2025
Statement on the Public Health and Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza
October 6, 2025
The Canadian Public Health Association (CPHA) is gravely concerned about the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. Despite international mediation aimed at halting the conflict and securing the release of hostages, violence and bombardment continue, exacerbating an already catastrophic humanitarian and public health crisis. The hostilities have resulted in a devastating loss of life, widespread displacement, and the destruction of critical health and social infrastructure. Severe restrictions on medical and humanitarian access are contributing to preventable illness, injury, and death,…
Statement from the Canadian Public Health Association on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation 2025
September 30, 2025
Trigger / content notice: This statement speaks to trauma and institutional harm, which may cause distress. Resources such as the Hope for Wellness Help Line remain available (1-855-242-3310 or https://www.hopeforwellness.ca/).
On this National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, CPHA honours the survivors of residential schools, their families, and all Indigenous peoples whose lives have been irrevocably affected by colonial policies. We acknowledge that this day carries deep pain, grief, and responsibility — and that reconciliation is not a…
Ontario Misrepresents Crime Data to Justify Closure of Lifesaving Supervised Consumption Service
August 19, 2025
The Canadian Public Health Association (CPHA) condemns the Government of Ontario for misleading the public about crime rates near Ottawa’s Somerset Street supervised consumption site to justify its closure.
A CTV News investigation reveals that, contrary to government claims, police data show crime around the Somerset site has not increased since it opened — in fact, some indicators have declined.<…
CPHA Applauds Ontario Court Ruling on Bill 212
July 30, 2025
A Victory for Public Health and Safe Streets
The Canadian Public Health Association (CPHA) welcomes today’s decision by the Ontario Superior Court of Justice to halt the Government of Ontario’s planned removal of key protected bike lanes in Toronto under Bill 212 – Reducing Gridlock, Saving You Time Act, 2024.
The ruling affirms the importance of evidence-based policy and municipal autonomy in promoting safe, healthy, and equitable transportation systems. In a strong and carefully reasoned judgment, the Court granted an injunction against the…
Champions of Public Health Inducted into the Order of Canada
July 2, 2025
HONOURING PUBLIC HEALTH LEADERSHIP
Three of Canada’s most respected public health leaders—Drs. Bonnie Henry, David Jones, and Theresa Tam—have been appointed Officers of the Order of Canada, one of the country’s highest civilian honours. Their appointments, announced by the Governor General ahead of Canada Day, recognize decades of service dedicated to protecting and advancing the health of people in Canada and around the world.
Dr. Bonnie Henry, British Columbia’s Provincial Health Officer since 2018, is known nationally for her calm, compassionate presence and…
CPHA and PHA-NBPEI Raise Alarm over Reassignment of Public Health Nurses in New Brunswick
June 27, 2025
The Canadian Public Health Association (CPHA) and the Public Health Association of New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island (PHA-NBPEI) are sounding the alarm over the Horizon Health Network’s plan to reassign 90% of public health nurses to hospital settings and replace them with licensed practical nurses (LPNs). The Associations warn that this decision will erode the province’s public health capacity and jeopardize the delivery of essential community-based services.
“Public health nurses are the first line of defense in our health system,” said Ian Culbert, CPHA’s…
More Alcohol, More Harm: CPHA Urges Nova Scotia to Rethink Retail Expansion
June 26, 2025
The Canadian Public Health Association (CPHA) is sounding the alarm over the Nova Scotia government’s proposal to expand alcohol sales into convenience stores and other private retail outlets. The Association warns that increasing access to alcohol will have predictable and preventable consequences for public health and health system sustainability.
“This isn’t just about convenience—it’s about consequence,” said Ian Culbert, Executive Director of CPHA. “The evidence is unequivocal: when alcohol becomes easier to buy, more people drink, more people get sick, and…
Honouring Indigenous Leadership, Knowledge, and Sovereignty
June 21, 2025
June 21 is National Indigenous Peoples’ Day—a time to honour the histories, cultures, languages, and leadership of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples across Turtle Island. The Canadian Public Health Association (CPHA) recognizes the enduring strength and vitality of Indigenous communities and affirms our shared responsibility to uphold the inherent rights and self-determination of Indigenous Peoples.
This day is more than a celebration. It is a call to action for public health institutions to move beyond acknowledgment and toward concrete, sustained partnerships rooted in…
CPHA Salutes Dr. Theresa Tam
June 20, 2025
The Canadian Public Health Association (CPHA) extends its gratitude to Dr. Theresa Tam as she concludes her tenure as Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer (CPHO), capping a distinguished career dedicated to protecting and promoting the health of all people in Canada.
Dr. Tam has served the country with dedication, integrity, and humility throughout her more than three decades of public health service. From her early work as a pediatric infectious disease specialist to her appointment as the nation’s top public health advisor, she has consistently brought scientific excellence,…
Alberta’s COVID-19 Vaccine Policy Puts Public Health at Risk
June 16, 2025
The Canadian Public Health Association (CPHA) is deeply concerned by Alberta’s decision to restrict free access to COVID-19 vaccines to only the highest-risk groups, while requiring most Albertans—including seniors and frontline workers—to pay out-of-pocket for immunization.
While fiscal responsibility and efforts to reduce vaccine wastage are important, public health decisions must prioritize equitable access, disease prevention, and collective protection. COVID-19 continues to pose a serious threat to health and health systems, particularly for structurally disadvantaged…