Supplementary Information Tables 2020-21 Departmental Plan: Health Canada

Table of Contents

• Details on Transfer Payment Programs
  • Transfer Payment Programs of $5 Million or More
    • 3-year plan for Canada Brain Research Fund Program
    • 3-year plan for Canadian Blood Services: Blood Research and Development Program
    • 3-year plan for the Contribution to the Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement
    • 3-year plan for Canadian Thalidomide Survivors Support Program
    • 3-year plan for Contribution to Canada Health Infoway
    • 3-year plan for Contribution to the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health
    • 3-year plan for Contribution to the Canadian Institute for Health Information
    • 3-year plan for Contribution to the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer
    • 3-year plan for Contribution to the Canadian Patient Safety Institute
    • 3-year plan for the Health Care Policy Contribution Program
    • 3-year plan for Mental Health Commission of Canada Contribution Program
    • 3-year plan for Official Languages Health Program
    • 3-year plan for Strengthening Canada's Home and Community Care and Mental Health and Addiction Services Initiative
    • 3-year plan for Substance Use and Addictions Program
    • 3-year plan for Territorial Health Investment Fund
  • Transfer Payment Programs under $5 Million
    • 3-year plan for Climate Change and Health Adaptation Capacity Building Program
    • 3-year plan for Contribution to Strengthen Canada's Organs and Tissues Donation and Transplantation System
    • 3-year plan for Innovative Solutions Canada
    • 3-year plan for Radon Outreach Contribution Program
• Horizontal Initiatives
  • Addressing the Opioid Crisis
  • Canadian Drugs and Substances Strategy
  • Chemicals Management Plan
  • New Federal Framework for the Legalization and Regulation of Cannabis
• Gender-Based Analysis Plus
• Up-front multi-year funding
  • Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement
  • Canada Health Infoway

Details on Transfer Payment Programs

Transfer Payment Programs of $5 Million or More

3-year plan for Canada Brain Research Fund Program

Start date

April 1, 2011

End date

March 31, 2022

Type of transfer payment

Contribution

Type of appropriation

Estimates

Fiscal year for terms and conditions

2019-20

Link to the departmental result(s)

Core Responsibility 1: Health Care Systems
Result 1: Canada has modern and sustainable health care systems.

Link to the department's Program Inventory

Program 14: Brain Research

Purpose and objectives of transfer payment program

In Budgets 2011, 2016, and 2019, the Government of Canada committed up to $160 million, in matched funding with non-federal government donors, for the Canada Brain Research Fund Program "to support the very best Canadian neuroscience" and "to help the medical community better understand the brain and brain health." The Government of Canada's objectives in funding the Canada Brain Research Fund are: 1) to serve as a focal point for private investment in brain research by attracting private and charitable donations to match federal funding; and, 2) to support research that advances knowledge of the brain through grants to researchers.

Expected results

The Canada Brain Research Fund's support for brain research is expected to lead to discoveries that will inform the development of prevention, diagnostic, therapeutic, clinical, technological and health system solutions for brain diseases/disorders. Ultimately, these advances are expected to improve the health and quality of life of Canadians who are at risk of or affected by brain diseases/disorders. To contribute to this outcome, the Recipient, in partnership with various donors and private organizations, funds competitively-awarded research grants across Canada.

Fiscal year of last completed evaluation

2016-17

Decision following the results of last evaluation

Not applicable

Fiscal year of next planned evaluation

TBD

General targeted recipient groups

The sole target recipient is the national non-profit organization Brain Canada, which acts as a third-party organization that raises and disburses funds for brain research. Through the Canada Brain Research Fund, delivered by Brain Canada, the Program allocates grants to researchers across Canada targeting research institutes, hospitals and health charities.

Initiatives to engage applicants and recipients

The Recipient is continuously engaged through regular monitoring activities such as reporting, performance measurement, meetings and ongoing communication in support of program design and delivery.

3-year plan for Canadian Blood Services: Blood Research and Development Program

Start date

April 1, 2000

End date

Ongoing

Type of transfer payment

Contribution

Type of appropriation

Estimates

Fiscal year for terms and conditions

2013-14

Link to the departmental result(s)

Core Responsibility 1: Health Care Systems
Result 2: Canadians have access to appropriate and effective health services

Link to the department's Program Inventory

Program 12: Blood System, Organs, Tissue and Transplantation

Purpose and objectives of transfer payment program

The Canadian Blood Services: Blood Research and Development Program (CBS - Blood R&D Program) helps maintain and increase the safety, supply and efficiency of the Canadian blood system by advancing innovation and maintaining Canadian capacity in transfusion science and medicine. The Program pursues these goals by fostering relevant discovery and development research, facilitating dissemination and application of knowledge, educating the next generation of scientific and health care experts, and engaging with an interdisciplinary network of partners in Canada and beyond.

Expected results

The CBS - Blood R&D Program is expected to generate numerous knowledge products (e.g., journal articles, reviews, etc.) and learning events (e.g., presentations at national and international conferences). It also plays a significant role in the development of highly qualified people through formal training in the important areas of basic and applied research. In particular, the Program is expected to build and maintain research capacity in transfusion science and medicine (for example, through graduate fellowship programs, postdoctoral fellowship programs, and provision of training positions in research laboratories). The Program is expected to develop research networks, collaborative arrangements, establish partnerships and award funding grants in support of R&D and training.

In addition, it is expected that various stakeholders, including Health Canada and blood operators in Canada, will use the knowledge generated by Blood R&D projects to inform changes to practices and standards. This will contribute to greater safety, supply and quality of the Canadian blood system.

Fiscal year of last completed evaluation

2017-18

Decision following the results of last evaluation

Continuation

Fiscal year of next planned evaluation

2022-23

General targeted recipient groups

CBS is the sole recipient.

Initiatives to engage applicants and recipients

Health Canada officials undertake numerous exchanges (meetings, phone calls, e-mails and knowledge transfer activities) with CBS Program staff and senior management to discuss Program progress. In addition, Health Canada continues to monitor the Recipient's compliance with the contribution agreement, performance and results through the analysis and follow-up of progress, performance and financial reporting.

3-year plan for the Contribution to the Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement

Start date

December 10, 2015

End date

Ongoing

Type of transfer payment

Contribution

Type of appropriation

Estimates

Fiscal year for terms and conditions

2017-18

Link to the departmental result(s)

Core Responsibility 1: Health Care Systems
Result 1: Canada has modern and sustainable health care systems

Link to the department's Program Inventory

Program 1: Health Care Systems Analysis and Policy

Purpose and objectives of transfer payment program

The contribution to the Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement (CFHI) supports the federal government's interest in achieving an accessible, high quality, sustainable and accountable health system, adaptable to the needs of Canadians. It is designed to support CFHI's work to: find and promote health care innovators and innovations; drive rapid adoption of proven innovations; enable improvement-oriented systems; and, shape the future of healthcare.

CFHI previously operated as the Canadian Health Services Research Foundation (CHSRF), an arm's-length, non-profit, charitable organization with a mandate to fund health services research and promote the use of research evidence to strengthen the delivery of health services. CHSRF received $151.5 million in federal funding under three separate grants (1996-97 to 2003-04).

Expected results

CFHI's work is guided by a strategy for the period of 2019 to 2021, which outlines its vision of being an indispensable partner in shaping better healthcare for everyone in Canada.

Over the coming years, CFHI's activities are expected to result in: health care leaders that are knowledgeable and skilled in carrying out health care improvements; patients, residents, family members, communities and others with lived experience that are engaged in health care improvement and co-design; and improvements to the cultures of participating organizations. Over time, this work is expected to lead to improvements to: patient, resident and family experience of care; the health of patients and residents reached; efficiency of care; and work life of healthcare providers. Ultimately, CFHI will work to sustain, spread and/or scale proven innovative policies and practices within and across organizations, regions and provinces/territories.

Fiscal year of last completed evaluation

2018-19

Decision following the results of last evaluation

Continuation

Fiscal year of next planned evaluation

2023-24

General targeted recipient groups

CFHI is the sole recipient.

Initiatives to engage applicants and recipients

Health Canada works with CFHI to establish activities to be carried out under the contribution agreement and maintains regular contact with CFHI to monitor progress and compliance under the contribution agreement.

Note: CFHI is also reported under the "Up-Front Multi-Year Funding" section of the Supplementary Information Tables.

3-year plan for Canadian Thalidomide Survivors Support Program

Start date

March 22, 2019

End date

Ongoing

Type of transfer payment

Contribution

Type of appropriation

Estimates

Fiscal year for terms and conditions

2018-19

Link to the departmental result(s)

Core Responsibility 1: Health Care Systems
Result 2: Canadians have access to appropriate and effective health services

Link to the department's Program Inventory

Program 15: Thalidomide

Purpose and objectives of transfer payment program

The Program objectives are to ensure that, for the remainder of their lives, eligible thalidomide survivors:

• receive ongoing tax-free payments based on their level of disability; and
• have transparent and timely access to the Extraordinary Medical Assistance Fund.

Expected results

Expected results are that thalidomide survivors will access care, treatment and/or support which in turn will contribute to their aging with dignity.

Fiscal year of last completed evaluation

Not applicable

Decision following the results of last evaluation

Not Applicable

Fiscal year of next planned evaluation

2024-25

General targeted recipient groups

Canadian not-for-profit and for-profit organizations.

Initiatives to engage applicants and recipients

Applicants and recipients are engaged through regular meetings and ongoing communication and consultations to support simple, pro-active, accessible program delivery to meet the needs of thalidomide survivors. Key stakeholders were engaged in program design.

3-year plan for Contribution to Canada Health Infoway

Start date

April 1, 2016

End date

March 31, 2022

Type of transfer payment

Contribution

Type of appropriation

Estimates

Fiscal year for terms and conditions

2017-18

Link to the departmental result(s)

Core Responsibility 1: Health Care Systems
Result 1: Canada has modern and sustainable health care systems
Result 2: Canadians have access to appropriate and effective health services.

Link to the department's Program Inventory

Program 6: Digital Health

Purpose and objectives of transfer payment program

Canada Health Infoway (Infoway) is an independent, not-for-profit corporation that is federally funded to work with jurisdictions and other stakeholders to support the development and adoption of digital health technologies across Canada. Between 2001 and 2010, the Government of Canada has invested $2.1 billion in Infoway, through grants or up-front multi-year funding, to focus on electronic health records, and other priorities in digital health. Budget 2016 allocated $50 million over two years to Infoway to support short-term digital health activities in e-prescribing and telehomecare, with the funds flowing as a Contribution Agreement. Budget 2017 allocated $300 million over five years to Infoway to expand e-prescribing and virtual care initiatives, support the continued adoption and use of electronic medical records, help patients to access their own health records electronically, and better link electronic health record systems to improve access by all providers and institutions. These funds also flow through a Contribution agreement.

Infoway is currently undertaking its Driving Access to Care Strategy which is comprised of two programs: PrescribeIT and ACCESS Health. To date, 10 jurisdictions have formally agreed to participate in the PrescribeIT program (all except for Nunavut, Quebec, and British Columbia). Infoway has also secured partnerships with several distributers. Infoway also continues to develop its ACCESS Health program. It is currently designing two facets of the program: Access Atlantic and Access Gateway. As a part of the ACCESS Health program, Infoway is developing a national trust framework to help protect the privacy and manage the consent of patients.

Expected results

Provincial/territorial governments and stakeholders engaged in expanding digital health technologies; health care providers and patients accessing, and equipped with the knowledge and skills to use, digital health technologies and digital health information; health care providers using digital health technologies to provide more efficient and high quality health care; and patients using digital health technologies to manage and/or improve their health to a modern and sustainable health care system where Canadians have access to appropriate and effective health care.

Fiscal year of last completed evaluation

2018-19

Decision following the results of last evaluation

Continuation

Fiscal year of next planned evaluation

2023-24

General targeted recipient groups

Infoway is the sole recipient.

Initiatives to engage applicants and recipients

Health Canada works with Infoway to establish activities to be carried out under the Contribution Agreement, and maintains regular contact with Infoway to monitor progress and compliance under the Contribution Agreement.

Note: Canada Health Infoway is also reported under the "Up-Front Multi-Year Funding" section of the Supplementary Information Tables.

3-year plan for Contribution to the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health

Start date

April 1, 2008

End date

Ongoing

Type of transfer payment

Contribution

Type of appropriation

Estimates

Fiscal year for terms and conditions

2017-18

Link to the departmental result(s)

Core Responsibility 1: Health Care Systems
Result 1: Canada has modern and sustainable health care systems

Link to the department's Program Inventory

Program 2: Access, Affordability, and Appropriate Use of Drugs and Medical Devices

Purpose and objectives of transfer payment program

The Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH) is an independent, not-for-profit agency funded by Canadian federal, provincial, and territorial governments to provide credible, impartial and evidence-based information about the clinical/cost-effectiveness and optimal use of drugs and other health technologies to Canadian health care decision makers.

Expected results

The purpose of the contribution agreement is to provide financial assistance to support CADTH's core business activities, namely, the Common Drug Review, Health Technology Assessments and Optimal Use Projects. Results include: the creation and dissemination of evidence-based information that supports informed decisions on the adoption and appropriate utilization of drugs and non-drug technologies, in terms of both effectiveness and cost. Additional funding announced in Budget 2017 is supporting CADTH's ongoing transition to a health technology management organization in order to deliver results that better meet the needs of the healthcare system.

Fiscal year of last completed evaluation

2018-19

Decision following the results of last evaluation

Continuation

Fiscal year of next planned evaluation

2023-24

General targeted recipient groups

CADTH, an independent, not-for-profit agency is the sole recipient of transfer payment funds.

Initiatives to engage applicants and recipients

Health Canada works with CADTH to establish activities to be carried out under the contribution agreement, and maintains regular contact with CADTH to monitor progress and compliance under the contribution agreement.

CADTH has also produced numerous products and services including health technology reports, optimal use projects, environmental scans, therapeutic reviews and formulary listing recommendations. These deliverables provide guidance and evidence-based information to health care decision-makers regarding the cost-effectiveness and optimal use of health technologies. In particular, the formulary listing recommendations increases transparency across jurisdictions and provides consistency to pharmaceutical reimbursement decisions made by the participating public drug plans.

3-year plan for Contribution to the Canadian Institute for Health Information

Start date

April 1, 1999

End date

Ongoing

Type of transfer payment

Contribution

Type of appropriation

Estimates

Fiscal year for terms and conditions

2017-18

Link to the departmental result(s)

Core Responsibility 1: Health Care Systems
Result 2: Canadians have access to appropriate and effective health services

Link to the department's Program Inventory

Program 7: Health Information

Purpose and objectives of transfer payment program

The Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) is an independent, not-for-profit organization supported by federal, provincial and territorial governments (FPT) that provides essential data and analysis on Canada's health system and the health of Canadians. CIHI was created in 1994 by the FPT Ministers of Health to address significant gaps in health information.

Between 1994 and 2018, the Government of Canada allocated approximately $1,232 million in total to CIHI through a series of contribution agreements. Under the current agreement signed in early 2018, over $365 million will be delivered to CIHI over 5 years (2017-18 to 2021-22). Presently, Health Canada funds 79% of CIHI's total budget, while the provincial and territorial governments contribute 19%. The remaining funds are generated largely through product sales.

Expected results

This funding allows CIHI to provide essential information on Canada's health care systems and the health of Canadians. CIHI provides comparable and actionable data and information that are used to accelerate improvements in health care, health system performance and population health across the continuum of care. CIHI's stakeholders use the broad range of the Institute's health system databases, measurements and standards, together with their evidence-based reports and analyses, in their decision-making processes. CIHI protects the privacy of Canadians by ensuring the confidentiality and integrity of the health care information they provide.

Fiscal year of last completed evaluation

2018-19

Decision following the results of last evaluation

Continuation

Fiscal year of next planned evaluation

2023-24

General targeted recipient groups

CIHI is the sole recipient.

Initiatives to engage applicants and recipients

Health Canada works with CIHI to establish activities to be carried out under the contribution agreement, and maintains regular contact with CIHI to monitor progress and compliance under the contribution agreement.

3-year plan for Contribution to the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer

Start date

April 1, 2007

End date

Ongoing

Type of transfer payment

Contribution

Type of appropriation

Estimates

Fiscal year for terms and conditions

2017-18

Link to the departmental result(s)

Core Responsibility 1: Health Care Systems
Result 2: Canadians have access to appropriate and effective health services.

Link to the department's Program Inventory

Program 10: Cancer Control

Purpose and objectives of transfer payment program

The Canadian Partnership Against Cancer (CPAC) is an independent, not-for-profit corporation established to implement the Canadian Strategy for Cancer Control (CSCC). The CSCC was developed in consultation with more than 700 cancer experts and stakeholders with the following objectives:

• Reduce the expected number of new cases of cancer among Canadians;
• Enhance the quality of life of those living with cancer; and,
• Lessen the likelihood of Canadians dying from cancer.

Health Canada is responsible for managing the funding to the corporation. CPAC was eligible to receive $250 million from the federal government for its first five-year term (2007 to 2012) and $241 million for its second five-year term (2012 to 2017). Budget 2016 confirmed ongoing funding for CPAC, which is governed by a five-year agreement (2017 to 2022) for $237.5 million.

Expected results

Enhance cancer control through knowledge management and the coordination of efforts among the provinces and territories, cancer experts, stakeholder groups, and Indigenous organizations to champion change, improve health outcomes related to cancer, and leverage existing investments.

A coordinated, knowledge-centered approach to cancer control is expected to significantly reduce the economic burden of cancer, alleviate current pressures on the health care system, and bring together information for all Canadians, no matter where they live.

Fiscal year of last completed evaluation

2018-19

Decision following the results of last evaluation

Continuation

Fiscal year of next planned evaluation

2023-24

General targeted recipient groups

CPAC is the sole recipient.

Initiatives to engage applicants and recipients

Health Canada works with CPAC to establish activities to be carried out under the contribution agreement, and maintains regular contact with CPAC to monitor progress and compliance under the contribution agreement.

3-year plan for Contribution to the Canadian Patient Safety Institute

Start date

April 1, 2013

End date

Ongoing

Type of transfer payment

Contribution

Type of appropriation

Estimates

Fiscal year for terms and conditions

2012-13

Link to the departmental result(s)

Core Responsibility 1: Health Care Systems
Result 1: Canada has modern and sustainable health care systems

Link to the department's Program Inventory

Program 11: Patient Safety

Purpose and objectives of transfer payment program

The Canadian Patient Safety Institute (CPSI) supports the federal government's interest in achieving an accessible, high quality, sustainable and accountable health system adaptable to the needs of Canadians. It is designed to improve the quality of health care services by providing a leadership role in building a culture of patient safety and quality improvement in the Canadian health care system through coordination across sectors, promotion of best practices, and advice on effective strategies to improve patient safety. CPSI received grant year funding via five-year grant agreements from 2003-2013. A new five-year contribution agreement began on April 1, 2013 and has been extended to March 31, 2021.

Expected results

CPSI provides leadership and coordination of efforts to prevent and reduce harm to patients, with an emphasis on four key areas: safety improvement projects; making patient safety a priority across health care systems; influencing policy, standards, and regulations so that they incorporate best patient safety evidence and practices; and creating and strengthening alliances and networks with partners such as patients, governments, and industry who are committed to making care safer.

Over the coming years, CPSI's work is expected to contribute to sustained improvements in patient safety across Canada, resulting in reduced incidence rates of preventable harm, and healthier Canadians.

Fiscal year of last completed evaluation

2018-19

Decision following the results of last evaluation

Continuation

Fiscal year of next planned evaluation

2023-24

General targeted recipient groups

CPSI is the sole recipient.

Initiatives to engage applicants and recipients

Health Canada works with CPSI to establish activities to be carried out under the contribution agreement and maintains regular contact with CPSI to monitor progress and compliance under the contribution agreement.

3-year plan for the Health Care Policy Contribution Program

Start date

September 24, 2002

End date

Ongoing

Type of transfer payment

Contribution

Type of appropriation

Estimates

Fiscal year for terms and conditions

2010-11

Link to the departmental result(s)

Core Responsibility 1: Health Care Systems
Result 1: Canadians have modern and sustainable health care systems
Result 2: Canadians have access to appropriate and effective health services.

Link to the department's Program Inventory

Program 1: Health Care Systems Analysis and Policy

Purpose and objectives of transfer payment program

The Health Care Policy Contribution Program (HCPCP) provides up to $26.9 million per fiscal year in time-limited contribution^{Footnote 1} funding for projects that address specific health care systems priorities, including mental health, home and palliative care, health care systems innovation, and optimization of the health workforce. Through the implementation of contribution agreements and a variety of stakeholder engagement activities, Health Canada contributes to the development and application of effective approaches to support sustainable improvements to health care systems.

Expected results

Program funding will support a wide range of projects designed to ultimately contribute to improvements and transformation in health care systems. For example, health care innovation projects will support activities that develop, implement and evaluate tools, models, and practices that address identified health care systems priorities. Other projects will produce resources that enable health providers to maximize their roles in a range of settings; provide system managers and decision-makers with data and decision-making tools to enhance system planning and performance; and engage key stakeholders in collaborative efforts that contribute to specific health care systems improvements relevant to Program priorities.

Fiscal year of last completed evaluation

2018-19

Decision following the results of last evaluation

Continuation

Fiscal year of next planned evaluation

2023-24

General targeted recipient groups

Non-profit organizations, other levels of government and other national organizations.

Initiatives to engage applicants and recipients

The Program engages applicants and recipients through discussions on reporting to facilitate the collection of data/information to inform program delivery and results. Recipients are consulted on performance measurement, knowledge translation, and sex and gender based analysis with a view to understanding their needs and the tools they require to meet Program expectations in terms of reporting on results. Training sessions on performance measurement and knowledge translation are available to recipients. Site visits by project officers offer an opportunity to engage recipients in all Program aspects.

3-year plan for Mental Health Commission of Canada Contribution Program

Start date

2000 as a Grant, but as of April 1, 2017 it has become a Contribution.

End date

March 31, 2021

Type of transfer payment

Contribution

Type of appropriation

Estimates

Fiscal year for terms and conditions

2018-19

Link to the departmental result(s)

Core Responsibility 1: Health Care Systems
Result 2: Canadians have access to appropriate and effective health services

Link to the department's Program Inventory

Program 4: Mental Health

Purpose and objectives of transfer payment program

The Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC), an arm's length, not-for-profit organization, was established in March 2007 with a ten-year mandate to improve health and social outcomes for people and their families living with mental illness. Between 2007 and 2017, the Government of Canada invested $130 million in the MHCC through a grant, to develop a mental health strategy for Canada, conduct an anti-stigma campaign and create a knowledge exchange centre. In 2016, the MHCC's mandate was renewed for a two-year period, from 2017-18 to 2018-19, with a contribution of $14.25 million per year to advance work on mental health priorities, including problematic substance use, suicide prevention, support for at-risk populations and engagement. This contribution has been extended until March 31, 2021.

Expected results

This initiative is expected to contribute to the improved mental health and well-being of Canadians, specifically in the areas of problematic substance use, suicide prevention, and stigma reduction.

Fiscal year of last completed evaluation

2018-19

Decision following the results of last evaluation

Continuation

Fiscal year of next planned evaluation

2023-24

General targeted recipient groups

The MHCC is the sole recipient.

Initiatives to engage applicants and recipients

Regular meetings with the Recipient; analysis and follow-up of progress and financial reporting; and monitoring of performance and results.

3-year plan for Official Languages Health Program

Start date

June 18, 2003

End date

March 31, 2022 (Grant)
Ongoing (Contribution)

Type of transfer payment

Grant and Contribution

Type of appropriation

Estimates

Fiscal year for terms and conditions

2018-19

Link to the departmental result(s)

Core Responsibility 1: Health Care Systems
Result 2: Canadians have access to appropriate and effective health services

Link to the department's Program Inventory

Program 13: Promoting Minority Official Languages in the Health Care Systems

Purpose and objectives of transfer payment program

The Official Languages Health Program (OLHP) has a total budget of $191.2 million over five years (2018-2023), and $38.46 million per year ongoing after 2023. The Program supports the federal government's commitment to maintain a strong and effective publicly funded health care system by ensuring that official language minority communities (OLMCs) have access to bilingual health services in the language of their choice. Through the implementation of contribution agreements and micro-grants, Health Canada supports investments that improve the active offer of health services for OLMCs, through training and retention of health care providers, networking activities and innovative projects that increase access to health services for OLMCs.

Expected results

Program funding will support training and retention of health professionals, health networking and innovative projects to improve access to health services for OLMCs. These activities are expected to increase access to bilingual health professionals in OLMCs, and to increase the offer of health services to OLMCs.

Fiscal year of last completed evaluation

2016-17

Decision following the results of last evaluation

Continuation

Fiscal year of next planned evaluation

2021-22

General targeted recipient groups

Eligible recipients under the program are individuals, non-profit entities, provincially-accredited postsecondary institutions and provincial and territorial government bodies.

Initiatives to engage applicants and recipients

The Program engages recipients, potential recipients and the public in various ways, for example through solicited proposals, through open calls for proposals and through consultation with funding recipients and program stakeholders. Program recipients are also engaged through regular meetings; analysis and follow-up of progress and financial reporting; and monitoring of performance and results.

3-year plan for Strengthening Canada's Home and Community Care and Mental Health and Addiction Services Initiative

Start date

November 9, 2017

End date

March 31, 2027

Type of transfer payment

Contribution

Type of appropriation

Estimates

Fiscal year for terms and conditions

2017-18

Link to the departmental result(s)

Core Responsibility 1: Health Care Systems
Result 2: Canadians have access to appropriate and effective health services

Link to the department's Program Inventory

Program 3: Home, Community and Palliative Care
Program 4: Mental Health

Purpose and objectives of transfer payment program

The Government of Canada is investing $11 billion over ten years (2017-2027) to support the provinces and territories (PTs) in implementing home care ($6 billion) and mental health and addictions ($5 billion) initiatives in their jurisdictions, in accordance with the Common Statement of Principles for Shared Health Priorities (CSoP) which was jointly agreed to by federal, provincial and territorial (FPT) Ministers of Health (with the exception of Quebec) in August 2017.

In the CSoP, governments agreed to common objectives in each of home and community care and mental health and addiction services, and in particular to improving access to mental health and addictions through one or more of the following areas of action:

• Expanding access to community-based mental health and addiction services for children and youth (age 10-25), recognizing the effectiveness of early interventions to treat mild to moderate mental health disorders;
• Spreading evidence-based models of community mental health care and culturally-appropriate interventions that are integrated with primary health services; and,
• Expanding availability of integrated community-based mental health and addiction services for people with complex health needs.

Similarly, on home and community care, FPT governments agreed to work together to improve access to services through one or more of the following areas of action:

• Spreading and scaling evidence-based models of home and community care that are more integrated and connected to primary health care;
• Enhancing access to palliative and end-of-life care at home or in hospices;
• Increasing support for caregivers; and,
• Enhancing home care infrastructure, such as digital connectivity, remote monitoring technology and facilities for community based service delivery.

As part of the CSoP, all governments also agreed to develop a focused set of common indicators to measure progress on these priority areas. The Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) led a collaborative process which culminated in May 2018 when federal, provincial and territorial Ministers of Health endorsed a suite of 12 common indicators to be implemented over the coming years. CIHI will continue to work with governments across Canada to report annually on these indicators.

Following agreement by FPT Ministers on a CSoP in 2017, the federal government negotiated and signed the first of two sequential bilateral agreements with all 13 provinces and territories which set out details of how each jurisdiction is using federal investments to improve access to home and community care and mental health and addiction services. The bilateral agreements with the provinces and territories will be renewed starting in 2022-23 for the remaining five years of the ten-year commitment.

Expected results

It is expected that through these investments Canadians will experience tangible improvements in access to home and community care as well as mental health and addictions services. This will lead to better health outcomes and a more sustainable health care system, as care is shifted from expensive hospital care to more patient-centric settings in the home and in the community. These investments could also have a broader, positive impact on Canada's economy, by making the health care system more sustainable in the long term, and by enhancing workforce productivity and social participation.

Fiscal year of last completed evaluation

Not applicable

Decision following the results of last evaluation

Not applicable

Fiscal year of next planned evaluation

2021-22

General targeted recipient groups

Provinces and territories.

Initiatives to engage applicants and recipients

With respect to mental health and addictions, the Government of Canada has engaged with provinces and territories, national Indigenous organizations, mental health stakeholders, provincial and territorial medical associations and treatment centres, and experts.

With respect to the home and community care, the Government of Canada has engaged with a range of home care stakeholders including representatives from national organizations working on home, community and palliative care, provincial home care providers, patient and family advocates, and national health professional associations (e.g., the Canadian Medical Association, Canadian Nurses Association and the College of Family Physicians of Canada), as well as experts.

Note: These amounts will be allocated to provinces and territories on an equal per capita basis based on population estimates from Statistics Canada.

3-year plan for Substance Use and Addictions Program

Start date

December 4, 2014

End date

March 31, 2022 (Grant)
Ongoing (Contribution)

Type of transfer payment

Grants and Contribution

Type of appropriation

Estimates

Fiscal year for terms and conditions

2018-19

Link to the departmental result(s)

Core Responsibility 1: Health Care Systems
Result 2: Canadians have access to appropriate and effective health services

Link to the department's Program Inventory

Program 5: Substance Use and Addictions

Purpose and objectives of transfer payment program

The Substance Use and Addictions Program (SUAP) provides funding for a wide range of evidence-informed and innovative problematic substance use prevention, harm reduction and treatment initiatives across Canada at the community, regional and national levels. Initiatives target a range of psychoactive substances, including opioids, cannabis, alcohol and tobacco. Projects funded by the SUAP contribute to individual capacity and organizational, system and community level program, policy and practice change by: preventing problematic substance use and reducing harms; facilitating treatment service and system enhancements; and, improving awareness, knowledge, skills and competencies of targeted stakeholders and Canadians.

Expected results

Projects funded by the SUAP are expected to contribute to individual capacity and organizational, system and community level program, policy and practice change by: preventing problematic substance use and reducing harms; facilitating treatment and related system enhancements; and, improving awareness, knowledge, skills and competencies of targeted stakeholders and Canadians.

Fiscal year of last completed evaluation

2017-18

Decision following the results of last evaluation

Continuation

Fiscal year of next planned evaluation

2021-22

General targeted recipient groups

Community-based, regional and national non-profit organizations, including those in the health and education sectors; and, other levels of government and their agencies.

Initiatives to engage applicants and recipients

Applicants and recipients are engaged through: stakeholder outreach; solicitation processes; project development discussion; and performance reporting and monitoring tools, processes and activities. The Program also supports knowledge translation and exchange opportunities between projects, Health Canada and other partners and stakeholders.

3-year plan for Territorial Health Investment Fund

Start date

April 1, 2014

End date

March 31, 2021

Type of transfer payment

Grant

Type of appropriation

Estimates

Fiscal year for terms and conditions

2017-18

Link to the departmental result(s)

Core Responsibility 1: Health Care Systems
Result 2: Canadians have access to appropriate and effective health services

Link to the department's Program Inventory

Program 16: The Territorial Health Investment Fund

Purpose and objectives of transfer payment program

Building on an initial investment of $70 million (2014-15 to 2017-18), which flowed as contribution funding, the Territorial Health Investment Fund (THIF) was renewed as a grant program in 2017-18 with an additional $108 million over four years (2017-18 to 2020-21). Of this funding, $54 million will be allocated to Nunavut, $28.4 million to Northwest Territories and $25.6 million to Yukon. This funding will enable each territory to continue pursuing innovative activities in support of strong, sustainable health systems and to offset costs associated with medical travel to support Northerners' access to the health care they need.

The use of grant agreements rather than contribution agreements for the new investment will minimize the administrative burden on territories associated with participating in the program.

Expected results

THIF supports territorial efforts to innovate and transform their health care systems and help offset costs associated with medical travel. The expected results for Northerners are: improved access to health care services; health care needs being met; and improved health status.

Fiscal year of last completed evaluation

2018-19

Decision following the results of last evaluation

Continuation

Fiscal year of next planned evaluation

No planned evaluations at this time.

General targeted recipient groups

Territorial governments (Government of the Northwest Territories, Government of Yukon, Government of Nunavut).

Initiatives to engage applicants and recipients

Health Canada worked with territorial governments to establish four-year work plans for use of the grant funding and to secure grant agreements. Health Canada receives annual updates on planned activities from the territorial governments (including through a Federal/Territorial Assistant Deputy Minister Working Group, which will facilitate learning and information sharing across governments). Health Canada will work with territorial governments throughout the life of the agreements to monitor progress and compliance under the grant agreements.

Transfer Payment Programs under $5 Million

3-year plan for Climate Change and Health Adaptation Capacity Building Program

Start date

April 1, 2018

End date

2020-21 (Grant)
2021-22 (Contribution)

Type of transfer payment

Grant and Contribution

Type of appropriation

Estimates

Fiscal year for terms and conditions

2017-18

Link to the departmental result(s)

Core Responsibility 2: Health Protection and Promotion
Result 4: Canadians are protected from unsafe consumer and commercial products and substances

Link to the department's Program Inventory

Program 23: Climate Change

Purpose and objectives of transfer payment program

To protect and improve the health of Canadians in a changing climate through better understanding of risks and effective adaptation measures, and by building needed capacity to implement them.

The contributions are not repayable.

Expected results

Health system actors take adaptation measures to reduce the health effects of climate change.

This expected result will be measured by the following indicator:

Percentage of funded health system actors that have taken evidence-based adaptation measures to reduce the health effects of climate change

Target: 80% by March 31, 2022

Fiscal year of last completed evaluation

Not applicable

Decision following the results of last evaluation

Not applicable

Fiscal year of planned completion of next evaluation

2020-21

General targeted recipient groups

Provincial and territorial ministries of health; and established province-wide, regional and local health authorities and public health units.

Initiatives to engage applicants and recipients

Health Canada shared information regarding the launch of the call for proposal with eligible applicants, and regularly communicates with funding recipients regarding the progress of their projects. These engagement activities support the design and delivery of the most effective and efficient evidence-based adaptation measures, and ensures meaningful evaluations in support of future efforts.

Of particular note, the HealthADAPT program supports the engagement of applicants and recipients, through which the Department provides scientific help, training and information exchange that allows for further collaboration opportunities in support of their proposals and projects.

3-year plan for Contribution to Strengthen Canada's Organs and Tissues Donation and Transplantation System

Start date

April 1, 2008

End date

Ongoing

Type of transfer payment

Contribution

Type of appropriation

Estimates

Fiscal year for terms and conditions

2013-14

Link to the departmental result(s)

Core Responsibility 1: Health Care Systems
Result 2: Canadians have access to appropriate and effective health services

Link to the department's Program Inventory

Program 12: Organs, Tissues and Blood

Purpose and objectives of transfer payment program

To support the development of a national organ and tissue donation and transplantation system that will improve and extend the quality of the lives of Canadians while respecting the federal role and interest in organ and tissue donation and transplantation. The current agreement ends in 2020-21.

Expected results

The Canadian Blood Services (CBS) - Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation Program is expected to generate knowledge products and a learning event during that year. The Program is expected to identify leading practices and make recommendations for next steps in the area of living and deceased donations. It will also lead to the implementation of a professional education on-line donor management module.

Fiscal year of last completed evaluation

2017-18

Decision following the results of last evaluation

Continuation

Fiscal year of planned completion of next evaluation

2022-23

General targeted recipient groups

Canadian Blood Services is the sole recipient.

Initiatives to engage applicants and recipients

Health Canada officials undertake numerous exchanges (e.g., meetings, phone calls, e-mails and knowledge transfer activities) with CBS program staff and senior management to discuss program progress. In addition, Health Canada continues to monitor the recipient's compliance with the contribution agreement, performance and results through the analysis and follow-up of progress, performance and financial reporting.

3-year plan for Innovative Solutions Canada

Start date

August 23, 2019

End date

March 31, 2023

Type of transfer payment

Grant

Type of appropriation

Estimates

Fiscal year for terms and conditions

2019-20

Link to the departmental results

Core Responsibility 1: Health Care Systems
Result 1: Canada has modern and sustainable health care systems
Result 2: Canadians have access to appropriate and effective health services

Link to the department's Program Inventory

Program 1: Health Care System Analysis and Policy

Purpose and objectives of transfer payment program

Innovative Solutions Canada is a horizontal Government of Canada initiative, coordinated by Innovation Science and Economic Development Canada, in which participating departments and agencies can issue challenges to Canadian businesses to develop solutions for operational or sector-specific issues and fund the early stage research and development of these innovations. Health Canada's participation will enable innovators and entrepreneurs to generate novel solutions to help Canadians maintain and improve their health.

Expected results

Health Canada's participation will contribute to the short, medium and long-term results and outcomes of the Innovative Solutions Canada program. These include the generation of new Canadian Intellectual Property, commercialization of early stage research and development, and increasing the employment of highly skilled workers in the Canadian innovation ecosystem.

Results will be reported under Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada's monitoring and evaluation processes which encompass the entirety of the Innovative Solutions Canada program, including Health Canada's participation therein.

Fiscal year of last completed evaluation

Not applicable

Decision following the results of last evaluation

Not applicable

Fiscal year of planned completion of next evaluation

TBD

General targeted recipient groups

For-profit organizations

Initiatives to engage applicants and recipients

Not applicable. As a horizontal initiative, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada will lead engagement with applicants and recipients of funding under Innovative Solutions Canada.

3-year plan for Radon Outreach Contribution Program

Start date

April 1, 2018

End date

Ongoing

Type of transfer payment

Contribution

Type of appropriation

Estimates

Fiscal year for terms and conditions

2018-19

Link to the departmental result(s)

Core Responsibility 2: Health Protection and Promotion
Result 4: Canadians are protected from unsafe consumer and commercial products and substances

Link to the department's Program Inventory

Program 31: Radiation Protection

Purpose and objectives of transfer payment program

To protect and improve human health and well-being in Canada from the impacts of indoor radon exposure, by aiding in the education of Canadians about the importance of testing their homes, schools and workplaces for radon and reducing the radon levels where necessary.

The contributions are not repayable.

Expected results

The expected results are:

• Canadians are aware of radon; and
• Canadians change behaviour to reduce exposure to radon.

These expected results will be measured by the following indicators:

Percentage of Canadians surveyed who are knowledgeable about radon
Target: 65% by March 31, 2021

Percentage of Canadian homeowners surveyed who have tested their homes for radon
Target: 10% by March 31, 2026

Fiscal year of last completed evaluation

Not applicable

Decision following the results of last evaluation

Not applicable

Fiscal year of next planned evaluation

2020-21

General targeted recipient groups

Regional and local governments, including local health authorities; not-for-profit organizations (including voluntary organizations); professional associations; national Indigenous organizations; and educational institutions.

Initiatives to engage applicants and recipients

Radon Outreach Contribution Program applicants and recipients are engaged and consulted through face-to-face meetings at relevant conferences and workshops and by email and telephone. Applicant and recipient consultations are structured to support them in designing programs to maximize reach and impact and provide expertise and support throughout the delivery and evaluation of their programs with an overarching goal of raising awareness and promoting action to reduce radon-induced lung cancer in Canada.

Horizontal Initiatives

Addressing the Opioid Crisis

General information

Name of horizontal initiative

Addressing the Opioid Crisis

Lead department

Health Canada

Federal partner organization(s)

Canada Border Services Agency
Public Health Agency of Canada
Public Safety Canada
Statistics Canada

Note: Other government departments (e.g., Correctional Service Canada) are supporting the federal response to the overdose crisis. However, they are not captured in this Horizontal Initiative table, as they have not received funding through the Treasury Board Submission "Addressing the Opioid Crisis."

Start date

April 1, 2018

End date

March 31, 2023 and ongoing

Description

Illegal drugs and problematic substance use have always presented health and safety challenges in Canada and around the world. Recently, however, there has been a dramatic rise in the number of opioid-related overdoses and deaths. The people most affected in this overdose crisis continue to be young to middle-aged individuals and men, whose deaths are mostly accidental and largely due to the contamination of the illegal drug supply with highly toxic fentanyl and/or fentanyl analogues. The scale of this crisis is so severe that life expectancy in Canada has stopped increasing for the first time in over 40 years. Fentanyl is a cheap way for drug dealers to make street drugs more powerful and it is causing high rates of overdoses and overdose deaths. A few grains can be enough to cause a fatal overdose.

The federal government's actions to address the overdose crisis are guided by the Canadian Drugs and Substances Strategy^{Footnote 5}, which takes a comprehensive, collaborative, and compassionate approach to substance use issues using a public health lens. The federal government is deeply concerned about the number of overdoses and deaths, and is taking significant actions in areas of federal jurisdiction to address the crisis. However, despite significant efforts to date, the overdose crisis in Canada continues. According to data from the Public Health Agency of Canada, more than 13,913 people lost their lives in Canada between January 2016 and June 2019 to apparent opioid-related overdoses. In addition, it is estimated that approximately 250,000 Canadians do not have access to treatment when seeking help for problematic substance use. Since people who use drugs have traditionally been stigmatized, Canadians struggling with substance use disorder often encounter barriers when accessing health, medical and social services.

While the Government of Canada is taking a number of actions to respond to the overdose crisis, this horizontal initiative is specific to measures announced in Budget 2018 to:

• support additional prevention and treatment interventions through an expansion of the Substance Use and Addictions Program (SUAP);
• address the stigma surrounding people who use drugs, which creates barriers for those seeking treatment, through a public education campaign and training for law enforcement;
• enhance capacity to identify and intercept illegal substances at the border by equipping border agents with additional tools at ports of entry; and,
• improve the availability of and access to public health data by expanding public health surveillance, conducting special studies, and redesigning the Canadian Coroner and Medical Examiner Database (CCMED).

Ultimately, these complementary activities are intended to contribute to a reduction in overdose harms and deaths in Canada.

Governance structure

The Government of Canada has put in place a robust governance structure to facilitate whole-of-government coordination in implementing a comprehensive federal response to the overdose crisis. Each department/agency will be responsible for leading its respective initiatives and providing updates to the interdepartmental Assistant Deputy Minister (ADM) level Working Group on Opioids chaired by the Associate-ADM of Health Canada's Controlled Substances and Cannabis Branch. This working group is used as a forum for information and consultation on next steps toward a comprehensive, collaborative federal response to the overdose crisis. Updates and decisions from this working group feed into the federal, interdepartmental Deputy Ministers Task Force on the Opioid Crisis as required. This Task Force, chaired by the Deputy Minister of Health Canada, serves as a time-limited forum to provide leadership and oversight of federal initiatives to respond to the overdose crisis. The Task Force will remain an established committee until such time that the public environment no longer requires it.

The Government is committed to ongoing collaboration and consultation with provincial and territorial partners. Departments and agencies will provide updates to, and consult with, provincial and territorial colleagues as required through the federal/provincial/territorial (FPT) ADM-level Problematic Substance Use and Harms Committee (PSUH), co-chaired by Health Canada and British Columbia and comprised of ADMs responsible for drug policy in their jurisdiction. They will also provide updates to and consult with PT colleagues as required through the FPT Special Advisory Committee on the Epidemic of Opioid Overdoses (SAC), co-chaired by the Chief Public Health Officer of Canada and Saskatchewan's Chief Medical Officer of Health and comprising Chief Medical Officers of Health from each jurisdiction. While the PSUH is an established committee intended as a long-term forum for drug policy discussions, the SAC is a time-limited mechanism for public health collaboration and information sharing between jurisdictions related to the overdose crisis in Canada. Efforts are underway to transition activities of the SAC that require ongoing FPT collaboration to permanent structures, either under the PSUH or the Pan-Canadian Public Health Network (PHN).

Total federal funding allocated from start to end date (dollars)

$ 108,794,404 (includes existing funding)

Total federal planned spending to date (dollars)

$21,467,133

Total federal actual spending to date (dollars)

$13,855,443

Date of last renewal of initiative

Not applicable

Total federal funding allocated at last renewal and source of funding (dollars)

Not applicable

Additional federal funding received after last renewal (dollars)

Not applicable

Total planned spending since last renewal

Not applicable

Total actual spending since last renewal

Not applicable

Fiscal year of planned completion of next evaluation

2021-22

Planning highlights

All federal partners will work collaboratively to address the overdose crisis in a comprehensive, robust, and effective manner. Planning highlights specific to this horizontal initiative in 2020-21 will include:

• ongoing monitoring and support of 16 prevention and treatment projects funded under the Substance Use and Addictions Program;
• continuing the roll-out of the public education campaign to address stigma towards people who use drugs that creates barriers for those seeking treatment;
• delivering opioid de-stigmatization awareness training to police service members across Canada to ensure that they are mindful of the negative impacts of stigma when interacting with people with problematic substance use disorder;
• establishing new Designated Safe Examination Areas and regional screening facilities to conduct safe examinations of goods suspected of containing opioids at ports of entry;
• leading national epidemiologic studies to better understand how the overdose crisis affects sub-populations of people who use drugs; and,
• collaborating with provinces and territories on the redesign of the Canadian Coroner and Medical Examiner Database.

Contact information

Health Canada
Jennifer Novak
Acting Director General
Controlled Substances and Cannabis Branch
Jennifer.Novak@canada.ca
613-946-8099

Horizontal initiative framework: departmental funding by theme (dollars)

Horizontal initiative: Addressing the Opioid Crisis

Planning information

Theme 1: Supporting Additional Prevention and Treatment Interventions

Expected results

Health Canada

• ER 1.1.1 The department continues to identify an appropriate indicator, target and target date. It is anticipated that this work will be completed by Spring 2020
• ER 1.1.2 The department continues to identify an appropriate indicator, target and target date. It is anticipated that this work will be completed by Spring 2020

Performance indicators

Health Canada

• PI 1.1.1 The department continues to identify an appropriate indicator, target and target date. It is anticipated that this work will be completed by Spring 2020
• PI 1.1.2 The department continues to identify an appropriate indicator, target and target date. It is anticipated that this work will be completed by Spring 2020

Targets

Health Canada

• T 1.1.1 The department continues to identify an appropriate indicator, target and target date. It is anticipated that this work will be completed by Spring 2020
• T 1.1.2 The department continues to identify an appropriate indicator, target and target date. It is anticipated that this work will be completed by Spring 2020

Theme 2: Addressing Stigma

Expected results

Health Canada

• ER 2.1.1 Increased sympathy among Canadians for people using opioids
• ER 2.1.2 Increased perception among Canadians of drug use as a public health issue

Public Safety Canada

• ER 2.2 Increased awareness and support amongst law enforcement community about de-stigmatization of people who use opioids

Performance indicators

Health Canada

• PI 2.1.1 Percentage of Canadians who have sympathy for people using opioids
• PI 2.1.2 Percentage of Canadians who believe that opioid-related substance use disorder is a disease

Public Safety Canada

• PI 2.2 Percentage of police service members who completed the online course

Targets

Health Canada

• T 2.1.1 Increase by 5 percentage points^{Footnote 6}
• T 2.1.2 Increase by 5 percentage points^{Footnote 7}

Public Safety Canada

• T 2.2 25% of eligible police service members

Theme 3: Taking Action at Canada's Borders

Expected results

Public Safety Canada

• ER 3.1 Increased knowledge generation and sharing of information on targeted issues related to reducing the illegal supply of opioids in Canada

Canada Border Services Agency

• ER 3.2.1 Increased capacity to identify high-risk goods at ports of entry
• ER 3.2.2 Increased ability to risk assess and identify high risk shipments
• ER 3.2.3 Increased communications related to threat assessment information and intelligence provided to personnel and partnering agencies
• ER 3.2.4 Enhanced capability^{Footnote 8} to interdict illegal cross-border movement of drugs, such as opioids, at postal locations

Performance indicators

Public Safety Canada

• PI 3.1 Percentage of completed planned engagement activities with law enforcement community, stakeholders and partners to address policy issues related with the illegal supply of opioids

Canada Border Services Agency

• PI 3.2.1.1 Number of designated safe examination areas, allowing ports of entry to be equipped to identify, detect, and interdict opioids
• PI 3.2.1.2 Percentage of CBSA officers at ports of entry identified for safe examinations training that have completed the required training
• PI 3.2.1.3 Number of items per year of suspected opioid-containing packages sampled and identified at safe sampling areas (outside of the laboratory)
• PI 3.2.2 Number of streams/risk rules supporting advanced risk assessment
• PI 3.2.3 Number of intelligence products produced by the CBSA
• PI 3.2.4.1 Percentage of interdictions of drugs, including opioids, using detector dogs (compared to random resultant rate)
• PI 3.2.4.2 Percentage of interdictions of drugs, including opioids, resulting from targeted examinations (compared to random resultant rate)

Targets

Public Safety Canada

• T 3.1 100%

Canada Border Services Agency

• T 3.2.1.1 25
• T 3.2.1.2 100%^{Footnote 9}
• T 3.2.1.3 1,000^{Footnote 10}
• T 3.2.2 TBD
• T 3.2.3 Increase by 10%
• T 3.2.4.1 TBD
• T 3.2.4.2 TBD

Theme 4: Enhancing the Evidence Base

Expected results

Public Health Agency of Canada

• ER 4.1 Enhanced quality surveillance data is available

Statistics Canada

• ER 4.2 Increased use and relevance of CCMED among stakeholders

Performance indicators

Public Health Agency of Canada

• PI 4.1 Number of opioid-related evidence products^{Footnote 11} disseminated publicly

Statistics Canada

• PI 4.2 Percentage of clients satisfied with statistical information from CCMED

Targets

Public Health Agency of Canada

• T 4.1 11

Statistics Canada

• T 4.2 A baseline and target will be established in March 2020, once CCMED is available

Canadian Drugs and Substances Strategy

General information

Name of horizontal initiative

Canadian Drugs and Substances Strategy

Lead department

Health Canada

Federal partner organization(s)

Canada Border Services Agency
Canada Revenue Agency
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Correctional Service Canada
Department of Justice Canada
Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada
Global Affairs Canada
Indigenous Services Canada
Parole Board of Canada
Public Health Agency of Canada
Public Prosecution Service of Canada
Public Safety Canada
Public Services and Procurement Canada
Royal Canadian Mounted Police

Start date

April 1, 2017

End date

March 31, 2022 and ongoing

Description

The Government of Canada is committed to a comprehensive, collaborative, compassionate and evidence-based approach to drug policy, which uses a public health lens when considering and addressing problematic substance use. The Canadian Drugs and Substances Strategy (CDSS) is led by the Minister of Health, supported by Health Canada and 14 other federal departments and agencies. The CDSS covers a broad range of legal and illegal substances, including cannabis^{Footnote 12}, alcohol, opioids^{Footnote 13} and other kinds of substances that can be used problematically. The goal of the strategy is to protect the health and safety of all Canadians by minimizing harms from substance use for individuals, families and communities.

The CDSS formally restores harm reduction as a pillar of federal drug and substance use policy, alongside the existing prevention, treatment and enforcement pillars, supported by a strong, modern evidence base across all pillars. The public health focus on the CDSS, along with the inclusion of harm reduction as a core pillar of the strategy, will better enable the Government to address the current opioid crisis, and to work toward preventing the emergence of new challenges in substance use.

The CDSS recognizes that the national approach to substance use requires coordinated efforts from all levels of government working in their respective areas of jurisdiction. It also recognizes the importance of incorporating stakeholder views on an ongoing basis, including people with lived and living experience with substance use. Reducing the stigma experienced by people who use drugs is also integral to the CDSS and a priority for the Government of Canada.

Governance structure

The CDSS is led by the Minister of Health. The Strategy is coordinated through a Director-General (DG) level steering committee that reports to Assistant Deputy Ministers (ADMs).

The DG Steering Committee is designed to reflect and support the CDSS's comprehensive approach to drug and substance use issues. The committee is composed of DGs from federal departments/agencies whose mandates are relevant to drug and substance use (including departments that formally receive CDSS funding and those that do not). The Committee, which meets at least twice a year and also on an ad hoc basis, is supported by three working groups: the Demand and Harm Reduction Working Group; the Supply Reduction Working Group; and the Evaluation and Reporting Working Group.

Current federal/provincial/territorial (F/P/T) engagement is achieved through a number of F/P/T mechanisms, including the F/P/T Committee on Problematic Substance Use and Harms that is co-chaired by HC and the Province of British Columbia. Secretariat support for the CDSS is provided by the Controlled Substances Directorate (CSD) within HC.

Total federal funding allocated (2017-18 to 2021-22) (dollars)

$642,844,373

Total federal planned spending to date (dollars)

$260,759,664

Total federal actual spending to date (dollars)

$305,582,320

Date of last renewal of initiative

Not applicable

Total federal funding allocated at last renewal and source of funding (dollars)

Not applicable

Additional federal funding received after last renewal (dollars)

Not applicable

Total planned spending since last renewal

Not applicable

Total actual spending since last renewal

Not applicable

Fiscal year of planned completion of next evaluation

2021-22

Planning highlights (for 2020-21)

• Continue to advance evidence-based prevention, treatment, harm reduction and drug regulation/enforcement activities under the CDSS to address a wide range of substance use issues in Canada;
• Continue efforts to educate and inform Canadians about the negative impacts of stigma towards people who use drugs;
• Continue efforts to modernize and update the CDSS performance measurement framework to better reflect the strategy's health-focussed approach to substance use issues; and
• Continue to advance and promote Canadian drug policy priorities at the international level, including the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, including efforts to highlight the negative impacts of stigma and reduce drug-related stigma globally.
• Continue efforts to advance illicit drug supply reduction activities.

Contact information

Health Canada

Michelle Boudreau
Director General
Controlled Substances Directorate
Michelle.Boudreau@canada.ca
613-960-2496

Horizontal initiative framework: departmental funding by theme (dollars)

Horizontal initiative: Canadian Drugs and Substances Strategy

Shared outcomes:

• Problematic substance use is addressed as a health and social issue by governments, communities, stakeholders and Canadian society.
• Rates of problematic substance use in Canada are minimized, especially for youth and those most at risk of harm, including preventing, reducing and/or delaying the use of drugs and other substances.
• Canadians and their communities are supported with evidence-based tools, programs and services to be safer, healthier and more resilient.

Planning information

Theme 1: Prevention

Expected results

Health Canada

• ER 1.1.1 Targeted stakeholders and Canadians are equipped with the capacity (knowledge, skills and supports) to inform their decisions and actions related to substance use.
• ER 1.1.2 Targeted stakeholders use evidence-informed information on substance use to change policies, programs, and practice.
• ER 1.1.3 Increased compliance and reduced risk of diversion of controlled substances, prescription drugs and precursor chemicals.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police

• ER 1.2 The RCMP will increase awareness of drugs and illegal substances among stakeholders by developing education products, supporting outreach and engagement efforts, and building new partnerships.

Performance indicators

Health Canada

• PI 1.1.1 Percentage of stakeholders and Canadians reporting that they gained knowledge.
• PI 1.1.2 Percentage of targeted stakeholders reporting that they made evidence informed improvements to substance use policies, programs and practice.
• PI 1.1.3 Percentage of pharmacies inspected that are deemed to be compliant with the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) and its regulations.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police

• PI 1.2.1 Number of awareness products.
• PI 1.2.2 Number of stakeholders reached.
• PI 1.2.3 Percentage of partners and stakeholders who demonstrate an increase in awareness of illegal drugs.
• PI 1.2.4 Number of partnerships and collaborations.
• PI 1.2.5 Number of new engagement opportunities identified.

Targets

Health Canada

• T 1.1.1 TBD - Target will be established by September 2019 following the establishment of an aggregated baseline by June 2019.
• T 1.1.2 TBD - Target will be established by September 2019 following the establishment of an aggregated baseline by June 2019.
• T 1.1.3 80%

Royal Canadian Mounted Police

• T 1.2.1 5 drug related awareness products will be produced and/or updated.
• T 1.2.2 Approximately 500 stakeholders will be reached (stakeholders include Police, Public/Youth, and Industry/Other stakeholders).
• T 1.2.3 50% of partners and stakeholders agree that Federal Policing contributed to an increased awareness/understanding of illegal drugs.
• T 1.2.4 At least 3 partnerships/collaborations.
• T 1.2.5 5

Theme 2: Treatment

Expected results

Canadian Institutes of Health Research

• ER 2.1. Support for research in priority areas.

Department of Justice Canada

• ER 2.2.1 The criminal justice system supports alternative ways of responding to the causes and consequences of offending.
• ER 2.2.2 Increased availability of, and access to, drug treatment services and programs for youth involved in the justice system.

Performance indicators

Canadian Institutes of Health Research

• PI 2.1 Percentage of funded research projects with a nature and scope that support CDSS' goals.

Department of Justice Canada

• PI 2.2.1 Percentage of Drug Treatment Court participants retained for 6 months or longer in the court-monitored treatment program.
• PI 2.2.2 Number of active projects funded under Youth Justice Fund's Drug Treatment component per fiscal year.

Targets

Canadian Institutes of Health Research

• T 2.1 100%

Department of Justice Canada

• T 2.2.1 50%
• T 2.2.2 100% of the budget allocation is committed to support drug treatment programming for youth involved in the justice system.

Theme 3: Harm reduction

Expected results

Health Canada

• ER 3.1 Increased availability of harm reduction services.

Indigenous Services Canada

• ER 3.2 Reduction in risk-taking behaviour among drug or substances users.

Public Health Agency of Canada

• ER 3.3 Reduction in risk-taking behaviour among drug or substances users.

Performance indicators

Health Canada

• PI 3.1 Percentage of applications for an exemption to operate a Supervised Consumption Site that received a decision within the service standard from the time the review is complete.

Indigenous Services Canada

• PI 3.2 Number of First Nations and Inuit communities that deliver harm reduction programming.

Public Health Agency of Canada

• PI 3.3 Percentage decrease in the number of people who use drugs who report sharing drug use equipment.

Targets

Health Canada

• T 3.1 90%

Indigenous Services Canada

• T 3.2 11

Public Health Agency of Canada

• T 3.3 10% decrease

Theme 4: Enforcement

Expected results

Health Canada

• ER 4.1.1 Authorizations to perform legitimate activities with controlled substances and precursor chemicals are processed in a timely manner.
• ER 4.1.2 Increased compliance and reduced risk of diversion of controlled substances, prescription drugs and precursor chemicals.
• ER 4.1.3 Increased effectiveness in drug analysis.
• ER 4.1.4 Data and research evidence on drugs and emerging drug trends are used by members of the federal Health Portfolio and their partners.

Canada Border Services Agency

• ER 4.2.1 Increase awareness and capacity to gather information and intelligence to maximize interdiction of illicit drugs (as defined in the CDSA) at the border.
• ER 4.2.2 Continue to inform enforcement activities by providing intelligence and analytical support to the regions.
• ER 4.2.3 Continue to work with CDSS partner agencies to identify opportunities for cooperation, share information, and conduct laboratory analysis related to illicit drugs and other goods (e.g. precursor chemicals) governed by the CDSA.

Canada Revenue Agency

• ER 4.3 30 audits of taxpayers involved in the production and distribution of illegal drugs resulting in (re) assessments of $2.0 million of federal taxes.

Correctional Services Canada

• ER 4.4 Timely case preparation and supervision of provincial offenders with a drug offence (CDSA Schedule II).

Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada.

• ER 4.5 Given the importance of the CDSS initiative, FINTRAC will continue to work with law enforcement and intelligence agencies to ensure they receive financial intelligence related to drug production and distribution that is useful for further actions.

Global Affairs Canada

• ER 4.6 In 2020-2021, GAC will increase capacity of port officials in selected countries in the Americas to intercept and seize illegal drugs smuggled via legal maritime containerized cargo. GAC will also work to build the capacity law enforcement of OAS member states to share and disseminate information and early warning alerts on New Psychoactive Substances (NPS), opioids, and other emerging drug threats.

Parole Board of Canada

• ER 4.7.1 Conditional release decisions contribute to keeping communities safe.
• ER 4.7.2 The timely exchange of relevant information with victims, offenders, observers, other components of the criminal justice system, and the general public.

Public Prosecution Service of Canada

• ER 4.8.1 Provision of legal advice and litigation support, as well as the prosecution of drug offences in all provinces /territories regardless of which police agency investigates the offences, except Quebec and New Brunswick. In these provinces, the PPSC prosecutes only drug offences investigated by the RCMP.
• ER 4.8.2 Provision of pre-charge legal advice and litigation support, as well as the prosecution of serious drug offences under the CDSA to which mandatory minimum penalties are applicable.

Public Safety Canada

• ER 4.9 Coordinated enforcement action to address illegal drugs and substances.

Public Services and Procurement Canada

• ER 4.10 Assist law enforcement agencies and prosecutors by providing forensic accounting services and expertise. These services assist in determining whether the assets identified were derived from criminal activities, thereby allowing the Crown to seize the assets and remove the financial incentives from the crime.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police

• ER 4.11 The RCMP will focus its efforts to undertake investigations and initiatives focussing on the highest threats related to organized crime networks including those involved in the importation and trafficking of illegal drugs, including illegal opioids.

Performance indicators

Health Canada

• PI 4.1.1 Overall percentage of High-Volume Regulatory Authorizations for controlled substances processed within service standards.
• PI 4.1.2 Percentage of licensed dealers inspected that are deemed to be compliant with the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) and its regulations.
• PI 4.1.3 Percentage of samples analyzed within service standards.
• PI 4.1.4 Number of alerts issued to clients and to provincial and territorial health authorities on newly identified potent illegal drugs in communities.

Canada Border Services Agency

• PI 4.2 Average dollar value of goods, shipments and conveyances seized attributed to Intelligence.

Canada Revenue Agency

• PI 4.3 80% or more of audits resulting in (re) assessments

Correctional Services Canada

• PI 4.4.1 Total number of provincial offenders convicted of a drug offence (CDSA Schedule II) supervised by CSC on a monthly basis during the year.
• PI 4.4.2 Total number of provincial offenders convicted of a drug offence (CDSA Schedule II) with a residency requirement on a monthly basis during the year.
• PI 4.4.3 Total number of case preparation reports (pre- and post-release) completed for all provincial offenders during the year.

Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada

• PI 4.5 Total number of FINTRAC disclosures of actionable financial intelligence made to regime partners, and the number of unique disclosures of actionable financial intelligence that relate to at least one drug-related offence.

Global Affairs Canada

• PI 4.6.1 Number of illegal drug seizures made by GAC-financed/UNODC trained Port Control Units in beneficiary countries.
• PI 4.6.2 Volume of illegal drug seized by GAC-financed/UNODC trained Port Control Units in beneficiary countries.

Parole Board of Canada

• PI 4.7.1 Number and proportion of provincial offenders convicted of drug offences who successfully complete parole.
• PI 4.7.2 Percentage of individuals (i.e., general public and victims) who are satisfied with the quality of the service.

Public Prosecution Service of Canada

• PI 4.8.1.1 Number of litigation files related to the prosecution of drug offences under the CDSA referred to the PPSC during the fiscal year.
• PI 4.8.1.2 Number of files for which legal advice was provided by PPSC counsel.
• PI 4.8.2.1 Number of litigation files related to the prosecution of serious drug offences under the CDSA referred to the PPSC during the fiscal year to which mandatory minimum penalties are applicable.
• PI 4.8.2.2 Number of files for which legal advice was provided by PPSC counsel where mandatory minimum penalties are applicable.

Public Safety Canada

• PI 4.9 Timely sharing of evidence-based knowledge and intelligence to support law enforcement actions against illegal drugs and substances.

Public Services and Procurement Canada

• PI 4.10.1 Number of active CDSS files where the services of a forensic accountant were required.
• PI 4.10.2 Number of Forensic Accounting Reports produced during the fiscal year.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police

• PI 4.11.1 Number and percentage of Federal Serious and Organized Crime (FSOC) investigations with a transnational nexus.
• PI 4.11.2 Number of drug-related charges laid by FSOC units.
• PI 4.11.3 Number of drug seizures made by FSOC units, including amount of drugs seized.

Targets

Health Canada

• T 4.1.1 90%
• T 4.1.2 TBD - The risk-based methodologies behind assigning compliance ratings are evolving. In 2018-19, assigning compliance ratings were piloted using historical information. Once the data from the pilot is analyzed, a new baseline will be established. An appropriate target for 2020-21 will be established by March 31, 2020.
• T 4.1.3 95% of certificates of analysis issued within service standards or negotiated date.
• T 4.1.4 Demand driven

Canada Border Services Agency

• T 4.2 9:1 ratio

Canada Revenue Agency

• T 4.3 30 audits of taxpayers involved in the production and distribution of illegal drugs resulting in (re) assessments of $2.0 million of federal taxes.

Correctional Services Canada

• T 4.4.1 43 (approximately)
• T 4.4.2 27 (approximately)
• T 4.4.3 596 (approximately)

Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada

• T 4.5 FINTRAC seeks to closely align its financial intelligence products with the needs and priorities of its investigative partners. As such, the Centre does not set specific targets for the number or types of drug-related case disclosures it produces in any fiscal year.

Global Affairs Canada

• T 4.6.1 Illegal drug seizures are made in all beneficiary countries benefiting from GAC-financed/UNODC trained port control units.
• T 4.6.2 At least 20 tons

Parole Board of Canada

• T 4.7.1 100% of provincial offenders serving sentences for drug offences who are on parole are not convicted of a violent offence during their supervision period.
• T 4.7.2 92% of individuals are satisfied with the quality of service.

Public Prosecution Service of Canada

• T 4.8 Targets are not applicable owing to the nature of the PPSC's workload and mandate.

Public Safety Canada

• T 4.9 100% completion of planned coordination activities based on an integrated law enforcement work plan.

Public Services and Procurement Canada

• T 4.10 The files are dependent on the projects law enforcement assign to PSPC-FAMG and are based on the resource capacity of the three senior forensic accounts dedicated to work on CDSS files.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police

• T 4.11 Targets are not applicable as these will vary by province/territory and is based on need.

Theme 5: Evidence base

Expected results

Health Canada

• ER 5.1 Increased availability of data and research evidence on drugs and substances.

Canadian Institutes of Health Research

• ER 5.2 Increased availability of data and research evidence on drugs and substances.

Public Health Agency of Canada

• ER 5.3 Increase availability of national data and research evidence related to drugs and substances to support decision making.

Performance indicators

Health Canada

• PI 5.1 Percentage of United Nations Annual Report Questionnaire completed with Canadian data.^{Footnote 14}

Canadian Institutes of Health Research

• PI 5.2.1 Percentage of grant recipients producing policy-relevant knowledge products, such as research publications, policy briefs, guidelines for policies or practice, presentations to policy audiences, and media mentions.
• PI 5.2.2 Percentage of health research publications related to problematic substance use.

Public Health Agency of Canada

• PI 5.3 Percentage of provinces and territories reporting.

Targets

Health Canada

• T 5.1 90%

Canadian Institutes of Health Research

• T 5.2.1 75%
• T 5.2.2 90%

Public Health Agency of Canada

• T 5.3 100%

Chemicals Management Plan

General information

Name of horizontal initiative

Chemicals Management Plan

Lead department

Health Canada
Environment and Climate Change Canada

Federal partner organization(s)

Public Health Agency of Canada

Start date

2007-08

End date

2020-21

Description

Originally launched in 2006, the Chemicals Management Plan (CMP) enables the Government of Canada to protect human health and the environment by addressing substances of concern in Canada.

Jointly managed by Health Canada and Environment and Climate Change Canada, the CMP brings all existing federal chemical programs together under a single strategy. This integrated approach allows the Government of Canada to address various routes of exposure to chronic and acute hazardous substances. It also enables use of the most appropriate management tools among a full suite of federal laws, which include the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA), the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act (CCPSA), the Food and Drugs Act (F&DA), the Pest Control Products Act (PCPA), and the Fisheries Act.

The third phase (CMP3) includes both substance groupings and single substance assessments. Similar to CMP2, groupings are created where possible to gain efficiencies in the assessment process. Where groupings are not possible, single substance assessments are conducted.

Integration across government programs remains critical since many substances are found in consumer, cosmetic, health, drug and other products. In addition to releases from products, substances may be released at various points along other areas of their life cycle, such as during the manufacturing and disposal.

The same core functions that have been part of phases one and two continue in phase three of the CMP: risk assessment; risk management; compliance promotion and enforcement; research; monitoring and surveillance; stakeholder engagement and risk communications; and, policy and program management. Information gathering is a key activity undertaken to support these core functions.

For more information, see the Government of Canada's Chemical Substances Portal.

Governance structure

In the overall delivery of the CMP, Health Canada and Environment and Climate Change Canada have a shared responsibility in attaining objectives and results. In meeting their obligations pursuant to the CMP, the Departments fulfill their responsibilities through established internal departmental governance structures, as well as a joint CMP governance structure to address shared responsibilities. Efforts are also made to harmonize vertical and horizontal performance reporting indicators (e.g., CMP Performance Measurement Strategy, the CMP contribution to the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy, etc.) for CMP.

The CMP has a horizontal governance framework which ensures integration, co-ordination, joint decision making and clear accountabilities. Under the CMP Integrated Horizontal Governance Framework, the joint CMP Assistant Deputy Ministers Committee (CMP ADM Committee) reports to both the Health Canada and Environment and Climate Change Canada Deputy Ministers.

The CMP ADM Committee is supported by a Director General (DG) Committee. The CMP DGs Committee consists of DGs from all partner programs within Health Canada and Environment and Climate Change Canada, and provides strategic direction, oversight and a challenge function for the CMP's overall implementation. The CMP DGs also play a lead role in directing, monitoring and providing a challenge function for the core elements of the CMP, namely the delivery of the chemicals agenda under CEPA.

This DG level committee is supported by the CMP Steering Committee, which is a Director level committee intended to provide oversight on CMP issues related to the CEPA chemicals agenda.

Total federal funding allocated from start to end date (dollars)

$1,308,179,400

Total federal planned spending to date (dollars)

$1,110,864,820

Total federal actual spending to date (dollars)

$1,069,428,868 (includes Phases I, II and Phase III)

Date of last renewal of initiative

October 2014

Total federal funding allocated at last renewal and source of funding (dollars)

Phase three, $493,286,450; Source of funding: Budget 2015

Additional federal funding received after last renewal (dollars)

Not applicable

Total planned spending since last renewal

$295,971,870

Total actual spending since last renewal

$293,343,720

Fiscal year of planned completion of next evaluation

The last evaluation was done in 2019-20. The next evaluation is not yet planned.

Planning highlights

In 2020-21, the program will continue to assess and manage the potential health and ecological risks from the remaining priority existing substances from CMP1 and CMP2 and continue science based assessment and risk management activities, as needed, on the potential health and ecological risks associated with approximately 1,550 existing substances included in CMP3. With CMP program funding ending in March 2021, the program has also begun exploring options for program renewal and elements to be addressed in the future.

A key activity undertaken to support the core functions of the CMP is information gathering. This involves a range of voluntary and mandatory activities, ensuring the engagement of stakeholders. Having up-to-date information and understanding trends in the Canadian marketplace are necessary to inform risk assessment and risk management activities and support sound decision making by the Government.

Draft Screening Assessment Reports covering approximately 317 substances are planned to be published in 2020-21, as are Final Screening Assessments Reports for approximately 324 substances.

Proposed and Final Risk Management Instruments will be developed and published in Part I or Part II of the Canada Gazette, as required. The program will also continue to use the new substances program to identify and manage, as appropriate, the human health and environmental risks of new substances before import to, or manufacture in, Canada.

In 2020-21, the program will continue to conduct risk assessments and develop and implement risk management measures to address identified risks posed by harmful chemicals in foods and food packaging materials, consumer products, cosmetics and drinking water. Work will also continue on substances/products regulated under the F&DA and on the re-evaluation of the remaining older chemicals (registered prior to 1995) and the cyclical re-evaluation of pesticides registered after 1995.

The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) will continue its risk-based inspection program to identify and address human health risks associated with water, food and sanitation on passenger conveyances such as aircraft, trains, cruise ships and ferries, focusing efforts on areas of greatest risk to public health.

The program will conduct targeted monitoring and surveillance activities to address existing and emerging chemicals of concern, and to inform risk assessment needs and risk management activities. Research will continue in order to address outstanding questions and knowledge gaps related to the effects and exposure of chemical substances to humans and the environment to inform risk management, risk assessment and international activities.

The program will develop implementation strategies and will continue to deliver activities to raise regulatees' awareness and understanding of, and promote their compliance with regulatory requirements for certain assessed CMP substances.

The program will continue to increase proactive communications to the public to raise awareness of the risks and safe use of substances, including greater use of partnerships to expand the reach of messaging, with a focus on vulnerable populations. Efforts to advance the sound management of chemicals through participation in a range of international activities that support domestic efforts will continue in 2020-21 as well.

Contact information

Health Canada

Suzanne Leppinen
Director
Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch
Suzanne.Leppinen@canada.ca
613-941-8071

Environment and Climate Change Canada

Andrea Raper
A/Executive Director, Program Development and Engagement
Science and Technology Branch
Andrea.Raper@canada.ca
819-938-4569

Christina Paradiso
Executive Director, Chemicals Management Division
Environmental Protection Branch
Christina.Paradiso@canada.ca
819-938-4590

Planning information

Expected Results:

Health Canada:

• ER 1.1 Information on risks of substances to inform risk management, monitoring and surveillance and research activities
• ER 1.2 Risk management measures under CEPA, PCPA, CCPSA and F&DA
• ER 1.3 Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality are available to be used by provinces / territories
• ER 1.4 Science-based information on the risks posed by substances, in accordance with annual research plans
• ER 1.5 Data generated on the use, release, exposure and presence of substances of concern in humans, the environment, food and consumer products
• ER 1.6 Engagement, consultation and communication products to inform the public and stakeholders

Public Health Agency of Canada

• ER 2.1 Mitigation of human health risks associated with contamination of water, food and sanitation on board passenger conveyances

Environment and Climate Change Canada

• ER 3.1 Information on risks of substances to inform risk management, monitoring and surveillance and research activities
• ER 3.2 Risk management measures under CEPA and/or Fisheries Act
• ER 3.3 Science-based information on the risks posed by substances, in accordance with annual research plans
• ER 3.4 Data generated on the use, release, exposure and presence of substances of concern in humans, the environment, food, consumer products and waste
• ER 3.5 Information on obligations to conform or comply with risk management control measures
• ER 3.6 Inspections, investigations and enforcement actions

Performance Indicators:

Health Canada

• PI 1.1.1 Percentage of dietary exposure assessments and/or hazard characterizations completed for substances for which Chemicals Management Plan assessments have identified food as the contributing / main source of exposure
• PI 1.1.2 Percentage of food ingredients, food additives, food contaminants and food packaging material chemicals re-evaluated for which Chemicals Management Plan assessments and new scientific knowledge identify potential risk
• PI 1.1.3 Percentage of substances assessed within prescribed timelines (Existing Substances)
• PI 1.1.4 Percentage of substances assessed within prescribed timelines (New Substances)
• PI 1.1.5 Percentage of the annual target of proposed re-evaluations decisions (PRVDs) as set out in the published re-evaluation and special review work plan
• PI 1.2.1 Percentage of actions taken in a timely manner to protect the health of Canadians from substances found to be a risk to human health
• PI 1.2.2 Percentage of the annual target for re-evaluations decisions (final RVDs) met as set out in the published re-evaluation and special review work plan
• PI 1.3 Percentage of planned final water quality guidelines / guidance documents published in Canada Gazette, Part I and online
• PI 1.4 Percentage of CMP research projects conducted that support priorities for risk assessment, risk management, research, monitoring and surveillance, and international activities related to the health impacts of chemicals
• PI 1.5 Percentage of monitoring and surveillance projects funded by CMP that support priorities for risk assessment, risk management, research, monitoring and surveillance, and international activities related to the health impacts of chemicals
• PI 1.6 Percentage of knowledge transfer activities completed as planned related to substances of concern

Public Health Agency of Canada

• PI 2.1 Percentage of inspected passenger transportation operators that meet public health requirements

Environment and Climate Change Canada

• PI 3.1.1 Percentage of substances assessed within prescribed timelines (Existing Substances)
• PI 3.1.2 Percentage of substances assessed within prescribed timelines (New Substances)
• PI 3.2 Percentage of actions taken in a timely manner to protect Canada's environment from substances found to be a risk to the environment
• PI 3.3 Percentage of CMP research projects conducted that support priorities for risk assessment, risk management, research, monitoring and surveillance, and international activities related to the environmental impacts of chemicals
• PI 3.4 Percentage of monitoring and surveillance projects funded by CMP that support priorities for risk assessment, risk management, research, monitoring and surveillance, and international activities related to the environmental impacts of chemicals
• PI 3.5 The number of targeted regulatees under the Chemicals Management Plan contacted by the Compliance Promotion Program
• PI 3.6 Percentage of non- compliance addressed by an enforcement action

Targets:

Health Canada

• T 1.1.1 100%
• T 1.1.2 100%
• T 1.1.3 100%^{Footnote a}
• T 1.1.4 100%
• T 1.1.5 80%
• T 1.2.1 100%^{Footnote b}
• T 1.2.2 80%
• T 1.3 100%
• T 1.4 100%
• T 1.5 100%
• T 1.6 100%

Public Health Agency of Canada

• T 2.1 95%

Environment and Climate Change Canada

• T 3.1.1 100%^{Footnote c}
• T 3.1.2 100%
• T 3.2 100%^{Footnote d}
• T 3.3 100%
• T 3.4 100%
• T 3.5 All regulatees identified in the Compliance Promotion Program database subject to priority instruments.
• T 3.6 85%

New Federal Framework for the Legalization and Regulation of Cannabis

General information

Name of horizontal initiative

Implementing a New Federal Framework for the Legalization and Strict Regulation of Cannabis

Lead department

Health Canada

Federal partner organization(s)

• Canada Border Services Agency
• Public Health Agency of Canada
• Public Safety Canada
• Royal Canadian Mounted Police

Note: Other government departments (e.g., the Department of Justice) are supporting the federal cannabis framework. However, they are not captured in this Horizontal Initiative table, as they have not received targeted funding to support this initiative, "Implementing a New Federal Framework for the Legalization and Strict Regulation of Cannabis".

Start date

April 1, 2017

End date

March 31, 2022

Description

The objective of this horizontal initiative is to implement and administer the federal framework to legalize and strictly regulate cannabis. The Cannabis Act received Royal Assent on June 21, 2018, and came into force on October 17, 2018. The initiative is designed to follow through on the Government's key objectives of protecting public health, safety, and security. More specifically, the initiative aims to prevent young persons from accessing cannabis, to protect public health and public safety by establishing strict product safety and product quality requirements and to deter criminal activity by imposing serious criminal penalties for those operating outside the legal framework.

Federal partner organizations implement ongoing delivery of the regulatory framework including licensing; compliance and enforcement; surveillance; research; national public education and awareness activities; and framework support.
The initiative also supports law enforcement capacity to collect and assess intelligence on the evolution of organized crime involvement in the illicit cannabis market and other related criminal markets.

Activities are organized by five high-level themes:

1. Establish, implement and enforce the new legislative framework;
2. Provide Canadians with information needed to make informed decisions and minimize health and safety harms;
3. Build law enforcement knowledge and engage partners and stakeholders on public safety;
4. Provide criminal intelligence, enforcement and related training activities; and
5. Prevent and interdict prohibited cross-border movement of cannabis while maintaining the flow of legitimate travelers and goods.

Governance structure

The Government of Canada continues to support a robust governance structure to facilitate whole-of-government coordination in implementing and administering the federal framework to legalize and strictly regulate cannabis. At the federal level, this governance structure includes: an Assistant Deputy Minister's Committee that serves as a forum for government-wide coordination of policy and implementation activities; a Directors-General Committee that is responsible for coordinating policy, regulatory development, and implementation activities across federal departments and agencies; and, a Federal Partners Cannabis Data Working Group to promote horizontal collaboration and support evidence-based policy and program development.

Health Canada's Controlled Substances and Cannabis Branch assumes a central coordinating role in tracking key project milestones and in reporting to federal Ministers.

The Government is committed to ongoing collaboration and consultation with provincial and territorial partners. In May 2016, the Federal/Provincial/Territorial (F/P/T) Senior Officials Working Group on Cannabis Legalization and Regulation was established, to enable F/P/T governments to exchange information on important issues about the legalization and regulation of cannabis throughout the consultation, design and implementation of the legislation, regulations, and non-regulatory activities. Supporting F/P/T working groups and committees also facilitate ongoing engagement in key priority areas, including public education and awareness, data development and information sharing, national inventory tracking and implementation. In addition, existing F/P/T bodies are also considering the implications of cannabis legalization and regulation, including F/P/T Deputy Ministers Responsible for Justice and Public Safety, and F/P/T Ministers Responsible for Finance.

Total federal funding allocated from start to end date (dollars)

$546,807,456

Total federal planned spending to date (dollars)

$168,865,207

Total federal actual spending to date (dollars)

$142,659,398

Date of last renewal of initiative

Not applicable

Total federal funding allocated at last renewal and source of funding (dollars)

Not applicable

Additional federal funding received after last renewal (dollars)

Not applicable

Total planned spending since last renewal

Not applicable

Total actual spending since last renewal

Not applicable

Fiscal year of planned completion of next evaluation

2022-23

Planning highlights

The federal government will continue to support the effective implementation of the new cannabis framework in 2020-21, working with provinces, territories, Indigenous governments, municipalities, non-governmental organizations, and communities to meet its objectives. For 2020-21, the federal government will continue to oversee the regulation of licence holders who cultivate and process cannabis as well as standards for products, packaging and labelling, and prohibitions on promotion, that are designed to protect the health and safety of Canadians. Provinces and territories are responsible for determining how cannabis is distributed and sold in their jurisdictions.

More specifically, participating federal departments and agencies have identified the following key priorities for 2020-21.

Health Canada

In 2020-21, Health Canada will:

• Continue to deliver and support organizations in delivering public education and awareness activities with health and safety information associated with cannabis use, including risks associated with new products (edible cannabis, extracts and topicals) - with a focus on youth and young adults, pregnant and breastfeeding women, Indigenous populations, individuals with mental health problems and LGBTQ populations;
• Continue to work with provincial/territorial and Indigenous governments, organizations and communities to support, among others, public education surrounding cannabis use;
• Continue to administer the cannabis, hemp, research and analytical testing licensing regimes and review or establish application processing service standards for each application type;
• Continue to promote, monitor, verify and enforce compliance with legislative and regulatory requirements through a risk-based approach with a focus on new cannabis products (i.e., edible cannabis, extracts and topicals);
• Support Public Safety in the establishment of a federal, provincial and territorial action plan to disrupt illicit cannabis online sales;
• Continue to leverage internal and open-source data to inform risk-based compliance and enforcement decisions;
• Maintain the system that provides reasonable access to cannabis for medical purposes by continuing to licence new entities to sell cannabis for medical purposes and registering individuals who have the support of their health care practitioner to produce cannabis for their own medical purposes; and,
• Continue to collect and review scientific evidence, research and cannabis-related data to better understand the health effects of cannabis, patterns in cannabis use (frequency, methods of consumption, source, etc.), and perceptions of cannabis use, and to inform risk assessments, regulatory decisions and public education activities.

Canada Border Services Agency

In 2020-21, CBSA will continue to advance initiatives that support the identification and interception of high-risk people, goods and conveyances that pose a threat to the security of Canadians with respect to the illegitimate cross-border movement of cannabis. Planning highlights for 2020-21 include:

• Implement an Administrative Monetary Penalty (AMP) regime for cannabis-related contraventions of the Customs Act, applicable to travellers at Canada's ports of entry, that will enhance the CBSA's capacity to promote compliance while providing travellers with access to recourse mechanisms to challenge certain CBSA actions and decisions in a timely manner;
• Continue to monitor and report on the Agency's capacity to prevent and interdict prohibited cross-border movement of cannabis, while maintaining the flow of legitimate travellers and goods;
• Work with law enforcement partners to maintain border integrity and discourage the illicit cross-border movement of cannabis; and
• Provide laboratory-based analysis of seized products suspected of containing cannabis, whereby the CBSA laboratory will continue to provide scientific advice, perform testing, and provide certificates of analysis for evidentiary purposes.

Public Health Agency of Canada

In 2020-21, PHAC will continue to support the role of Canada's Chief Public Health Officer by undertaking the following:

• Inform public education needs by working with partners and stakeholders to conduct knowledge synthesis and translation in priority areas (e.g., cannabis edibles, extracts and topicals);
• Leverage existing programs, networks, initiatives and collaborations to effectively reach priority populations (e.g., health care professionals, pregnant and breastfeeding women, seniors) with tailored public education messaging on cannabis; and,
• Develop and promote messages and resources for educators and health professionals to prevent/reduce problematic substance use in youth.

Public Safety Canada

In 2020-21, PS will:

• Continue to provide policy assistance to support efforts aimed at displacing organized crime from the cannabis market;
• Work with federal, provincial and territorial partners to address emerging issues related to the illicit sales of cannabis with a view to keeping cannabis out of the hands of youth and profits out of the pockets of organized crime;
• Continue to identify data gaps and create opportunities to strengthen data collection through collaboration with Statistics Canada and Health Canada, by:
  • developing new indicators and collect baseline data on organized crime; and
  • participating in the Data and Evidence Working Group (DEWG) and the Federal/Provincial/Territorial partners Cannabis Data Working Group (FPTCDWG) whose role is to leverage and coordinate Pan-Canadian surveillance and data collection on drug and substance presence, use, harms, treatment and outcomes at the national level.
• Undertake research to facilitate evidence-based development of public safety policy and program initiatives, including education and crime prevention activities:
  • use the increased knowledge related to patterns and prevalence of non-medical cannabis use, perceived risks of using cannabis, and the cannabis market in the pre- and post-legislation to inform the development of public safety policy, legislation and programs; and,
  • develop better understanding of the nature, scope, availability, and prices of illicit sales of cannabis, illicit drugs, and opioids by monitoring the illicit commercial retail market.
• Collaborate with the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction on research and organizing thematic activities and working with other institutions such as Statistics Canada, Health Canada and Justice Canada; and,
• Continue public education and awareness activities to provide Canadians, in particular young Canadians aged 16-24, with information on the legal implications and laws associated with cannabis use and driving.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police

In 2020-21, the RCMP will work collaboratively to develop appropriate responses, including targeted awareness products, through ongoing interactions with stakeholders. The RCMP will identify trends related to organized crime infiltration and money-making schemes in relation to both the legitimate and the illegal markets. Through in-person engagement and the use of technology, the RCMP will continue to focus on increasing awareness and education of cannabis legalization, with an emphasis on possession, production, and distribution of cannabis for Indigenous and youth populations by undertaking the following select initiatives:

• Develop evidence-based learning materials for youth audiences, including lesson plans, fact sheets, presentations, posters, brochures and online campaigns (such as Operation Think of Me) for use by RCMP School Resource Officers, Community Program Officers, school administrators and persons who work with youth on cannabis legalization and regulation;
• Engage youth nationally by hosting Facebook LIVE interactive panel discussions with our National Youth Advisory Committee;
• Deliver 'RCMP Talks' videoconferencing sessions, which connect Canadian youth for open and real-time conversations, and allow the RCMP to learn directly from youth on the impacts of cannabis, trends related to attaining and using cannabis, and provide the RCMP with an opportunity to work with youth to be leaders in the prevention of illicit use.

The RCMP will play a key coordinating role in stakeholder engagement, establishing networks and in the development and distribution of national awareness products to ensure consistency and support for stakeholder outreach. In 2020-21, Federal Policing Prevention and Engagement work will focus on:

• Engagement with industry;
• Creating products to align with emerging trends in the illicit cannabis market; and
• Contributing to the disruption of organized crime involvement in the illicit online cannabis market.

In 2020-21, the RCMP will continue its efforts to support training and capacity development by engaging in the following activities:

• Design and develop online training to support the upcoming regulations related to new classes of cannabis (i.e., cannabis edibles, extracts and topicals) and the recent changes to the Excise Act 2001 following the introduction of the Cannabis Act;
• Re-design the Federal Policing Advanced Excise Course to reflect the new legislation;
• Review and amend existing Federal Policing operational training courses in all of the respective program areas to reflect the new legislation; and,
• Co-ordinate and deliver National Cannabis Awareness Sessions through Federal Policing Training Services for Federal Policing employees.

The RCMP will continue to work with partners on various cannabis policy related initiatives, such as the approach to law enforcement in Indigenous communities, online illegal dispensaries, and regulations related to cannabis edibles, extracts and topicals. Furthermore, in 2020-21, the RCMP will leverage existing forums such as the Canadian Association Chiefs of Police to discuss and advance current or emerging policy initiatives.

The RCMP will continue to develop criminal intelligence products to identify, target, and disrupt criminal involvement in the Canadian cannabis market, and share intelligence with law enforcement agencies, domestic government partners, and international law enforcement partners. In 2020-21, the RCMP will continue to:

• Coordinate criminal intelligence across divisions and law enforcement/regulatory partners to effectively plan enforcement action against organized criminal activity in the Canadian cannabis market; and,
• Work with divisional partners, provincial and federal law enforcement agencies, and regulatory partners to identify intelligence gaps and requirements for effective intelligence collection.

The RCMP will continue to support the Minister of Health's decisions on security clearances required as part of the licensing regime for cannabis cultivators and processors, which includes identifying criminality or associations to criminal organizations and verifying this information with the law enforcement organizations of jurisdiction.

Contact information

Health Canada

John Clare
A/Director General
Controlled Substances and Cannabis Branch
John.Clare@canada.ca
613-941-8371

Horizontal initiative framework: departmental funding by theme (dollars)

Horizontal initiative: Implementing a New Federal Framework for the Legalization and Strict Regulation of Cannabis

Shared outcomes:

• SO 1. Cannabis is kept out of the hands of Canadian children and youth
• SO 2. Criminal involvement in the illicit cannabis market is reduced

Planning information

Theme 1: Establish, implement and enforce the new horizontal initiative

Expected results

Health Canada

• ER 1.1.1 A federally licensed and regulated (non-medical) industry is established.
• ER 1.1.2 The federally licensed industry understands the legislation and regulatory requirements.
• ER 1.1.3 The federally licensed industry is found to be compliant with regulatory requirements.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police

• ER 1.2 Law Enforcement Records Checks (LERCs) are conducted in support of HC's security clearance decisions.

Performance indicators

Health Canada

• PI 1.1.1.1 Number of licence applications decisions per year.
• PI 1.1.1.2 Percentage of licensed applications reviewed within internal service standards.
• PI 1.1.2 Percentage of federal licence holders who indicate they have access to information to help them understand the regulatory requirements.
• PI 1.1.3 Percentage of federally licensed industry that is found to be compliant with regulatory requirements.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police

• PI 1.2 Percentage of LERCs completed within negotiated service standards.

Targets

Health Canada

• T 1.1.1.1 1,050
• T 1.1.1.2 75%
• T 1.1.2 80%
• T 1.1.3 95%

Royal Canadian Mounted Police

• T 1.2. 75%

Theme 2: Provide Canadians with information needed to make informed decisions and minimize health and safety harms

Expected results

Health Canada

• ER 2.1.1 Canadian youth understand the potential health and safety risks associated with cannabis use.
• ER 2.1.2 Canadians use information to make informed decisions about the potential health and safety risks associated with the use of cannabis.

Public Health Agency of Canada

• ER 2.2.1 Health care and social service professionals and public health officials have access to high-quality public health information.
• ER 2.2.2 Health care and social service professionals and public health officials use information, knowledge and data products related to the public health impacts of cannabis and interventions to address them.

Public Safety Canada

• ER 2.3.1 Canadians are aware of the legal implications associated with cannabis use, and understand the laws associated with the new legislation.
• ER 2.3.2 Canadians use information provided by the program to make informed, lawful decisions.

Performance indicators

Health Canada

• PI 2.1.1 Percentage of youth (grades 7-12) who perceive that there is "no risk" in smoking cannabis on a regular basis.
• PI 2.1.2 Percentage of parents who discuss cannabis with their youth.

Public Health Agency of Canada

• PI 2.2.1 Number of health care and social service professionals and public health officials accessing high-quality public health information and data products developed.
• PI 2.2.2 Percentage of Chief Public Health Officer's Health Professionals Forum member organizations using information, knowledge and data products to make informed decisions.

Public Safety Canada

• PI 2.3.1 Percentage of Canadians (aged 15-24) who indicate that they are aware of the new legislation, and the consequences related to making certain decisions involving cannabis.
• PI 2.3.2 Percentage of Canadians (aged 15-24) who have indicated that they have made informed, lawful decisions around cannabis that protected themselves, and the safety of others.

Targets

Health Canada

• T 2.1.1 TBD by August 31, 2020
• T 2.1.2 TBD by December 31, 2020

Public Health Agency of Canada

• T 2.2.1 TBD by March 31, 2020
• T 2.2.2 75% by March 31, 2021

Public Safety Canada

• T 2.3.1 TBD by March 31,2020
• T 2.3.2 TBD by March 31, 2020

Theme 3: Build law enforcement knowledge and engage partners and stakeholders on public safety

Expected results

Public Safety Canada

• ER 3.1.1 Law enforcement is well-informed to apply the new legislation.
• ER 3.1.2 Evidence-based decision-making on organized crime and policing issues.
• ER 3.1.3 Research projects related to cannabis and performance measurement implemented.
• ER 3.1.4 Policy development and decision-making is informed by evidence and performance measurement.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police

• ER 3.2.1 RCMP prevention and engagement activities support enhanced understanding among targeted partners and stakeholders, including youth and Indigenous communities.
• ER 3.2.2 Enhanced capacity of target populations, including partners and stakeholders, youth and Indigenous communities, to respond to the new cannabis regime.

Performance indicators

Public Safety Canada

• PI 3.1.1 Percentage of law enforcement knowledgeable about the changes to the new regime, and able to use the legislative framework as a result of the training materials.
• PI 3.1.2.1 Percentage of stakeholders who indicate that the materials informed decision making.
• PI 3.1.2.2 Number of working meetings and consultations with stakeholders held.
• PI 3.1.2.3 Number of new initiatives considered for implementation.
• PI 3.1.3 Percentage of research projects related to performance measurement completed and disseminated.
• PI 3.1.4 Percentage of stakeholders indicating that policy development and decision making was based on performance measurement results and lessons learned.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police

• PI 3.2.1.1 Percentage of targeted federal partners and stakeholders who strongly agree or agree with the statement "RCMP Federal Policing contributes to increased understanding specific to the new cannabis regime, organized crime, and the illicit cannabis market".
• PI 3.2.1.2 Number of information inquiries responded to by the Centre for Youth Crime Prevention.
• PI 3.2.2.1 Percentage of targeted partners/stakeholders who strongly agree or agree with the statement "RCMP Federal Policing contributes to an increased skills/ability to respond to the new cannabis regime".
• PI 3.2.2.2 Percentage of youth resource officers who positively assessed the impact of training.

Targets

Public Safety Canada

• T 3.1.1 33% of frontline police officers access materials
  75% of officers with access to materials find the materials helpful.
• T 3.1.2.1 75%
• T 3.1.2.2 15
• T 3.1.2.3 2
• T 3.1.3 100%
• T 3.1.4 50%

Royal Canadian Mounted Police

• T 3.2.1.1 45%
• T 3.2.1.2 150
• T 3.2.2.1 30%
• T 3.2.2.2 80%

Theme 4: Provide criminal intelligence, enforcement and related training activities

Expected results

Royal Canadian Mounted Police

• ER 4.1.1 Information and intelligence products/advice related to illicit substances (including cannabis) are shared with Canadian law enforcement agencies and available to be used to target organized crime.
• ER 4.1.2 Canadian law enforcement agencies have intelligence information to nationally coordinate activities to target organized crime groups involved in the Canadian cannabis market.
• ER 4.1.3 RCMP staff have access to required training in regards to enforcement of the new cannabis regime.
• ER 4.1.4 RCMP employees have an increased ability to enforce the new cannabis regime.

Performance indicators

Royal Canadian Mounted Police

• PI 4.1.1 Percentage or number of RCMP information / intelligence products / advice incorporating organized crime groups' activities in the Canadian cannabis market shared with RCMP senior management, divisions, domestic partners (including Canadian law enforcement) or international partners.
• PI 4.1.2.1 Number of organized crime groups involved in the illicit cannabis market for which there are intelligence gaps is reduced which will result in efficient and accurate targeting by the law enforcement community.
• PI 4.1.2.2 Number or percentage of information and intelligence products that are used to guide enforcement against organized crime groups in the Canadian cannabis market.
• PI 4.1.3 Percentage of target audience who have received the appropriate cannabis related training.
• PI 4.1.4 Percentage of training participants who reported an increased level of knowledge and ability to enforce the new cannabis regime.

Targets

Royal Canadian Mounted Police

• T 4.1.1 10
• T 4.1.2.1 TBD by December 31, 2022
• T 4.1.2.2 3
• T 4.1.3 FP training: 100%
  Learning and Development: 80%.
• T 4.1.4 FP training: 90%
  Learning and Development: 100%.

Theme 5: Prevent and interdict prohibited cross-border movement of cannabis while maintaining the flow of legitimate travellers and goods

Expected results

Canada Border Services Agency

• ER 5.1.1 Travellers understand the requirements to declare cannabis and cannabis-related products when entering Canada.
• ER 5.1.2 Travellers are provided a clear opportunity to declare cannabis in their possession at all primary inspection sites.
• ER 5.1.3 CBSA has enhanced capacity to promote compliance and to enforce import-related laws.
• ER 5.1.4 Prohibited cross border movement of cannabis is detected.
• ER 5.1.5 Travellers and the import/export community have access to recourse mechanisms to challenge certain CBSA actions and decisions in a timely manner.

Performance indicators

Canada Border Services Agency

• PI 5.1.1.1 Percentage of ports of entry with displayed signage on cannabis.
• PI 5.1.1.2 CBSA awareness tools are in place to inform travelling public on prohibition of cross-border movement of cannabis.
• PI 5.1.2 Percentage of relevant primary inspection kiosks, systems, training materials, operational guidelines and forms in all modes updated.
• PI 5.1.3 Number of cannabis import interdictions at ports of entry.
• PI 5.1.4 Percentage of referred cannabis samples analyzed within 30 days.
• PI 5.1.5.1 Percentage of appeals received that are acknowledged within 10 calendar days.
• PI 5.1.5.2 Percentage of Enforcement and Trusted Traveller appeals received that are decided within 180 calendar days.
• PI 5.1.5.3 Percentage of Trade related appeals - Tariff Classification - that are decided within 365 calendars days (for cases never held in abeyance).
• PI 5.1.5.4 Percentage of cannabis-related complaints for which the CBSA contact the complainant within 14 calendar days after a written complaint is received.
• PI 5.1.5.5 Percentage of cannabis-related complaints for which CBSA provides a final written response to the complainant within 40 calendar days after a written complaint is received.

Targets

Canada Border Services Agency

• T 5.1.1.1 Completed in 2018-19
• T 5.1.1.2 Completed in 2018-19
• T 5.1.2 100%
• T 5.1.3 TBD by April 30, 2020
• T 5.1.4 90%
• T 5.1.5.1 85%
• T 5.1.5.2 70%
• T 5.1.5.3 70%
• T 5.1.5.4 85%
• T 5.1.5.5 90%

Gender-Based Analysis Plus

Governance structures

Launched in 2017, Health Canada's Sex and Gender Action Plan provides a framework that strengthens the integration of sex, gender and diversity considerations (such as age and ethnicity) in externally as well as internally facing work of the Department. Note that the terms Gender-Based Analysis Plus (GBA+) and Sex and Gender-Based Analysis Plus (SGBA+) refer to the same concept. Health Canada has chosen to use SGBA+ to emphasize the fact that differences between women, men and gender-diverse individuals can be biological (sex related) and/or socio-cultural (gender related).

The purpose of the Plan is to establish the Department as an organization where sex, gender and diversity are systematically integrated into our decision-making processes. Foci of the Plan continue to be i) building departmental capacity; ii) strengthening our evidence-base and expertise; and iii) increasing accountability.

Monitoring, accountability and reporting mechanisms supporting the integration of sex and gender-based analysis plus (SGBA+) in departmental decision-making includes:

• The Gender and Health Unit (GHU), as the SGBA+ responsibility centre, continues to support the systematic integration of sex and gender-based analysis in departmental work;
• The biennial Health Portfolio SGBA+ Employee Survey, which will be conducted again in 2020 to continue monitoring the progress in implementing SGBA+ in the Department;
• An evaluation of the effectiveness of the Sex and Gender Action Plan will be done 2020-21. This, along with sex and gender indicators measured through the program information profiles, will help to ensure the consideration of sex and gender in departmental programming. The results of these activities will be reported to senior management and published on the Health Canada website;
• Health Canada's annual Sex and Gender Symposium in 2021 will showcase the final results of the Sex and Gender Action Plan signature initiatives from across the Department, including the seven co-funded research policy partnership projects. The results of these activities will help to guide future implementation of sex, gender and diversity within the Department;
• Departmental mapping and review of all information holdings, required by the Treasury Board of Canada as part of the Gender Inclusive Services initiative will help to ensure consistency with the Policy Direction to Modernize the Government of Canada's Sex and Gender Information Practices.
• An annual progress report provided to the Deputy Minister and published on the Health Canada website; and
• The annual progress report to the Department of Women and Gender Equality and central agencies;

Human resources

In 2020-21, the total number of planned full-time equivalents (FTEs), dedicated to SGBA+ implementation in the Department is 19. This includes four full-time employees in the GHU, supporting employees across the Department. The other 15 FTEs consist of partial equivalents based on the work by other employees whose work is not exclusively focussed on sex and gender but who:

• apply SGBA+ analysis for policy proposals, such as Memoranda to Cabinet, and Treasury Board Submissions;
• consider sex, gender and diversity in the development of regulations;
• develop and organize SGBA+ training;
• develop guidance tools in support of SGBA+ activities such as research, policies, regulations, etc.;
• participate in the departmental SGBA+ working group;
• help to identify populations at high risk with respect to toxicity of pesticides, other chemicals as well as other health hazards;
• provide support and advice to those applying SGBA+ in their branch; and
• track/monitor and evaluate the application of SGBA+.

Planned initiatives

Health Canada incorporates a gender equality, diversity and inclusiveness lens in its work. The Department recognizes the importance of considering populations with unique needs when delivering its mandate to help Canadians maintain and improve their health.

Enhanced Capacity Building

• Health Canada is developing a toolkit that applies a sex and gender lens to mental health in order to promote a better understanding on how sex, gender and diversity contribute to mental health experiences in the workplace. Based on early findings, a training session was provided to departmental staff and gender sensitive tools are being developed to help assess impacts of sex, gender and diversity on workplace mental health.
• Health Canada has an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) that provides services to employees in many federal departments and agencies, as well as to members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), members of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), and veterans of the CAF and the RCMP. The EAP applies a GBA+ lens to its policies, procedures and services. Based on findings from research conducted in 2018-19, the following will serve as a focus for 2020-21:
  • Further explore the development and use of resources and new technologies to enhance outreach to groups who may access services at lower rates such as males, LGBTQ+ persons, indigenous persons, and victims and perpetrators of intimate partner violence; and
  • Ensuring that data collection and reporting include the GBA+ lens going forward.

Strengthened sex and gender related evidence and expertise

In order to strengthen the sex and gender related evidence available within the organization Health Canada will:

• Fund two new external research partnerships with the Canadian Institutes of Health that focus on applying an SGBA lens to the lifecycle management of prescription drugs and medical devices.
• Continue building on a research partnership with McGill University to examine systematically sex, gender, and diversity differences in consumer perceptions of health product labelling.
• Leverage the newly launched Scientific Advisory Committee on Health Products for Women to provide patient-centered, scientific, technical, medical and clinical advice on current and emerging issues regarding women's health and the regulation of medical devices and drugs.
• Develop an approach to address recommendations generated by the 2019 report entitled Sex, Gender and Cannabis, published in partnership with the Canadian Institutes for Health Research. Using an SGBA+ lens focusing on sex, gender, diversity, and equity issues, the report covers cannabis research, public education, awareness and prevention. Its findings and recommendations will help inform the Department's delivery of evidence-informed programming, public education and awareness, and communications.

Considering Marginalized Canadians in Risk Communications

• The Pest Control Products Act explicitly requires consideration of sensitivities to pest control products for major identifiable subgroups and marginalized Canadians including, pregnant women, infants, children and seniors. SGBA+ will also continue to be taken into consideration in the design of risk communication activities, in order to target specific at-risk populations and tailor the messaging to their interests and needs. For example, activities in a social marketing campaign related to chemicals management will be tailored to specific audiences such as pregnant women, parents of young children, youth, new Canadians, and other at risk populations.

Addressing Health Inequities

In 2020-21, Health Canada is moving forward on several SGBA+ initiatives that have a specific focus on creating a more equitable landscape for health products and food in Canada. Some of these initiatives include:

• Launching a robust regulatory innovation agenda aimed at facilitating the entry of novel health products, many of which can be customized to the needs of specific sub-populations, such as children, those with rare diseases, and/or Canadians in remote and rural areas.
• Optimizing the way the Department uses real world evidence across the product life cycle to improve access to health products, particularly those intended for populations which are traditionally under-represented in clinical trials.
• Continuing to examine how intersecting identity factors and needs inform the development of tools and resources for the Canada Food Guide.
• Launching a new Nutrition Science Advisory Committee, which among several areas of focus, will provide advice to Health Canada on nutrition issues related to vulnerable groups with a particular attention on health inequities.

Reporting capacity and data

SGBA+ is applied to all policies and programs developed in the department. The five programs listed below collect microdata on an individual level.

Most of our externally facing programs have a broad, higher level focus and do not collect individual level micro data.

Health Canada is in the process of completing a department wide data / information mapping exercise as part of the modernization of our Sex and Gender Information Practices. This exercise will identify all databases and datasets that include sex and / or gender identity information and review them to ensure that they are consistent with the new Treasury Board Secretariat (TBS) Policy Direction to Modernize the Government of Canada's Sex and Gender Information Practices. This information will be reported as required by the TBS.

1. Program Inventory 4: Mental Health
   1. The GBA+ relevant data captured is: geographic data (province/territory, postal code, etc.), sex, ethnicity, marital status, language. (Data Source - CCHS)
   2. Target population: individual Canadians.
   3. No Report
2. Program Inventory 9: Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID)
   1. The GBA+ relevant data captured is: sex, age, province, 'main' condition.
   2. Target population: individual Canadians.
   3. Reported as follows:
      1. MAID Annual Report (Spring 2020).
3. Program Inventory 13: Promoting Minority Official Languages in the Health Care Systems
   1. The GBA+ relevant data captured is: sex, profession, employment status.
   2. Target population: healthcare professionals.
   3. Reported as follows:
      1. Annually to Heritage Canada as part of Health Canada's input to the federal Action Plan for Official Languages - 2018-2023: Investing in our Future.
4. Program Inventory 15: Thalidomide
   1. The GBA+ relevant data captured is: sex, gender.
   2. Target population: individual Canadians.
   3. No report.
5. Program Inventory 21: Food and Nutrition
   1. The GBA+ relevant data captured is: sex, gender, age, ethnicity. (data Source -CCHS)
   2. Target population: individual Canadians.
   3. No report.

Up-front multi-year funding

Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement

General information

Recipient information

Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement, formerly the Canadian Health Services Research Foundation

Start date

1996-97

End date

Not applicable

Link to departmental result(s)

Core Responsibility 1: Health Care Systems
Result 1: Canada has modern and sustainable health care systems

Link to department's Program Inventory

Program 1: Health Care Systems Analysis and Policy

Purpose and objectives of transfer payment program

When the Canadian Health Services Research Foundation (CHSRF) was established as an independent organization, its priorities were to bring researchers and decision-makers together to identify gaps in applied health services research, fund the researchers who could investigate those gaps, and promote best practices of health services delivery and their outcomes. To reflect the evolution of its work, CHSRF was renamed the Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement (CFHI) in 2012. CFHI aims to: find and promote health care innovators and innovations; drive rapid adoption of proven innovations; enable improvement-oriented systems; and, shape the future of healthcare.

Up-front multi-year funding to CFHI included:

• 1996-97: A $66.5 million endowment established the CHSRF.

Additional federal grants were provided to CHSRF for the following purposes:

• 1999: $25 million to support a ten-year program to develop capacity for research on nursing recruitment, retention, management, leadership and the issues emerging from health system restructuring (Nursing Research Fund).
• 1999: $35 million to support its participation in the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.
• 2003: $25 million to develop a program to equip health system managers and their organizations with the skills to find, assess, interpret and use research to better manage the Canadian health care system (Executive Training for Research Application or EXTRA).

Total funding approved (dollars)

151,500,000

Total funding received (dollars)

1996 - 66,500,000
1999 - 60,000,000
2003 - 25,000,000

Planned funding in 2020−21 (dollars)

0

Planned funding in 2021−22 (dollars)

0

Planned funding in 2022−23 (dollars)

0

Note: CFHI is also reported under the "Details on Transfer Payment Programs" section of the Supplementary Information Tables.

Summary of recipient's annual plans

CFHI works with patients, families and caregivers; health and social service providers; governments and other public and private sector organizations to accelerate the identification, spread and scale of proven healthcare innovations.

CFHI's remaining up-front multi-year funding is being held in reserve to address costs associated with any negative revisions to CFHI's future funding, should it be needed, for example, potential outcomes from the External Review of the Federally Funded Pan-Canadian Health Organizations.

Canada Health Infoway

General information

Recipient information

Canada Health Infoway (Infoway)

Start date

March 31, 2001^{Footnote 2}

End date

March 31, 2015^{Footnote 3}

Link to departmental result(s)

Core Responsibility 1: Health Care Systems
Result 1: Canada has modern and sustainable health care systems
Result 2: Canadians have access to appropriate and effective health services

Link to department's Program Inventory

Program 6: Digital Health

Purpose and objectives of transfer payment program

Canada Health Infoway Inc. is an independent, not-for-profit corporation established in 2001 to accelerate the development of electronic health technologies such as electronic health records (EHRs) and telehealth on a pan-Canadian basis.

Between 2001 and 2010, the Government of Canada committed $2.1 billion to Infoway in the form of grants and up-front multi-year funding consisting of: $500 million in 2001 to strengthen a Canada-wide health infostructure, with the EHR as a priority; $600 million in 2003 to accelerate implementation of the EHR and Telehealth; $100 million in 2004 to support the development of a pan-Canadian health surveillance system; $400 million in 2007 to support continued work on EHRs and wait time reductions; and $500 million in 2010 to support continued implementation of EHRs, implementation of electronic medical records (EMRs) in physicians' offices, and integration of points of service with the EHR system. Infoway invests in electronic health projects in collaboration with a range of partners, in particular provincial and territorial governments, typically on a cost-shared basis. Project payments are made based on the completion of pre-determined milestones.

It is anticipated that Infoway's approach, where federal, provincial and territorial governments participate toward a goal of modernizing electronic health information systems, will reduce costs and improve the quality of health care and patient safety in Canada through coordination of effort, avoidance of duplication and errors, and improved access to patient data.

Total funding approved (dollars)

2,100,000,000

Total funding received (dollars)

2,093,398,112*

* This amount only represents funds disbursed to Infoway since its creation in 2001 up to November 2019, including the immediate lump sum disbursements in 2001, 2003 and 2004 totaling $1.2 billion as well as funds disbursed through cash flow requests under the 2007 and 2010 funding agreements.

Planned funding in 2020−21 (dollars)

To be determined⁽ⁱ⁾

Planned funding in 2021−22 (dollars)

To be determined⁽ⁱ⁾

Planned funding in 2022−23 (dollars)

To be determined⁽ⁱ⁾

(i) As per both the 2007 and 2010 contribution agreements, funds are to be disbursed according to the annual cash flow requirements identified by Infoway. These requirements are to be submitted to Health Canada no later than March 30, in advance of the upcoming fiscal year to which that cash flow statement applies. Also, Infoway can submit additional cash flow requests within a fiscal year, should the need for additional funding arise.

Note: Budget 2017 contribution funding to Infoway is reported under the "Details on Transfer Payment Programs" section of the Supplementary Information Tables.

Summary of recipient's annual plans

The following is a summary of plans related to up-front multi-year funding.^{Footnote 4}

At its inception in 2010, Infoway received $2.1 billion in up-front multi-year funding from the federal government. This funding was invested in 12 programs (e.g., EMR and EHR) by the Board. Each program was broken down by jurisdictions into smaller projects. As of March 31, 2019, Infoway has spent $2.014 billion of the original $2.1 billion and has made commitments for the remaining $86 million. An estimated $49 million of the $86 million will be spent in 2019-20.

Infoway is currently undertaking its Driving Access to Care Strategy which is comprised of two programs: PrescribeIT and ACCESS Health. To date, 10 jurisdictions have formally agreed to participate in the PrescibeIT program (all except for Nunavut, Quebec, and British Columbia). Infoway has also secured partnerships with several distributers. Infoway also continues to develop its ACCESS Health program. It is currently designing two facets of the program: Access Atlantic and Access Gateway. As a part of the ACCESS Health Program, Infoway is developing a national trust framework to help protect the privacy and manage the consent of patients.