Sustainable Development Goal 3: Good health and well-being

Canadians adopt healthy behaviours

The Community Action Program for Children, the Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program and the Aboriginal Head Start in Urban and Northern Communities programs fund community-based projects to support children ages 0 to 6 in vulnerable situations and their families.

The Government of Canada also supports Maternal and Child Health more broadly by developing and disseminating public health guidance for the general public, health practitioners, policy makers and other stakeholders on Maternal and Child Health-related issues (for example, breastfeeding, safe sleep, maternity and newborn care, pregnancy, etc.) to promote healthier behaviours, as well as best practices, policy and services, supported by the latest evidence.

To help Canadians maintain and improve their nutritional health, Canada aims to improve the food environment by developing, promoting and implementing evidence-based policies, initiatives and standards to make it easier for Canadians to make healthier choices. This is achieved through initiatives such as Canada's Food Guide, which forms the basis of policies and programs that promote healthy eating across the country.

In addition, Nutrition North Canada is a Government of Canada program that supports culturally appropriate retail and community-based nutrition education initiatives to influence healthy eating in isolated northern communities.

The Healthy Canadians and Communities Fund supports healthy living among people in Canada who face health inequalities and are at greater risk of developing main chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer. The Fund supports interventions that address the behavioural risk factors for chronic diseases including physical inactivity, unhealthy eating, and tobacco use. The Fund is designed to create physical and social environments that are known to support better health among people in Canada.

The Government of Canada continues to work closely with public health, provinces and territories and other key stakeholders to address alcohol-related health and social harms. This includes:

• improving knowledge and public awareness
• enhancing data and evidence
• funding stakeholders in innovative service delivery

The Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Initiative seeks to prevent Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) and improve the health and social outcomes for those affected by it by providing a framework to support national, regional and community-level action on FASD across Canada. The Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder National Strategic Projects Fund provides $1.5 million annually in funding for projects that develop tools, resources and knowledge that can be used across the country.

Canadians Have Healthy and Satisfying Lives

Sexual health is an integral part of overall health, well-being, and quality of life. In 2021, the Government of Canada committed $45 million over 3 years to advance sexual and reproductive health for Canadians. This funding supports community-based organizations that help to make sexual and reproductive health care information and services more accessible for underserved populations that experience poorer sexual and reproductive health.

Federal, provincial and territorial governments established the Pan-Canadian Sexually Transmitted and Blood-borne Infections Framework for Action. The desired outcome is to reduce the health impact of sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections in Canada by 2030. The framework identifies a common approach to addressing Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), viral hepatitis, and sexually transmitted infections. This framework contributes to delivering the most effective interventions, tailored to the needs of people at greatest risk for infection in communities where sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections are most concentrated.

Between 2022 and 2027, the federal government will invest $33.4 million annually to support 173 time-limited projects across Canada to address HIV, hepatitis C and other sexually transmitted infections through the HIV and Hepatitis C Community Action Fund and Harm Reduction Fund.

Canada supports health and wellbeing in the school community through the Pan-Canadian Joint Consortium for School Health. Current priorities for the Joint Consortium for School Health include efforts to promote mental well-being, including social-emotional learning, resiliency, and the promotion of protective factors.

Canada also supports the Canadian component of the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children research study. The study asks young people about their health and social well-being. Findings from this research enable direct international comparisons with over 40 participating countries and informs youth health policies and programs.

The Government of Canada is investing in a second cycle of the Canadian Health Survey on Children and Youth, to support individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder, their families and caregivers. This work, expected to be released in 2024, will help highlight socio-economic factors among individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder, guide future research efforts and shape the development of policy and programs.

Canada's work to prevent family and gender-based violence will include enhancing support for organizations to deliver and test community-based programming. This includes, supporting professionals and service providers in building the capacity to respond safely and effectively to survivors of violence. New projects funded in 2023 and 2024 will address evidence gaps and support priority populations, including 2SLGBTQI+, children, youth and older adults. Additionally, the Government of Canada will support 2 communities of practice in delivering forums that aim to develop knowledge and share best practices related to family and teen dating violence.

The National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence (NAP to End GBV) was launched in 2022, in partnership with the provinces and territories. Pillar 1 of the Action Plan includes support for victims, survivors and their families through life-saving support and safe spaces, and delivering social, health and community services that protect and empower victims and survivors; while pillar 2 focuses on GBV prevention. The federal strategy to end gender-based violence was launched in 2017, and provides a whole-of-government approach to end GBV. The federal strategy is the Government of Canada's contribution to the NAP to End GBV.

Canada supports health and social well-being throughout the life cycle (starting with the earliest stages of the life course, including preconception) through a number of initiatives, including:

• community-level programming, through the Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program, the Community Action Program for Children, and the Healthy Early Years program
• funding dedicated towards promoting breastfeeding and Canadian adoption of the Baby Friendly initiative
• the development and dissemination of resources related to healthy pregnancy, family-centered care, infant safe sleep, and positive parenting

The life satisfaction of Canadians, along with other positive mental health outcomes and their determinants, are monitored and publicly reported in the Positive Mental Health Framework.

Canada's initiatives to improve mental health and wellness and prevent mental illness include:

• supports for suicide prevention and access to crisis support
• improve access to home and community care
• improve access to mental health and addictions services
• address systemic anti-Indigenous racism in healthcare

For example, Canada is working with partners to support the mental health of children and youth, including advancing Integrated Youth Services, a ‘one-stop-shop' of supports in the community, which can include mental health and substance use services, primary care, sexual health, harm reduction services, youth and family peer support, social and community services, as well as support for navigating these systems of care. In addition, Canada is also coordinating the development of national standards and guidelines for mental health and substance use services with a focus on health equity.

Other federal mental health-related programs and services include, for example:

• the Mental Health Promotion Innovation Fund provides national funding to support the delivery of innovative, community-based programs in mental health promotion for infants, children and youth, young adults, and caregivers of children and youth
• the Promoting Health Equity: Mental Health of Black Canadians Fund supports community efforts to generate new evidence on culturally focused programs and interventions that address mental health and its determinants for Black Canadians

Canada is also working to improve access to health care services. Through the Working Together to Improve Health Care for Canadians Plan, the federal government works collaboratively with provinces and territories on 4 shared health priorities:

• expanding access to family health services, including in rural and remote areas
• supporting health workers and reducing backlogs for health services such as surgeries and diagnostics
• improving access to quality mental health, substance use and addictions services
• modernizing the health care system with standardized information and digital tools so health care providers and patients have access to electronic health information

The federal government is also working with provinces and territories to help people in Canada age with dignity, closer to home by supporting efforts to improve access to home and community care, and safe long-term care.

Canada prevents causes of premature deaths

Canada invests in capacity-building projects that aim to increase vaccine acceptance and uptake among Canadians through the Immunization Partnership Fund. The federal government also supports provincial and territorial governments' decision-making on vaccination programs through the National Advisory Committee on Immunization. The Committee provides expert guidance on the use of vaccines that are currently or newly approved in Canada.

Non-Communicable Diseases are the leading cause of premature death in Canada and globally. The Government of Canada works to prevent Non-Communicable Diseases, such as cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and respiratory diseases caused by common risk factors including tobacco use, physical inactivity, unhealthy eating, and the harmful use of alcohol by taking into account health equity considerations. In addition, many environmental factors that contribute to Non-Communicable Diseases such as air pollution and chemical exposures are considered.

The Government of Canada supports organizations such as the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer in improving cancer control and cancer care. It is also making substantial investments in cancer research through the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) to develop treatments and search for a cure.

Canada continues to implement its first national dementia strategy A Dementia Strategy For Canada: Together We Aspire. The strategy aims to prevent dementia, advance therapies, and ultimately strives to find a cure to improve the quality of life for people living with dementia and their caregivers.

The Government of Canada reduces environmental risks to health including drivers of disease, injury and premature death through:

• assessment, regulation, guidance and management of chemical substances that can be found in air, soil, food, water and consumer products
• the development of scientific advice and guidance to protect human health related to air quality, drinking water quality, climate change adaptation, impact assessments, contaminated sites, noise and radiation

In addition, the federal government addresses the impact of climate change on human health in Canada, for example through the Infectious Disease and Climate Change Fund. Through this program, the federal government works closely with its health partners and other governmental organizations to build resiliency, particularly among communities disproportionately affected by the impacts of climate-sensitive infectious diseases. This supports the delivery of Canada's National Adaptation Strategy and the Government of Canada's Adaptation Action Plan. The Fund provides up to $2 million annually to support action to advance surveillance and monitoring, education for health professionals, and public awareness activities related to climate-sensitive infectious diseases that are zoonotic, foodborne and waterborne.

Canada also protects the health of Canadians through the surveillance, prevention and control of Communicable Diseases, some of which are transmitted to humans from animal populations (zoonotic diseases). Zoonotic disease control programs (for example, through the Animal Heath program) also contribute to One Health in Canada, as emerging infectious human diseases can have an animal origin.

Together with Indigenous partners and the provinces and territories, the Government of Canada is co-developing new distinctions-based Indigenous health legislation to improve access to high-quality, culturally relevant health services. New investments were announced in February 2023 to improve health care for all Canadians, including Indigenous Peoples.

Bilateral agreements with provinces and territories will be supported by key principles, including a commitment to reconciliation and recognizing Indigenous People's right to equal access to health services, free from racism and discrimination. This includes seamless service delivery across jurisdictions.

As part of the federal government's plan to strengthen Canada's health system, the government is investing $2 billion in additional funding over 10 years for a distinctions-based Indigenous Health Equity Fund. This fund will address the unique challenges Indigenous Peoples face when accessing health care services, and support immediate and long-term Indigenous health priorities.

Tuberculosis remains a public health challenge in Canada, which disproportionately impacts Indigenous Peoples, and particularly Inuit communities. Working with provinces and territories, and Indigenous partners, the federal government strives to reduce the incidence of tuberculosis while addressing its impact on individuals, families and communities. It collaborates with provincial and territorial public health authorities and laboratories to continue national surveillance of active tuberculosis and tuberculosis drug resistance, providing support for requests for assistance, and leveraging public health officers placed in northern, rural and remote jurisdictions to support tuberculosis monitoring and follow-up.

Through the Canadian Drugs and Substances Strategy (CDSS), the Government of Canada takes an evidence-based, public health approach to addressing substance use-related harms and the overdose crisis through prevention, treatment, harm reduction and enforcement efforts. The Strategy's goal is to protect the health and safety of all Canadians by minimizing harms from substance use for individuals, families and communities. Organizations at the community, regional and national levels are also supported through the Substance Use and Addictions Program, including funding for evidence-based and innovative initiatives across the continuum of care for a broad range of substances.

Through Canada's Tobacco Strategy, Canada seeks to reduce tobacco use through efforts to prevent the uptake of tobacco use by youth and people who do not use tobacco and to help current tobacco users to quit. Canada also addresses the health risks associated with the use of vaping products and works to prevent their use among youth and people who do not use tobacco. This includes:

• educating youth and young adults about the risks of using vaping and tobacco products
• enforcing compliance for retailers and producers of tobacco and vaping products; and,
• putting increased rules and guidelines in place, such as regulating vaping products, updating health warning messages, and using plain and standardized appearance measures

Canada's Tobacco Strategy is also supporting First Nations, Inuit and the Métis Nation in the development and implementation of distinctions-based strategies to reduce commercial tobacco use.

One Health^{Footnote 3}

Canada recognizes the critical linkages between humans, animals and the environment, and the infectious diseases related to this interface. The One Health approach is crucial to address complex global health challenges, including zoonotic diseases, food safety, antimicrobial resistance, and climate change.

Through its International assistance programming, Canada has, for example, recently approved funding for 4 new and innovative projects with Canadians partners for a total value of approximately $20 million for a period of 6 fiscal years (2022 and 2023 to 2027 and 2028). These projects will pilot One Health approaches at the community level in 7 African countries.

Another example of Canada's engagement in One Health is the International Development Research Centre's Collaborative One Health Research Initiative on Epidemics (COHRIE) which includes funding for 4 research projects (total value of $ 18 million) using a One Health approach for epidemic prevention and response. These projects include covering 7 African countries, along with Latin America and the Caribbean.