News Release
2003-73
September 15, 2003
For immediate release
Consultations to update the Quarantine Regulations to take place this fall
OTTAWA - On September 13, 2003, a notice appeared in  Canada Gazette Part I to advise Canadians of consultations to be conducted
this fall to update the Quarantine Regulations. These regulations are made under
the Quarantine Act.
Parliament enacted the Quarantine Act to prevent the introduction into Canada
of diseases which would constitute a grave danger to public health in our country.
The Quarantine Regulations were last amended in June, 2003 to allow Health Canada
to deal more effectively with SARS. Changes, for example, allowed Quarantine Officers to
exercise the full range of powers under the Act for arriving and departing passengers.
It was also recognized at that time that the Regulations required further update
and the Department undertook to do so.
In addition, the Quarantine Act itself will be subject to further review under
the legislative renewal process that Health Canada is undertaking to strengthen and improve
current federal health protection laws to better protect the health and safety of Canadians.
On June 9, the Minister of Health announced that Health Canada would hold public consultations
on the elements of the proposed new Canada Health Protection Act, including the Quarantine
Act. These consultations will give Canadians the opportunity to participate in discussions
on legislative renewal proposals before a new Bill is drafted.
Canadians can find the current Quarantine Regulations at http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/q-1/c.r.c.-c.1368/text.html. These should be read in conjunction
with the amendments that were made to the regulations as a result of the SARS outbreak,
which can be found at
http://canadagazette.gc.ca/partII/2003/20030702/html/sor227-e.html
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Media Inquiries:
Emmanuel Chabot
Health Canada
(613) 957-1803
Public Inquiries:
(613) 957-2991
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