Drawing on lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government of Canada is strengthening Canada’s capacity to respond to future public health emergencies through the development of a new medical countermeasures laboratory facility.

Today, the Honourable Joanne Thompson, Minister of Fisheries, on behalf of the Honourable Marjorie Michel, Minister of Health, announced more than $4.8 million in funding through the Healthy Canadians and Communities Fund for projects that will promote health in communities across Canada.

Today, Aslam Rana, Member of Parliament for Hamilton Centre, on behalf of the Honourable Marjorie Michel, Minister of Health, announced an investment of $3 million in two projects to help prevent and address child maltreatment.

Today, the Honourable Rebecca Alty, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, on behalf of the Honourable Marjorie Michel, Minister of Health, announced $3.3 million over three years for five projects in collaboration with First Nation, Inuit and Métis communities.

The Government of Canada is reinforcing its leadership in preventive health care by advancing national guidelines grounded in the highest standards of scientific rigour, transparency, and equity.

In response to the Ebola disease outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and increasing risks in Uganda and South Sudan, the Government of Canada is taking decisive action by introducing temporary border measures to reduce the risk of the virus entering and spreading within Canada.

Today, Sonia Sidhu, Member of Parliament for Brampton South, on behalf of the Honourable Marjorie Michel, Minister of Health, announced the two Grand Prize Winners of the Type 2 Diabetes Prevention Challenge: Kinvia and the Black Creek Community Health Centre. Both projects demonstrated innovation and long-term potential to support people at risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Each winner received $1.25 million in funding to continue scaling up their innovative concept.

The Honourable Eleanor Olszewski, Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience and Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada, on behalf of the Honourable Marjorie Michel, Minister of Health, announced $1.2 million to strengthen mental health and psychosocial supports in emergency settings.

Today, the Honourable Marjorie Michel, Minister of Health, announced that the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) will begin administering the Vaccine Impact Assistance Program (VIAP) on April 1, 2026.

Today, the Government of Canada announced that the amendments to the Human Pathogens and Toxins Act (HPTA) received Royal Assent.

Today, the Honourable Marjorie Michel, Minister of Health, announced the appointment of Dr. Joss Reimer as Canada’s next Chief Public Health Officer (CPHO), for a three-year term, effective April 1, 2026.

Today, the Honourable Marjorie Michel, Minister of Health, announced over $4.7 million in funding to six new projects to support community-based organizations devoted to improving the health and wellbeing of people with dementia and their caregivers, and to furthering knowledge about this disease, and its risk and protective factors.

The Honourable Marjorie Michel, Minister of Health, announced that the federal government will invest up to $120.2 million over the next two years to support the continued operations of the 9-8-8: Suicide Crisis Helpline, a critical service for Canadians in distress.