Minister of Health (Canada)

History

The first Department of Health in Canada was established in 1919 (during a time Canada would be dealing with the Spanish flu, which took the lives of 50,000 by 1920), and unlike most other departments, had no designated minister. The president of the Privy Council was the first designated to manage the department, which was followed by the minister of immigration and colonization in 1921 under Arthur Meighen, then the minister of soldiers' civil re-establishment later that year under William Lyon Mackenzie King. The minister of soldiers' civil re-establishment managed the Department of Health through the next Meighen and King governments.

In 1928, the Department of Health and minister of soldiers' civil re-establishment were abolished and replaced with the Department and minister of pensions and national health. In 1944, the position was again split into two roles, with the war veteran portfolio going to the minister of veterans affairs, and the rest of the portfolio moving to the minister of national health and welfare.

The role of minister of national health and welfare was abolished in 1996, and replaced with the current minister of health. Jane Philpott was the first medical doctor to hold the post.

The position of associate minister of health was created on October 26, 2021, for Carolyn Bennett. Ya'ara Saks was the second and last minister of mental health and addictions. She was appointed on July 26, 2023, and concurrently served as the minister of mental health and addictions. The position was abolished on March 14, 2025, at the start of the 30th Canadian Ministry.

List of ministers

Key:

Health Portfolio

The Health Portfolio is an institution of several governmental departments that supports the Minister of Health's responsibility of maintaining and improving the health of Canadians.

Along with Health Canada, the portfolio consists of: the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Patented Medicine Prices Review Board. and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

, the Health Portfolio consists of approximately 12,000 full-time equivalent employees and an annual budget of over $3.8 billion.

Departmental hierarchies

The hierarchy of portfolio organizations are listed below.

• Minister of Health
  • Deputy Minister
    • Chief Medical Advisor
    • Director General, Office of Audit and Evaluation
      • Departmental Audit Committee
      • Internal Audit and Special Examinations
      • Program Evaluation Division
      • Performance Measurement Planning and Integration
      • Practice Management
  • • Health Products and Food Branch
      • Director General, Biologics & Genetic Therapies Directorate
      • Director General, Food Directorate
        • Bureau of Chemical Safety
        • Bureau of Nutritional Sciences
        • Bureau of Microbial Hazards
        • Bureau of Policy Intergovernmental & International Affairs
        • Bureau of Food Surveillance & Science Integration
        • Bureau of Business Systems & Operations
      • Director General, Marketed Health Products Directorate
        • Bureau of Strategic Engagement and Integrated Management Services
        • Health Products Surveillance and Epidemiology Bureau
        • Marketed Biologicals, Biotechnology and Natural Health Products Bureau
        • Marketed Pharmaceuticals Bureau
        • Office of Policy, Risk Advisory, & Advertising
      • Director General, Medical Devices Directorate
        • Bureau of Licensing Services
        • Bureau of Investigation Testing Authorization, Special Access Program & Post-Market Surveillance
        • Bureau of Evaluation
        • Bureau of Planning & Operations
        • Bureau of Policy & International Programs
      • Director General, Natural & Non-prescription Health Products Directorate
        • Bureau of Licensing Services & Systems
        • Bureau of Product Review & Assessment
        • Bureau of Strategic Planning & Business Services
        • Bureau of Program Policy, Risk Management & Stakeholder Engagement
        • Bureau of Consumer Health Product Modernization
      • Director General, Office of Nutrition Policy & Promotion
      • Director General, Policy, Planning & International Affairs Directorate
        • Strategic Horizontal Policy Division
        • Office of Legislative and Regulatory Modernization
      • Director General, Resource Management & Operations Directorate
        • Strategic Planning and Accountability Division
        • Operational Management and Scientific Learning Division
        • Transformation and Business Informatics Division
        • Governance and Internal Communications Division
        • Office of Submissions and Intellectual Property
      • Director General, Therapeutic Products Directorate
        • Bureau of Cardiology, Allergy & Neurological Sciences
        • Bureau of Gastroenterology, Infection and Viral Diseases
        • Bureau of Metabolism, Oncology and Reproductive Sciences
        • Bureau of Pharmaceutical Sciences
        • Bureau of Policy, Science and International Programs
        • Bureau of Medical Sciences
        • Office of Planning, Performance and Review Services
        • Office of Clinical Trials
      • Director General, Veterinary Drugs Directorate
        • Human Safety Division
        • Manufacturing and Chemical Evaluation Division
        • Clinical Evaluation Division
        • Submission and Knowledge Management Division
        • Policy, Planning and International Affairs Division
  • • Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch
      • Director General, Consumer Product Safety Directorate
        • Director, Risk Assessment Bureau
        • Director, Risk Management Bureau
        • Director, Program Development Bureau
      • Environmental and Radiation Health Sciences Directorate
        • Office of Management Services
        • Science Secretariat
        • Director, Environmental Health Science & Research Bureau, Chemicals Surveillance Bureau
        • Director, Radiation Protection Bureau
        • Director, Consumer & Clinical Radiation Protection Bureau
      • Director General, Policy Planning and Integration Directorate
      • Director General, Safe Environments Directorate
  • • Opioid Response Team
      • Controlled Substances Directorate
      • Opioid Response Team Directorate
  • Assistant Deputy Minister
    • Regulatory Operations and Enforcement Branch
      • Cannabis Directorate
      • Laboratories Directorate
      • Planning and Operations Directorate
      • Health Product Compliance Directorate
      • Policy and Regulatory Strategies Directorate
      • Medical Devices and Clinical Compliance Directorate
      • Consumer Product Safety, Tobacco and Pesticides Directorate
      • Controlled Substances and Environmental Health Directorate
  • • Communications & Public Affairs Branch
      • Ethics & Internal Ombudsman Services
      • Marketing and Communications Services Directorate
      • Planning & Operations Division
      • Public Affairs & Strategic Communications Directorate
      • Stakeholder Relations & Consultation Directorate
    • Pest Management Regulatory Agency
    • Strategic Policy Branch
    • Controlled Substances and Cannabis Branch
    • Corporate Services Branch
    • Departmental Secretariat
  • Executive Director & Senior General Counsel, Legal Services
  • Chief Financial Officer Branch
    • Departmental Performance Measurement & Evaluation Directorate
    • Departmental Resource Management Directorate
    • Financial Operations Directorate
      • Exec. Director, Financial Management
      • Accounting Operations & Systems
      • Financial Services Division, First Nations & Inuit Health Branch
      • Public Accounts & Policy
    • Internal Control Division
    • Materiel & Assets Management Directorate
    • Planning & Corporate Management Practices Directorate
• President of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency
  • Vice-President, Operations
  • Assoc. Vice-President, Operations
  • Vice-President, Science
    • Chief Veterinary Officer
    • Chief Science Operating Officer
  • Vice-President, Policy & Programs
    • Chief Food Safety Officer (Exec. Director, Food Safety & Consumer Protection Division)
    • Chief Plant Health Officer (Exec. Director, Plant Health & Biosecurity Directorate)
  • • VP, Innovation, Business & Service Development
      • Chief Information Officer
    • VP, Communications & Public Affairs
    • VP, Human Resources
    • VP, Corporate Management
      • Chief Financial Officer
    • • Assistant Deputy Minister, International Affairs Branch
      • Chief, Audit & Evaluation
      • Chief Redress Officer, Integrity and Redress Secretariat
      • Exec. Director, Legal Services
• Executive Vice President
• Chief of Staff
• President of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research
  • Executive Vice-President
  • • Assoc. VP, Research, Knowledge Translation & Ethics
    • Assoc. VP, Governance & External Relations
    • Assoc. VP, Corporate Services
  • VP, Research Programs
    • Assoc. VP, Research Programs – Strategy
  • Science Council (chaired by the President)
  • Governing Council (President is an ex officio member of all Standing Committees)
    • Chair
    • Vice Chair
    • • Executive Committee
      • Governance and Nominating Committee
      • Standing Committee on Ethics
      • Standing Committee on Finance
      • CIHR Audit Committee
      • Stem Cell Oversight Committee

CIHR Institutes

• Scientific Director, Institute of Aging
• Scientific Director, Institute of Cancer Research
• Scientific Director, Institute of Circulatory and Respiratory Health
• Scientific Director, Institute of Gender and Health
• Scientific Director, Institute of Genetics
• Scientific Director, Institute of Health Services and Policy Research
• Scientific Director, Institute of Human Development, Child and Youth Health
• Scientific Director, Institute of Indigenous Peoples' Health
• Scientific Director, Institute of Infection and Immunity
• Scientific Director, Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis
• Scientific Director, Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction
• Scientific Director, Institute of Nutrition, Metabolism and Diabetes
• Scientific Director, Institute of Population and Public Health
• Chairperson
  • Members
  • Vice Chairperson
  • Executive Director
    • General Counsel
    • Director Board Secretariat
    • Director, Policy and Economic Analysis
    • Director, Regulatory Affairs and Outreach
    • Director, Corporate Services The Public Health Agency of Canada's (PHAC) senior leadership includes the Minister of Health, Associate Minister of Health, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, Chief Public Health Officer, President of PHAC, and the Executive Vice-President of PHAC.

References

References

1. "The Canadian Parliamentary system - Our Procedure - House of Commons".
2. "Review of the Responsibilities and Accountabilities of Ministers and Senior Officials".
3. (22 December 2016). "Constitutional Duties".
4. "House of Commons Procedure and Practice - 1. Parliamentary Institutions - Canadian Parliamentary Institutions".
5. (April 1, 2024). "Indemnities, Salaries and Allowances".
6. Government of Canada. (May 13, 2025). "Cabinet".
7. {{Cite canlaw. (1919)
8. "Tenth Ministry - The Ministries - Guide to Canadian Ministries since Confederation". Privy Council Office.
9. "Eleventh Ministry - The Ministries - Guide to Canadian Ministries since Confederation". Privy Council Office.
10. "Twelfth Ministry - The Ministries - Guide to Canadian Ministries since Confederation". Privy Council Office.
11. "Thirteenth Ministry - The Ministries - Guide to Canadian Ministries since Confederation". Privy Council Office.
12. "Fourteenth Ministry - The Ministries - Guide to Canadian Ministries since Confederation". Privy Council Office.
13. {{Cite canlaw. (1928)
14. {{Cite canlaw. (1944-1945)
15. {{Cite canlaw. (1944-1945)
16. "Jane Philpott, first MD to be named health minister, on mission to help poor".
17. "Ajax MP Mark Holland becomes new federal health minister during Trudeau cabinet shuffle".
18. "[https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/corporate/health-portfolio.html Health Portfolio]." ''Health Canada''. Government of Canada. Retrieved 2023-04-14.
19. "Organizational Structure." ''Canadian Food Inspection Agency''. Government of Canada (2019). Retrieved 30 April 2020.