Public Health Agency of Canada mandate

Learn about our responsibilities, mission, vision and core values.

On this page

• Mandate
• Mission and vision
• Core values
• History

Mandate

The role of the Public Health Agency of Canada is to:

• promote health
• prevent and control chronic diseases and injuries
• prevent and control infectious diseases
• prepare for and respond to public health emergencies

We serve as a central point for sharing Canada's expertise with the rest of the world. As such, our role is also to:

• strengthen public health collaboration between governments
• facilitate national approaches to public health policy and planning
• apply international research and development to Canada's public health programs

Learn more:

• Our responsibilities as part of the health portfolio
• Public Health Agency legislation, acts and regulations

Mission and vision

Mission

Improve the health of all people and communities in Canada by addressing public health priorities through science, innovation, service delivery and collaborative action.

Vision

Health, well-being and equity for all people and communities in Canada.

Core values

These 6 core values complement and reinforce those set out in the Values and Ethics Code for the Public Sector.

1. Agility: We aim to be an agile public health agency that's prepared to respond to any upcoming threat in a timely manner. It's not enough to be able to adapt to change: we must instead be designed to adapt.
2. Health equity: We strive to ensure everyone can reach their full health potential. This includes working to remove barriers to access related to social determinants of health, such as race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation and socioeconomic status.
3. Integrity: We uphold the value of integrity by prioritizing security, upholding ethical standards, respecting democratic principles and responsibly managing public resources. Transparency and accountability are foundational pillars that underpin effective governance, democracy and trusted communication.
4. Scientific excellence and a culture of innovation: We'll achieve our mandate through a continued commitment to science excellence and innovation. One of our top priorities is to ensure that public health guidance, programs and policies are grounded in data.
5. Collaborative leadership: We build relationships with partners to combine our strengths and resources, helping us to solve shared challenges. Although we assume a federal leadership role, we have an equally important role to play as a convener to foster a comprehensive and integrated approach.
6. Culture of community: We strive to foster a workplace culture where kindness, empathy, support and well-being are prioritized and ingrained in our practices. This contributes to a safe and healthy work environment that promotes collaboration, openness and transparency.

Learn more:

• Values and Ethics Code for the Public Sector

History

The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) was created in 2004 in response to growing concerns about the capacity of Canada's public health system to anticipate and respond effectively to public health threats. PHAC's creation was the result of wide consultation with the provinces, territories, stakeholders and Canadians. (The Federal Strategy)

The Agency's creation also followed recommendations from leading public health experts ― including Dr. David Naylor's report, Learning from SARS: Renewal of Public Health in Canada, as well as other Canadian and international reports ― for clear federal leadership on issues concerning public health and improved collaboration within and between jurisdictions.

PHAC became one of six departments and agencies that make up the Government of Canada's Health Portfolio, led by Canada's first Chief Public Health Officer.

The Agency and the Chief Public Health Officer provide a clear focal point for federal leadership and accountability in managing public health emergencies.

Text description

This image of a timeline provides examples of major milestones for the Agency, including:

• 2004: Establishment of the Public Health Agency of Canada
• 2005: Establishment of the Pan-Canadian Public Health Network
• 2007: Launch of Health Infobase
• 2008: Response to Listeriosis Outbreak
• 2009: Response to Pandemic Influenza H1N1
• 2013-2014: Ebola outbreak in West Africa: key role in developing Ebola vaccine
• 2015: PHAC supports resettlement of Syrian refugees
• 2017-Present: Response to the epidemic of opioid overdoses
• 2019: Release of Canada's Dementia Strategy
• 2020-2023: Response to COVID-19 global pandemic
• 2021-Present: Supports resettlement of Afghan/Ukrainian refugees
• 2022: Response to Mpox outbreak in Canada
• 2023: Launch of the 9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline
• 2024: Emergency Response to HPAI A(H5N1)

Related links

Agency context

• Who we are
• Background
• Acts and regulations
• Population health approach
• Frequently asked questions
• Public Health Agency of Canada Act

Corporate management and reporting

• Audits
• Evaluations
• Public engagement
• Proactive disclosure
• Departmental plans
• External advisory bodies
• Quarterly financial reports
• Departmental results report
• Access to information and privacy
• PHAC Sustainable Development Strategy
• Fighting against forced labour and child labour in Canadian supply chains