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ARCHIVED - RPP 2007-2008
Health Canada


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Section 1: Overview

1.1 Minister's Message

Tony Clement - Minister of Health, and Minister for the Federal - Economic Development Initiative for Northern OntarioIt is my pleasure to present to you Health Canada's 2007-2008 Report on Plans and Priorities. This Report lays out the initiatives Health Canada will undertake over the next three years and reflects the commitment of Canada's New Government to help ensure that our publicly-funded health system remains strong and effective and is doing everything it can to help make Canadians among the healthiest in the world.

Health remains one of this Government's top priorities. In my first year as Minister of Health, we have embarked on an ambitious agenda. I am pleased to see that we made much progress in addressing our key priorities and we must continue in this spirit to meet the needs and expectations that Canadians have for this Department and this Government.

One of the foremost priorities for this planning period remains to continue working with the provinces, territories and stakeholders to ensure Canadians receive essential health care within clinically acceptable wait times. In this spirit, we will continue to develop the building blocks for a Patient Wait Times Guarantee to help reduce the wait times faced by Canadians. The focus of our work in the next year will include the implementation of the Patient Wait Times Guarantee pilot projects recently launched for diabetic and prenatal care for First Nations and for pediatric surgery. To further our efforts in the reduction of wait times, this Government will continue to support the development of an electronic health record system. Timely access to care will remain a focal point for Health Canada's activities.

Cancer continues to threaten a growing number of Canadians. That is why Health Canada will continue to work with the Public Health Agency of Canada to support the implementation of the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer Corporation, recently announced by the Prime Minister. Health Canada will focus on assisting with the start-up of this non-profit organization while helping to ensure its successful implementation and ongoing collaboration with other governments and cancer organizations. The initial focus of this new organization will be implementing its priority areas for immediate action and developing its role in coordinating cancer activities across Canada.

Mental health and addiction problems affect 1 in 5 Canadians and cost the Canadian economy an estimated $18 billion per year. Health Canada will continue its work in addressing mental health and mental illness in Canada and will work with others to build a foundation for a national approach to mental health and mental illness in Canada.

As the provider of primary health care to First Nations and Inuit, we will continue to work with the provinces, territories, Aboriginal Health Organizations and other federal departments to help improve the overall health outcomes of First Nations and Inuit and help ensure the availability of and access to quality health care. Special focus over the next three years will be on initiatives to ensure safe drinking water in Aboriginal communities, reduce mould in community housing and increase health human resources.

Canada's New Government also recognizes the importance of a clean and sustainable environment and the impact it has on the overall health of Canadians. We will continue to work to minimize the health risks to Canadians from environmental contaminants. To this end, Health Canada will play an integral role in working with Environment Canada to develop and implement the Government's Environmental Agenda with a specific focus on the safe management of chemicals and clean air.

Developing a pandemic preparedness plan will continue to be a focus for us throughout the next year and beyond, as diseases are able to travel rapidly across the globe and with little warning. We will continue to work with others here and abroad to continue research and ensure vaccine availability.

Canada's population is getting older, which brings with it evolving health challenges. In order to address these challenges, Health Canada will play an important role in the creation of a national seniors council, which will serve as an advisory body and sounding board for seniors' health issues across the country. This will help Health Canada develop policies to address the health needs of this growing group.

This Department is committed to working with Justice Canada and Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada to develop a National Drug Strategy. Health Canada will also work with stakeholders to help reduce alcohol-related harms in Canada and to address the issue of abuse and diversion of legal pharmaceutical products containing controlled substances. Through these efforts, Health Canada will contribute to healthier Canadians and safer communities.

Health Canada will continue to work with the Public Health Agency of Canada and other stakeholders to promote the Healthy Canadians initiative. The recent release of the new Canada's Food Guide along with support for Participaction will provide key tools for helping Canadians adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles.

We will also continue to strengthen Health Canada's regulatory capacity by streamlining the regulatory process to ensure Canadians have access to safe and effective products in a timely manner. This will play a key role in the review of the Natural Health Product Regulations.

Health Canada remains committed to fostering leading edge science and research within the federal government and with external partners to ensure we have the knowledge needed to meet current and emerging risks to the health of Canadians. Federal support recently announced by the Prime Minister for specific research initiatives, such as the Spinal Cord Injury Translational Research Network and the Canadian HIV Vaccine Initiative, are illustrations of this commitment. We will continue to support and strengthen our research to ensure we have a sound evidence base for decision-making.

Underlying all of these plans and priorities are mechanisms to ensure that we are providing value for money and tangible results for Canadians. I am pleased to report that we have strengthened results-based management throughout Health Canada so we can better demonstrate to Canadians that we are doing everything we can to ensure our programs and services are achieving their objectives.

I am confident that with the plans described in this Report, we will be able to continue to make progress on this Government's health agenda, contribute to an efficient health care system and help improve the health of Canadians.

Tony Clement Signature
Tony Clement
Minister of Health, and Minister for the Federal
Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario

1.2 Management Representation Statement

I submit for tabling in Parliament, the 2007-2008 Report on Plans and Priorities (RPP) for Health Canada.

This document has been prepared based on the reporting principles contained in Guide for the Preparation of Part III of the 2007-2008 Estimates: Reports on Plans and Priorities and Departmental Performance Reports:

  • It adheres to the specific reporting requirements outlined in the Treasury Board Secretariat guidance;
  • It is based on the Department's Strategic Outcomes and Program Activity Architecture that were approved by the Treasury Board;
  • It presents consistent, comprehensive, balanced and reliable information;
  • It provides a basis of accountability for the results achieved with the resources and authorities entrusted to it; and
  • It reports finances based on approved planned spending numbers from the Treasury Board Secretariat in the RPP.

Morris Rosenberg Signature
Morris Rosenberg
Deputy Minster of Health

1.3 Summary Information

Raison d'être
Health Canada was established to help the people of Canada maintain and improve their health. We are also committed to improving the lives of all Canadians and making this country's population among the healthiest in the world as measured by longevity, lifestyle and effective use of the public health care system.


Financial Resources (in millions of dollars)
2007-2008 2008-2009 2009-2010
3,036.7 2,991.0 3,028.3

 


Human resources
2007-2008 2008-2009 2009-2010
8,825 8,681 8,689

 


Departmental Priorities
Name Type
1. Working with others to strengthen the efficiency and effectiveness of thepublicly-funded health care system Ongoing
2. Contributing to the improvement of the health of Canadians Ongoing
3. Reducing the risks to the health of the people of Canada Ongoing
4. Strengthening accountability to Parliament and the public Ongoing

 


Program Activities by Strategic Outcome
    Planned Spending  
  Expected Results 2007-2008 2008-2009 2009-2010 Contributes to the following priority
Strategic Outcome #1: Strengthened Knowledge Base to Address Health and Health Care Priorities
Program Activity:
Health Policy, Planning and Information
- Strengthened knowledge base to address health and health care priorities 263.7 259.9 254.8 Priority No. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Strategic Outcome #2: Access to Safe and Effective Health Products and Food and Information for Healthy Choices
Program Activity:
Health Products and Food

- Access to Safe and Effective Health Products and Food
- Access to Information for Healthy Choices

257.4 246.3 246.7

Priority No. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Strategic Outcome #3: Reduced Health and Environmental Risks form Products and Substances, and Safer Living and Working Environments
Program Activity:
Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety
- Reduced health and safety risks associated with tobacco consumption and the abuse of drugs, alcohol and other substances
- Reduced risks to health and safety, and improved protection against harm associated with workplace and environmental hazards and consumer products (including cosmetics)
333.8 289.8 291.7 Priority No. 2, 3 and 4
Program Activity:
Pest Control Product Regulation
- Access to safer pesticides
- Improved transparency and knowledge dissemination
50.9 46.5 46.3 Priority No. 3 and 4
Strategic Outcome #4: Better Health Outcomes and Reduction of Health Inequalities Between First Nations and Inuit and Other Canadians
Program Activity:First Nations andInuit Health - Better health outcomes and reduction of health in equalities between First Nations and Inuit and other Canadians 2,130.9 2,148.5 2,188.8 Priority No. 1, 2, 3 and 4

1.4 Overview

Introduction

The Report on Plans and Priorities is Health Canada's key planning and priority-setting document. It provides an overview of the work of the Department, the external and internal challenges it faces and the key programs and services that will be delivered in the coming three years. It also summarizes planned expenditures and outlines performance measurement activities.

Health Portfolio Overview

The Minister of Health, through the work of the Health Portfolio, is responsible for maintaining and improving the health of Canadians. The Portfolio consists of Health Canada, the Public Health Agency of Canada, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Hazardous Materials Information Review Commission, the Patented Medicine Prices Review Board and the newly-formed Assisted Human Reproduction Canada. Each member of the Portfolio prepares its own Report on Plans and Priorities. The Health Portfolio consists of approximately 11,400 employees and an annual budget of over $4.5 billion.

Health Canada provides policy leadership and coordination among portfolio members to ensure a coherent approach to addressing health priorities.

Health Portfolio Organizations

Health Portfolio Organizations

Introduction to Health Canada

Health Canada's mission is to help the people of Canada maintain and improve their health. This responsibility covers a wide range of functions, including:

  • regulation of a large variety of products in order to protect health and safety. Regulatory authorities cover medicines and medical devices, pesticides, consumer chemicals and products, nuclear and radiological safety, illicit drugs and food.
  • providing health services to First Nations and Inuit;
  • supporting the health care system by working with provincial and territorial partners and stakeholders on important reform initiatives;
  • promoting improved health, as a public champion for individual decision-making that will enable individuals and families to be as healthy as possible;
  • generating and sharing knowledge and information, on which personal decision-making, regulations and standards, and innovation in health rely; and,
  • contributing to global health.

We protect the health and safety of Canadians through regulations and legislation. We work with a number of partners to maintain and improve health through programs and services with other federal agencies, the provinces and territories, First Nations and Inuit and stakeholders across Canada and abroad. These ongoing relationships help ensure our activities are based on emerging best-practices, make use of the most current science and are tailored to specific regional and stakeholder challenges. Health Canada helps assess risks to human health, maintains health protection efforts, regulates and approves products and provides national leadership and expertise in the development of health science and policy.

As administrator of the Canada Health Act, the Minister of Health works with provinces and territories to promote and protect a strong, universally accessible and equitable publicly funded health care system that is consistent with the criteria and conditions of the Act and allows Canadians to be confident in the services they receive. The Minister of Health is also responsible for another 18 statutes including the Food and Drugs Act, the Pest Control Products Act, the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act and the Tobacco Act, to name a few.

Health Canada implements its legislation through a number of regulations, guidelines, policies, programs, and services. Health Canada's significant responsibilities include ensuring the quality, safety, and effectiveness of drugs, medical devices and other therapeutic products, and pesticides; the safety of consumer products and workplace substances; the safety and nutritional quality of food; exposure to toxic substances in the environment; and the quality of air and water. Health Canada also helps Canadians to prevent and reduce the incidence and severity of disease, injury and disability, through prevention and control programs. Maintaining modern regulatory systems requires continued updating of legislation, regulations and policies, and the continuous monitoring of emerging issues, responding when and where required in order to protect the health and safety of Canadians. For these reasons, the Department is working to strengthen our regulatory systems. In 2007-2008, we will complete comprehensive reviews of all regulatory programs and activities in order to define the level of activities, performance and resources required to meet our regulatory and other responsibilities. A departmental priority will be regulatory streamlining and modernization, which will support the broader Government of Canada priority of a stronger economy.

The Minister of Health, through Health Canada, oversees transfers to the provinces and territories through the Canada Health Transfer and facilitates collaboration and coordination across the health systems.

While working towards improving the health of the entire population, the Minister of Health is also the provider of primary health care to First Nations and Inuit, largely in remote and rural areas. The objectives of Health Canada's First Nations and Inuit health program are to reduce the gap between health outcomes of First Nations and Inuit and the rest of the Canadian population, improve the overall health of these communities, ensure the availability of and access to quality health services, work towards seamless integration of health programs and services, and develop capacity to support delivery of health services by First Nations and Inuit communities. Additional challenges remain as these populations are growing faster than the national average, have higher rates of chronic and communicable disease and injuries, and often face unique health challenges due to factors of geography, socio-economic status and other underlying health determinants.

Health Canada at Work Across the Country

Health Canada has approximately 8,700 employees across Canada. Roughly one third work outside the National Capital Region, providing close proximity to communities and clients thereby facilitating the design and delivery of programs and services that are responsive to local issues, priorities and needs of the diverse regions of Canada.

Health Canada at Work Across the Country

Corporate Priorities of Health Canada

Health Canada has identified four corporate priorities that guide the work of the Department as we address the challenges and opportunities that affect the health of Canadians. These priorities reflect our mission and planned strategic outcomes as explained in Section 2.

  1. Contributing to the improvement of the health of Canadians.
  2. Reducing the risks to the health of the people of Canada.
  3. Working with others to strengthen the efficiency and effectiveness of the publicly-funded health care and health system.
  4. Strengthening accountability to Parliament and the public.

Health Canada and Partners Helping Canadians Make Independent, Informed Choices


The responsibility for promoting, protecting and improving the health of Canadians does not rest with a specific level of government, the medical profession or Canadians themselves. The responsibility is found in an interwoven community of collaborating stakeholders that each contributes to this goal.

Canadians make choices everyday that affect their health and well-being. Environmental, economic and social factors also affect health. Municipal, provincial and territorial governments and health service providers work to ensure community health services are available and provide the heath care system that Canadians rely on to protect and improve their health. The private sector helps develop pharmaceuticals and other health products for Canadians.

The contribution of Health Canada

In addition to overseeing the Canada Health Act, the federal government helps assess risks to human health, sustains health protection efforts, regulates and approves products, and funds health services. Health Canada provides national leadership and expertise in the development of health science and policy. The federal government provides assistance to provincial and territorial governments in the provision of health care services through the Canada Health Transfer. With respect to health programming and services for First Nations and Inuit, Health Canada supports public health and community health programs on-reserve and in Inuit communities, provides non-insured health benefits coverage regardless of residence, and delivers primary care on-reserve in remote and isolated areas where no provincial services are readily available.

Health Canada employees play key roles in the areas of promoting, protecting and improving the health of Canadians, roles that assist other stakeholders working in the area.

Innovators. As a science-based department, Health Canada employees are innovators, providing leading-edge science, sound policy research, and effective program and service development. Keeping abreast of global developments on diseases enabled Health Canada to play a leading role in Canada's response to the SARS, BSE and West Nile Virus outbreaks.

Knowledge Brokers. Through research, risk assessment, risk management and surveillance, Health Canada provides knowledge to Canadians, health care workers and other public and private sector stakeholders to enable them to make sound choices to protect health. The Department also monitors and researches the health threats from environmental factors such as toxic substances, air and water pollution, climate change and other threats. This work fosters sound decision-making and policy-development by all stakeholders to help reduce health risks.

Enablers. In all program areas, Health Canada brings stakeholders together, as well as provides information, research and education. The work of Health Canada enables Canadians to be up-to-date and informed about the issues that can impact their health.

Regulators, Trustees and Stewards. The Department's broad regulatory responsibilities to protect Canadians and promote health and safety range from prescription drugs and vaccines to toxic substances, from cardiac pacemakers to natural health products and food, from consumer goods to pesticides. Health Canada, through the administration of the Canada Health Act, safeguards publicly-funded health care in Canada, ensuring universal access to needed services.

Proponents of Transparency. All work at Health Canada, from the assessment of products under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act to the regulation and approval of thousands of products, is conducted transparently. Health Canada has committed to be accountable for delivering results to Canadians. The public had an opportunity to be involved in consultations on major regulatory initiatives such as the new Pest Control Products Act and will continue to be consulted in other areas as part of the Department's consultations framework.

Our Operating Environment

Health Canada works collectively with stakeholders here and abroad to improve the health status of people around the world and to prevent and address potential threats. Increasingly, governments and stakeholders are collaborating to share experiences and approaches to help ensure changing populations continue to have adequate health care and access to the latest treatments made possible by technological advancements. Health threats rapidly cross borders, whether from infectious diseases, pollution or imported products and food. Canada continues to make a strong contribution to improving health outcomes around the world. Global changes and linkages make the operating environment for Health Canada even more complex, requiring the Department to maintain an active engagement in the global health community.

Here at home, the face of illness in Canada is evolving. For example, we are seeing a shift in balance between chronic diseases and infectious diseases as preparing for, preventing and responding to infectious diseases has recently become a key priority for many governments and health partners across Canada. Health Canada must be able to respond to a complex, broad and often rapidly evolving environment, one that can see a serious health risk travel around the globe and threaten the health of Canadians here at home in a matter of hours. The demographics of disease are also shifting. Examples include the diseases associated with the elderly that are now seen increasingly in younger populations, and lung diseases and HIV/AIDS that are turning up more frequently among women. Health inequalities continue across the population as socio-economic and regional factors continue to raise different challenges for health providers and policy-makers.

While there are a number of new emerging trends with potential benefits and threats to Canadians' health, for the most part there are several key themes that continue to dominate the policy landscape for Health Canada.

We are seeing encouraging progress towards improving the health of Canadians

In Canada, we have made significant advances in preventing and treating cardiovascular disease and we have seen death rates in this area decline dramatically over the past 40 years. Progress has been made also in the fight against cancer, with the latest statistics showing stable or declining incidence and mortality rates for most types of cancers. Canada has a better cancer survival rate than Western Europe. We have made progress with tobacco use, with overall smoking rates and smoking related deaths declining.

A number of health issues will always remain, as challenges and diseases evolve and positive efforts in prevention and treatment take time to alter the overall health of the population

Though concrete progress has occurred in First Nations and Inuit health, such as with increases to overall life expectancy, there still exists a health gap between Aboriginal peoples and the rest of the Canadian population. Child poverty remains a challenge for a significant number of Canadian households, with potential impacts on health. Mental illness is a burden for many Canadians. The overall number of new cases of cancer continues to increase, as the population grows and ages. The number of HIV/AIDS cases continues to grow, affecting different segments of the population.

More evidence, research, monitoring and reporting is crystallizing what we know about emerging health threats and the changing face of illness in Canada

Governments and health organizations around the world continue to monitor avian flu and pandemic influenza, a relatively new focus for many organizations. The growing incidence of obesity in younger Canadians is an emerging health threat that governments and health care providers have to address. The rate of respiratory diseases, such as asthma, is increasing rapidly in Canada and women are especially vulnerable. Superbugs and hospital acquired infections continue to challenge health care providers and governments.

Research repeatedly demonstrates that the actions of individuals can have a positive impact on their health and well-being, providing encouraging potential for improving the health of Canadians

Two thirds of Canadians have at least one modifiable risk factor for chronic disease. It is estimated that about one half of cancers in Canada are preventable through lifestyle changes. Nutrition is a key factor for preventing some cancers and diseases. Experts say many accidents and injuries are preventable, though mishaps around the house, workplace or on the roads remain a leading cause of death. Eliminating tobacco use remains a critical lifestyle change for improving health.

Our Strategic Response

Health Canada has developed a comprehensive array of programs, services, policies and regulations to enable us to address both existing and emerging health issues and challenges in Canada. Following are the four strategic outcomes guiding the work of the Department. Details of the program activities, priorities, expenditures and expected outcomes that fall within each of the following Health Canada strategic outcomes are included in Section 2 of this Report.

  1. Strengthened knowledge base to address health and health care priorities.
  2. Access to safe and effective health products and food, and information for healthy choices.
  3. Reduced health and environmental risks from products and substances, and safer living and working environments.
  4. Better health outcomes and reduction of health inequalities between First Nations and Inuit and other Canadians.

Our Key Priorities for 2007-2008

In addition to delivering initiatives in support of the four ongoing corporate priorities that reflect our day-to-day business, Health Canada will assign specific priority to the following key areas in 2007-2008:

1. Supporting the health care system by advancing Patient Wait Times Guarantees.
Health Canada is working with the provinces to help ensure Canadians receive the care they need within clinically acceptable wait times. For example, Health Canada is implementing pilot projects for patient wait times guarantees in such areas as diabetes and prenatal care for First Nations and Inuit and pediatric surgeries.

2. Improving the health of specific populations
including Aboriginals, seniors, children and youth. Initiatives will be implemented to help improve health outcomes for these specific groups that are each facing unique health challenges in comparison with other Canadians.

3. Advancing Health and Environment initiatives
to protect health and adapt to our changing climate. Health Canada's work on the Chemicals Management Plan of Canada's Environmental Agenda will improve the degree of protection of Canadians and their environment against hazardous chemicals by introducing a number of new, proactive measures. The Clean Air Agenda will reduce indoor and outdoor air quality risks through such initiatives as a Radon Strategy and an Air Quality Health Index and Forecast Program.

4. Protecting the health of Canadians with a focus
on regulatory renewal, natural health products and a National Drug Strategy. We will develop and maintain modern and flexible legislation, regulatory frameworks and policy instruments in order to strengthen and modernize Canada's regulatory systems related to consumer and health products, food and pesticides. We will also continue work on the assessment of natural health products to help protect Canadians using these remedies. To help reduce harm associated with the abuse of drugs and alcohol, we will work with partners to develop a National Drug Strategy.

5. Advancing global health security by working
with the Global Health Security Initiative to coordinate global actions in response to health threats. We work with other countries and international organizations including the World Health Organization (WHO).

Guiding Principles

The following guiding principles will direct the work of the Minister of Health and the management of the Health Portfolio's activities as it responds to the priorities for action:

  • Putting people first: Promoting policies and programs that provide greater certainty and timely access to health care for Canadians.
  • Making strategic and evidence-based investments:
    understanding and responding in a strategic and co-ordinated manner to changes affecting our health system, including demographics, societal expectations and the changing nature of infectious, communicable and chronic diseases.
  • Ensuring alignment across the Health Portfolio:
    ensuring that the different policies, programs, agencies and partnerships that support strategic investments are aligned, reducing fragmentation, duplication in effort, overlap and where appropriate, varying cultures and modes of operation.
  • Building relationships with partners based on trust and inclusiveness: improving federal-provincial-territorial relations to better serve Canadians and ensuring wider participation by private and non-government organizations in policy making and with international organizations such as the World Health Organization.
  • Ensuring active engagement in international health issues including pandemic planning, knowledge generation and sharing, and new health developments in other countries.
  • Improving performance and ensuring value for money: supporting evidence-based policy and developing information and management systems that support performance management and optimal use of taxpayer funds.
  • Strengthening accountability to Parliament and the public.

Our Management Priorities

In the coming three years, Health Canada will address several internal management issues to ensure the Department is able to effectively and efficiently deliver on its priorities and meet its objectives. An overview of several key management priorities is included below. Impacts to Health Canada from Expenditure Restraint were limited to the Medical Marihuana Research Program, the First Nations and Inuit Tobacco Control Strategy and the Policy Research Program. Details are included in Section 2 - Strategic Outcomes.

Health Canada will continue to move forward with projects from its Financial Management and Control Framework to improve the capacity of Health Canada to effectively manage the resources under its control. Recently, a major step was taken towards a coordinated approach to resource management in Health Canada with the introduction of an integrated departmental operational planning process, including human resources. We will continue to refine the process to ensure effective decision-making and enhanced monitoring of the resources for which the Department is responsible. Also, Health Canada will continue to work to meet the requirement for Audited Financial Statements, including the strengthening of internal controls and standardization of practices and processes.

Health Canada will implement the requirements of the new Federal Accountability Act. We will continue to monitor developments in the policy environment as it pertains to departmental finance and administration and will develop appropriate responses to newly implemented policies in a timely fashion. Health Canada will continue to support the work of the Blue Ribbon Panel on Grants and Contributions by assisting on the Business Process Review to streamline processes and participate as a vanguard department in implementing the Panel's recommendations.

Contributing to Government of Canada Strategic Outcomes

Contributing to Government of Canada Strategic Outcomes

Health Canada will continue to respond to audit recommendations as laid out by the Office of the Auditor General, the Office of the Comptroller General and others. We will ensure that structures, processes and systems are in place to ensure that our responses will satisfy the requirements described in various audit recommendations. The Department has most recently agreed with all recommendations of the November 2006 Auditor General's Report, which contained two Chapters on Health Canada. With respect to Chapter 8, Allocating Funds to Regulatory Programs, Health Canada has developed an Action Plan to address all ten recommendations. The Plan comprises two main components to strengthen its overall resource management process: a Branch level Comprehensive Program Review; and a departmental wide corporate Financial Management Control Framework targeted to be completed by March 2008. The Action Plan and status reports will be provided to the Standing Committee on Health and the Standing Committee on Public Accounts. For Chapter 10, Award and Management of a Health Benefi ts Contract, Health Canada has resolved the issues that the Auditor General brought to its attention.

Health Canada will continue to apply the Management Accountability Framework (MAF) at all management levels, and to integrate MAF expectations into the management culture of the Department. Through the MAF, Deputy heads will carry on their dialogue between the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat (TBS) and the Public Service Human Resources of Canada (PSHRMAC) on the state of management practices in their organizations and on priorities for management improvement. The application of the MAF will facilitate the dialogue on management results with departments and agencies, as it integrates TBS and PSHRMAC management improvement initiatives and policies. Risk Management is an important element of the MAF and Health Canada is committed to incorporating risk management in departmental planning processes.

Health Canada will continue to participate in the federal government's shared services initiatives, and will continue to improve the Department's Business Continuity Planning Program to ensure departmental readiness for the continuous delivery of critical services during emergencies that have the potential to interrupt departmental operations such as a pandemic infl uenza outbreak.

Integrating Human Resource Planning Into Business Planning

Business objectives will guide human resource planning, helping to ensure we have the right people, with the right skills, at the right time, to achieve our goals. The strategic outcomes highlighted in the Report on Plans and Priorities will form the business framework for human resource planning in the Department.

For planning purposes, branches and regions will use input from multiple sources to analyze their human resources needs and issues. Managers will take into account various information, including an internal departmental environmental scan, departmental demographic information, the results of the last Public Service Employee Survey, available program evaluations, Health Canada's draft science plan, and feedback from the Department's Management Accountability Framework.

Consolidated human resources plans will be analysed and used for integrated decision-making.

Our Operating Principles

  • Sound, informed decision-making based on leading edge science
  • Effi cient and sustainable resource utilization within legal, ethical and operational frameworks
  • Transparency
  • Cooperation and engagement with provinces, territories, partners and stakeholders
  • Engagement in international health issues

Sustainable Development

For the period of 2007-2010, implementation of the Department's Sustainable Development Strategy IV will be the focal point of activity for sustainable development within Health Canada. Departmental targets will contribute to outcomes in areas such as food safety, clean water and clean air; sustainable communities; and greening of departmental operations to further sustainable development. During this period, Health Canada will work with other federal departments to advance the social aspects of sustainable develop­ment to ensure that departmental policy and program integration efforts are taking into account determinants of health and other socio-cultural factors. For more information on Health Canada's Sustainable Development Strategy, please see Table 11 of this Report.

The Role of Science

As a science-based department, Health Canada depends on a strong foundation of science and research to fulfil its legislated mandate and contribute to the health and safety of Canadians. Given the wide spectrum of science-related activities in the Department, it is critical that we foster excellence in science and research, by effectively using sound science in policy and regulatory decision making, and ensuring that these activities are aligned with departmental and federal policies.

Sound science contributes to risk assessment, risk management and supports evidence-based decision-making within Health Canada. Sound science contributes to establishing policies, setting standards and providing advice and information on the safety and nutritional value of food; the review of drugs to assess their quality, safety and effectiveness, including prescription and non-prescription pharmaceuticals, disinfectants and sanitizers; in assessing health risks to Canadians posed by environmental factors, consumer products, controlled substances, workplace chemicals and tobacco. In addition, sound science contributes to science-based health, environmental and value (including efficacy) assessments of pest control products.

Health Canada plays a strong leadership role in the federal government with respect to horizontal science policy and science management issues; supporting excellence in technology and innovation in all science, both research and regulatory, and promoting science and technology integration within the federal government and with external partners. In addition, the Department is committed to fostering excellence and integrity in its own science, encouraging due diligence and ensuring Health Canada has the science capacity it needs to meet current and emerging challenges.