About Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer (CPHO)

Dr. Theresa Tam has concluded her term as CPHO. When an incoming CPHO is appointed, this page will be updated.

Interim 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:

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:

Email: CPHOCorrespondence@PHAC-ASPC.GC.CA