Information September 2004
Backgrounder

The Public Health Agency of Canada

Strengthening its ability to protect the health and safety of Canadians, the Government of Canada has delivered on its commitment to establish a new Public Health Agency of Canada and has appointed a Chief Public Health Officer. The creation of the Public Health Agency of Canada marks the beginning of a new approach to federal leadership and collaboration with provinces and territories on public health and responds to a consensus from the provinces, public health experts and concerned citizens on the need for federal leadership on public health to be consolidated in a public agency.

Focussed on more effective efforts to prevent chronic diseases, like cancer and heart disease, prevent injuries and respond to public health emergencies and infectious disease outbreaks, the Public Health Agency of Canada will work closely with provinces and territories to keep Canadians healthy and help reduce pressures on the health care system.

Renewed Focus on Public Health

Unprecedented global travel and international trade mean that new and re-emerging infectious diseases are just a plane ride away. Poor diet, lack of exercise and related environmental factors also mean that Canadians are more vulnerable than ever to chronic diseases and injuries.

In this context, public heath is more important than ever and is a key part of any overall health strategy - an excellent health care system is simply not enough. Unlike health care, which focuses on the individual, public health targets the entire population by identifying threats to the health of Canadians and developing programs and initiatives to address these threats and keep Canadians healthy.

Public health includes activities like immunization, nutrition and physical activity programs, infection control measures in hospitals, along with the detection, lab testing and regulations that support these activities.

Role of the Public Health Agency of Canada

Led by the Chief Public Health Officer, the Public Health Agency of Canada will play a major role in a Canadian network of expertise and research in public health. It will coordinate federal efforts in identifying and reducing public health risks and threats and support national readiness to respond to health crises.

Public health has always been a key component of Health Canada's mandate to maintain and improve the health of Canadians. Now, public health strategies will be supported by a new level of coordination and collaboration that includes governments, academia, researchers and non-governmental organizations through the creation of the Public Health Agency of Canada, the Pan-Canadian Public Health Network and the six National Collaborating Centres for Public Health.

The Agency will act as a hub for health surveillance, threat identification and disease prevention and control programs to create a more effective, coordinated Canadian public health system that serves Canadians well - no matter what the health risk or where they live. Working with the provinces and territories, the Public Health Agency of Canada will support Canadians in their efforts to live healthier lives.

The Public Health Agency will also work closely with other government departments and agencies on long-term strategies to confront both infectious and chronic disease and injury prevention and with Public Security and Emergency Preparedness Canada on emergency planning, preparedness, and response to national public health emergencies.

On the international stage, the Agency will serve as a focal point for sharing Canada's expertise with the rest of the world and for applying international research and development to Canadian public health programs and policies. It will play a leadership role with global partners, such as the World Health Organization and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and new European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control as well as other public health agencies.

The creation of the Agency is the result of wide consultation with the provinces, territories, non-government stakeholders and Canadians. It also follows recommendations from leading public health experts - including Dr. David Naylor's report, Learning from SARS: Renewal of Public Health in Canada, as well as other Canadian and international reports - for clear federal leadership on issues concerning public health and improved collaboration within and between jurisdictions.

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Information

• Canada's Chief Public Health Officer - Biography
• Frequently Asked Questions