Health Minister Marjorie Michel tables the 2024-2025 Canada Health Act Annual Report in Parliament
Press Release
Acknowledgments
Health Canada would like to acknowledge the work and effort that went into producing this Annual Report. It is through the dedication and timely commitment of the following departments of health and their staff that we are able to bring you this report on the administration and operation of the Canada Health Act:
- Newfoundland and Labrador Department of Health and Community Services
- Prince Edward Island Department of Health and Wellness
- Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness
- New Brunswick Department of Health
- Quebec Ministry of Health and Social Services
- Ontario Ministry of Health
- Manitoba Health, Seniors, and Long-Term Care
- Saskatchewan Ministry of Health
- Alberta Ministry of Health
- British Columbia Ministry of Health
- Yukon Department of Health and Social Services
- Northwest Territories Department of Health and Social Services
- Nunavut Department of Health
We also greatly appreciate the extensive work effort that was put into this report by our production team, including desktop publishers, translators, editors and concordance experts, printers and staff of Health Canada.
Minister’s message
It is an honour to serve Canadians as the federal Minister of Health during a time when access to timely, high-quality health care is top of mind, and to present to Parliament and to Canadians the 2024–2025 Canada Health Act Annual Report.
This report highlights the collective work of federal, provincial, and territorial governments in upholding the principles of the Canada Health Act, ensuring that access to medically necessary care is based on medical need—not the ability or willingness to pay. This work also aligns with Canada’s economic priorities, recognizing that a strong and accessible health care system supports a resilient economy by helping Canadians stay healthy, productive, and able to participate fully in the workforce.
At the Health Ministers’ Meeting in Calgary, we reaffirmed our shared commitment, across all levels of government, to immediate and ongoing action to deliver better health care for Canadians. We recognize that our health care system is under significant strain, as are the frontline health workers who deliver care every day—leaving too many Canadians facing barriers to accessing the care they need.
These challenges are not new. Prior to the introduction of the Canada Health Act, there were significant concerns that Medicare was being eroded, the system was under great pressure, and access to care was threatened by increasing charges to patients:
“It is apparent that unless a concerted effort is made to commit ourselves once more to the principles of universal health insurance, the gaps in insurance coverage will continue to grow. A choice must now be made. Do we as a nation wish to allow an increasing number of our fellow Canadians to fall through the widening cracks in our health insurance program? Or do we wish instead to preserve and improve Medicare?”
Excerpted from “Preserving Universal Medicare – A Government of Canada Position Paper.” (1983)
The past response to these challenges was a commitment to universal health care with the unanimous passing of the Canada Health Act in the House of Commons. As Minister of Health, I take my role as guardian of the Canada Health Act seriously. Canadians have long believed that everyone should be able to access medically necessary care on the same fair terms, regardless of their ability to pay. This belief remains the foundation of our publicly funded health system and is why improving access to care is one of my top priorities.
Since the Canada Health Act was passed in 1984, the delivery of health care has evolved, and the interpretation of the Canada Health Act has also evolved, to keep pace. I commend jurisdictions for their innovative work in expanding the scopes of practice of regulated health professionals to allow practitioners to meet the growing needs of Canadians. However, this innovation should benefit all – and we must continue our work to ensure that Canadians are not asked to pay for services already funded through their taxes. The Canada Health Act Services Policy clarifies that medically necessary services—whether provided by a physician or another regulated health professional, such as a nurse practitioner, with the scope of practice to provide them—are expected to be covered under provincial and territorial health insurance plans. While the policy takes effect April 1, 2026, provinces and territories would first report any patient charges for physician-equivalent services, should they occur, beginning in December 2028.
We will also continue to collaborate and advance initiatives under the Working Together to Improve Health Care for Canadians plan, backed by nearly $200 billion in federal investments over ten years. This includes $25 billion to help advance shared health priorities with provinces and territories, including efforts to expand access to family health services, strengthen health workforce capacity, improve mental health and substance use care, and modernize health systems so they work better for patients and providers alike.
At a time when national unity matters more than ever—in health care and across every aspect of our shared future—we will continue strengthening our partnerships with provinces and territories to ensure we are always working toward what truly matters: the health and well-being of all Canadians.
IHT5
