About the Canadian Public Health Service (CPHS)

Helping to build Canada’s workforce and capacity in public health is a key priority for the Public Health Agency of Canada and for many provinces and territories across Canada.  It is also a key recommendation of the landmark report by Dr. Naylor after the SARS crisis in 2003.

In response to this need, the Public Health Agency of Canada created the new Canadian Public Health Service (CPHS). This program aims to enhance Canada's public health capacity by placing qualified public health officers (PHOs) in jurisdictions across Canada to respond to both routine and emerging public health needs. This would include added support in the event of an outbreak of pandemic influenza.

These placements not only benefit the host organisation, but provide valuable on-the-job training and field experience for Canada’s public health workforce. By working in close collaboration with key stakeholders, the CPHS will play a pivotal role in building future leaders in public health in Canada.

More than 20 Public Health Officer positions will be created.  PHOs will be placed within provincial, territorial, and local health authorities as well as with public-health-oriented, non-governmental organisations across the country. The CPHS is also developing opportunities for graduate students to receive support and gain applied public health experience within their Master's and PhD programs.

The CPHS provides an opportunity for organisations working in public health to identify gaps and opportunities in their current practice, to describe a position specific to the identified needs of the organisation, and to have that position staffed with a fully qualified individual - a Public Health Officer. Public Health Officer positions are to be new positions to supplement existing positions within a host jurisdiction.

Click on the following links to find out more information about:

• The responsibilities of the Public Health Agency of Canada
• The responsibilities of the Placement Site
• The responsibilities of the Public Health Officer