About Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer (CPHO)
On this page
- CPHO biography
- Role of the CPHO
- CPHO statements
- Public health leadership and collaboration
- CPHO reports
- Contact
CPHO biography
Dr. Joss Reimer was named Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer effective April 1, 2026. She is the federal government's lead public health professional. Using the best available data and evidence, she provides guidance to:
- advance health equity
- promote healthier communities
- help protect the people of Canada against health threats
Dr. Reimer is the past President of the Canadian Medical Association and former Chief Medical Officer for the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority. She has public health expertise in:
- health equity
- immunizations
- health communications
- sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections
She has contributed to numerous scientific publications and presentations in both official languages. She was also the medical lead and spokesperson for Manitoba’s COVID-19 Vaccine Taskforce, and spent 9 years as undergraduate director of population health at the University of Manitoba.
She was voted Humanitarian of the Year by Doctors Manitoba, and she is passionate about physician wellness and public health.
Dr. Reimer has received several awards, including the:
- King Charles III Coronation Medal
- Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee Medal
- University of Manitoba Distinguished Alumni
- St. John Ambulance Pandemic Medallion
Education and credentials
Dr. Reimer completed medical training at the University of Manitoba and McMaster University, with several years in obstetrics and gynecology before finishing a public health specialty.
She completed a master’s degree in public health with a project focused on health communication in Nairobi, Kenya. Her research areas have focused on sexually transmitted infections and drug related harms with projects in Canada and Colombia.
Role of the CPHO
The CPHO is the federal government's lead public health professional. They are 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:
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
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: