Modernizing public health information sharing
On this page
- Information sharing for public health planning and response
- A common approach to public health information sharing
- The path to modernization
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:
- manage public health events and enhance health outcomes
- improve how health data is collected, shared, used and reported
Acting on lessons learned from the pandemic, a common approach to modernizing the sharing of public health data will include:
- provide stronger evidence
- inform better, timely decision-making
- achieve better health outcomes for all people in Canada
- enable better data-sharing and data-driven responses to public health challenges
This approach will provide value and clear benefits for all partners, including:
- increasing trust and transparency among jurisdictions
- reducing the administrative burden for public health organizations with a unified approach
- supporting future technological improvements to meet the public health needs of tomorrow
- enabling the sharing of critical public health data, information and insights, within and between:
- provinces
- territories
- the Public Health Agency of Canada
Core elements
Core elements include:
- common principles and provisions, as well as a governance framework to address:
- data stewardship
- data disclosure
- data use and re-use
- data privacy and security
- a multilateral approach that establishes clear protocols for the public good and for data exchange within and between jurisdictions, that is:
- timely
- ethical
- secure
- effective
- bilateral agreements tailored to:
- meet jurisdictional needs
- operationalize commitments
- strengthen federal, provincial and territorial partnerships
- allow for more nuanced engagement with the diverse Indigenous organizations and communities within jurisdictions
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 in 2026, with bilateral agreements to follow.