The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) is the federal government agency responsible for helping protect and improve the health of people in Canada. Its work includes promoting health, preventing and controlling infectious and chronic diseases and injuries, monitoring public health threats, and preparing for and responding to public health emergencies. PHAC also works with provincial, territorial, municipal, Indigenous, international, and community partners to strengthen Canada’s public health system.
What Is the Public Health Agency of Canada?
The Public Health Agency of Canada, commonly called PHAC, is the federal agency that provides leadership on public health issues across Canada. It was established in 2004, following concerns about Canada’s ability to anticipate and respond to major public health threats, including lessons learned from the 2003 SARS outbreak. The agency later became a legal entity under the Public Health Agency of Canada Act in 2006.
Unlike health care, which generally focuses on diagnosing and treating individual patients, public health focuses on protecting and improving the health of populations. This can involve disease prevention, vaccination, health promotion, surveillance, emergency preparedness, and efforts to reduce health risks before they affect individuals and communities.
PHAC is part of the federal Health Portfolio and works with governments, health professionals, researchers, organizations, communities, and international partners.
What Does the Public Health Agency of Canada Do?
PHAC has a broad mandate covering prevention, health promotion, disease control, surveillance, and emergency preparedness.
Its core responsibilities include:
- Promoting health and healthier communities
- Preventing and controlling infectious diseases
- Preventing and controlling chronic diseases
- Supporting injury prevention
- Monitoring public health information and trends
- Preparing for public health emergencies
- Responding to outbreaks and other health threats
- Strengthening cooperation among governments
- Sharing Canadian public health expertise internationally
The agency’s work is therefore not limited to one disease or one type of health problem. It covers a wide range of population-health issues that can affect communities across the country.
How PHAC Protects Canadians From Health Threats
One of PHAC’s most important functions is identifying and reducing threats that could affect the health of Canadians.
Infectious diseases
PHAC monitors and works to prevent infectious diseases, including respiratory illnesses, food- and water-borne diseases, tuberculosis, sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections, and other communicable diseases.
Disease surveillance helps public health authorities understand where illnesses are occurring, identify changes in disease activity, and support appropriate public health responses.
Chronic diseases
Public health also addresses conditions that can develop or persist over long periods. PHAC works on prevention and health promotion related to chronic diseases and conditions, including diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disease, and other health concerns.
This work can include monitoring health trends, supporting prevention initiatives, improving public health knowledge, and collaborating with partners on population-level strategies.
Health promotion and prevention
Preventing illness is a major part of public health. PHAC supports initiatives designed to help people make healthier choices and reduce preventable health risks.
The agency’s work can involve areas such as healthy behaviours, physical activity, nutrition, vaccination, and other factors that influence population health.
PHAC and Public Health Emergencies
Public health emergencies can develop quickly and may cross provincial or territorial boundaries. PHAC provides federal leadership and coordination when significant public health threats require a national response.
Its mandate specifically includes preparing for and responding to public health emergencies. This includes work related to infectious disease outbreaks, pandemics, and other events that may pose risks to human health.
PHAC’s emergency role became particularly visible during the COVID-19 pandemic, but emergency preparedness is broader than any single outbreak. The agency also maintains capacity to respond to emerging infectious diseases and other public health threats.
For 2026–27, PHAC’s departmental priorities include preparing for infectious disease outbreaks, pandemics, and emergencies, as well as increasing vaccination rates and reducing vaccination gaps.
Public Health Surveillance and Disease Monitoring
Public health surveillance involves systematically collecting, analyzing, and using information about diseases, health conditions, and other risks.
PHAC conducts surveillance across areas such as infectious diseases and chronic diseases. Its surveillance activities have included monitoring respiratory viruses, food- and water-borne illnesses, tuberculosis, diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and other health conditions.
This information can help public health authorities recognize changes in health patterns and make evidence-informed decisions.
Surveillance is especially important when an unusual increase in illness occurs. Reliable information allows governments and public health organizations to better understand the scale of a problem and coordinate their response.
PHAC vs. Health Canada
A common question is whether the Public Health Agency of Canada and Health Canada are the same organization. They are separate organizations within Canada’s federal Health Portfolio, although they work closely together.
A simplified distinction is:
| Organization | Main focus |
| Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) | Population health, disease prevention and control, surveillance, health promotion, and public health emergency preparedness and response |
| Health Canada | Health protection, regulation, health products, consumer products, and other federal health responsibilities |
PHAC’s focus is strongly centered on population health and public health threats, while Health Canada has important regulatory and health-protection responsibilities. The two organizations collaborate where their mandates overlap.
Who Leads the Public Health Agency of Canada?
PHAC has a President who serves as its deputy head, while the Chief Public Health Officer of Canada (CPHO) serves as the federal government’s lead public health professional.
As of 2026, Dr. Joss Reimer is Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer. She began her three-year term on April 1, 2026. Her responsibilities include providing public health advice based on available evidence and supporting efforts related to health equity, healthier communities, and protection from health threats.
The CPHO also plays an important role in providing public health advice to the federal government and communicating with Canadians about significant public health matters.
Why Is the Public Health Agency of Canada Important?
Public health problems rarely stop at municipal or provincial borders. Infectious diseases can spread between communities, environmental or biological threats can affect multiple regions, and emergencies may require resources and coordination at the national level.
PHAC provides a federal focal point for these challenges. It works with provincial and territorial governments, other organizations, communities, health professionals, researchers, and international partners.
The agency also helps strengthen collaboration and develop national approaches to public health policy and planning.
Its importance can be summarized in three areas:
- Prevention: Reducing health risks before they become larger problems.
- Protection: Monitoring and responding to threats to population health.
- Coordination: Bringing together expertise and resources from different jurisdictions and organizations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Public Health Agency of Canada do?
PHAC promotes health, prevents and controls infectious and chronic diseases and injuries, monitors public health threats, and prepares for and responds to public health emergencies.
When was the Public Health Agency of Canada created?
PHAC was established in 2004, partly in response to concerns raised by the 2003 SARS outbreak. It was established as a legal entity through the Public Health Agency of Canada Act in 2006.
Is PHAC the same as Health Canada?
No. PHAC and Health Canada are separate organizations within the federal Health Portfolio. They have different responsibilities but collaborate on many public health matters.
Who is Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer in 2026?
Dr. Joss Reimer is Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer. She began her term on April 1, 2026.
Does PHAC respond to disease outbreaks?
Yes. Preparing for and responding to public health emergencies, including infectious disease outbreaks, is part of PHAC’s mandate.
Does PHAC provide health care directly to Canadians?
No. PHAC focuses on public health, disease prevention, health monitoring, and emergency preparedness rather than routine medical care.
Why was PHAC created?
PHAC was created to strengthen Canada’s public health system and improve its ability to respond to health threats. The 2003 SARS outbreak was a key reason for its creation.
Where can Canadians find official PHAC information?
Official information about programs, public health guidance, disease surveillance, emergencies, publications, and the agency itself is available through the Government of Canada’s Canada.ca website.
Conclusion
The Public Health Agency of Canada plays a central role in protecting and improving population health across the country. From infectious disease surveillance and chronic disease prevention to emergency preparedness and national public health coordination, its work focuses on reducing risks and supporting healthier communities.
PHAC does not operate alone. Public health in Canada is a shared responsibility involving federal, provincial, territorial, municipal, Indigenous, community, professional, and international partners. Through this collaborative approach, the agency helps Canada prepare for health threats while supporting long-term improvements in health and well-being.
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