2024 to 2025 Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy Report: Public Health Agency of Canada

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Organization: Public Health Agency of Canada

Date published: 2025-10-31

Cat.: HP2-28E-PDF
ISSN: 2290-7599

Table of contents

Introduction to the 2024 to 2025 Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy Report

The 2022 to 2026 Federal Sustainable Development Strategy (FSDS) presents the Government of Canada's sustainable development goals and targets, as required by the Federal Sustainable Development Act. This is the first FSDS to be framed using the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations 2030 Agenda and provides a balanced view of the environmental, social, and economic dimensions of sustainable development.

In keeping with the purpose of the Act, to make decision-making related to sustainable development more transparent and accountable to Parliament, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) supports the goals laid out in the FSDS through the activities described in PHAC's 2023 to 2027 Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy (DSDS). This Report provides a report on progress related to PHAC's DSDS in the fiscal year 2024 to 2025.

The Federal Sustainable Development Act also sets out 7 principles that must be considered in the development of the FSDS as well as DSDSs. These basic principles have been considered and incorporated in PHAC's DSDS and 2024 to 2025 DSDS Report.

To promote coordinated action on sustainable development across the Government of Canada, PHAC's departmental strategy reports on Canada's progress towards implementing the 2030 Agenda and advancing the SDGs, supported by the Global Indicator Framework (GIF) and Canadian Indicator Framework (CIF) targets and indicators. The Report also now captures progress on SDG initiatives that fall outside the scope of the FSDS.

Commitments for the Public Health Agency of Canada

Goal 3: Support mental health and adopt healthy behaviours

Federal Sustainable Development Strategy context

About one in three Canadians will be affected by a mental illness during their lifetime. The Government of Canada recognizes that maintaining healthy lives and promoting the well-being of Canadians is essential to sustainable development and building prosperous, peaceful and inclusive societies. In addition, the Government of Canada also encourages Canadians to adopt and maintain healthy behaviours, and tracks progress through a number of key indicators such as smoking prevalence, healthy eating and movement behaviours, and substance use harms.

PHAC contributes to the implementation of FSDS Goal 3: Support Mental Health and Adopt Healthy Behaviours by providing timely, trusted and evidence-based information to Canadians related to positive mental health, physical health, and opioid- and stimulant-related harms and by funding tobacco cessation and prevention interventions. It is expected that the uptake and use of evidence by internal and external stakeholders will continue to influence and inform decision-making, policies, programs and practices.

PHAC also supports the advancement of SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being by supporting projects, programming and surveillance activities which address healthy behaviours and promote the well-being of all people living in Canada at all ages.

Target theme: Adopting healthy behaviours

Target: By March 2035, at most 5% of Canadians (aged 15+) are current cigarette smokers (Minister of Health).

Table 1. Summary of results for performance indicators related to cigarette smoking
Implementation strategy Departmental action Performance indicator, starting point, target How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS goal and target and, where applicable, to Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy and SDGs Results achieved

Promote healthy behaviours

Continue to support efforts to reduce the death and disease burden of tobacco in Canada, through the Healthy Canadians and Communities Fund. This is part of the coordinated approach under Canada's Tobacco Strategy to help achieve less than 5% tobacco use by 2035.

Program: Chronic Disease Prevention

Performance indicator:
Percentage of cessation intervention participants who have not smoked in the past 6 months

Starting point:
13% of cessation intervention participants who have not smoked in the past 6 months (2020 to 2021)

Target:
13% of cessation intervention participants who have not smoked in the past 6 months

Note: A comprehensive review of existing literature on Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Intervention has identified optimal ranges for indicators a and b as follows: Target range for indicator a is (12% to 18%) with a mean of (15% ± 3%), and target range for indicator b is (12% to 16%) with a mean of (14% ± 2%). Notably, PHAC's projects yielded baseline results of 13% for both indicators, aligning closely with these identified ranges. Hence, PHAC is dedicated to preserving these favorable baseline outcomes while concurrently striving to achieve the national target of 5%.

Implementation of this departmental action contributes to FSDS Goal 3: Support Mental Health and Adopt Healthy Behaviours and Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy's focus on reducing the prevalence of cigarette smoking by supporting projects that focus on tobacco cessation and prevention. Projects funded under this program focus on priority populations that have higher rates of tobacco use and address risk factors associated with chronic disease. The efforts of PHAC's Healthy Canadians and Communities Fund, and multiple departments, are aligned to help reach the common goal of reducing death and disease burden of tobacco under Canada's Tobacco Strategy.

Relevant targets or ambitions:
CIF Target 3.14: By 2035, less than 5% of Canadians (aged 15+) are cigarette smokers
CIF Indicator 3.14.1: Percentage of Canadians (aged 18+) who currently smoke cigarettes
GIF Target 3.5: Strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including narcotic drug abuse and harmful use of alcohol

Indicator result:
24% of cessation intervention participants reporting having not smoked in the past 6 months.

The results shared are preliminary and are derived from only four projects reporting on this indicator in 2024 to 2025.

Notes:
Results from additional projects will be included in 2025 to 2026 to provide a more comprehensive analysis.

In 2024 to 2025, ten projects implemented a tobacco cessation intervention. Five of them were unable to report on this indicator due to the timing of the start or end date of the intervention not aligning with this reporting period.

Data collection and analysis will be completed and available by 2025 to 2026.

Promote healthy behaviours

Continue to support efforts to reduce the death and disease burden of tobacco in Canada, through the Healthy Canadians and Communities Fund. This is part of the coordinated approach under Canada's Tobacco Strategy to help achieve less than 5% tobacco use by 2035.

Program: Health Promotion

Performance indicator:
Percentage of cessation intervention participants who have not smoked in the past 30 days

Starting point:
13% of cessation intervention participants who have not smoked in the past 30 days (2020 to 2021)

Target:
13% of cessation intervention participants who have not smoked in the past 30 days

Note: A comprehensive review of existing literature on Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Intervention has identified optimal ranges for indicators a and b as follows: Target range for indicator a is (12% to 18%) with a mean of (15% ± 3%), and target range for indicator b is (12% to 16%) with a mean of (14% ± 2%). Notably, PHAC's projects yielded baseline results of 13% for both indicators, aligning closely with these identified ranges. Hence, PHAC is dedicated to preserving these favorable baseline outcomes while concurrently striving to achieve the national target of 5%.

Implementation of this departmental action contributes to FSDS Goal 3: Support Mental Health and Adopt Healthy Behaviours and Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy's focus on reducing the prevalence of cigarette smoking by supporting projects that focus on tobacco cessation and prevention. Projects funded under this program focus on priority populations that have higher rates of tobacco use and address risk factors associated with chronic disease. The efforts of PHAC's Healthy Canadians and Communities Fund, and multiple departments, are aligned to help reach the common goal of reducing death and disease burden of tobacco under Canada's Tobacco Strategy.

Relevant targets or ambitions:
CIF Target 3.14: By 2035, less than 5% of Canadians (aged 15+) are cigarette smokers
CIF Indicator 3.14.1: Percentage of Canadians (aged 18+) who currently smoke cigarettes
GIF Target 3.5: Strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including narcotic drug abuse and harmful use of alcohol

Indicator result:
16% of cessation intervention participants reporting having not smoked in the past 30 days.
The results shared are preliminary and have been derived from only two projects reporting on this indicator in 2024 to 2025.

Notes:
Results from additional projects will be included in 2025 to 2026 to provide a more comprehensive analysis.

In 2024 to 2025, ten projects implemented a tobacco cessation intervention. Five of them were unable to report on this indicator due to the timing of the start or end date of the intervention not aligning with this reporting period.

Data collection and analysis will be completed and available by 2025 to 2026.

Promote healthy behaviours

Provide data disaggregated by social determinants of health, geography and demographics to the extent possible (e.g., income quintiles, racialized groups, Indigenous Peoples, Immigrants, etc.) through the Physical Activity, Sedentary Behaviour and Sleep (PASS) Indicator Framework to inform policy and program development that targets Canada's most vulnerable populations.

Program:
Evidence for Health Promotion, and Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention

Performance indicator:
Number of sessions that the PASS Indicator Framework accessed

Starting point:
4,145 (2022 to 2023)

Target:
4,200 (By 2024 to 2025)

Implementation of this departmental action contributes to FSDS Goal 3: Support Mental Health and Adopt Healthy Behaviours and Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy's focus on Canadians having healthy and satisfying lives as reporting on a range of PASS indicators gives a much clearer picture of how active Canadians really are and provides Canadians and health professionals with the information needed to develop effective policies and programs for a healthy and active population.

Relevant targets or ambitions:
CIF Ambition 3.8: Canadians have healthy and satisfying lives
CIF Indicator 3.8.1: Percentage of Canadians who perceived their mental health as very good to excellent
GIF Target 3.4: By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being

Indicator result:
In 2024 to 2025, 6,521 sessions of the PASS Indicator Framework were accessed.

Target theme: Mental health

Target: By March 2027, reduce the percentage of Canadians (aged 15+) with a mental disorder who have expressed that they have an unmet care need to 22% at most (Minister of Health).

Table 2. Summary of results for performance indicators related to unmet care for Canadians with mental disorders
Implementation strategy Departmental action Performance indicator, starting point, target How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS goal and target and, where applicable, to Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy and SDGs Results achieved

Collect data and information to inform evidence-based decisions

Conduct national surveillance of mental disorder and publish products to provide information on the burden of mental disorder to contribute to the evidence base to inform policy and program actions. Program: Evidence for Health Promotion, and Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention

Performance Indicator:
Number of surveillance products on mental disorders published annually

Starting point:
3 (2024 to 2025)

Target:
4 (By March 31, 2026)

Implementation of this departmental action contributes to FSDS Goal 3: Support Mental Health and Adopt Healthy Behaviours and Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy's focus on Canadians having healthy and satisfying lives by monitoring the burden of mental disorder in Canada to inform programs and policies to improve the mental health of people in Canada.

Relevant targets or ambitions:
CIF Ambition 3.8: Canadians have healthy and satisfying lives
CIF Indicator 3.8.1: Percentage of Canadians who perceived their mental health as very good to excellent
GIF Target 3.4: By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being.

Indicator result:
In 2024 to 2025, PHAC published 7 surveillance products on mental disorders.

Collect data and information to inform evidence-based decisions

Utilize the Positive Mental Health Surveillance Indicator Framework to provide information on positive mental health outcomes and their associated risk and protective factors to be used by internal and external stakeholders to influence and inform decision-making, policies, programs and practices.

Program:
Evidence for Health Promotion, and Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention

Performance indicator:
Percentage of respondents using the Positive Mental Health Surveillance Indicator Framework evidence

Starting point:
81% (2018 to 2019)

Target:
81% (annual)

Implementation of this departmental action contributes to FSDS Goal 3: Support Mental Health and Adopt Healthy Behaviours and Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy's focus on Canadians having healthy and satisfying lives by monitoring the state of positive mental health and well-being in Canada to inform programs and policies to improve the mental health of people in Canada.

Relevant targets or ambitions:
CIF Ambition 3.8: Canadians have healthy and satisfying lives
CIF Indicator 3.8.1: Percentage of Canadians who perceived their mental health as very good to excellent
GIF Target 3.4: By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being

Indicator result:
In 2024 to 2025, 87.5% respondents used the Positive Mental Health Surveillance Indicator Framework evidence.

Collect data and information to inform evidence-based decisions

Conduct National surveillance of opioid- and stimulant-related harms in Canada
and publish reports on deaths, hospitalizations, emergency department visits, and emergency medical services responses to support the federal government's ability to monitor, understand, and report on the overdose crisis at a national level and contribute to the evidence base to inform policy and program actions.

Program:
Evidence for Health Promotion, and Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention

Performance indicator:
Number of surveillance reports published annually

Starting point:
4 (2022 to 2023)

Target:
4 (annual)

Implementation of this departmental action contributes to the FSDS Goal 3: Support Mental Health and Adopt Healthy Behaviours, as well as Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy's focus on Canadians having healthy and satisfying lives. The Agency's national opioid- and stimulant-related harms surveillance system addresses the need for timely, national level data to monitor and understand the burden of the toxic drug crisis to inform decision making and policy actions regarding prevention and treatment strategies for the overdose crisis.

Relevant targets or ambitions:
CIF Ambition 3.8: Canadians have healthy and satisfying lives
CIF Indicator 3.8.1: Percentage of Canadians who perceived their mental health as very good to excellent
GIF Target 3.4: By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being

Indicator result:
In 2024 to 2025, PHAC published 4 surveillance reports on opioid and stimulant-related harms.

Notes:
Quarterly surveillance reports on opioid and stimulant-related harms in Canada were published in Infobase.

Work with partners and stakeholders to expand access to mental health services

Improve understanding and awareness of factors that impact the mental health of Black people in Canada and aid in the development of more culturally relevant knowledge, capacity and programs that address mental health and its determinants through the Promoting Health Equity: Mental Health of Black Canadians Fund and the Knowledge Mobilization Network.

Program:
Health Promotion

Performance Indicator:
Number of community-partnered interventions developed to promote positive mental health for Black people in Canada

Starting point:
23 interventions developed between 2018-2024

Target:
27 (2025-2026)

Implementation of this departmental action contributes to the FSDS Goal 3: Support Mental Health and Adopt Healthy Behaviours, as well as Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy's focus on Canadians having healthy and satisfying lives. This work will generate new evidence on culturally focused programs and interventions that address mental health and its determinants for Black Canadians.

Relevant targets or ambitions:
CIF Ambition 3.8: Canadians have healthy and satisfying lives
CIF Indicator 3.8.1: Percentage of Canadians who perceived their mental health as very good to excellent
GIF Target 3.4: By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being

Indicator result:
In 2024 to 2025, 25 interventions were developed.

Notes:
The Promoting Health Equity: Mental Health of Black Canadians Fund launched three solicitations in 2024 to 2025, resulting in the funding of 29 community-based projects that promote the mental health and well-being of Black people in Canada. 29 of those projects started activities in March 2025.

Initiatives advancing Canada's implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 3: Good health and well-being

The following initiatives demonstrate how PHAC programming supports the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs, supplementing the information outlined above.

Table 3. Summary of results for planned initiatives related to Sustainable Development Goal 3
Planned initiatives Associated domestics targets or ambitions and/or global targets Results achieved
  • Healthy Canadians and Communities Fund contributes to the achievement of SDG 3 by supporting projects that improve health behaviours (e.g., physical activity, healthy eating, and decreased tobacco use) to help Canadians lead healthy lives and promote their well-being.

These strategies contribute to:

  • CIF Ambition 3.1 – 3.5: Canadians adopt health behaviours including increased consumption of fruits and vegetables, decreased prevalence of vaping among youth, decreased percentage of population that is overweight or obese and decreased prevalence of harmful alcohol use;
  • CIF Ambition 3.6 – 3.8: Canadians have healthy and satisfying lives including overall health, mental health and social well-being;
  • CIF Ambition 3.9 – 3.14: Canada prevents causes of premature death including increased vaccination rates for selected diseases, decreased incidence of selected diseases, decreased mortality rate for selected causes of death, decreased incidence of Tuberculosis in Inuit Nunangat, decreased incidence of opioid and stimulant overdose related harms and decreased prevalence of cigarette smoking;
  • GIF Target 3.2: By 2030, end preventable deaths of newborns and children under 5 years of age, with all countries aiming to reduce neonatal mortality to at least as low as 12 per 1,000 live births and under-5 mortality to at least as low as 25 per 1,000 live births;
  • GIF Target 3.3: By 2030, end the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and neglected tropical diseases and combat hepatitis, waterborne diseases and other communicable diseases;
  • GIF Target 3.4: By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being;
  • GIF Target 3.5: Strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including narcotic drug abuse and harmful use of alcohol;
  • GIF Target 3.b: Support the research and development of vaccines and medicines for the communicable and non-communicable diseases that primarily affect developing countries, provide access to affordable essential medicines and vaccines, in accordance with the Doha Declaration on the TRIPS Agreement and Public Health, which affirms the right of developing countries to use to the full the provisions in the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights regarding flexibilities to protect public health, and, in particular, provide access to medicines for all; and
  • GIF Target 3.d: Strengthen the capacity of all countries, in particular developing countries, for early warning, risk reduction and management of national and global health risks.
  • In 2024 to 2025, the Healthy Canadians and Communities Fund funded 46 projects.
  • In 2024 to 2025, PHAC released the 2024 Suicide Prevention Progress Report which outlines progress achieved since the release of the Action Plan in May 2024 and, fulfilling the legislative requirement under the Federal Framework for Suicide Prevention Act. PHAC is undertaking ongoing engagement with partners, including OGDs, PTs and Indigenous partners, to advance the implementation of the National Suicide Prevention Action Plan.
  • In addition, PHAC, as part of the Chief Coroners, Chief Medical Examiners Public Health Collaborative, approved a first set of common data elements for suicide death investigations.
  • Lastly, a Federal/Provincial/Territorial Task Group was established to advance the Data and Monitoring and, Research and Evaluation pillars, including collaboration on the development of performance indicators.
  • Promoting and increasing awareness 9-8-8: Suicide Crisis Helpline contributes to the achievement of SDG 3 by providing a resource that is available for everyone in Canada, 24/7, by phone calls and texts, to access suicide crisis support through trained responders. In many parts of the country, First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples who call 9-8-8 have the option to be connected the Hope for Wellness Helpline. Hope for Wellness is funded by Indigenous Services Canada and provides support to Indigenous peoples in Cree, Ojibway, and Inuktitut upon request.
  • In 2024 to 2025, 9-8-8 responders have answered close to 450,000 calls and texts from across Canada, with an average call answer rate of 87% between April 2024 and February 2025. Ongoing collaboration between PHAC, the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 9-8-8 network partners, and provincial/territorial stakeholders continues to strengthen the network and build awareness of 9-8-8.
  • Advancing the implementation of A Dementia Strategy for Canada: Together We Aspire, with support of the Dementia Community Investment, contributes to the achievement of SDG 3 by supporting activities aimed at preventing dementia and improving the quality of life of people living with dementia and caregivers.
  • Since 2018, the Dementia Community Investment (DCI) has funded 31 projects totaling $21.5M. The latest available data (2023-2024) indicates that 5,734 Canadians (2,485 people living with dementia and 3,249 family/friend caregivers) participated in DCI funded activities in 2023 to 2024. The DCI had 10 active contribution agreements in 2024-2025 and, while the data has yet to be processed, project outcomes include increased knowledge of dementia risk factors, strengthened protective factors, improved health behaviours, and improved overall wellbeing.
  • In addition, the Dementia Strategic Fund (DSF) supported 40 projects (2019-2024), providing almost $20M in funding to project recipients. Of note, two DSF-funded projects with the World Health Organization (WHO) will be active through March 2026.
  • Community Action Program for Children (CAPC) contributes to the achievement of SDG 3 by promoting the health and well-being of children (birth to six years) and their families who face challenges that may put their health at risk.
  • In 2024 to 2025, PHAC invested over $51 million to support 389 CAPC projects across Canada to encourage positive parenting, parent-child attachment, healthy child development and the development of positive health practices such as healthy eating and physical activity.
  • Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program (CPNP) contributes to the achievement of SDG 3 by taking steps to support the health and well-being of pregnant women and people and their infants who face challenges that may put their health at risk.
  • In 2024 to 2025, PHAC invested over $27 million to support 237 CPNP projects across Canada to encourage healthy pregnancies, breastfeeding, positive parenting and healthy child development.
  • Mental Health Promotion Innovation Fund contributes to the achievement of SDG 3 by supporting the delivery of innovative, community-based programs in mental health promotion that aim to address health equity.
  • In 2024-2025, the Mental Health Promotion Innovation Fund continued to support 15 community-based projects, and 1 Knowledge Development and Exchange Hub (totalling $5.1 million) to support the testing and delivery of interventions that promote protective factors and address the underlying determinants of mental health for children, youth, young adults and their caregivers. This includes the funding of partnerships across sectors, knowledge exchange activities, and the scaling of successful mental health promotion interventions to affect positive systems change.
  • Advancing the implementation of Canada's Autism Strategy to support federal implementation of the Framework for Autism in Canada contributes to the achievement of SDG 3 by supporting activities aimed at increasing public awareness, understanding and acceptance of autism, improved screening, diagnosis and services, strengthened economic inclusion, enhanced data collection, public health surveillance and research and further accessibility to evidence informed autism resources and tools.
  • In 2024 to 2025, PHAC identified an organization (the Sinneave Family Foundation, in partnership with the Autism Alliance of Canada) to establish and lead the new National Autism Network.
  • In addition, ongoing engagement is underway with partners, including OGDs, PTs to advance the implementation of Canada's Autism Strategy and Framework for Autism in Canada. Ongoing engagement is also underway with National Indigenous Organizations in collaboration with Employment and Social Development Canada, leveraging their Engagement Protocol Agreements, to identify distinctions-based and Indigenous-led approaches to autism.
  • To support Canada's Autism Strategy and the Framework for Autism in Canada, PHAC released the Physical activity, sedentary behaviour and sleep in autistic children and youth fact sheet.
  • TheThe Pan - Canadian Health Inequalities Reporting Initiative and Data Tool contributes to the achievement of SDG 3 by supporting Canada's domestic and international commitments to measure and monitor health inequalities. This tool contains data on indicators of health outcomes and health determinants, stratified by a range of social and economic characteristics meaningful to health equity. It identifies where health inequalities exist across different groups at national and provincial/territorial levels, and the magnitude of inequalities.
  • In 2024 to 2025, through the Pan-Canadian Health Inequalities Reporting Initiative, PHAC led the development of data exploration tools surveillance reports and research for the purposes of monitoring and measuring the magnitude of health inequalities at the federal and provincial/territorial levels. Results are displayed on an online, interactive report hosted on PHAC's Public Health Infobase platform.
  • In 2024 to 2025, PHAC conducted 15 engagement activities with audiences across Canada. PHAC also published two scientific articles on congenital syphilis surveillance trends, threats and opportunities, and contributed to the development of the Undetectable=Untransmittable (U=U) University, an online resource for training and improving understanding of U=U for diverse audiences.
  • In August 2024, PHAC launched a customizable dashboard for the initial set of indicators for the STBBI Action Plan 2024-2030, providing a visual representation of data on four categories of STBBI (HIV, bacterial STIs, Hepatitis C, and HPV and Hepatitis B). PHAC also updated evidence-informed guidance for health professionals to support the detection and management of STBBI. Updates were made to the STBBI Prevention Guide and the Sexually-Transmitted Infection-associated syndromes guide to include sexual transmission and clinical considerations for mpox, HPV, Shigella and other sexually transmitted enteric infections.
  • Expanding the Canadian Nosocomial Infection Surveillance Program in hospitals and long-term care facilities contributes to the achievement of SDG 3 by strengthening infection prevention and control measures and reducing transmission of disease in Canadian acute care hospitals and in long-term care settings through surveillance and reporting.
  • In 2024 to 2025, the Canadian Nosocomial Infection Surveillance Program (CNISP) hosted its annual general meeting to set network priorities and validate analysis from its 19 surveillance projects. CNISP published six papers in peer-reviewed journals, with an additional nine manuscripts accepted for publication. CNISP also launched Phase 1 of the long-term care (LTC) symptomatic Urinary Tract Infection surveillance at one LTC facility, with the anticipation to expand surveillance to nine other facilities.
  • Expanding the Canadian Integrated Program for Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance (AMR) and operationally linked FoodNet Canada, and contribute to the achievement of SDG 3 by applying a One Health approach to generating, analyzing and communicating AMR and/or AMU data from animals, retail meat, humans, plants/crops, water and the food-animal production environment to improve the detection of AMR threats in the food chain.
  • In 2024 to 2025, PHAC published a new dashboard for farm antimicrobial use (AMU), to provide data visualizations of AMU data. PHAC also improved its understanding of the sale of medically important antimicrobials. This was done by developing biomass estimates for different types of cattle (beef, dairy and veal). PHAC also improved surveillance coverage in the environmental sector by increasing the collection, testing and reporting of AMR in surface water samples from FoodNet Canada sentinel sites. PHAC also conducted new analyses of existing data to report on AMR in sick farm animals, retail seafood, and in bovine respiratory disease pathogens. PHAC also resumed analysis and reporting on AMR in Salmonella in Canadian Food Inspection Agency feed ingredients mixed feeds data, and sick animals.
  • Immunization Partnership Fund contributes to the achievement of SDG 3 by providing funding to assist priority populations, particularly populations experiencing or facing systematic and/or structural inequities to increase vaccine confidence and uptake for all vaccines across the life course.
  • In 2024 to 2025, 38 community-based funding recipients facilitated access to more than 600 vaccination opportunities resulting in over 7,800 vaccinations received by priority populations including, but not limited to: newcomers, religious and linguistic minority communities, Black people in Canada, Indigenous peoples in Canada, children and youth, members of the 2SLGBTQIA community, the underhoused/homeless, and those living in poverty. Further, more than 69,000 people in Canada accessed the vaccine confidence activities or services offered by Immunization Partnership Fund projects through either in-person or virtual means.

Goal 6: Ensure clean and safe water for all Canadians

Federal Sustainable Development Strategy context

The Government of Canada is focused on restoring freshwater ecosystems and ensuring clean and safe water for Canadians.

PHAC supports the implementation of FSDS Goal 6: Ensure Clean and Safe Water for All Canadians through its administration of the Potable Water on Board Trains, Vessels, Aircraft and Buses Regulations. Through its inspections, PHAC will ensure that passenger transportation operators are compliant with the regulations, that the water on their transport is safe for travelling public consumption and any required actions are addressed in a timely manner.

Implementation strategies supporting the goal

This section is for implementation strategies that support the goal "Ensure clean and safe water for all Canadians" but not a specific FSDS target.

Table 4. Summary of results for performance indicators related to Federal Sustainable Development Strategy Goal 6
Implementation strategy Departmental action Performance indicator, starting point, target How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS goal and target and, where applicable, to Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy and SDGs Results achieved

Work with partners on drinking water quality

Implement Potable Water on Board Trains, Vessels, Aircraft and Buses Regulations (Potable Water Regulations) including conducting inspections and assessments on international and interprovincial airplanes, trains, cruise ships, ferries and buses to protect the health and safety of the travelling public, ensuring that critical violations are mitigated in a timely manner.

Program: Border and Travel Health

Performance Indicator:
Percentage of inspected passenger transportation conveyances and ancillary service facilities that meet public health requirements

Starting point:
88% (2013 to 2014)

Target:
95% (annual)

Implementation of this departmental action contributes to the achievement of FSDS Goal 6: Ensure Clean and Safe Water for All Canadians and the Canada 2030 Agenda National Strategy's focus on providing access to clean and safe water for all Canadians by conducting inspections on conveyances to verify compliance with the Potable Water Regulations.

Relevant targets or ambitions:
CIF Ambition 6.1: Canadians have access to drinking water and use it in a sustainable manner
CIF Indicator: No specific indicator
GIF Target 6.1: By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all

Indicator result:
In 2024 to 2025, 95.3% of inspected passenger transportation conveyances and ancillary service facilities met public health requirements.

Goal 10: Advance reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples and take action on inequality

Federal Sustainable Development Strategy context

Canada's commitment to implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples reflects the importance of working collaboratively with First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities to advance reconciliation and promote greater equality and prosperity for Indigenous Peoples and all Canadians.

PHAC supports the implementation of FSDS Goal 10: Advance Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples and Take Action on Inequality by advancing work related to several Action Plan Measures contained in the UN Declaration Act (UNDA) Action Plan. This work includes leading on mental health promotion and prevention programming in Indigenous communities, co-leading with Health Canada and Indigenous Services Canada on improving bilateral collaboration and linkages among federal, provincial, and territorial officials and Indigenous representatives across public health and health care systems, and supporting several other broader actions such as cultural competency training.

In addition, PHAC supports the advancement of SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities by partnering with community-based organizations, researchers and others in Black communities to generate new evidence on culturally focused programs and interventions that address mental health and its determinants for Black Canadians.

Target theme: Advancing reconciliation with First Nations, Inuit, and the Métis communities

Target: Between 2023 and 2026, and every year on an ongoing basis, develop and table annual progress reports on implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada).

Table 5. Summary of results for performance indicators related to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act
Implementation strategy Departmental action Performance indicator, starting point, target How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS goal and target and, where applicable, to Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy and SDGs Results achieved

Implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act

Advance mental health promotion and prevention programming for Indigenous populations

Program: Health Promotion

Performance indicator: 
Indigenous partners are engaged in developing or adapting PHAC-led mental health promotion and prevention programming in Canada to facilitate the participation of Indigenous Communities

Starting point: New initiative

Target: Indigenous partners are engaged in 85% of new or evolving programming (e.g. 9-8-8, Youth Substance Use Prevention Program, Mental Health Promotion Innovation Fund).

Implementation of this departmental action contributes to the achievement of FSDS Goal 10: Advance Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples and Take Action on Inequality and the 2023 UNDA Action Plan as one of the Action Plan's measures (APM) is to "Work with partners and Indigenous organizations on mental health promotion programming and prevention initiatives, including using distinctions-based approaches where feasible to support culturally safe, relevant and trauma-informed initiatives." PHAC has been identified as the lead for this APM to help advance reconciliation with First Nations, Inuit and Métis as part of efforts to uphold and implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Relevant targets or ambitions:
CIF Ambition3.8: Canadians have health and satisfying lives; 3.13: Canada prevents causes of premature death
CIF Indicator 3.8.1: Percentage of Canadians who perceived their mental health as very good to excellent; 3.13.1:
Rate of apparent opioid toxicity deaths per 100,000 population
GIF Target 3.4: By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being; 3.5: Strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including narcotic drug abuse and harmful use of alcohol.

Indicator result:
In 2024–25, Indigenous partners are engaged in 100% of new or evolving programming that supports culturally relevant and trauma-informed mental health promotion and prevention for Indigenous populations.

Notes:
Of PHAC's three programs, two—the 9-8-8 Crisis Helpline and Youth Substance Use Prevention Program—are evolving and involve active collaboration with Indigenous partners. A third program, the Mental Health Promotion Innovation Fund, is a long-standing program and continues to provide funding to four Indigenous-led projects but is not considered "new" or "evolving", therefore not included in this indicator.

Implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act

Advance Federal/Provincial/Territorial and Indigenous (FPT-I) governance on health priorities

Program: Internal Services

Performance indicator:
Establishment of the work plan for the Indigenous Rights and Reconciliation Working Group for the Public Health Network (PHN), including the launch of the PHN Indigenous Unlearning Club

Starting point: New initiative

Target: By March 31, 2025

Implementation of this departmental action contributes to the achievement of FSDS Goal 10: Advance Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples and Take Action on Inequality and the 2023 UNDA Action Plan as one of the Action Plan's measures is to "Strengthen Indigenous engagement by improving bilateral mechanisms with Indigenous partners, improve linkages between federal/ provincial/territorial officials and Indigenous representatives across public health and health care systems and better align the Health Portfolio and Indigenous Services Canada on strategic direction. Supporting FPT-I linkages." PHAC has been identified as co-lead (with Health Canada and Indigenous Services Canada) to help advance reconciliation with First Nations, Inuit and Metis as part of efforts to uphold and implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Relevant targets or ambitions:
CIF Ambition 16.7: Canadians are supported by effective, accountable, and transparent institutions
CIF Indicator 16.7.1: Proportion of the population with high levels of confidence in selected institutions
GIF Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.

Indicator result:
In 2024 to 2025, the Indigenous Rights and Reconciliation Working Group 2024 to 2025 (Q3 & Q4) and 2025 to 2026 (Q1 & Q2) work plan was established and approved by the Public Health Network Council in December 2024. The PHN Unlearning Club was soft-launched at the PHN Council in-person meeting in Ottawa in October 2024. It was formally launched February 2025 and is well underway.

Implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act

Advance PHAC's efforts to become a culturally safe organization through the implementation of its Indigenous Cultural Competency Policy

Program: Internal Services

Performance indicator:
Number of learning opportunities made available to employees that help to build their Indigenous cultural competency across 6 pillars of knowledge and 4 depths of knowledge

Starting point:
237 learning opportunities offered to employees with at least 20 per knowledge pillar, including offerings in both official languages (2022 to 2023)

Target:
At least 50 learning opportunities offered for each of the 6 pillars of knowledge. These offerings take into account the different depths of knowledge being pursued, employee availability and regional, language, and learning style diversity

Implementation of this departmental action contributes to the achievement of FSDS Goal 10: Advance Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples and Take Action on Inequality and the 2023 UNDA Action Plan as one of the Action Plan's measures is to "Develop and implement foundational training co-created by Indigenous subject matter experts, including with the Canada School of Public Service, for federal public servants that will build fundamental understanding and competence about the history, rights and title of Indigenous peoples, treaties, the UN Declaration, the UN Declaration Act, the dynamics of respectful relations, Indigenous-specific systemic racism, and meaningful reconciliation." PHAC is contributing to this broad APM through efforts to implement its Indigenous Cultural Competency Training Policy and Roadmap.

Relevant targets or ambitions:
CIF Ambition 10.1: Canadians live free of discrimination and inequalities are reduced; 4.1: Canadians have access to inclusive and quality education throughout their lives
CIF Indicator 10.2.1: Proportion of the population reporting discrimination or unfair treatment
GIF Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status; 4.7: By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including, among others, through education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles, human rights, gender equality, promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence, global citizenship and appreciation of cultural diversity and of culture's contribution to sustainable development.

Indicator result:
In 2024 to 2025, 1,300 learning opportunities were offered to employees with at least 100 per knowledge pillar and 212 learning events offered through the Indigenous Cultural Competency Learning Calendar. This includes offerings in both official languages.

Implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act

Advance PHAC's efforts to become a culturally safe organization through the implementation of its Indigenous Cultural Competency Policy

Program: Internal Services

Performance indicator:
Percentage of PHAC employees advancing their cultural competencies through having completed learning opportunities and self-reflections

Starting point:
Indigenous Cultural Competency Policy implemented as a phased approach commencing in April 2022

Target:
A 5% increase annually in staff participating in Indigenous learning, including taking time for self-reflection

Implementation of this departmental action contributes to the achievement of FSDS Goal 10: Advance Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples and Take Action on Inequality and the 2023 UNDA Action Plan as one of the Action Plan's measures is to "Develop and implement foundational training co-created by Indigenous subject matter experts, including with the Canada School of Public Service, for federal public servants that will build fundamental understanding and competence about the history, rights and title of Indigenous peoples, treaties, the UN Declaration, the UN Declaration Act, the dynamics of respectful relations, Indigenous-specific systemic racism, and meaningful reconciliation." PHAC is contributing to this broad APM through efforts to implement its Indigenous Cultural Competency Training Policy and Roadmap.

Relevant targets or ambitions:
CIF Ambition 10.1: Canadians live free of discrimination and inequalities are reduced; 4.1: Canadians have access to inclusive and quality education throughout their lives
CIF Indicator 10.2.1: Proportion of the population reporting discrimination or unfair treatment
GIF Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status; 4.7: By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including, among others, through education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles, human rights, gender equality, promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence, global citizenship and appreciation of cultural diversity and of culture's contribution to sustainable development

Indicator result:
In 2024 to 2025, 18% of staff completed the required pre and post self-reflections for at least one Indigenous Cultural Competency learning event.

Notes:
This indicates a 16% increase in participation in Indigenous Cultural Competency learning activities from the previous year's 2.39% completion rate.

Initiatives advancing Canada's implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 10: Reduced inequalities

The following initiatives demonstrate how PHAC programming supports the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs, supplementing the information outlined above.

Table 6. Summary of results for planned initiatives related to Sustainable Development Goal 10
Planned initiatives Associated domestics targets or ambitions and/or global targets Results achieved

This strategy contributes to:

  • CIF Ambition 10.1 – 10.2: Canadians live free of discrimination and inequalities are reduced; and
  • GIF Target 10.3: Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcomes, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices and promoting appropriate legislation, policies and action in this regard.
  • In 2024 to 2025, the Promoting Health Equity: Mental Health of Black Canadians (MHBC) Fund launched three solicitations, resulting in the funding of 29 community-based projects that promote the mental health and well-being of Black people in Canada. 25 of those projects started activities in March 2025.
  • TAIBU Community Health Centre, which is the MHBC Fund's recipient under the Knowledge Mobilization Network Funding Stream, hosted their 3rd Act Now! National Conference on Black Mental Health and Well-Being in March 2025 in Edmonton Alberta.

Goal 11: Improve access to affordable housing, clean air, transportation, parks, and green spaces, as well as cultural heritage in Canada

Federal Sustainable Development Strategy context

In Canada, making cities and communities sustainable means improving access to transportation, parks and green spaces. As Canada's senior population is growing, this makes it more important than ever to support the health and well-being of older Canadians. This way, seniors can lead healthy and active lives and stay involved in their communities.

PHAC supports the advancement of SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities through the implementation of the Age-Friendly Communities model by helping to ensure policies, services and structures related to the physical and social environment are designed to support older adults to live safely, enjoy good health, and stay involved in community life.

Initiatives advancing Canada's implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 11: Sustainable cities and communities

The following initiatives demonstrate how PHAC programming supports the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs, supplementing the information outlined above.

Table 7. Summary of results for planned initiatives related to Sustainable Development Goal 11
Planned initiatives Associated domestics targets or ambitions and/or global targets Results achieved
  • Implementing the Age-Friendly Communities model contributes to the achievement of SDG 11 by helping to ensure policies, services and structures related to the physical and social environment are designed to support older adults to live safely, enjoy good health, and stay involved in community life.

This strategy contributes to:

  • CIF Ambition 11.3 – 11.7: Canadians live in healthy, accessible, and sustainable cities and communities; and
  • GIF Target 11.7: By 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces, in particular for women and children, older persons and persons with disabilities.
  • In 2024 to 2025, PHAC held nine meetings of the Pan-Canadian Age-Friendly Communities Reference Group which convenes provincial, territorial, municipal and non-governmental representatives working on age-friendly communities (AFC).
  • In addition, PHAC provided federal recognition to two Canadian communities that received recognition from their provincial/territorial AFC organization. PHAC has also provided support to the WHO to support global capacity building on age-friendly environments, with one project currently underway.

Goal 12: Reduce waste and transition to zero-emission vehicles

Federal Sustainable Development Strategy context

By transitioning to a cleaner and more circular economy that prioritizes reducing consumption and waste generation, we can help reduce negative impacts on the environment. As Canada aims to reduce the amount of waste produced, it will be important to look at circularity sector by sector to overcome unique barriers and take advantage of existing and emerging opportunities.

PHAC contributes to the implementation of FSDS Goal 12: Reduce Waste and Transition to Zero-Emission Vehicles by supporting the principles of the circular economy in considering the full life cycle of our procurement decisions, supporting the transition to zero-emission vehicles, and tracking, monitoring and reporting publicly on waste diversion in order to identify opportunities to reduce the environmental impact of our operations.

Target theme: Federal leadership on responsible consumption

Target: By 2030, the Government of Canada will divert from landfill at least 75% by weight of non-hazardous operational waste (All Ministers).

Table 8. Summary of results for performance indicators related to non-hazardous operational waste
Implementation strategy Departmental action Performance indicator, starting point, target How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS goal and target and, where applicable, to Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy and SDGs Results achieved

Maximize diversion of waste from landfill

Track and disclose waste diversion rates.

Assess the waste stream to inform future decisions and options to divert operational waste in custodial facilities from landfills.

Program: Internal Services

Performance indicator: Percentage of non-hazardous operational waste diverted from landfills

Starting point:
64.5% (2022 to 2023)

Target:
75% (By 2030)

Implementation of this departmental action contributes to FSDS Goal 12: Reduce Waste and Transition to Zero- Emission Vehicles and Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy's focus on sustainable consumption and waste reduction by analyzing waste audit results to communicate, strategize and develop additional waste diversion methodologies in support of sustainable consumption and waste reduction in custodial facilities.

Relevant targets or ambitions:
CIF Ambition 12.1: Canadians consume in a sustainable manner
CIF Indicator: No specific indicator
GIF Target 12.5: By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse

Indicator result:
In 2024 to 2025, PHAC diverted 65% of non-hazardous operational waste from landfills.

Maximize diversion of waste from landfill

Track and disclose waste diversion rates.

Reduce the unnecessary use of single-use plastics in custodial facilities.

Program: Internal Services

Performance indicator:
Percentage of unnecessary use of single-use plastics waste diverted from landfills

Starting point:
65.5% (2022 to 2023)

Target: 75% (By 2030)

Implementation of this departmental action contributes to FSDS Goal 12: Reduce Waste and Transition to Zero-Emission Vehicles and Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy's focus on sustainable consumption and waste reduction by analyzing waste audit results to communicate, strategize and develop additional waste diversion methodologies to support the reduction of single-use plastics in custodial facilities.

Relevant targets or ambitions:
CIF Ambition 12.1: Canadians consume in a sustainable manner
CIF Indicator: No specific indicator
GIF Target 12.5: By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through
prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse

Indicator result:
In 2024 to 2025, PHAC diverted 71% of unnecessary single-use plastics from landfills.

Target: By 2030, the Government of Canada will divert from landfill at least 90% by weight of all construction and demolition waste (All Ministers).

Table 9. Summary of results for performance indicators related to construction and demolition waste
Implementation strategy Departmental action Performance indicator, starting point, target How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS goal and target and, where applicable, to Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy and SDGs Results achieved

Maximize diversion of waste from landfill

Track and disclose our waste diversion rates.

Continue to utilize the Construction Waste Diversion Program developed for custodial facilities to track and report on construction waste diversion.

Program: Internal Services

Performance indicator:
Percentage of construction and demolition waste diverted from landfills in custodial facility real property projects >$500 thousand

Starting point:
84% (2022 to 2023)

Target: 90% (By 2030)

Implementation of this departmental action contributes to FSDS Goal 12: Reduce Waste and Transition to Zero-Emission Vehicles and Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy's focus on sustainable consumption and waste reduction by analyzing waste audit results to communicate, strategize and develop additional waste diversion methodologies in support of sustainable consumption and waste reduction of construction materials in custodial facilities.

Relevant targets or ambitions:
CIF Ambition 12.1: Canadians consume in a sustainable manner
CIF Indicator: No specific indicator
GIF Target 12.5: By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through
prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse

Indicator result:
In 2024 to 2025, PHAC did not undertake any custodial facility real property projects over $500 thousand.

Target: The Government of Canada's procurement of goods and services will be net-zero emissions by 2050, to aid the transition to a net-zero, circular economy (All Ministers).

Table 10. Summary of results for performance indicators related to green procurement
Implementation strategy Departmental action Performance indicator, starting point, target How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS goal and target and, where applicable, to Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy and SDGs Results achieved

Strengthen green procurement criteria

Promote environmental sustainability by integrating environmental performance considerations into departmental procurement process, including planning, acquisition, use and disposal, and ensuring there is the necessary training and awareness to support green procurement.

Program: Internal Services

Performance indicator:
Percentage of procurement related documents, guides, and tools posted on PHAC's Materiel and Assets Management intranet site reviewed and updated to reflect green procurement objectives, where applicable

Starting point:
100% (2022 to 2023)

Target:
100% (annual)

Implementation of this departmental action contributes to FSDS Goal 12: Reduce Waste and Transition to Zero-Emission Vehicles and Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy's focus on sustainable consumption and procurement by incorporating environmental considerations into purchasing decisions, which can motivate suppliers to reduce the environmental impact of the goods and services they deliver, and their supply chains.

Relevant targets or ambitions:
CIF Ambition 12.1: Canadians consume in a sustainable manner
CIF Indicator: No specific indicator
GIF Target 12.7: Promote public procurement practices that are sustainable, in accordance with national policies and priorities

Indicator result:
In 2024 to 2025, 100% of procurement related documents, guides and tools posted on PHAC's Materiel and Assets Management intranet were reviewed and no further required update were identified.

Notes:
At the end of 2023 to 2024, new content published on the intranet reflected green procurement objectives and considerations related to the Government of Canada's Greening Government Strategy.

Strengthen green procurement criteria

Identify the main categories of goods and services purchased by PHAC

Program: Internal Services

Performance indicator:
Complete an expanded analysis of PHAC's procurement spending (five fiscal years) to identify the main categories where 'greening' opportunities could be applied

Starting Point: 
Completed an assessment of PHAC's procurement spending in 2023 to 2024 to identify the main categories where 'greening' opportunities could be applied

Target:
March 31, 2025

Implementation of this departmental action contributes to FSDS Goal 12: Reduce Waste and Transition to Zero-Emission Vehicles and Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy's focus on sustainable consumption and procurement by incorporating environmental considerations into purchasing decisions, which can motivate suppliers to reduce the environmental impact of the goods and services they deliver, and their supply chains.

Relevant targets or ambitions:
CIF Ambition 12.1: Canadians consume in a sustainable manner
CIF Indicator: No specific indicator
GIF Target 12.7: Promote public procurement practices that are sustainable, in accordance with national policies and priorities

Indicator result:
In 2024 to 2025, an expanded assessment of PHAC's procurement spending (five years) was undertaken to identify the main categories where 'greening' opportunities could be applied.

Based on the analysis "greening" opportunities could exist in Drugs and Biologicals or Medical/Laboratory/Surgical Instruments.

Strengthen green procurement criteria

Ensure that the process for procurements over $25 million, including taxes, induces suppliers to measure and disclose their GHG emissions and adopt a science-based target to reduce GHG emissions in line with the Paris Agreement as part of participating in the Net-Zero Challenge or in an equivalent initiative or standard.

Program: Internal Services

Performance indicator:
Percentage of procurements over $25 million that included an incentive for suppliers to disclose their GHG emissions and adopt a science-based target to reduce emissions

Starting point:
100% in 2023 to 2024

Target: 100% (annual)

Note: Public Services and Procurement Canada's contracting authority and PHAC's technical authority play lead roles in achieving this target.

Implementation of this departmental action contributes to FSDS Goal 12: Reduce Waste and Transition to Zero-Emission Vehicles and Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy's focus on sustainable consumption and procurement by incorporating environmental considerations into purchasing decisions, which can motivate suppliers to reduce the environmental impact of the goods and services they deliver, and their supply chains.

Relevant targets or ambitions:
CIF Ambition 12.1: Canadians consume in a sustainable manner
CIF Indicator: No specific indicator
GIF Target 12.7: Promote public procurement practices that are sustainable, in accordance with national policies and priorities

Indicator result:
In 2024 to 2025, 100% of procurements over $25 million included a requirement to disclose their GHG emissions within 30 days of contract award.

Notes:
Only one over $25M contract was identified for 2024 to 2025.

Strengthen green procurement criteria

Ensure material management and specialists in procurement have the necessary training and awareness to support green procurement.

Program: Internal Services

Performance indicator:
Percentage of specialists in procurement and materiel management who have completed training on green procurement or have included it in their learning plan for completion within a year

Starting point:
100% (2022 to 2023)

Target:
100%

Implementation of this departmental action contributes to FSDS Goal 12: Reduce Waste and Transition to Zero-Emission Vehicles and Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy's focus on sustainable consumption and procurement by incorporating environmental considerations into purchasing decisions, which can motivate suppliers to reduce the environmental impact of the goods and services they deliver, and their supply chains.

Relevant targets or ambitions:
CIF Ambition 12.1: Canadians consume in a sustainable manner
CIF Indicator: No specific indicator
GIF Target 12.7: Promote public procurement practices that are sustainable, in accordance with national policies and priorities.

Indicator result:
In 2024 to 2025, 100% of specialists in procurement and materiel management completed the CSPS's green procurement course or have included it in their learning plan for completion within a year.

Transform the federal light-duty fleet

Use telematics analysis to right-size fleet.
Increase the percentage of departmental fleet that are zero-emission vehicles (ZEV), whenever operationally feasible.

Program: Internal Services

Performance indicator:
Percentage of compatible and/or applicable vehicles logged via telematics

Starting point:
Telematics were installed on all vehicles in PHACs fleet (2019 to 2020)

Target:
100% (annual)

Implementation of this departmental action contributes to FSDS Goal 12: Reduce Waste and Transition to Zero-Emission Vehicles and Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy's focus on using zero-emission vehicles by using telematics to help inform decisions and planning related to fleet purchases which facilitates replacement of conventional vehicles over their lifetimes with ZEVs.
In addition, work to advance a National Fleet Management Strategy will also enable PHAC to continue to examine ways to support reductions in GHG emissions from fleet.

Relevant targets or ambitions:
CIF Ambition 12.1: Canadians consume in a sustainable manner
CIF Indicator: No specific indicator
GIF Target 12.7: Promote public procurement practices that are sustainable, in accordance with national policies and priorities

Indicator result:
In 2024 to 2025, 100% of non-executive vehicles were logged via telematics devices.

Transform the federal light-duty fleet

Use telematics analysis to right-size fleet.
Increase the percentage of departmental fleet that are ZEV, whenever operationally feasible.

Program: Internal Services

Performance indicator:
Percentage of new light-duty unmodified administrative fleet vehicle purchases that are ZEV or hybrid.

  • Total number of vehicles in administrative fleet
  • Total number of new light-duty unmodified administrative fleet vehicles purchased
  • Total number of ZEV or hybrid purchased
  • Percentage of ZEV in administrative fleet (to indicate progress on PHAC's contribution to the FSDS goal for Government of Canada's overall administrative fleet to be at least 80% ZEV by 2030).

Starting point:
PHAC had 17 vehicles in its administrative fleet, 1 of which was ZEV or hybrids (2019 to 2020)

Target:
75% (annual) aligns with annual procurement target per TBS criteria

Implementation of this departmental action contributes to FSDS Goal 12: Reduce Waste and Transition to Zero-Emission Vehicles and Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy's focus on using zero-emission vehicles by using telematics to help inform decisions and planning related to fleet purchases which facilitates replacement of conventional vehicles over their lifetimes with ZEVs.
In addition, work to advance a National Fleet Management Strategy will also enable PHAC to continue to examine ways to support reductions in GHG emissions from fleet.

Relevant targets or ambitions:
CIF Ambition 12.1: Canadians consume in a sustainable manner
CIF Indicator 12.1.1: Proportion of new light duty vehicle registrations that are zero-emission vehicles
GIF Target 12.7: Promote public procurement practices that are sustainable, in accordance with national policies and priorities

Indicator result:
In 2024 to 2025:

  • There were 33 vehicles in the light-duty unmodified administrative fleet.
  • There were 0 new light-duty unmodified administrative fleet vehicles purchased.
  • There were 0 ZEV or hybrid vehicles purchased.
  • 52% of vehicles in the light-duty unmodified administrative fleet were considered ZEV.

Notes:
17 of 33 vehicles considered ZEV. ZEVs include battery electric, plug-in hybrid and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles per TBS.

Transform the federal light-duty fleet

Use telematics analysis to right-size fleet.
Increase the percentage of departmental fleet that are ZEV, whenever operationally feasible.

Program: Internal Services

Performance indicator:
Percentage of executive vehicle purchases that are ZEV or hybrid.

  • Total number of executive vehicles in fleet
  • Total number of new executive vehicles purchased
  • Total number of ZEV or hybrid purchases

Starting point:
PHAC had 1 executive vehicle in its fleet, which was hybrid (2019 to 2020)

Target:
100% (annual)

Implementation of this departmental action contributes to FSDS Goal 12: Reduce Waste and Transition to Zero-Emission Vehicles and Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy's focus on using zero-emission vehicles by using telematics to help inform decisions and planning related to fleet purchases which facilitates replacement of conventional vehicles over their lifetimes with ZEVs.
In addition, work to advance a National Fleet Management Strategy will also enable PHAC to continue to examine ways to support reductions in GHG emissions from fleet.

Relevant targets or ambitions:
CIF Ambition 12.1: Canadians consume in a sustainable manner
CIF Indicator 12.1.1: Proportion of new light duty vehicle registrations that are zero-emission vehicles
GIF Target 12.7: Promote public procurement practices that are sustainable, in accordance with national policies and priorities

Indicator result:
In 2024 to 2025:

  • There were 2 vehicles in the executive fleet.
  • There were 0 executive vehicles purchased.
  • There were 0 ZEV or hybrid vehicles purchased.

Goal 13: Take action on climate change and its impacts

Federal Sustainable Development Strategy context

Effective and urgent action on climate change requires transitioning to a net-zero economy by reducing greenhouse gas and short-lived climate pollutant emissions while continuing to grow prosperity, and by realizing opportunities in emerging markets such as renewable energy and clean technology. At the same time, given the unprecedented climate-related events such as wildfires with widespread smoke pollution, record breaking heat and rainfall events, Canada needs to adapt to the changing climate by building resilience and reducing vulnerability to impacts in communities, regions, ecosystems, and economic sectors.

PHAC supports the implementation of FSDS Goal 13: Take Action on Climate Change and its Impacts by monitoring its energy usage and GHG emissions to identify opportunities to improve the environmental performance of custodial buildings. In addition, PHAC has established a Public Health and Climate Change Hub to advance activities focusing on core public health functions of surveillance, assessment and science, public health guidance, emergency preparedness, programming and partnerships that build overall resilience to climate threats. Climate resilience is also being integrated into planning processes through the use of climate resilient building designs in applicable projects and through the Agency-wide climate change risk assessment which will help understand the impact of climate change on Agency assets, services and operations.

PHAC also supports the advancement of SDG 13: Climate Action by contributing to the mitigation of the impacts of climate change on health through its support of the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change, Canada's National Adaptation Strategy, as well as the Government of Canada's National Adaptation Action Plan. This work supports climate change adaptation and resiliency by equipping health professionals, individuals and communities with the information needed to protect and improve health from climate sensitive infectious diseases.

Target theme: Federal leadership on greenhouse gas emissions reductions and climate resilience

Target: The Government of Canada will transition to net-zero carbon operations for facilities and conventional fleets by 2050 (All Ministers).

Table 11. Summary of results for performance indicators related to net-zero carbon operations
Implementation strategy Departmental action Performance indicator, starting point, target How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS goal and target and, where applicable, to Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy and SDGs Results achieved

Implement the Greening Government Strategy through measures that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve climate resilience, and green the government's overall operations

Undertake outreach activities to integrate sustainable development in Agency operations.

Program: Internal Services

Performance Indicator:
Number of outreach activities to employees to build capacity on strategic environmental assessments, raise awareness about climate change, and promote best practices and tools in support of Greening Government Strategy objectives

Starting point:
PHAC undertook 19 outreach activities (2022 to 2023)

Target:
25 (annual)

Implementation of this departmental action contributes to FSDS Goal 13: Take Action on Climate Change and its Impacts and Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy's focus on greening the government's operations by increasing awareness of climate change and sustainable development within the Agency.

Relevant targets or ambitions:
CIF Ambition 13.2: Canadians are well equipped and resilient to face the effects of climate change
CIF Indicator: No specific indicator
GIF Target 13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising and human and
institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning

Indicator result:
In 2024 to 2025, PHAC undertook 35 outreach activities.

Notes:
Outreach activities promoted capacity building within PHAC through learning events, the promotion of climate change-related training opportunities offered by the Canada School of Public Service, and internal communications that created awareness of environmental issues and highlighted the work being undertaken across the federal government to support sustainable development.

Implement the Greening Government Strategy through measures that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve climate resilience, and green the government's overall operations

Adopt and maintain approaches and activities that reduce PHAC's energy use and improve the overall environmental performance of custodial facilities.

Program: Internal Services

Performance Indicator:
Percentage change in GHG emissions from custodial facilities from fiscal year 2005 to 2006 (7.32ktCO2e)

Starting point:
GHG emissions from facilities in fiscal year 2005 to 2006 = 7.32ktCO2e (7.00 ktCO2e in 2022 to 2023)

Target:
40% below 2005 levels by 2030, and net zero by 2050

Implementation of this departmental action contributes to FSDS Goal 13: Take Action on Climate Change and its Impacts and Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy's focus on greening the government's operations by measuring emissions to strive toward reducing emission levels 40% below 2005 levels by 2030, and net zero by 2050 of custodial facilities.

Relevant targets or ambitions:
CIF Target 13.1: Achieve 40 to 45% greenhouse gas emission reductions below 2005 levels by 2030, and achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050
CIF Indicator 13.1.1: Greenhouse gas emissions
GIF Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning

Indicator result:
In 2024 to 2025, PHAC reported a 4.6% change from its 2005-06 baseline (6.73 ktCO2e).

Notes:
As PHAC's custodial properties increased post baseline date we also report on greenhouse gas emission intensity. 2024 2025 GHG intensity is 22.7% lower than 2005-2006 baseline (2024-2025: 0.17 tCO2e/m2 versus 2005-2006: 0.22
tCO2e/m2).

Implement the Greening Government Strategy through measures that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve climate resilience, and green the government's overall operations

Identify opportunities to facilitate awareness about energy use and technologies that improve environmental performance of custodial facilities.

Program: Internal Services

Performance indicator:
Percentage of water consumption at custodial buildings that is tracked and disclosed

Starting point:
New initiative (79,308m3 in 2022 to 2023)

Target:
100% (annual)

Implementation of this departmental action contributes to FSDS Goal 13: Take Action on Climate Change and its Impacts and Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy's focus on greening the government's operations by utilizing building-level water meters to measure environmental performance and water use to identify opportunities to improve the energy efficiency and environmental performance of custodial facilities.

Relevant targets or ambitions:
CIF Ambition 13.2: Canadians are well-equipped and resilient to face the effects of Climate change
CIF Indicator: No specific indicator
GIF Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate related hazards and natural disasters in all countries

Indicator result:
In 2024 to 2025, 100% of water consumption at custodial buildings was metered, tracked, and disclosed.

Implement the Greening Government Strategy through measures that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve climate resilience, and green the government's overall operations

Identify opportunities to facilitate awareness about energy use and technologies that improve environmental performance of custodial facilities.

Program: Internal Services

Performance Indicator:
Percentage of custodial facility real property refrigeration equipment containing more than 10kg of halocarbons that has been inventoried

Starting point:
100% (2022 to 2023)

Target:
100%

Implementation of this departmental action contributes to FSDS Goal 13: Take Action on Climate Change and its Impacts and Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy's focus on greening the government's operations by utilizing custodial facility real property refrigeration equipment inventories to identify opportunities to improve the environmental performance of custodial facilities.

Relevant targets or ambitions:
CIF Ambition 13.2: Canadians are well-equipped and resilient to face the effects of Climate change
CIF Indicator: No specific indicator
GIF Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate related hazards and natural disasters in all countries

Indicator result:
In 2024 to 2025, 100% of custodial facility real property refrigeration equipment containing more than10kg of halocarbons has been inventoried.

Implement the Greening Government Strategy through measures that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve climate resilience, and green the government's overall operations

Purchase megawatt hours of renewable electricity equivalent to that produced by the high-carbon portion of the electricity grid. This includes the use of renewable electricity generated on-site or purchased off-site for custodial facilities.

Program: Internal Services

Performance Indicator:
Percentage of renewable energy purchased in custodial facilities

Starting point:
95% (2022 to 2023)

Target:
100% (By 2025)

Implementation of this departmental action contributes to FSDS Goal 13: Take Action on Climate Change and its Impacts and Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy's focus on greening the government's operations by analyzing electrical energy consumption, and percent used or purchased of renewable energy to reduce GHG emissions and increase the share of renewable energy used in custodial facilities.

Relevant targets or ambitions:
CIF Target 13.1: Achieve 40 to 45% greenhouse gas emission reductions below 2005 levels by 2030, and achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050
CIF Indicator 13.1.1: Greenhouse gas emissions
GIF Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning

Indicator result:
In 2024 to 2025, 93.6% renewable energy was purchased.

Notes:
Energy production in Ontario generated by Ontario Hydro is 38% renewable. PHAC's energy consumed in Ontario for 2024 to 2025 was 758,905 kWh.

In addition, energy production purchased in Manitoba though Manitoba Hydro is 97% renewable. PHAC's energy consumed in Manitoba for 2024 to 2025 was 20,500,582 kWh.

Modernize through net-zero carbon buildings

Specification of low embodied carbon materials in major construction and renovation contracts.

Note: Greening Government Strategy - Real Property Guidance has defined "major" as "Projects in which changes proposed to the building envelope and HVAC systems or the proposed value of work is more than 50% of the assessed value of the building."

Program: Internal Services

Performance Indicator:
Percentage of custodial facility real property projects >$10million and where more than 100m3 of ready-mix concrete is purchased which have reported on their embodied carbon in construction materials

Starting point: New initiative

Target:
100% of custodial facility real property projects >$10million and where more than 100m3 of ready-mix concrete is purchased

Implementation of this departmental action contributes to FSDS Goal 13: Take Action on Climate Change and its Impacts and Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy's focus on reducing GHG emissions by integrating climate change measures to reduce overall embodied carbon levels in construction materials used in custodial facility real property projects.

Relevant targets or ambitions:
CIF Target 13.1: Achieve 40 to 45% greenhouse gas emission reductions below 2005 levels by 2030, and achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050
CIF Indicator 13.1.1: Greenhouse gas emissions
GIF Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning

Indicator result:
In 2024 to 2025, PHAC did not undertake any custodial real property projects over $10 million.

Apply a greenhouse gas reduction life-cycle cost analysis for major building retrofits

Identify opportunities to facilitate awareness about energy use and technologies that improve environmental performance in order to improve the environmental performance of custodial facilities.

Program: Internal Services

Performance Indicator:
Number of energy performance analyses on building fit-ups, refits, major investments, and new construction projects

Starting point:
1 aggregate energy performance analysis completed (2022 to 2023)

Target:
3 energy performance analyses (By 2027)

Implementation of this departmental action contributes to FSDS Goal 13: Take Action on Climate Change and its Impacts and Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy's focus on reducing GHG emissions by integrating energy performance analyses to support the reduction of GHG emissions at custodial facilities.

Relevant targets or ambitions:
CIF Target 13.1: Achieve 40 to 45% greenhouse gas emission reductions below 2005 levels by 2030, and achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050
CIF Indicator 13.1.1: Greenhouse gas emissions
GIF Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning

Indicator result:
In 2024 to 2025, PHAC completed one additional energy reduction study. This brings to the total of energy reduction studies completed since 2023 to 2024 to two.

Notes:
PHAC conducted an internal risk assessment that evaluated the possibility of recirculating ventilation in Containment Level 2 laboratories at the Canadian Science Centre for Human and Animal Health.

Target: The Government of Canada will transition to climate resilient operations by 2050 (All Ministers).

Table 12. Summary of results for performance indicators related to climate resilient operations
Implementation strategy Departmental action Performance indicator, starting point, target How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS goal and target and, where applicable, to Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy and SDGs Results achieved

Reduce risks posed by climate change to federal assets, services and operations

Integrate climate change adaptation into the design, construction and operation aspects of custodial facility real property projects.

Program: Internal Services

Performance Indicator:
Percentage of custodial facility real property projects >$10million where climate resilient building designs are integrated in the project design process

Starting point: New initiative

Target: 100% (annual)

Implementation of this departmental action contributes to FSDS Goal 13: Take Action on Climate Change and its Impacts and Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy's focus on building resilience to climate change by integrating climate resilient building designs in the construction of buildings to establish climate resiliency in custodial facility real property projects.

Relevant targets or ambitions:
CIF Ambition 13.2: Canadians are well-equipped and resilient to face the effects of Climate change
CIF Indicator: No specific indicator
GIF Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate related hazards and natural disasters in all countries

Indicator result:
In 2024 to 2025, PHAC did not undertake any custodial real property projects over $10 million.

Reduce risks posed by climate change to federal assets, services and operations

Understand the wide range of climate change impacts that could potentially affect the Agency's custodial assets, services and operations.

Program: Internal Services

Performance indicator:
Develop a climate change adaptation plan addressing the risks and impacts of climate change on the Agency's custodial assets, services, and operations

Starting point:
The Agency's climate change risk assessment is currently in development with the results expected to inform the climate change adaptation plan (2022 to 2023)

Target:
Climate Change Adaptation Plan to be developed (By March 31, 2026)

Implementation of this departmental action contributes to FSDS Goal 13: Take Action on Climate Change and its Impacts and Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy's focus on building resilience to climate change by integrating climate resilient adaptation measures into the management of the Agency's custodial assets, services, and operations.

Relevant targets or ambitions:
CIF Ambition 13.2: Canadians are well-equipped and resilient to face the effects of Climate change
CIF Indicator: No specific indicator
GIF Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate related hazards and natural disasters in all countries

Indicator result:
PHAC is on track for the Climate Change Adaptation Plan to be developed by March 2026.

Notes:
PHAC is currently undertaking its climate change risk assessment which will inform future adaptation planning.

Implementation strategies supporting the goal

This section is for implementation strategies that support the goal "Take action on climate change and its impacts" but not a specific FSDS target.

Table 13. Summary of results for performance indicators related to Federal Sustainable Development Strategy Goal 13
Implementation strategy Departmental action Performance indicator, starting point, target How the departmental action contributes to the FSDS goal and target and, where applicable, to Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy and SDGs Results achieved

Support climate change adaptation across Canada

Undertake activities to build Agency capacity and support prevention and response efforts to protect public health from the impacts of climate change

Program: Food-borne and Zoonotic Diseases

Performance indicator:
Develop a coordinated Agency-wide Climate Change and Public Health Plan

Starting point:
New initiative

Target:
PHAC will finalize a Climate Change and Public Health Plan and develop an associated performance management framework by March 31, 2025.

Implementation of this departmental action contributes to FSDS Goal 13: Take Action on Climate Change and its Impacts and Canada's 2030 Agenda National Strategy's focus on climate resilience. This demonstrates leadership to the public health community by responding to multiple climate-related events. It also helps to build public health organizational and professional capacity, supporting prevention and response efforts to protect the public's health from immediate and ongoing climate threats.

Relevant targets or ambitions:
CIF Ambition 13.2: Canadians are well equipped and resilient to face the effects of climate change
CIF Indicator: No specific indicator
GIF Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries; 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning; 13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning

Indicator result:
In 2024 to 2025 PHAC continued to develop a coordinated Agency-wide Climate Change and Public Health Plan, including an associated performance measurement framework. This Plan is scheduled to be completed in 2025 to 2026.

Initiatives advancing Canada's implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 13: Climate action

The following initiatives demonstrate how PHAC programming supports the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs, supplementing the information outlined above..

Table 14. Summary of results for planned initiatives related to Sustainable Development Goal 13
Planned initiatives Associated domestics targets or ambitions and/or global targets Results achieved
  • Implementation of the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change and the National Adaptation Action Plan contributes to the achievement of SDG 13 by providing advice, analysis, and direction to support the advancement of a climate change adaptation policy and activities in Canada. PHAC continues to support the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change, as part of Canada's plan to meet its Paris Agreement commitments, stimulate Canada's economy, and build climate resilience across the country.

These strategies contribute to:

  • GIF Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries; and
  • GIF Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning.
  • In 2024 to 2025 PHAC enhanced vector-borne disease education and awareness resources by leveraging surveillance data to inform the development of products such as Canada.ca webpages, awareness resources, digital advertising, virtual children's tick exhibit, infographics and interactive risk maps. In addition, PHAC used social media to update partners, stakeholders, and professionals about ongoing work on zoonotic infectious diseases including those which are climate sensitive, including a tick bite prevention campaign. PHAC developed a plan to address the needs of health professionals regarding zoonotic infectious diseases.

    PHAC contributed expertise to the risk assessment on Oropouche virus and led reporting on non-enteric zoonoses to facilitate notification of public health events of international concern, as well as events requiring case follow-up and/or surveillance support.

    In addition, maps on tick-borne and mosquito-borne disease were updated to streamline and facilitate timely and accessible surveillance information and case updates during transmission season. New dashboards on tick-borne and mosquito-borne disease surveillance data were also launched. Modelling studies used a variety of data sources to advance the understanding of the ecology and epidemiology of mosquito and tick-borne diseases in Canada. PHAC also developed new tests for the diagnosis of emerging pathogens, and published information on the diversity and spread of pathogens throughout Canada through a study using genomic sequencing.

  • In 2024 to 2025, PHAC established a new funding agreement through the Infectious Disease and Climate Change Fund (IDCCF). The new project developed and disseminated educational material, tools and resources related to risks associated with Oropouche virus disease during pregnancy to individuals and their healthcare providers across Canada with the goal of improving knowledge and reducing risks.

    The IDCCF launched a new call for proposals focused on building capacity and resiliency of Indigenous Peoples through Indigenous ways of knowing as well as mobilizing evidence and raising awareness to take action. New projects are anticipated to begin in fall 2025.

  • The Pan-Canadian Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) contributes to the achievement of SDG 13 by taking a One Health approach to mitigating AMR across human, animal and environment sectors. PHAC is bolstering AMR and antimicrobial use surveillance data across sectors, including from the environment sectors. This data will be crucial for monitoring and understanding how climate change may impact AMR threats in Canada across sectors, supporting PHAC's contributions to SDG 13.
  • In 2024 to 2025, PHAC collaborated with the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and Environment and Climate Change Canada to engage partners on AMR research priorities to inform the development of a National One Health AMR Research Strategy.

Goal 17: Strengthen partnerships to promote global action on sustainable development

Federal Sustainable Development Strategy context

Diverse and inclusive partnerships are required at the local, regional, national and global levels to achieve the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals.

PHAC supports the advancement of SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals by addressing health equity and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) across One Health include working with domestic and international partners. In addition, PHAC is fostering meaningful and collaborative partnerships with Indigenous Peoples at the regional and national levels to advance reconciliation and implement the UN Declaration Act.

Initiatives advancing Canada's implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 17: Partnerships for the goals

The following initiatives demonstrate how PHAC programming supports the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs, supplementing the information outlined above.

Table 15. Summary of results for planned initiatives related to Sustainable Development Goal 17
Planned initiatives Associated domestics targets or ambitions and/or global targets Results achieved
  • PHAC efforts to advance reconciliation and implement the UN Declaration Act contributes to the achievement of SDG 17 through meaningful and collaborative partnerships with Indigenous Peoples at the regional and national levels. Examples include: the Nunavut Partnership Table on Health, which brings together three federal departments, the Territorial Government and the organization that represents Inuit in the Territory to improve health outcomes of Inuit in Nunavut; and the Joint Executive Agenda between the BC First Nations Health Authority and PHAC to advance a holistic approach to health and wellness with First Nations in BC.

These strategies contribute to:

  • GIF Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships.
  • In 2024 to 2025, PHAC participated in three Nunavut Partnership Tables on Health meetings and two with the Yukon Trilateral Table on Health. In October 2024, PHAC and the BC First Nations Health Authority signed a revised Joint Executive Agenda, establishing a shared agenda and collaborative approach, with a commitment to revisit it annually. Building on these and earlier efforts, PHAC held 23 bilateral meetings with national and regional Indigenous partners to discuss priorities and identify opportunities meaningful partnerships. PHAC continues to advance its reconciliation commitments through collaborative work with regional and national Indigenous partners.
  • PHAC's work to address AMR threats and challenges support SDG 17 as tackling AMR effectively requires collaboration and partnership across all relevant One Health sectors.
  • In 2024 to 2025, PHAC published the Pan-Canadian Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance: Year 1 Progress Report, which provided updates on the concrete actions that Canada is taking to reduce the development and spread of AMR. PHAC also collaborated with AMMI Canada to develop national antimicrobial prescribing guidelines for certain infectious syndromes in humans.

    PHAC also worked to improve Antimicrobial Stewardship in long-term care homes via strategies to optimize urinary tract infection management, which led to the production of several manuscripts and information sharing webinars. In addition, PHAC worked alongside federal, provincial, territorial and international partners, included designing a pilot project to help increase access to new, effective antimicrobials in Canada.

Integrating sustainable development

Led by the Agency's Sustainable Development Champion and Sustainable Development Office, PHAC will continue to ensure that its decision-making process includes consideration of FSDS goals and targets through its Strategic Environmental and Economic Assessment (SEEA) process. A SEEA for a policy, program or regulatory proposal includes an analysis of the climate, nature, environmental and economic effects of the given proposal.

During the 2024 to 2025 reporting period, PHAC considered the environmental and economic effects of proposals subject to the Cabinet Directive on Strategic Environmental and Economic Assessment (Cabinet Directive), as part of its decision-making processes. This includes Memoranda to Cabinet; Treasury Board Submissions; Regulatory Proposals; and any other strategic documents submitted to Cabinet for approval (e.g. Budget Proposals).

As per the Cabinet Directive, SEEAs involve a multi-step process at PHAC, which includes, but is not limited to, the following steps:

  1. Determination of whether the proposal is excluded based on the criteria outlined in the Climate, Nature, and Economy Lens template.
  2. If the proposal is not exempt, completion of the preliminary screening questions to determine if a detailed strategic environmental and/or economic assessment is required.
  3. If a more rigorous examination of environmental and/or economic effects is needed, then a detailed SEEA analysis is conducted, including a Public Statement that demonstrates how environmental and/or economic factors are incorporated into the decision making process and how these factors will be mitigated.

The SEEA process is meant to be started early in the development of the proposal when the scope, objectives, and alternative courses of action are being determined. This allows considerations of environmental and economic effects to be integrated early in the conceptual development and planning stages of the proposal.

Public statements on the results of PHAC's assessments are issued when an initiative that was the subject of a detailed SEEA is implemented or announced (see PHAC's webpage on sustainable development). The purpose of the public statement is to demonstrate that the environmental and economic effects, including contributions to the FSDS goals and targets, of an initiative have been considered during proposal development and decision making.

PHAC did not have any proposals subject to a detailed SEEA that were announced or implemented in 2024 to 2025.

More broadly, PHAC continues to work towards integrating sustainable development considerations into its work. This is demonstrated through capacity building initiatives to enhance awareness related to core sustainable development priorities such as climate literacy and the Climate Nature and Economy Lens (CNEL). In addition, the Agency engages its staff in broader sustainable development themes through webinars, internal communications, and its Sustainable Workplace Operations Community of Practice, known as the PHAC Green Team. These activities complement the core commitments profiled throughout the 2023 to 2027 DSDS and contribute towards the integration of sustainable development considerations in PHAC's operations.

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2025-11-03