Modernizing public health information sharing

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Information sharing for public health planning and response

Effective and timely public health planning and emergency response relies on integrated health information from a variety of sources, including provinces and territories. It's critical that we collaborate with provincial and territorial governments to enable important information to flow when and where it's needed.

In 2014, federal, provincial and territorial governments came together to negotiate the Multi-lateral Information Sharing Agreement. This agreement set out guidelines on how public health data and information would be shared between our governments. It was originally set to expire on October 4, 2024. However, federal, provincial and territorial governments extended the agreement until a new, modern agreement is in effect.

The Public Health Agency of Canada is working closely with provincial and territorial governments, to co-develop a new, modern way to share this critical information.

A common approach to public health information sharing

As part of the Working Together to Improve Health Care for Canadians plan, we've come together to:

Acting on lessons learned from the pandemic, a common approach to modernizing the sharing of public health data will include:

This approach will provide value and clear benefits for all partners, including:

Core elements

Core elements include:

The path to modernization

In January 2025, health ministers agreed to continue to work to modernize the sharing of public health data between federal, provincial, and territorial governments and on a common approach to this work. This will build on lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, incorporate Indigenous perspectives and enable more timely and effective responses to public health challenges.

A modern public health information sharing agreement is expected before the end of 2025, with bilateral agreements to follow.

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