Public Health Agency of Canada 2015–16 Report on Plans and Priorities

Minister's Message

I am pleased to present the Public Health Agency of Canada's 2015–16 Report on Plans and Priorities. This report provides an overview of the Agency's priorities and ongoing work in support of its mandate to promote and protect the health of Canadians.

Over the past year, Canada has been at the forefront of the international response to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa while maintaining a vigilant approach to protecting the health and safety of Canadians. Canada is a leader in the international effort to control the outbreak and will continue to invest in promising technologies to mitigate the impact of the Ebola virus disease.

Diseases can arise from many different sources, and the Agency remains diligent in its work to reduce their impacts on Canadians. For example, through continued implementation of state-of-the-art technologies and scientific innovation, the Agency will enhance national laboratory capacity and surveillance to limit antimicrobial resistance and food-borne illnesses in Canada.

The Agency is also committed to its objectives to support Canadians in reducing their risks of chronic illness and injuries. Partnerships with the private and not-for-profit sectors are advancing federal objectives in promoting healthy living by bringing more information and programs to more Canadian communities. The Agency will identify and support innovations that make healthier choices easier choices for all of us.

It will also continue to address injury, violence and suicide prevention. Given the significant public health implications of family violence and child abuse, the Agency will enhance its leadership nationally and internationally in supporting the health sector's response to violence and the collaborations needed to make a difference. In the area of suicide prevention, as the Government of Canada lead for the Federal Framework for Suicide Prevention, the Agency will be a catalyst for implementation and will report on results.

With respect to its regulatory responsibilities, the Agency will continue to work to reduce the risk to the health and safety of Canadians while minimizing regulatory burden.

I am confident that the initiatives outlined in this report will provide concrete advancements towards our goal of healthier Canadians and communities in a healthier world.

The Honourable Rona Ambrose, P.C., M.P.

Minister of Health