Supplementary Information (Tables)

2011–16: PPHSACC Program

Increased collaboration on climate change adaptation.

Number of collaborations with organizations.

Met
Total of (22) formal collaborations:

• One ongoing collaboration with Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada for modeling health impacts in vulnerable First Nations communities
• Two ongoing collaborations with local organizations (Pitu'paq Partnership [Nova Scotia (N.S.)], Chief John Basque Chapel Island Waterkeepers [N.S.]) to project health impacts related to drinking water using risk modeling framework
• Continued international collaborations (World Health Organization and World Meteorological Organization)
• One research collaboration with provincial organization (Public Health Ontario) on costing Lyme disease in Ontario.
• One ongoing international collaboration with the North American Climate Change and Human Health Working Group.
• One National collaboration with the Institut national de santé publique du Québec (INSPQ).
• One research collaboration with Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM)
• One research collaboration with Ouranos in Québec
• One research collaboration with Université de Montréal
• One research collaboration with ArcticNet
• One research collaboration with York University, Toronto, Ont.
• One international research collaboration with United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• One international research collaboration with United States Geological Survey
• One international research collaboration with the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control
• One international research collaboration with the United States Environmental Protection Agency
• One international research collaboration with the Centre Européen de Recherche et de Formation Avancée en Calcul Scientifique, Toulouse, France
• One international research collaboration with Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, England
• One research collaboration with Université Grenoble Alpes (France)
• One research collaboration with the Centre National d’Étude Spatial, France
• One research collaboration with CIRAD (Centre de recherche agronomique et de cooperation international pour le développement durable des regions tropicales et méditéranéennes), France
• One research collaboration with the Laboratoire de santé publique du Québec

Targeted communities and sectors recognize the need for adaptation

Number of presentations requested on public health and environmental change.

Met
Total of 13 presentations given to stakeholder groups, organizations and workshops, webinars and conferences:

• 10 Presentations
• 3 Workshops

Presentations: (eight)

• Ogden N.H. (2015) Climate and tick-borne disease. American Society of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene, Philadelphia, United States of America (USA)
• Ogden N.H. (2015) Table ronde sur les interventions de santé publique – Zoonoses et changements climatiques. INSPQ – Journées annuelles de santé publique, Montréal, Que.
• Ogden N.H. (2015) Évolution des zoonoses et maladies à transmission vectorielle, en relation avec les changements climatiques. RÉESE – Réseau des échanges sur les enjeux en santé environnementale, Montréal, Que.
• Ogden N.H. (2015) Évolution des maladies à transmission vectorielle, en relation avec les changements climatiques. Séminaire, Centre pour l’étude et la simulation du climat à l’échelle régionale, UQAM, Montréal, Que.
• Ogden N.H. (2015) Climate, climate change and vector-borne diseases. Environnement Canada atelier sur l’utilisation des données de climat, Gatineau, Que.
• Ogden N.H. (2015) Climate, climate change and vector-borne disease. Hofstra University, Symposium on Climate Change and Ecology, NY, USA
• Ogden N.H. (2015) Climate, climate change and vector-borne disease. Clarkson University, special seminar, NY, USA
• Ogden N.H. (2015) Climate, climate change and vector-borne disease. St Francis Xavier University Seminar series on climate and society, Antigonish, N.S.

Planned Presentations (abstracts submitted) (two):

• Projecting climate change and adaptation impacts on food and water safety: A risk modelling framework. Adaption Canada 2016. April 12-14, 2016. Ottawa, Ont.
• Exploring climate and climate change impacts on drinking water quality. National Water and Wastewater Conference, November 13-16, 2016, Toronto, Ont.

Workshops/Meeting:

• Natural Resources Canada led Adaptation Platform Plenary Meeting, May 5-6, 2015
• Adaptation Platform Plenary, October 27-28, 2015. Whitehorse, YT
• Co-hosted Best Brains Exchange on Climate Change Adaptation (Dec. 2015), bringing together a small group of domestic and international partners to explore adaptation issues and opportunities.

Targeted communities and sectors are aware of relevant adaptation measures.

Number of science-based decision-making tools disseminated.

Met
Three tool disseminated:

• Public Health and Climate Change Toolkit: development of an online toolkit to disseminate public health adaptation resources for use by public health officials in adaptation planning and response. A web-based toolkit of resources developed through the PHAC program as well as external resources (e.g., developed at the Provincial/Territorial/Local and international level).
• Public Health and Water-borne Illness Research Tool: Develop a water quality tool to link acute gastrointestinal illness to environmental data to identify the relationship with weather extremes. A practical tool which can be used by any public health authority to guide users on how to collect, clean and format data, and conduct analysis to estimate future risk to water systems. British Columbia (BC) Ministry of Health, BC-CDC, and Simon Fraser University.
• Canadian Network for Public Health Intelligence – Collaboration Centre created– Public Health and Climate Change Adaptation.

One communications product made available:

• Participation in web renewal of environment and climate change content (i.e., migration to Canada.gc.ca).

Number of reports disseminated.

Met
Two new reports disseminated:

• Anticipated Report (June 8, 2016 Launch) – Comprehensive climate risk modelling framework to help protect future food and water safety in Canada. In Climate Services for Health Global Case Studies of Enhancing Decision Support for Climate Risk Management and Adaptation. World Health Organization (WHO)/World Meteorological Organization.
• Development of a Report on the Effectiveness of West Nile Virus Control/Interventions in Canada/ Proposition d’un programme de surveillance entomologique du virus du Nil occidental au Québec – INSPQ, Septembre 2015

Report and Information Requests (nine):

• Seven Pilot Infectious Disease Impact and Response Systems Reports disseminated:
• Two Regional Dialogue Reports disseminated

Number of publications disseminated.

Met
Seven peer-reviewed journal publications and two books or book chapters were generated and/or published.
Journals:

• Healthcare use for acute gastrointestinal illness in two Inuit communities: Rigolet and Iqualuit, Canada. Int J Circumpolar Health, 2015 May 21; 74:26290.
• Eisen, R., Eisen, L., Ogden NH, Beard CB. (2015) Linkages of weather and climate with Ixodes scapularis and Ixodes pacificus (Acari: Ixodidae), enzootic transmission of Borrelia burgdorferi, and Lyme disease in North America. Journal of Medical Entomology published online ahead of print
• Springer, Y.P., Hoekman, D., Johnson, P.T., Duffy, P., Allan, B.F., Amman, B.R., Barker, C.M., Barrera, R., Beard, C.B., Beati, L., Begon, M., Blackmore, M.S., Bradshaw, W.E., Brisson, D., Calisher, C.H., Childs, J.E., Diuk-Wasser, M.A., Douglass, R.J., Eisen, R., Foley, D.H., Foley, J.E., Gaff, H.D., Gardner, S.L., Ginsberg, H.S., Glass, G.E., Hamer, S.A., Hayden, M.H., Hjelle, B., Holzapfel, C.M., Juliano, S.A., Kramer, L.D., Kuenzi, A.J., LaDeau, S.L., Livdahl, T.P., Mills, J.N., Moore, C.G., Morand, S., Nasci, R.S., Ogden, N.H., Ostfeld, R.S., Parmenter, R.R., Piesman, J., Reisen, W.K., Savage, H.M., Sonenshine, D.E., Swei, AA, Yabsley, M.J. (2016) Vector and pathogen sampling designs for the National Ecological Observatory Network. Ecosphere. In press
• Ludwig, A., Ginsberg, H.S., Hickling, G.J., Ogden N.H. 2015. A dynamic population model to investigate effects of climate and climate-independent factors on the lifecycle of the tick Amblyomma americanum. Journal of Medical Entomology. 53(1):99-115.
• Kulkarni M., Berrang-Ford L., Buck P., Drebot M., Lindsay L.R., Ogden N.H. (2015) Major emerging vector-borne zoonotic diseases of public health importance in Canada. Emerging Microbes & Infection. 4, e33
• Yusa A., Berry P. J., Cheng J., Ogden N., Bonsal B., Stewart R., Waldick R. 2015 Climate Change, Drought and Human Health in Canada. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 12, 8359-8412
• Participation in Scientific Publication with McGill University. Public Health Adaptation to Climate Change in OECD Countries. Stephanie E. Austin 1,2, Robbert Biesbroek 2,3, Lea Berrang-Ford 1,2, James D. Ford 1,2, Stephen Parker 4 & Manon D. Fleury 4. 1 Department of Geography, Burnside Hall, McGill University, Montreal, Que., Canada

Books:

• Beard C.B., Eisen R.J., Barker C.M., Garofalo J.F., Hahn M., Hayden M., Monaghan A.J., Ogden N.H., Schramm P.J. (2016) Vectorborne Diseases. In: Climate and Health Assessment. U.S. Global Change Research Program. In Press
• Book chapter, book or Govt Publication. Vectorborne Diseases, Contributing author (Ogden N.H.) to Patz J. Levy B.S., published August 2015. Climate Change and Public Health, (eds.) B. Levy and J. Patz, Oxford University Press.

Adaptation measures have been identified to address risks and opportunities arising from climate change.

Number of stakeholders / organizations that identify the need to develop adaptation plans/strategies to address their needs.

Met
One stakeholder group meeting was held to identify strategies:

• Best Brains Exchange – in partnership with the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and Health Canada (HC) – Best Brains Exchange – Transforming Science and Knowledge into Action: Adapting to the Health Impacts of Climate Change in Canada – Ottawa, Ont., December 2, 2015

PHAC seeks to reduce the vulnerability of individuals, communities, and regions to climate change impacts which have the potential to adversely affect the health of Canada's population. Through the PPHSACC Program, PHAC fosters engagement and capacity building with federal/provincial/territorial and regional stakeholders as well as international public health organizations. The Program aims to reduce infectious disease emergence, and address the risk associated with climate change through enhancing evidence-based information. Key activities include conducting risk assessments; and developing, validating and refining practical adaptation strategies and tools.

CAA Planned Spending for 2015–16: $1,100,000

CAA Actual Expenditures for 2015–16: $1,008,973

Start date

July 2008

End date

Ongoing

Fiscal year for terms and conditions

2013–14

Strategic Outcome

Protecting Canadians and empowering them to improve their health.

Link to the Organization’s Program

1.1 Program Public Health Infrastructure; and 1.1.2 Sub-Program Public Health Information and Networks

Description

Objective: Comply with Canada’s obligation, as a Member State of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), to provide funding for the Organization to advance its public health work in the Americas. The program also allows Canada to advance global health and foreign policy priorities and contribute to the security of the Americas region to protect the health of Canadians.
Why this TPP is Necessary: To protect the health of Canadians while advancing Canada’s global health priorities.

Intervention Methods: As a member of PAHO, Canada is able to protect the health of Canadians and advance Canada’s health priorities through:

• Effective and timely management of health emergencies and outbreaks in the Americas region;
• Collaboration on the production and sharing of health information and public health intelligence;
• Building capacity in the Americas region to uphold international norms and standards through comparative policy analysis and sharing of best practices.
• Payment of Canada’s annual membership fees to PAHO.

Repayable Contributions: No.

Results achieved

ACPAHO has met its primary objective of complying with Canada’s obligation to provide funding for the Organization to advance its public health work while allowing Canada to advance global health and foreign policy priorities and contribute to the security of the Americas region to protect the health of Canadians. PAHO plays an important role in providing a forum for addressing public health issues of common interest across Member States. PAHO’s mission is to “lead strategic collaborative efforts among member states and other partners to promote equity in health, to combat disease, and to improve the quality of and lengthen the lives of the peoples of the Americas”. As a Member State and partner, Canada’s support to PAHO helped advance its work by:

• Providing leadership on regional health matters, including preparation and response to health emergencies;
• Ensuring compliance with norms and standards, such as the International Health Regulations and the WHO's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control; and
• Providing technical support to Member States.

Canada's contributions to PAHO support the implementation of PAHO’s Strategic Plan (2014-2019). Through its implementation, and a 15-year consolidated effort, the Americas became the world’s first Region to eliminate rubella and congenital rubella syndrome. This is an historic milestone for public health.

Canada has been active in refining the assessment and monitoring components of the PAHO Strategic Plan over the last year. In particular, Canada played a leadership role advising the PAHO secretariat on the development of a framework that will be used to guide the allocation of resources to various program areas. As well, PAHO adopted the Health-Adjusted Life Expectancy (originally developed in Canada) as one of the most significant impact indicators for the Plan.

Canada’s support for PAHO contributes to our efforts to enhance global health security by strengthening public health infrastructure in the region, establishing mechanisms to share information, facilitate surveillance and strengthen capacities for response to public health emergencies of international concern. PAHO’s convening role during outbreaks and pandemics is critical to quickly address and mitigate public health events of importance in the region. PAHO supported the response to the rapid spread of Zika virus in the Region of the Americas. The Organization activated the Incident Management System to better respond to the needs of the Member States and communicate more effectively with them.

As a Member State of PAHO, Canada participates in governing body meetings and provides contributions to fund the Organization. As the second largest contributor of assessed contributions to PAHO in calendar year 2015, Canada continues to advocate for accountability and transparent management of the Organization’s budget. In September 2015, Canada concluded a successful three-year term on PAHO’s Executive Committee. Representation on the Executive Committee provided Canada an opportunity to streamline agendas for governing body meetings to enhance efficiency and effectiveness of the Organization. In addition, the Executive Committee membership has provided a constructive forum to strengthen Canada’s bilateral and multilateral relations in the region. Through its membership on the Executive Committee, Canada strategically advanced its priorities for engagement with PAHO, fostered a stronger relationship with the Organization and raised its profile in the region.

At the PAHO Directing Council in September 2015, Canada hosted a side-event on “Multi-sectoral Partnerships for Healthy Living and Chronic Disease Prevention” with Argentina. The event was well-attended and raised Canada’s profile as a leader on innovative initiatives for multi-sectoral policy implementation for non-communicable diseases.

In 2015, Canada played a leadership role developing the PAHO Strategy and Plan of Action on Strengthening the Health System to Address Violence against Women. Canada provided financial support ($20,000) towards its development, contributed to early drafts, and co-chaired regional consultations on the Strategy. By adopting the Strategy and Plan of Action, PAHO Member States recognized that violence against women is a public health and human rights problem, and pledged to ensure that their health systems fulfill their responsibilities to prevent and respond to such violence. PAHO Strategy served as a main input to the WHO-led

Canada responded to 28 requests for technical support, helping to build capacity in the region through sharing of best practices and expertise. Canada also worked with and supported WHO/PAHO Collaborating Centres (27 are located in Canada and six are within the Health Portfolio).

As a Member State of PAHO, Canada has access to funding to support projects of common interest through the Canada-PAHO Biennial Work Plan. The following five projects were completed jointly by PAHO and the Health Portfolio in late 2015:

Supporting the development of regulatory capacity for medicines and other health technologies in the Americas -USD $100,000:

Activities contributed to the development of regional regulatory capacity in the area of medicines and other health technologies, and to regulatory convergence in the region. The regional approach facilitated the sharing of similar experiences and challenges between countries based on their level of development and needs.

Formal training course for health officials on the development and implementation of tobacco product regulations in the area of product attractiveness reduction – USD $90,295:

Activities contributed to capacity building for tobacco product regulation in the region. 10 countries participated in the piloting of technical capacity building workshop. The workshop materials were adapted and made available as an online course on tobacco control. Factsheets on tobacco industry interference and information required from the industry were produced and translated and distributed to all countries in the Region.

Promoting mental health in indigenous populations –USD $49,945:

Activities provided an opportunity for participants from Chile, Argentina, Brazil and Nunavut to exchange and discuss experiences, best practices and topics of common interest in the area of mental health in indigenous populations, including links between traditional medicine and formal health services.

Proficiency program for serotyping of Haemophilus influenza and molecular characterization of Haemophilus influenza strains in PAHO countries – USD $75,497:

Activities contributed to improving the capacity of four National Reference Laboratories (Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Panama) for Haemophilus influenza serotyping. The quality control program indicated that in addition to improved serotyping, the surveillance data obtained on invasive Haemophilus influenza disease obtained from the PAHO Reference Laboratories were of good quality and reliable, thereby enhancing surveillance and detection capabilities in the region.

Support to the implementation of surveillance of water quality in health institutions in Haiti – USD $34,789:

Activities contributed to the establishment of a water quality monitoring system for health institutions in 20 hospitals and health centres in Haiti. To ensure sustainability of the project, technical training was provided to officials on sampling, reporting, data gathering and database management. The system produces weekly reports and has enhanced the surveillance and detection of water-borne disease, including cholera.

Comments on variances: Canada’s annual assessed contribution for PAHO is calculated in US dollars and disbursed in Canadian funds. Variances from planned versus actual spending is related to the currency exchange rate between the US dollar and the Canadian dollar.

Audits completed or planned

N/A

Evaluations completed or planned

Last completed evaluation: 2013–14
Next planned evaluation: 2018–19

Engagement of applicants and recipients: As a member of PAHO, Canada sits on the Directing Council as a voting member, thereby influencing the direction of the PAHO’s work as well as the use of its budgets.

Start date

1994–95

End date

Ongoing

Fiscal year for terms and conditions

2009–10

Strategic Outcome

Protecting Canadians and empowering them to improve their health.

Link to the Organization’s Program

1.2 Program Health Promotion and Disease Prevention; 1.2.2 Sub-Program Conditions for Healthy Living; and 1.2.2.1 Sub-Sub-Program Healthy Child Development

Description

Objectives: Mitigate health inequalities for pregnant women and infants, improve maternal-infant health, increase the rates of healthy birth weights, as well as promote and support breastfeeding. The TPP also seeks to promote the creation of partnerships within communities and strengthen community capacity to increase support for vulnerable pregnant women and new mothers.

Why this TPP is Necessary: Evidence shows that maternal nutrition, as well as the level of social and emotional support provided to a mother and her child, can affect both prenatal and infant health, as well as longer-term physical, cognitive and emotional functioning in adulthood.^{Footnote 1} This program raises stakeholder awareness and supports a coherent, evidence-based response to the needs of vulnerable children and families on a local and national scale. It also supports knowledge development and exchange on promising public health practices related to maternal-infant health for vulnerable families, community-based organizations and practitioners.

Intervention Methods: Programming delivered across the country includes: nutrition counselling; provision of prenatal vitamins, food and food coupons; parenting classes; social supports; and education on prenatal health, infant care, child development, and healthy living.

Repayable Contributions: No.

Results achieved

CPNP provided services to over 48,000^{Footnote 2} participants including pregnant women, post natal women and parents and caregivers.^{Footnote 3}

The CPNP contributed to building knowledge and skills of parents and caregivers, which support maternal, child and family health. Data collected via a survey in May 2015 points to these gains. For example, as a result of coming to the program, 86% of survey respondents reported having a better understanding of the effects of drinking alcohol during pregnancy on their baby; 92% of respondents reported knowing more about the importance of breastfeeding; 83% of survey respondents reported being better able to cope with stress; and 85% reported making healthier food choices.

In addition, the CPNP has been able to demonstrate sustainability through leveraging collaborations and funding sources. Overall, 88% of projects were able to leverage multi-sectoral collaborations and 64% were able to leverage funds from other sources.

Comments on variances: N/A

Audits completed or planned

Audit of Maternal and Child Health Programs (2015)

Evaluations completed or planned

Evaluation of the Community Action Program for Children, Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program and Associated Activities 2010-2011 to 2014-2015

Engagement of applicants and recipients: CPNP funding recipients play an important role in responding to their participants’ needs. Recipient organizations are engaged through monitoring and program support in areas that include program delivery and knowledge development and exchange.

Start date

2005–06

End date

Ongoing

Fiscal year for terms and conditions

2009–10

Strategic Outcome

Protecting Canadians and empowering them to improve their health.

Link to the Organization’s Program

1.2 Program Health Promotion and Disease Prevention; and 1.2.3 Sub-Program Chronic (non-communicable) Disease and Injury Prevention

Description

Objectives: Promote multi-sectoral partnerships and innovative approaches focused on promoting healthy active living, thereby reducing the risk of developing a chronic disease as the incidence of type 2 diabetes rises due to an increasingly inactive and overweight Canadian population.

Why this TPP is Necessary: Type 2 diabetes is one of the fastest growing diseases in Canada with more than 60,000 new cases yearly. It is estimated that two million Canadians have diabetes and one-third of them are unware that they have the disease. The risk factors for type 2 diabetes are becoming more common.

Intervention Methods: This TPP supports federal leadership by facilitating multi-sectoral partnerships between governments, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector to ensure that resources are deployed to maximum effect.

Repayable Contributions: No.

Results achieved

PHAC continued to seek out, test and implement preventative interventions aimed at addressing common risk factors for chronic disease, and to employ various funding arrangements and partnership models, including pay-for-performance models that tie payment to tangible outcomes. A total of nine projects received funding under the CDS in 2015–16, using the multi-sectoral partnerships approach to promote healthy living and prevent chronic disease. This includes the three examples below that will assess short-, medium-, and long-term changes in knowledge, attitudes, skills, and behaviour related to diabetes prevention and healthy lifestyles.

First, the Build on Kids' Success (BOKS) project is in year two of a five-year partnership between PHAC, Reebok Canada, the Canadian Football League and the Propel Centre for Population Health Impact to implement this before school physical activity program. Since launching in September 2014, over 213 schools have enrolled, representing a 47% attainment of the five year recruitment goal of 450 schools overall. BOKS is currently running in 10 provinces, with the support of 589 volunteer trainers. Given the strong evidence base for the BOKS program in the United States, and the opportunity to implement in Canada for the first time, a rigorous evaluation approach is being conducted by the Propel Centre for Population Health Impact. Data is being collected throughout the intervention and compared over time to examine the impact of the program on students in grades three through six. The evaluation will measure whether the BOKS program leads to increases in physical activity, self-confidence and mental health outcomes, as well school attendance and engagement. Early results on physical activity outcomes reveal that BOKS students take more steps per day than non-BOKS students, including on weekends while at home.

Second, the UPnGO with ParticipACTION project (in its first year of implementation) is a partnership between PHAC, ParticipACTION, Public Inc., the British Columbia (BC) Ministry of Health, the Ontario Trillium Foundation and AstraZeneca. UpnGo will test an innovative workplace wellness program that nudges and rewards Canadians for sitting less and moving more in their workplace. Inspired by Dr. Mike Evans' internet video, 23 and ½ hours,the program is designed to help sedentary Canadian adults to incorporate 30 minutes of daily walking into their day. UPnGO with ParticipACTION is one of PHAC’s flagship "walking" initiatives, which uses an innovative digital platform and app to support employees to increase steps and reduce sitting time through weekly challenges, interactive tools such as prompts and notifications, incentives, social connectedness and on-site events. UPnGOwas piloted in five BC workplaces, including TELUS, the City of Richmond, the University of British Columbia, Providence Healthcare and AutoTRADER, and evaluation results are being compiled to inform further implementation in other provinces across Canada.

And third, Phase 1 of the Play for Prevention Program, a partnership between PHAC, Right to Play (RTP) and Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, which enabled the adaptation of RTP’s Play program for urban Aboriginal communities, was completed in March 2016. This diabetes prevention program tailored to unique community needs has reached over 2000 Aboriginal youth and community mentors. A total of 13 urban Aboriginal communities received programming which addressed the gap in diabetes prevention among Indigenous youth by focussing on education, awareness and the promotion of healthy and active living. In addition to the weekly program activities, 63% of children and youth reported participating in other programs, sports, and activities in their community and 58% of children and youth reported becoming more physically active since the program started. The program also demonstrated that 56% of the youth participants actively promoted healthy behaviours in their community by encouraging friends and family to eat healthy and be more active, while 38% demonstrated a desire to sustain their own healthy behaviours beyond the program and set specific goals to increase physical activity and/or healthy eating. Beginning in April 2016, Play for Prevention Phase 2 expands into Manitoba, Alberta and British Columbia allowing the program to reach an additional 1,000 Aboriginal children and youth per year, for a total of 3,500 children over five years.

Comments on variances: Actual spending was less than planned spending primarily due to a reallocation of funds to other PHAC priorities.

Audits completed or planned

2010 Internal Audit of Chronic Disease Prevention and Control;
2013 Spring Report of the Auditor General of Canada.

Evaluations completed or planned

Integrated Strategy on Healthy Living and Chronic Disease: Formative Evaluation of Diabetes Community-Based Programming (2009)
Evaluation of the Public Health Agency of Canada's Chronic Disease Prevention Activities 2009–2010 to 2014–2015

Engagement of applicants and recipients: Funding opportunities are made available through the Multi-sectoral Partnerships to Promote Healthy Living and Prevent Chronic Disease, which engages multiple sectors of society to leverage knowledge, expertise, reach and resources, to work towards the common shared goal of producing better health outcomes for Canadians.

Start date

1993–94

End date

Ongoing

Fiscal year for terms and conditions

2009–10

Strategic Outcome

Protecting Canadians and empowering them to improve their health.

Link to the Organization’s Program

1.2 Program Health Promotion and Disease Prevention; 1.2.2 Sub-Program Conditions for Healthy Living; and 1.2.2.1 Sub-Sub-Program Healthy Child Development

Description

Objectives: Fund community-based groups and coalitions to develop and deliver comprehensive, culturally appropriate early intervention and prevention programs to mitigate health inequalities and promote the health and development of children aged 0 to six years and their families facing conditions of risk. The TPP also seeks to promote the creation of partnerships within communities and to strengthen community capacity to increase support for vulnerable children and their families.

Why this TPP is Necessary: Compelling evidence shows that risk factors affecting the health and development of children can be mitigated over the life course by investing in early intervention services that address the needs of the whole family.^{Footnote 5}

Intervention Method: Programming across the country may include education on health, nutrition, early childhood development, parenting, healthy living and social supports.

Repayable Contributions: No.

Results achieved

CAPC provided services to over 226,500 participants.

The CAPC program contributed to building knowledge and skills of parents and caregivers, which support maternal, child and family health. Data collected via survey in May 2015 pointed to these gains. For example: 86% of survey respondents reported the program had helped to improve their parenting skills; 85% of respondents reported knowing more about how to keep their child healthy as a result of program participation; 83% of respondents reported their child is better able to express him/herself as a result of program participation; and, 82% of respondents reported their child recognizes more colours, or shapes, or letters, or numbers, as a result of program participation.

The CAPC demonstrated sustainability through leveraging collaborations and funding sources. Overall, 87% of CAPC projects were able to leverage multi-sectoral collaborations and 73% were able to leverage funds from other sources.

Additional evidence collected in May 2015 showed that 87% of survey respondents reported having a better relationship with their child, and that 91% reported doing more things with their child to help him or her learn, as a result of coming to the CAPC program.

In 2015–16, PHAC updated the Nobody’s Perfect parenting program resources for use by vulnerable parents and facilitators, and invested in facilitator training events across Canada, including dissemination of parent kits. PHAC, in collaboration with the Department of Justice, revised the What’s Wrong with Spanking brochure to help parents guide their child's behaviour in a positive way.

Comments on variances: Actual spending was more than planned spending primarily due to an internal reallocation of funds to support priorities such as Infant Mental Health and Nobody’s perfect.

Audits completed or planned

Audit of Maternal and Child Health Programs (2015)

Evaluations completed or planned

Evaluation of the Community Action Program for Children, Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program and Associated Activities 2010-2011 to 2014-2015

Engagement of applicants and recipients: CAPC funding recipients play an important role in responding to their participants’ needs. Recipient organizations are engaged though monitoring and program support in areas that include program delivery and sharing program learnings and practices.

Link to the Organization’s Program

1.2 Program Health Promotion and Disease Prevention; 1.2.2 Sub-Program Conditions for Healthy Living; and 1.2.2.2 Sub-Sub-Program Healthy Communities

Description

Objectives: Support the development, adaptation, implementation, and evaluation of promising, innovative population health interventions and initiatives across various settings and populations in Canada using an intervention research approach. In addition, use the systematic collection of results and outcomes of these interventions to promote their use more widely.

Why this TPP is Necessary: There is little evidence available for use by decision-makers on effective public health interventions. Also, data are lacking that show how a successful, pilot intervention moves past the experimental stage and into the expanded, replicated, adapted, and sustained stages. The program funds applied research to generate knowledge about policy and program interventions that impact health at the population level.

Intervention Method: The TPP supports activities in two areas:

• Implementation and testing of innovative population health interventions. The TPP funds, supports, and monitors organizations to design, develop, implement, adapt and evaluate population health interventions that target children, youth, and families in over 300 communities.
• Accelerating use of knowledge. The TPP supports the use of practical knowledge based on results of interventions to reduce health inequalities and address complex public health issues.

Repayable Contributions: No.

Results achieved

In 2015, under the IS, nine interventions to promote mental health and well-being completed Phase 2, reaching over 280,000 individuals at risk. All funded projects demonstrated changes in health outcomes, risk factors or protective factors. This included improved mental health or well-being, coping strategies, emotional control, resilience and social skills (attitude, reflection, dealing with conflict). Of the nine mental health and wellbeing projects, four were selected to receive Phase 3 funding, to scale up their interventions in order to reach more people and achieve sustainable system change.

The IS also completed the second year of its Phase 2 funding to 11 achieving healthier weights interventions. Phase 2 is a four year funding period that will end in 2017–18. In 2015–16, the achieving healthier weights interventions reached over 33,000 individuals at risk and 64% of the projects (seven out of 11) reported changes in health outcomes, risk factors or protective factors. Reported changes included increased fruit and vegetable consumption; improved physical activity; increased consumption of wild foods; increased cooking skills; and, perceived improvements in mental health and physical health.

The Phase 3 funding for the IS is currently underway and aims to increase the reach and impacts of successful interventions to benefit more people and foster sustainable policy and program development.

Traditionally, IS projects have demonstrated the development of new or sustained partnerships that have supported the delivery of interventions by leveraging expertise and resources from across a range of sectors, including health, education, agriculture and industry. For example, in 2014–15, the most recent year for which data is available, approximately 624 partnerships were developed, of which 45% were sustained three years or more (60% of partnerships for Mental Health projects and 35% for Healthy Weights projects). 65% of IS projects leveraged over $4,800,000 in additional funding, and over $1,000,000 in in-kind support. Leveraged funds accounted for approximately 35% of total PHAC project funding for IS projects, with in-kind support accounting for approximately 10% of total PHAC project funding. As projects move into Phase 3, the scale up phase, the development of such strong intersectoral partnerships are critical to the long-term sustainability of population health IS interventions.

Additionally, in collaboration with key partners and stakeholders, IS projects have developed knowledge products and provided examples of how their knowledge have been used to inform policy, programs or practice. For example, in the last reporting cycle, IS projects developed over 1,000 knowledge products, reaching over 338,970 stakeholders. A total of 50% of stakeholders participating in knowledge use surveys indicated that they used knowledge generated by IS projects in their work.

Comments on variances: Actual spending was more than planned spending primarily due to an internal reallocation of funds to support priorities such as Dementia Friends Canada and Active and Safe Play: Concussions.

Audits completed or planned

N/A

Evaluations completed or planned

Population Health Fund Evaluation 2008 Final Report;
Evaluation of the Innovation Strategy 2009–2010 to 2013–2014

Evaluation of Mental Health and Mental Illness Activities of Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada 2010–2011 to 2014–2015

Next planned evaluation: 2019–20

Engagement of applicants and recipients: Open and targeted calls for proposals are utilized to solicit proposals from potential applicants. Various approaches are used to engage applicants and optimize the quality of submitted proposals, including those to develop information events, tools and resources. The IS places a high priority on and supports the systematic collection of learnings and the sharing of this information between funded recipients, PHAC, and other partners to influence future program and policy design.

Start date

2004–05

End date

Ongoing

Fiscal year for terms and conditions

2012–13

Strategic Outcome

Protecting Canadians and empowering them to improve their health.

Link to the Organization’s Program

1.1 Program Public Health Infrastructure; and 1.1.2 Sub-Program Public Health Information and Networks

Description

Objective: Promote the use of knowledge for evidence-informed decision making by public health practitioners and policy-makers across Canada. The National Collaborating Centres (NCCs) synthesize, translate, and share knowledge to make it useful and accessible to policymakers, program managers, and practitioners.
Why this TPP is Necessary: The NCCs are designed to identify knowledge gaps, stimulate research in priority areas, and link public health researchers with practitioners to build strong practice-based networks across Canada in order to strengthen Canada’s public health and emergency response capacity.
Intervention Method: Provision of contribution funds for creative solutions to be developed by the recipient that are responsive to the public health system and its organizations' needs.
Repayable Contributions: No.

Results achieved

The NCCPH increased public health capacity at multiple levels of the public health system using a variety of methods ranging from online training, workshops, outreach programs, and networking events to broadly disseminate a wide array of knowledge products. During 2015–16 the NCCPH increased the development and dissemination of knowledge translation products and activities by producing and providing over 1900 new products and activities consisting of evidence reviews, published materials, videos, workshops, webinars, online courses and conference presentations which supported practitioners and decision makers in applying new knowledge in their environments. Visits to the NCCPH websites to access knowledge products and activities also increased significantly with a total of 421,206 unique visitors. In addition, the NCCPH undertook 311 knowledge-related needs and gaps identification activities to provide knowledge brokers with the resources and structures required to strengthen evidence informed decision making. The NCCPH also engaged and maintained over 350 partnerships and collaborative activities with Health Portfolio partners, provincial/territorial (P/T) government departments, public health practitioners, and other external organizations to develop evidence-based interventions to reduce health risks. These collaborations were augmented with NCC knowledge exchange tools, resources, and expertise to facilitate and increase public health outreach.

Comments on variances: Actual spending was more than planned spending primarily due to additional funding for the development of Ebola related tools, training and guidance for first responder and other emergency and care workers.

Audits completed or planned

N/A

Evaluations completed or planned

Last Completed Evaluation: 2014–15
Next planned evaluation: 2019–20.

Engagement of applicants and recipients: Contribution Agreements for all six National Collaborating Centres were in place for 2015–2016 with funding until March 31, 2020.

Name of lead department

PHAC

Federal partner organizations

HC; Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED); Global Affairs Canada (GAC); and CIHR

Non-federal and non-governmental partners

Non-governmental stakeholders, including research institutions and not-for-profit community organizations

Start date of the horizontal initiative

February 20, 2007

End date of the horizontal initiative

March 31, 2017

Total federal funding allocated (start to end date) (dollars)

$111,000,000

Funding contributed by non-federal and non-governmental partners (dollars)

N/A

Description of the horizontal initiative

Objectives:

• Advance the basic science of HIV vaccine discovery and social research in Canada and low- and middle-income countries (LMICs);
• Support the translation of basic science discoveries into clinical research with a focus on accelerating clinical trials in humans;
• Address the enabling conditions to facilitate regulatory approval and community preparedness;
• Improve the efficacy and effectiveness of HIV Prevention of Mother-to-Child services in LMICs by determining innovative strategies and programmatic solutions related to enhancing the accessibility, quality, and uptake; and
• Enable horizontal collaboration within the CHVI and with domestic and international stakeholders.

Why this HI is Necessary:
The CHVI is a key element in the Government of Canada’s commitment to a comprehensive, long-term approach to addressing HIV/AIDs domestically and internationally.

Intervention Method:
The CHVI is a collaborative undertaking between the Government of Canada and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) to contribute to the global effort to develop a safe, effective, affordable and globally accessible HIV vaccine. This collaboration was formalized by a Memorandum of Understanding signed by both parties in August 2006 and renewed in July 2010.

Shared outcomes

Immediate (one–three years) Outcomes:

• Increased and improved collaboration and networking among researchers working in HIV vaccine discovery and social research in Canada and in LMICs;
• Greater capacity for vaccines research in Canada;
• Enhanced knowledge base; and
• Increased readiness and capacity in Canada and LMICs.

Intermediate Outcomes:

• Strengthened contribution to global efforts to accelerate the development of safe, effective, affordable, and globally accessible HIV vaccines;
• An increase in the number of women receiving a complete course of anti-retroviral prophylaxis to reduce the risk of mother-to-child transmission of HIV; and
• A strong and vibrant network (the CHVI Research and Development Alliance) of HIV vaccine researchers and other vaccine researchers, both in Canada and internationally, is supported.

Long-term Outcome
The CHVI contributes to the global efforts to reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS particularly in LMICs.

Governance structures

• The Minister of Health, in consultation with the Minister of Industry and the Minister of International Development and La Francophonie, is the lead for the CHVI.
• An Advisory Board was established to oversee the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of Canada and the BMGF, and also other duties such as making recommendations to responsible Ministers regarding projects to be funded.
• The CHVI Secretariat, housed in PHAC, will continue to provide a coordinating role to the Government of Canada and the BMGF.

Performance highlights

• Continue initiatives such as improving domestic and international research projects, as well as continuing to support the Alliance Coordinating Office;
• Undertake activities that will lead to a determination of the appropriate direction and next steps on the future the CHVI;
• Host the 2015 Health Products and Food Branch International Regulatory Forum;
• Support the CHVI Regulatory Capacity Building Mentorship Program, in cooperation with the WHO and the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO), to contribute to the World Health Assembly’s resolutions 67.20 and 67.22 on regulatory systems, and continuing delivery of the Canadian HIV Technology Development Program;
• Explore monoclonal antibody capacity in Canada; continuing to support implementation research to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV in sub-Saharan Africa;
• Support knowledge creation and strengthened HIV vaccine research capacity through ongoing support to CHVI investigators and teams;
• Enhance linkages among researchers, stakeholders and funders through participation in collaborative activities and sharing of research outcomes; and
• Support co-ordinated activities that link and communicate with HIV vaccine researchers, and partners and stakeholders.

Comments on variances: N/A

Results achieved by non-federal and non-governmental partners

N/A

Contact information

Marc-André Gaudreau
Manager, Strategic Issues
Centre for Communicable Diseases and Infection Control
130 Colonnade Road
Ottawa, ON K1A 0K9
613-948-3747
marc-andre.gaudreau@phac-aspc.gc.ca

Audit of the Project Management Framework

Audit of Risk Management Framework

• 1.2 Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
• 1.3 Health Security

Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights

On May 8, 2015, the Report of the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights entitled Study of the Subject Matter of Bill C-583; An Act to amend the Criminal Code (fetal alcohol spectrum disorder) was tabled in the House of Commons. The Report summarizes the testimony and briefs, presents the Committee’s findings, and includes seven recommendations that identifies where the federal government could take further action to address fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD).

The Government Response to the Report was tabled in the House of Commons on June 19, 2015. The response highlights the Government’s key activities related to FASD and demonstrates the Government’s commitment to working with Provinces, Territories and stakeholders to address FASD-related issues among vulnerable populations, including support to those suffering from FASD and their families, and those along the criminal justice continuum. The Government supports the spirit of the Report’s recommendations. The response consists of a letter to the Chair of the Committee that addresses each of the recommendations and outlines key federal positions and activities on FASD.

Office of the Auditor General – Audit of Federal Anti-Microbial Resistance (AMR) Prevention and Control

Objective: To determine whether PHAC and HC fulfilled key responsibilities to mitigate the public health risks posed by the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance in Canada.
PHAC received two recommendations.
The report was tabled on April 28, 2015.

Office of the Procurement Ombudsman – Review of government-wide procurement practices regarding standing offers and supply arrangements

Objective: The objective of this review was to determine whether departmental contracts issued against standing offers and supply arrangements were consistent with applicable sections of the Treasury Board Contracting Policy, the Financial Administration Act and regulations made under it, and support the principles of fairness, openness and transparency.
PHAC received one recommendation.
The report was tabled on December 8, 2015.

Office of Privacy Commissioner – Audit of Privacy and Portable Storage Devices

Objective: To examine the framework in place that governs the use of portable electronic storage devices, with the objective of contributing to enhancing privacy protections.

PHAC received six recommendations.
The report was tabled on December 10, 2015.