construction in downtown Toronto of Ontario's first proton radiation therapy centre. Proton radiation therapy is considered the gold standard for treatment of difficult-to-treat cancers such as brain and soft tissue cancers in children, and head and neck or base-of-skull tumors in adults. At present, Ontario patients who would benefit from proton radiation therapy are sent to the United States for treatment." (UHN Website)
July 11, 2021: BMC Health Services Research
Indirect costs associated with out-of-country referral for proton therapy: a survey of adult and pediatric patients in Alberta, Canada
"Multiple factors contributed to the expenses incurred including age of the patient, number of accompanying individuals, available accommodation, mode of transportation within the US, and whether the patient qualified for financial support. Added to this burden is the potential loss of wages for time away from work. The study showed a large variation in indirect costs for each family and supports actively seeking more opportunities for financial support for families with children with cancer." (BMC Health Services Research Website)
June 17, 2019: Canadian Medical Association Journal
Proton beam therapy for cancer
"Proton beam therapy can effectively treat cancer while reducing adverse effects by minimizing the volume of normal tissues exposed to radiation.
Proton therapy is most useful for pediatric cancers, as well as many head-and-neck and brain tumours.
Canada is the only G8 country without a clinical proton facility; patients must travel to the United States for treatment that may last 6–8 weeks.
Provinces may provide funding to cover costs of treatment, but access to proton therapy remains challenging because of nonmedical costs and logistical difficulties of travel." (CMAJ Website)