The law and the ethical framework within which we evolve, is an important tool to achieving better population health: it influences the practice of public health at the local, regional, provincial/territorial, federal and international levels, and enables jurisdictions to work together on the day-to-day business of public health.

The SARS outbreak of 2003 highlighted some weaknesses in our current legislative framework. This - and the continuing challenges posed by such outbreaks as the incidence of the West Nile Virus, the Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (“mad cow disease”) - and the increasing threat of a flu
pandemic - have underscored the importance of effective public health laws.

• Public Health Law Improvement Network

What's New

Canadian Conference on the Public's Health and the Law
The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) is pleased to support the first Canadian Conference on the Public's Health and the Law, taking place in Toronto, Ontario (Canada) from November 5-7, 2006.

The goal of the conference is to promote an enhanced understanding of the application of various legal and policy instruments in public health, and to foster professional and inter-sectoral linkages across disciplines. The conference is an important milestone for individuals who are interested, and affected by, the international, federal and provincial legal frameworks which govern public health, and in making these frameworks functionally interoperable.

Reports / Analyses

• The SARS Commission , April 2005.

• The Normative Framework for the Reporting and Management of Infectious Diseases: International Compendium ( 6 666 KB), March 2005.

• Learning from SARS - Renewal of Public Health in Canada,
  September 2004.

• The Reporting and Management of Personal Information and Personal Health Information to Control and Combat Infectious Disease: An Analysis of the Canadian Statutory and Regulatory Framework.
  ( 1 438 KB), March 2004.

• Initial Report of the Ontario Expert Panel on SARS and Infectious Disease Control , December 2003.

• Reforming Health Protection and Promotion in Canada: Time to Act , November 2003.

• Walkerton Commission of Inquiry Reports , October 2003.

• The Future of Public Health in Canada: Developing a Public Health System for the 21st Century , June 2003.

• The Compendium of the Canadian Legislative Framework for the Declaration and Management of Infectious Diseases
  ( 9 956 KB) February 2003.

• Use of Cancer Patient Information for Surveillance Purposes
  March 2000.

• Commission of Inquiry on the Blood System in Canada (Krever Commission) , October 1993.

Presentation

• Post-SARS Public Health Law Developments in Canada
  Seoul, Korea - August 17, 2005.
  ( PPT 255 KB)
• Post-SARS Public Health Law Developments in Canada
  Atlanta, Georgia - June 14, 2005.
  ( PPT 247 KB)

Other Links

• Public Health Law Program
  a CDC program aiming to improve the health of the public through law (U.S.)
• Public Health Law Program
  a California-based non-governmental organization that develops policy sotultions to public health challenges
• Constitution Acts
• Health Protection Legislative Renewal
• HumGen International
  a research resource for ethical, legal and social issues in human genetics and population health
• LEGIS INFO
  
  

For more information, contact publichealthpractice@phac-aspc.gc.ca
or call toll free: 1-877-430-9995.