Welcome to the Public Health Agency's Web site
Health Portfolio >>
Mission, Vision and Values
Mission:
To promote and protect the health of Canadians through leadership, partnership, innovation and action in public health.
Vision:
Healthy Canadians and communities in a healthier world.
Values:
About the Public Health Agency of Canada
Strengthening its ability to protect the health and safety of Canadians,
the Government of Canada has delivered on its commitment to establish
a new Public Health Agency of Canada and appoint a Chief Public Health
Officer.
The creation of the Public Health Agency of Canada marks the beginning
of a new approach to federal leadership and collaboration with provinces
and territories on efforts to renew the public health system in Canada
and support a sustainable health care system.
Focussed on more effective efforts to prevent chronic diseases, like
cancer and heart disease, prevent injuries and respond to public health
emergencies and infectious disease outbreaks, the Public Health Agency
of Canada works closely with provinces and territories to keep Canadians
healthy and help reduce pressures on the health care system.
The Agency will be part of the public service and will be headed by
the Chief Public Health Officer who will report to the Minister
of Health. Health Canada will also report to the Minister of Health.
Although separate, both will be members of the health portfolio and will
work together to improve and protect the health of Canadians.
The following brief descriptions outline the various components that make up the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC).
Reporting Directly to the Chief Public Health Officer
Branches, Centres and Directorates
Reporting Directly to the Chief Public Health Officer
Corporate Secretariat
The Corporate Secretariat is responsible for coordinating various services in support of the Minister of Health and the CPHO. It houses the Executive and Ministerial Services (EMS) division, which serves as a single point of entry between the Ministers' offices and the Agency. EMS coordinates executive and ministerial correspondence and briefing requirements about PHAC programs and issues for the Minister of Health as well as for the CPHO. EMS is also responsible for services related to the Agency's Cabinet and Parliamentary business. The Corporate Secretariat also coordinates Access to Information requests on behalf of the Agency, provides secretariate support to Agency governance and advisory committees, and manages horizontal projects within the Agency.
Scientific Director General
The Office of the Scientific Director General has an Agency-wide mandate related to science coordination and science policy integration, and works toward strengthening the Agency's scientific networks both internally and nationally.
Branches
Infectious Disease and Emergency Preparedness (IDEP) Branch
The Branch enables the prevention and control of infectious diseases and improvement in the health of those infected. Staff prepare for and are ready to respond to public health emergencies, 365 days a year. Examples of specific challenges are HIV/AIDS, pandemic influenza preparedness, health-care acquired infections such as C-difficile, food and water-borne disease, sexually transmitted infections and those resulting from injection drug use, illnesses resulting from the interface between humans, animals and the environment including West Nile Virus Infection and Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD).
Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention (HPCDP) Branch
The Branch works with stakeholders at all levels to: provide national and international leadership in health promotion, chronic disease prevention and control; coordinate the surveillance of chronic diseases and their risk factors and early disease detection; create and evaluate/measure programs addressing common risk factors and specialized issues focussing on special populations (seniors, children); educate the public and professionals and to manage grants and contributions.
Public Health Practice and Regional Operations (PHPRO) Branch
The Branch is responsible for providing strategic direction in public health surveillance and in building the regional capacity of the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) through the Director General of Regions. The Branch consists of the Office of Public Health Practice and the Agency's Regional offices.
Strategic Policy, Communications and Corporate Services (SPCCS) Branch
The Branch provides integrated and coordinated strategic direction, communication and human resources advice to identify and realize the Agency's priorities and commitments. It supports the Agency across its operations and program activities by: providing strategic policy leadership and advice, coordination and partnership development; delivering human resources operational and corporate services; developing and managing the Agency's communication plans, strategies and services; delivering comptrollership functions to assure probity, value for money and compliance with applicable federal legislation and policies; delivering Agency asset management and safety services; providing information management and technology expertise and leadership; and overseeing the audit function.
Centres and Directorates
Infectious Disease and Emergency Preparedness (IDEP) Branch:
Centre for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control (CIDPC)
Centre for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control (CIDPC)
The Centre promotes improvement in the health status of Canadians in the
area of infectious diseases through public health action. These public health
actions include surveillance and epidemiology, risk management, research
including laboratory science, health promotion, public health policy
development, and prevention and care programs. CIDPC's objectives are to
decrease transmission of infectious diseases and to improve the health status
of those infected. The Centre's program areas include infectious disease
surveillance and risk assessments, foodborne, zoontic and environmentally
acquired infections, immunization and respiratory infections, community
acquired infections (hepatitis C, sexual health and sexually transmitted infections, and tuberculosis), blood safety surveillance and health
care acquired infections, HIV/AIDS policy/coordination/programs, and HIV and
retrovirology laboratories. The Centre works in close partnership with Canada's
provinces and territories and with international agencies to accomplish its
goals.
Centre for Emergency Preparedness and Response (CEPR)
The Centre is Canada's central coordinating point for public health security issues. Its responsibilities include developing and maintaining national emergency response plans for the Public Health Agency of Canada; monitoring outbreaks and global disease events; assessing public health risks during emergencies; keeping Canada's health and emergency policies in line with threats to public health security and general security for Canadians in collaboration with other federal and international health and security agencies; laboratory safety and security, quarantine issues and travel health advisories; and being the health authority in the Government of Canada on bioterrorism, emergency health services and emergency response.
National Microbiology Laboratory (NML)
The National Microbiology Laboratory consists of four programs supported by a Division of Core Services, which includes DNA sequencing, Animal Resources and a Central Laboratory for Decontamination and Wash-up Services.
The four programs are as follows:
- Bacteriology and Enterics - focussing on bacterial diseases such as tuberculosis and meningitis, along with food and water-borne pathogens such as E. Coli and salmonella, and infections affecting the human nervous and/or motor system.
- Host Genetics and Prion Disease - dealing with transmissable spongiform encephalopathies such as Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.
- Viral Diagnostics - addressing a range of viral diseases including hepatitis and other blood-borne diseases, respiratory viruses and viral exanthemata, such as measles.
- Zoonotic Diseases and Special Pathogens - dealing with viral, bacterial and rickettsial zoonoses (diseases transmitted to humans from other species) such as West Nile virus, along with Biosafety Level 4 agents such as Ebola.
NML has been selected as the initial Chair for the proposed Global Health Security Action Group-Laboratory Network and is also chairing the recently formed International High Security Laboratory Network (all the world's level 4 laboratories).
Laboratory for Foodborne Zoonoses (LFZ)
The Laboratory provides policy makers and other stakeholders with scientific information and advice on minimizing the risks of human illnesses arising from the interface between humans, animals and the environment, with special emphasis on infections due to enteric pathogens (intestinal disease-causing agents). Located in Guelph, Ontario, with satellite units in Lethbridge, Alberta, and St-Hyacinthe, Quebec, these locations provide opportunities for collaborative projects with universities, government agencies (federal and provincial), and public health and industry partners in delivery of the program objectives.
Pandemic Preparedness Secretariat (PPS)
The Pandemic Preparedness Secretariat was established in March 2006, to coordinate and facilitate pandemic preparedness and response activities across the Agency by providing leadership within the Public Health Agency of Canada and with our key partners and stakeholders. The Secretariat serves as a focal point for the Agency on pandemic preparedness activities, such as those related to avian and pandemic influenza, and works internally, with international and other national health authorities and stakeholders: to ensure clarity of roles and responsibilities and decision-making processes; to enable effective, efficient and integrated Federal and national health pandemic preparedness; to provide linkages and coordination with provinces and territories, as well as with non-governmental and professional health organizations; and to ensure appropriate involvement with activities in the Health Portfolio and with broader Government of Canada initiatives.
Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention (HPCDP) Branch:
Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention and Control (CCDPC)
The Centre is the national focal point for chronic disease prevention and control. Program activities are centred around three key strategic priorities: knowledge generation and dissemination, policy and program development, and surveillance. Activities focus on building and disseminating the evidence based on best practices and lessons learned to support policies and programs for chronic disease prevention and control; facilitating the development of prevention, screening and early detection programs for chronic diseases by provinces/territories; providing project funding to community and support groups; developing national strategies for the management and control of chronic diseases; maintaining and enhancing an integrated surveillance system to assist in developing chronic disease policy; and providing a stimulus for international links in the area on chronic disease prevention and control.
Centre for Health Promotion (CHP)
The Centre is responsible for implementing policies and programs that enhance the conditions within which healthy development takes place. Through action founded on the principles of population and public health, the Centre addresses the determinants of health and facilitates successful movement through the life stages. The Centre acts through programs addressing healthy child development, active living, families, aging and lifestyles, public information and education (Canadian Health Network), as well as issues related to rural health.
Transfer Payment Services and Accountability Division
This division promotes modern comptrollership and excellence in management practices by leading initiatives on performance measurement and evaluation and the management of grants and contributions. It also manages the Population Health Fund, which provides time-limited funding to Canadian non-profit organizations and educational institutions to increase community capacity to address the determinants of health. The Division also provides administrative services for a number of other grants and contributions funding programs, including the Canadian Breast Cancer Initiative, Prostate Cancer Initiative, the Rural Health Initiative, FAS/FAE Strategic Fund, and the Prevention and Promotion Contribution Program of the Canadian Diabetes Strategy.
Public Health Practice and Regional Operations (PHPRO) Branch:
Office of Public Health Practice
The Centre collaborates with health stakeholders on the development, maintenance and use of health surveillance information, tools and skills to increase the capacity of public health professionals and decision makers across Canada. It provides coordination and strategic vision in the development of the Network for Health Surveillance in Canada. The Centre's Canadian Field Epidemiology Program (CFEP) strengthens public health practice in Canada through a training program that fosters excellence in the practice of applied epidemiology.
Regions
PHAC has a presence in all regions of Canada and with the Northern Secretariat. These offices carry out the Agency mandate through such activities as program delivery, research and knowledge development, policy analysis and development, community capacity building, and public and professional education.
Strategic Policy, Communications and Corporate Services (SPCCS) Branch:
Strategic Policy Directorate
The Directorate provides PHAC with policy expertise and coordination. It collaborates with analysts in all areas of the Branch to develop, articulate and integrate Branch policy. By gathering and synthesizing key policy information, creating and cultivating internal and external partnerships and providing sound, evidence-based policy advice, SPD helps to set strategic directions for PHAC and the department.
Communications Directorate
The Communications Directorate is the focal point for strategic advice, planning and implementation of communications services. Areas of responsibilities include:
- Client Services Unit
- Media Relations
- Crisis Communication
- Social Marketing
- Consultation
- Scientific Publications and Multimedia Services
- Web
Finance and Administration Directorate
The Directorate is responsible for the full spectrum of Agency financial management and, in so doing, helps the Agency to realize the government's commitment to stronger comptrollership.
- Manages the Agency's planning and reporting functions, including sustainable development.
- The Property, Assets and Material Management Division is responsible for planning, implementing, monitoring and providing a wide range of Agency administrative services, including accommodations, business continuity planning, security, and health and safety.
Human Resources Directorate
The Human Resources Directorate (HRD) is responsible for providing HR services and developing HR policies, programs and tools to help managers and employees at all levels contribute to the Agency's vision, mission and mandate.
The HRD delivers a wide spectrum of operational services to its clients in the NCR and Winnipeg on a day-to-day basis in the areas of staffing, classification, compensation, labour relations, and Executive Services.
Corporately, the HRD is responsible for the Agency's staffing, classification, compensation and labour relations policies and programs as well as human resources planning, the Informal Conflict Management System (ICMS), employment equity and diversity, official languages, Executive services and values and ethics. Corporate programs related to workplace health, employee orientation, employee recognition and continuous learning and development are also managed by the Directorate.
Information Management and Information Technology Directorate
Provides corporate support relating to the delivery of information services. It also provides information product development, local network and desktop support services.
- Information Management
- Business Management and Product Development
- Operations Support
Audit Services Division
Over the medium term, the Agency's audit function continues to be delivered by the Audit and Accountability Bureau of Health Canada.
|
