Privacy and the Public Health Agency of Canada
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Overview
The Privacy Act provides Canadian citizens, permanent residents or individuals present in Canada with the right to access personal information held about them by the government. It also protects against unauthorized disclosure of that personal information. In addition, the Act strictly controls how the federal government will collect, use, store, disclose and dispose of any personal information.
Privacy impact assessment reports
The Government of Canada is committed to privacy and the protection of personal information used in the course of providing programs and services to the public.
To assure Canadians that privacy principles are being taken into account when there are proposals for the design, implementation and evolution of programs and services that raise privacy issues, the Agency's ATIP Office assists in the development and maintenance of Privacy Impact Assessments and communicates the results of Privacy Impact Assessments to the Privacy Commissioner and the public.
Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease Surveillance System
The Canadian Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease Surveillance System (CJDSS) is operated by the Public Health Agency of Canada and conducts prospective national surveillance for all types of human prion disease in Canada.
Access privacy impact assessment on the Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease Surveillance System
Centre for Biosecurity: Administration of the Human Pathogens and Toxins Act and Regulations (March 2017)
The Centre for Biosecurity collects personal information to uphold the requirements of the Human Pathogens and Toxins Act (HPTA) and Human Pathogens and Toxins Regulations (HPTR) to promote the health, safety and security of all Canadians.
Quarantine Program (December 2016)
The Quarantine Program works to prevent the spread of communicable diseases into, and out of, Canada.
The Quarantine Program is a legislated Public Health Agency (PHAC) program that is delivered by the Quarantine Program in collaboration with border health partners, such as the Canadian Border Services Agency, at all Canadian international points of entry.
Tracks Enhanced Surveillance System (August 2016)
The Tracks Enhanced Surveillance System is a behavioural and biological surveillance system that monitors HIV, hepatitis C and other sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (STBBI) and associated risk behaviours among at-risk populations in Canada.
Access privacy impact assessment on the Tracks Enhanced Surveillance System
National Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) Surveillance System (HASS) (April 2016)
The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) manages the National HIV/AIDS Surveillance System (HASS) and works in collaboration with the provinces and territories (PTs). HASS is a passive case-based surveillance system that collates non-nominal data on HIV and AIDS cases in Canada. Data is voluntarily submitted to PHAC from all PT public health authorities.
Canadian Congenital Anomalies Surveillance System (CCASS) (March 2016)
The Canadian Congenital Anomalies Surveillance System (CCASS) is a population-based surveillance of congenital anomalies which captures secondary health surveillance information on all infants born in Canada and diagnosed as having a congenital anomaly within the first year of life. Under the CCASS, PHAC collaborates with the provinces and territories and other stakeholders to enhance established surveillance systems and to support the development of new systems where there is currently none.
PHAC manages the CCASS program and works in collaboration with the provinces and territories (PT) to obtain congenital anomalies data through memorandums of agreements and contracts. PTs share their data with PHAC for national reporting on congenital anomalies.
Access privacy impact assessment on the Canadian Congenital Anomalies Surveillance System
International Health Regulations National Focal Point (NFP) Office (November 2016)
The International Health Regulations National Focal Point (NFP) application, administered by the International Health Regulations National Focal Point (IHR NFP) Office located at the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), must remain accessible at all times for urgent communication with the World Health Organization (WHO), as per the International Health Regulations (IHR)(2005). Canada's IHR NFP Office has mechanisms in place for rapid communication with domestic and international stakeholders in response to global public health risks.
Access privacy impact assessment on the International Health Regulations National Focal Point
All Events Response Operations (July 2015)
The All Events Response Operations (AERO) application, administered by the Public Health Workforce Development Unit (PHWDU) within the Centre for Public Health Infrastructure (CPHI), is a web-based database that facilitates the collection of information necessary to mobilise health professionals (initially epidemiologists), in support of responses to emergencies/public health events nationally and internationally.
Access privacy impact assessment on the All Events Response Operations application
Canadian Prenatal Nutrition Program
This is a privacy impact assessment for the national evaluation of the Agency's component of the Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program (CPNP). The objectives of this assessment are to determine if there are privacy risks associated with the CPNP, and if yes, to provide recommendations on the reduction or elimination of the risks.
Access privacy impact assessment on the Canadian Prenatal Nutrition Program
Performance Discussion Process and Personal Learning Plans Automated Application Project (January 2011)
In the January 2004 Speech from the Throne, the Government of Canada called for the creation of a Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC, hereinafter) to deliver on the Government of Canada's commitment to help protect the health and safety of all Canadians.
National Autism Spectrum Disorder Surveillance System (NASS)
The National Autism Spectrum Disorder Surveillance System (NASS) collects anonymized case-level data to examine and report Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) prevalence, characteristics and related outcomes.
Access privacy impact assessment on the National Autism Spectrum Disorder Surveillance System
Completed privacy compliance evaluations
COVID-19 designated quarantine facilities and privacy (August 2021)
Designated quarantine facilities (DQFs) are a last resort for travellers. From February 21, 2021 to September 30, 2022, travellers were sent to a DQF to quarantine if they couldn't show proof of a suitable quarantine plan.
Access privacy compliance evaluation on COVID-19 designated quarantine facilities and privacy
COVID-19 on-site compliance verification
Starting January 29, 2021, certain travellers had to provide personal information and details of their quarantine plan. This information was used to email, phone or visit travellers to confirm they were complying with quarantine requirements.
Access privacy compliance evaluation on COVID-19 on-site compliance verification
Quarantine Case Management System (QCMS) (April 2022)
We developed an integrated digital solution that collects and manages information from travellers entering Canada. This information details their travel before, upon and after arrival at a port of entry.
Access privacy compliance evaluation on the Quarantine Case Management System
COVID-19 quarantine compliance and enforcement (Compliance Call Campaign 4.0 and 5.0) [July 2021]
To verify and improve compliance with the Emergency Orders under the Quarantine Act, the Public Health Agency of Canada launched the COVID-19 Quarantine Compliance Call Campaign.
COVID-19 border measures phase 4 (June 2021)
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we introduced enhanced border measures under the Quarantine Act to reduce the spread of the virus. They included collecting information from travellers entering Canada about their travel before, upon and after arrival at a port of entry (POE) into Canada.
Access privacy compliance evaluation on COVID-19 border measures phase 4
VaccineConnect's Immunization Program Management Module (May 2021)
Part of the Public Health Agency of Canada's response to COVID-19 is making a technology solution available to support federal, provincial and territorial needs regarding the administration of COVID-19 vaccines. This solution is VaccineConnect. This platform will support vaccine management logistics and rollout requirements and services.
Access privacy compliance evaluation on the VaccineConnect's Immunization Program Management Module
COVID-19: Compassionate entry for travellers and limited release from quarantine (January 2021)
Every person entering Canada, with limited exceptions, must quarantine for 14 days, starting on the day of arrival. They may seek approval for a limited release from mandatory quarantine for compassionate reasons.
COVID-19: Application of the Quarantine Act border measures (compliance verification call centre - PHAC 2 and 3) (November 2020)
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, enhanced border measures authorized by the Quarantine Act were introduced to ensure appropriate actions are taken to reduce the spread of the virus. These measures require travellers entering Canada to provide travel, contact and/or quarantine information, as applicable, upon arrival at the Port of Entry, as well as provide information to a Canada Border Services Agency Border Services Officer regarding their symptom self-assessment.
COVID-19: Application of the Quarantine Act border measures (ArriveCAN 2) (July 2020)
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, enhanced border measures authorized by the Quarantine Act were introduced to ensure appropriate actions are taken to reduce the spread of the virus. In an effort to digitize the information collected, the Public Health Agency of Canada and the Canada Border Services Agency collaborated to develop ArriveCAN, which is available as a mobile application or by signing in online.
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