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Public Health Agency of Canada Act (S.C. 2006, c. 5)

Assented to 2006-12-12

Public Health Agency of Canada Act

S.C. 2006, c. 5

Assented to 2006-12-12

An Act respecting the establishment of the Public Health Agency of Canada and amending certain Acts

SUMMARY

This enactment establishes the Public Health Agency of Canada to assist the Minister of Health in exercising or performing the Minister’s powers, duties and functions in relation to public health. It also provides that the Governor in Council may make regulations respecting the collection and management of public health information and the protection of confidential information, including personal information. It also makes related and consequential amendments to certain Acts.

Preamble

WHEREAS the Government of Canada wishes to take public health measures, including measures relating to health protection and promotion, population health assessment, health surveillance, disease and injury prevention, and public health emergency preparedness and response;

WHEREAS the Government of Canada wishes to foster collaboration within the field of public health and to coordinate federal policies and programs in the area of public health;

WHEREAS the Government of Canada wishes to promote cooperation and consultation in the field of public health with provincial and territorial governments;

WHEREAS the Government of Canada also wishes to foster cooperation in that field with foreign governments and international organizations, as well as other interested persons or organizations;

AND WHEREAS the Government of Canada considers that the creation of a public health agency for Canada and the appointment of a Chief Public Health Officer will contribute to federal efforts to identify and reduce public health risk factors and to support national readiness for public health threats;

NOW, THEREFORE, Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows:

SHORT TITLE

Marginal note:Short title

1. This Act may be cited as the Public Health Agency of Canada Act.

INTERPRETATION

Marginal note:Definitions

2. The following definitions apply in this Act.

“Agency”

« Agence »

“Agency” means the Public Health Agency of Canada established by section 3.

“Chief Public Health Officer”

« administrateur en chef »

“Chief Public Health Officer” means the Chief Public Health Officer appointed under subsection 6(1).

“Minister”

« ministre »

“Minister” means the Minister of Health.

PUBLIC HEALTH AGENCY OF CANADA

Marginal note:Establishment

3. The Public Health Agency of Canada is established for the purpose of assisting the Minister in exercising or performing the Minister’s powers, duties and functions in relation to public health.

Marginal note:Minister to preside

4. The Minister presides over the Agency and has the management and direction of it.

Marginal note:Delegation to Agency

  • 5. (1) The Minister may, subject to any terms and conditions that the Minister specifies, delegate to an officer or employee of the Agency any of the powers, duties and functions that the Minister is authorized to exercise or perform under any Act of Parliament or any order made by the Governor in Council in respect of public health.

  • Marginal note:Restriction

    (2) Subsection (1) does not authorize the Minister to delegate a power to make regulations nor a power to delegate under that subsection.

CHIEF PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICER

Marginal note:Appointment

  • 6. (1) The Governor in Council shall appoint a Chief Public Health Officer, who is the deputy head of the Agency.

  • Marginal note:Qualifications required

    (2) The Chief Public Health Officer shall be a health professional who has qualifications in the field of public health.

Marginal note:Lead health professional

  • 7. (1) The Chief Public Health Officer is the lead health professional of the Government of Canada in relation to public health.

  • Marginal note:Communication with governments, public health authorities and organizations

    (2) The Chief Public Health Officer may, with respect to public health issues, communicate with governments, public health author-ities or organizations in the public health field, within Canada or internationally.

  • Marginal note:Communication with the public, voluntary organizations and the private sector

    (3) The Chief Public Health Officer may communicate with the public, voluntary organizations in the public health field or the private sector for the purpose of providing information, or seeking their views, about public health issues.