Ottawa, Ontario - 24 October 2014
Prime Minister Stephen Harper today announced his intention to recommend the appointment of Krista Outhwaite, currently Executive Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer of the Public Health Agency of Canada, as the first President of the Public Health Agency of Canada. As the Agency's deputy head, the President will manage the Agency and its day-to-day operations. This appointment would be made further to proposed amendments to the Public Health Agency of Canada Act, which would come into force following parliamentary approval and Royal Assent of the Economic Action Plan 2014 Act, No. 2.
- The Public Health Agency of Canada and the position of Chief Public Health Officer were created in 2004.
- The proposed separation of the role of deputy head and accounting officer, with responsibilities for managing the Agency, from that of the Chief Public Health Officer will allow the Chief Public Health Officer to focus their time more exclusively on their role as the Government's lead public health professional.
Biographical notes attached.
