About Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer (CPHO)
On this page
- CPHO
- Role of the CPHO
- CPHO statements
- Public health leadership and collaboration
- CPHO reports
- Contact
CPHO
On February 20, 2026, the Honourable Marjorie Michel, Minister of Health, announced the appointment of Dr. Joss Reimer as Canada’s next Chief Public Health Officer. The appointment is a 3-year term, effective April 1, 2026. This page will be updated at that time.
Role of the CPHO
The Chief Public Health Officer (CPHO) is the federal government's lead public health professional. The CPHO is responsible for:
- providing advice to the Minister of Health and President of the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) on public health issues
- working with provincial, territorial and international partners on public health matters
- providing an annual report to the Minister on the state of public health in Canada for tabling in Parliament
- speaking to people in Canada, including health professionals and stakeholders about issues affecting the population's health
In a public health emergency, such as an outbreak or natural disaster, the CPHO is responsible for:
- briefing and advising Canada's Minister of Health, the President of PHAC and others as appropriate
- working with provincial, territorial and international partners, as well as with experts and elected officials, to communicate with those in Canada about how to protect themselves and their families
- providing public health information to the public
- providing direction to PHAC as they plan and respond to the emergency
The CPHO is also accountable for, or has delegated responsibilities for, public health-related provisions of the:
- Public Health Agency of Canada Act
- Quarantine Act
- Human Pathogens and Toxins Act
- Department of Health Act
CPHO statements
Public health leadership and collaboration
Within the Pan-Canadian Public Health Network, the CPHO serves as:
- federal co-chair of the Pan-Canadian Public Health Network Council, the formal public health governance for federal, provincial and territorial governments working together to strengthen and enhance public health across Canada
- a member of the Council of Chief Medical Officers of Health, a technical advisory forum that includes the federal, provincial and territorial Chief Medical Officers of Health
- co-chair of the Indigenous Rights and Reconciliation in Public Health Working Group which supports the Public Health Network in advancing a distinctions-based Indigenous-led public health vision
The CPHO also serves as:
- co-chair of the CPHO’s Health Professionals Forum, which brings together 19 national health organizations to collaborate and take action on public health issues of national importance
Learn more: