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Horizontal Initiatives

Federal Tobacco Control Strategy (FTCS)

Name of lead department: Health Canada (HC)

Lead department program activity:

Substance use and abuse

Start date: April 1, 2007

End date: March 31, 2011

Total federal funding allocation: $368.5 million

Description of the horizontal initiative: The FTCS establishes a framework for a comprehensive, fully-integrated, and multi-faceted approach to tobacco control. It is driven by the longstanding commitment of the Government of Canada to reduce the serious and adverse health effects of tobacco for Canadians. It focuses on four mutually reinforcing components: prevention, cessation, protection, and product regulation.

Shared outcomes: The long-term outcome of the FTCS is to reduce tobacco-related disease and death in Canada.

To pursue this long-term outcome, the FTCS will contribute the following tobacco control goal and objectives for April 1, 2007 to March 31, 2011.

Goal: Reduce overall smoking prevalence from 19% (2005) to 12% by 2011.

Objectives:

  • Reduce the prevalence of Canadian youth (15 to17) who smoke from 15% to 9%;
  • Increase the number of adult Canadians who quit smoking by 1.5 million;
  • Reduce the prevalence of Canadians exposed daily to second-hand smoke from 28% to 20%;
  • Examine the next generation of tobacco policy control in Canada;
  • Contribute to the global implementation of the World Health Organization's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control; and
  • Monitor and assess contraband tobacco activities and enhance compliance.

Governance structures: Resources for the implementation of the FTCS were allocated to a number of departments and agencies. HC is the lead department in the FTCS and is responsible for regulating the manufacture, sale, labelling, and promotion of tobacco products as well as developing, implementing and promoting initiatives that reduce or prevent the negative health impacts associated with smoking.

The partner departments and agencies are:

  • Public Safety Canada (PSC): administers contribution funding for monitoring activities in connection with determining levels of contraband tobacco activity. PS also provides policy advice and support on smuggling issues and leads Canada's delegation that is negotiating an international protocol on illicit trade in tobacco products
  • Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP): responsible for monitoring federal fines imposed in relation to tobacco and other types of offences, and for enforcing and recovering outstanding fines
  • Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP): responsible for the enforcement of laws in relation to the international movement of tobacco products (including the illicit manufacture, distribution or possession of contraband tobacco products)
  • Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) (formerly the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency): responsible for ensuring the assessment and collection of tobacco taxes and monitoring tobacco exports.
  • Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) (previously part of the former Canada Customs and Revenue Agency): responsible for monitoring and assessing of the contraband tobacco market in Canada and internationally, as well as improving the administration of assessment and collection of new tobacco taxes on imported tobacco.

Federal Partners: Federal Partner Program Activity (PA): Names of Programs for Federal Partners: Total Allocation (from Start to End Date):
(Million)
Planned Spending for 2009–10:
(Million)
Expected Results for 2009–10:
HC Substance use and abuse FTCS 287.34 57.46 The FTCS has set a 4-year goal to: Reduce overall smoking prevalence from 19% (2005) to 12% by 2011 . All activities are expected to contribute towards achieving this result.
PSC N/A FTCS 3.05 0.61 Expected results for 2009-10 will be reported through PSC's departmental Report on Plans and Priorities.
RCMP N/A FTCS 8.62 1.72 Expected results for 2009-10 will be reported through the RCMP's departmental Report on Plans and Priorities.
ODPP N/A FTCS 12.22 2.44 Expected results for 2009-10 will be reported through the ODPP's Report on Plans and Priorities.
CRA N/A FTCS 4.44 0.89 Expected results for 2009-10 will be reported through the CRA's departmental Report on Plans and Priorities.
CBSA N/A FTCS 52.8 10.56 Expected results for 2009-10 will be reported through the CBSA's departmental Report on Plans and Priorities.
Total     368.47 73.68  

Results to be achieved by non-federal partners: Health Canada works with a variety of partners (e.g. Provinces, Territories, NGOs) to achieve results in reductions in tobacco control.

Contact information :

Cathy A. Sabiston
Director General, Tobacco Control Program
Health Canada
613-941-1977

Chemicals Management Plan

Name of lead departments: Health Canada

Lead department program activity:

Sustainable Environmental Health

Start date: 2007-2008

End date: 2010-2011

Total federal funding allocation: $299.4 million

Description of the horizontal initiative: The Chemicals Management Plan (CMP) is part of the Government's comprehensive environmental agenda and is managed jointly by Health Canada (HC) and Environment Canada (EC). The activities identified in this plan build on Canada's position as a global leader in the safe management of chemical substances and products, and focus upon timely action on key threats to health and the environment.

The CMP will also generate a higher level of responsibility for industry through realistic and enforceable measures, stimulate innovation, and augment Canadian competitiveness in an international market that is increasingly focussed on chemical and product safety.

HC and EC will manage the CMP funding collectively and ensure that it is aligned with human health and environmental priorities.

Shared outcomes: High-level outcomes for managing the CMP include:

  • Ensuring Canadians and their environment are protected from the harmful effects of chemicals;
  • Identification, reduction, elimination, prevention or better management of chemicals substances and their use;
  • Direction, collaboration and coordination of science and management activities;
  • Understanding of the relative risks of chemicals substances and options to mitigate;
  • Biomonitoring and environmental monitoring of substances;

Risk assessment and risk management; and informed stakeholders and the Canadian public.

Governance structures: HC shares responsibility with EC in the attainment of objectives and results, in the overall delivery of the CMP. The two departments are individually accountable along their vertical authorities for leading programs, but share collective responsibility for achieving the expected CMP results.

The CMP consists of five inter-related program elements: Risk Assessment, Risk Management, Research, Monitoring and Surveillance, and Policy and Program Management, which are delivered and evaluated within the CMP integrated horizontal governance framework.

Under this framework, the Assistant Deputy Ministers Committee (ADM Committee) and the Chemical Management Executive Committee (CMEC) provide strategic direction, oversight, coordination and challenge function for the overall CMP implementation and review of results on CMP-related activities.

Various committees and working groups share information, support integrated program delivery of the key functions of the CMP, and provide advice and information to the CMEC and ADM Committees. Two Advisory Bodies - the Stakeholder Advisory Council and the Challenge Advisory Panel - provide additional input and advice for CMP implementation.

The horizontal governance mechanisms are supported by the Integrated Program Management Office (IPMO) of Health Canada as well as ESB Branch Coordination (Environment Canada). The IPMO provides secretariat support to the operation of governance committee meetings and ensures the implementation of supportive management procedures to facilitate executive oversight, monitoring and analysis of results.

A series of agreed-upon procedures will permit departments to collectively address key issues such as the allocation and re-allocation or reprofiling of resources, data collection on performance and coherence in the reporting of results.


Federal Partners: Federal Partner Program Activity (PA): Names of Programs for Federal Partners: Total Allocation (from Start to End Date):
(Million)
Planned Spending for 2009-10:
(Million)
Expected Results for 2009–10 :
HC Sustainable Environmental Health
Chemical Management (PAA Sub-Activity)
Risk Assessment 10.0 2.5 Increase level of Canadian public awareness of chemical management issues and actions being taken, including risks related to food chemical contamination, pesticides and consumer products.
Risk assessments are conducted and risk management objectives are met for regulations and other control instruments for substances and the products of biotechnology, including risks related to food chemical contamination, pesticides and consumer products.
Declining trends in levels of risk, adverse reactions, illnesses and injuries from toxic chemical substances in the environment and their use and/or the risk of exposure to Canadians, including the use of pesticides, consumer products and items regulated under the Food and Drugs Act.
Enhanced knowledge of chemical contaminants of environmental origin and their impacts on human health with targeted risk assessment and regulatory decisions to reduce Canadians' exposure to these substances, including risks related to food chemical contamination, pesticides and consumer products.
Risk Management 50.1 14.0
Research 26.6 10.9
Monitoring & Surveillance 34 11.5
Program Management 5.4 1.4
Consumer Products Risk Management 12.6 3.4
Pesticide Regulation Risk Assessment 9.9 3.1
Risk Management 13.6 4.2
Health Products Risk Assessment 3.3 0.8
Risk Management 12.5 4.3
Research 2.5 0.5
Monitoring & Surveillance 1.2 0.3
Program Management 0 0.1
Food and Nutrition Risk Assessment 3.8 1.2
Risk Management 6.2 1.9
Research 1.2 0.3
EC Chemicals Management (3.1) Risk Assessment 13.1 3.1 Risks to Canadians and impacts on their environment posed by toxic and other substances of concern are reduced.
  • Direction, collaboration and coordination of science and management activities
  • Increased knowledge of the risks of toxic chemical substances through research and options to mitigate
  • Risk assessments conducted in a timely fashion as required
  • Risk management objectives are met, e.g. effective controls identified and implemented
  • Enhanced knowledge of stakeholders and the Canadian public regarding risk assessment/management activities, including knowledge on the effectiveness of control actions
Research /Science 2.1 0
Monitoring & Surveillance 26.4 7.3
Risk Management 64.9 19.3
Sub-Total (Environment Canada) 106.5 29.7  
Sub-Total (Health Canada) 192.9 60.4  
Total 299.4 90.1  

Results to be achieved by non-federal partners (if applicable): N/A

Contact information:

Suzanne Leppinen
Director, Safe Environments Directorate
Health Canada
613-941-8071

Early Childhood Development and Early Learning and Child Care

Name of lead department: Health Canada (HC)

Lead department program activity:

First Nations and Inuit Health Programming and Services

Start date: ECD - October 2002.

ELCC - December 2004

End date : ECD Strategy - ongoing

ELCC Single Window - ongoing

Total federal funding: $365 million 2002-03 to 2006-07; Ongoing: $79 million/year ongoing.

ECD: $320 million 2002-03 to 2006-07 ($60 million in 2002-03 and $65 million thereafter). Ongoing: $65 million per year ongoing.

ELCC: $45 million 2005-06 to 2007-08 ($14.5 million in 2005-06; $15.3 million in 2006-07; $15.2 million in 2007-08). Ongoing: $14 million/year ongoing.

Description of the horizontal initiative: The ECD Strategy for First Nations and Other Aboriginal Children was announced on October 31, 2002. The strategy provides $320 million over five years to: improve and expand existing ECD programs and services for Aboriginal children; expand ECD capacity and networks; introduce new research initiatives to improve understanding of how Aboriginal children are doing; and work towards the development of a "single window" approach to ensure better integration and coordination of federal Aboriginal ECD programming.

In December 2004, as first phase of a "single window", Cabinet approved an additional $45 million over three years ($14 million ongoing) to improve integration and coordination of two ECD programs-Aboriginal Head Start on Reserve and the First Nations and Inuit Child Care Initiative-beginning in 2005-06.

The objectives of these funds are to increase access to and improve the quality of ELCC programming for First Nations children on reserve, and improve integration and coordination between the two programs through joint planning, joint training and co-location.

Joint planning will also include INAC-funded child/day care programs in Alberta and Ontario.

Shared outcomes: The federal ECD Strategy complements the September 2000 First Ministers F/P/T ECD Agreement. It seeks to address the gap in life chances between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal children by improving the developmental opportunities to which Aboriginal children (and their families) are exposed at an early age (0-6 years).

The funding approved in December 2004 for ELCC for First Nations Children Living on Reserve and Working Towards the First Phase of a "Single Window" complements funding released to provinces and territories under the March 2003 Multilateral Framework for Early Learning and Childcare (ELCC) to improve access to ELCC programs and services.

Governance structures: Interdepartmental ECD ADM Steering Committee and Interdepartmental ECD Working Group.


Federal Partners Federal Partner Program Activity (PA) Names of Programs for Federal Partners Total Allocation (from Start to End Date):
($ millions)
Planned Spending for 2009–10
($ millions)
Expected Results for 2009–10
HC First Nations and Inuit Health Programming and Services Aboriginal Head Start on Reserve (AHSOR) 107.60 (2002-03 through to 2006-07; 21.52/year) 21.52/year ongoing.
Committed in 2002.
21.52 Program support and enhancement
24.00 (2005-06 through to 2007-08,
7.50 in 2005-06,
8.30 in 2006-07;
8.20 in 2007-08).
7.50 in 2008-09 and ongoing
Committed in 2005
7.50 Increase integration, coordination, access, and quality
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder - First Nations and Inuit Component
(FASD-FNIC)
70.00 (2002-03 through to 2006-07;
10.00 in 2002-03 and 15.00 thereafter). 15.00/ year ongoing.
Committed in 2002.
15.00 Complete the Mentoring Project Special Study to guide mentoring projects and to provide further training and support.
Support and evaluate FASD Community Coordinator pilot projects towards the development of an evidence-based project framework.
Develop strategies to incorporate findings on support for FN/I women with addictions
Capacity Building 5.08
2002-03 through to 2006-07; 1.02/year). 1.02/ year ongoing.
Committed in 2002
1.02 Increase capacity with National Aboriginal Organizations
Enhance capacity of community ECE practitioners
PHAC Child and Adolescent Health Promotion a. Aboriginal Head Start in Urban and Northern Communities (AHSUNC) 62.88 (2002-03 through to 2006-07;
12.58/ year and ongoing.
Committed in 2002.
12.58 Enrolment in the AHSUNC program has increased by almost 10%. Program expansion and enhancement will address the increasing special needs requirements of children and provide staff with the tools to address these needs
Child and Adolescent Health Promotion Capacity Building 2.50 (2002-03 through to 2006-07; 0.50/year) and ongoing
Committed in 2002
0.50 Increased capacity
HRSDC Lifelong Learning– Health Human Resources (HHR) First Nations and Inuit Child Care Initiative (FNICCI) 45.70 (2002-03 through to 2006-07; 9.14/year) and ongoing
Committed in 2002
9,14 and on-going
Program expansion and enhancement

 

 

21.00 (2005-06 through to 2007-08; 7.00/year). 6.50/ year ongoing.
Committed in 2005
6,50 and on-going Increase program integration, coordination, access and quality
Lifelong Learning-HHR Research and Knowledge 21.20
(2002-03 through to 2006-07); 4.24/year and ongoing.
4,24 and on-going Assessment and implementation of the Aboriginal Children's Survey (ACS) and the Aboriginal component of "Understanding the Early Years" (EUY)
INAC The people- social development Family Capacity Initiatives 5.05 (2002-03 through to 2006-07; 1.01/year 2007-2008 and ongoing.
Committed in 2002
1.01 and on-going Partnerships with other government departments and First Nations to support increased coordination/integration of ECD programs and services
Total     ECD: 320.00
(60.00 in 2002-03 and 65.00/year through to 2006-07); 65.00/year ongoing

 

ECD: 65.00/year ongoing  
    ELCC: 45.00
(14.50 in 2005-06; 15.30 in 2006-07; 15.20 in 2007-08); and 14.00/year ongoing
ELCC: 14.00/year ongoing  

Results to be achieved by non-federal partners (if applicable): N/A

Contact information :

Marcia Armstrong, Program Officer,
ECD Strategy Unit, First Nations and Inuit Health Branch, Health Canada
613-946-4621

Food and Consumer Safety Action Plan (Action Plan)

Name of lead department: The lead is shared between Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), Health Canada (HC), the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)

Lead department program activity:

CIHR: Strategic Priority Research
CFIA: Food Safety
HC: Consumer Products, Pesticide Regulation, Health Products, and Food Safety
PHAC: Health Promotion, Chronic Disease Prevention and Control, and Infectious Disease Prevention and Control

Start date: Fiscal Year 2008-09

End date: 2012-13 and ongoing

Total federal funding allocation: $489.5 million over five years ending in Fiscal Year 2012/2013, and $126.7 million ongoing.

Description of the horizontal initiative : The federal government is responsible for promoting the health and safety of Canadians. A key part of this role is ensuring that the products used by Canadians are safe. Adverse consequences associated with unsafe products impact not only the Canadian public, but also the Canadian economy. The Food and Consumer Safety Action Plan (Action Plan) is a horizontal initiative aimed at modernizing and strengthening Canada's safety system for food, health and consumer products. A number of recent high-profile incidents, such as lead and ingestible magnets in children's toys, foodborne diseases in fresh produce, and the global withdrawal of Vioxx, have underscored the need for government action.

The Action Plan will modernize Canada's regulatory system to enable it to better protect Canadians from unsafe consumer products in the face of current realities and future pressures. The Action Plan will bolster Canada's regulatory system by amending or replacing outdated health and safety legislation with new legislative regimes that respond to modern realities, and by enhancing safety programs in areas where modern legislative tools already exist. We will implement the Action Plan to ensure that Canadians have the information they need to assess the risks and benefits associated with the consumer and health products they choose to use, and to minimize risks associated with food safety.

The Action Plan is an integrated, risk-based plan and includes a series of initiatives that are premised on three key pillars: active prevention, targeted oversight and rapid response. We will focus on active prevention to avoid as many incidents as possible and work closely with industry to promote awareness, provide regulatory guidance, and help identify safety concerns at an early stage. Targeted oversight will provide for early detection of safety problems and further safety verification at the appropriate stage in a product's life cycle. To improve rapid response capabilities and ensure the government has the ability to act quickly and effectively when needed we will work to enhance health risk assessments, strengthen recall capacity, and increase the efficiency in responding and communicating clearly with consumers and stakeholders.

In addition to addressing the concerns outlined above, the Action Plan provides a platform for Canada to actively participate in the Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP), in particular by supporting recent commitments to increase the safety of imported products within North America. It will also enable Canada to better align with US standards, which will have a positive impact on consumer confidence and the business climate.

Shared outcomes:

  • Increased knowledge of food risks and product safety (scientific and surveillance/monitoring)
  • Increased industry awareness and understanding of regulatory requirements
  • Increased industry compliance with safety standards
  • Increased consumer awareness and understanding of safety risks associated with health and consumer products and food
  • Strengthened oversight and response to safety incidents
  • Increased consumer confidence in health and consumer products and food
  • Increased trade-partner confidence in Canadian controls, which meet international standards
  • Increased availability of safe and effective products; and
  • Level playing field where imports can be demonstrated to meet Canadian requirements

Governance structures: The Minister of Health and the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada have joint responsibility and accountability for results, and for providing information on progress achieved by the Action Plan.

Health Canada's Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch (HECSB) and the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA), along with the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), will work together to implement Action Plan activities related to consumer products.

Health Canada's Health Products and Food Branch (HPFB) will take primary responsibility for implementing Action Plan activities related to health products with support from Health Canada's Strategic Policy Branch (SPB) and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) on one initiative.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), Health Canada's Health Products and Food Branch and the Public Health Agency of Canada will work together to implement Action Plan activities related to food.

A Governance Framework has been established and endorsed by all of the partner departments/agencies. To facilitate horizontal coordination the following DG/ED level Task Forces have been established: Health Products Task Force, Consumer Products Task Force, Food Task Force, Communications Task Force, and the Legislative and Regulatory Task Force. The Task Forces report to a DG/ED level Coordinating Committee. An ADM/VP level Steering Committee provides direction to the Coordinating Committee. An Oversight Committee of Deputy Heads will facilitate the provision of high level guidance to the Steering Committee. A Secretariat will play an integral role in supporting the ongoing operation and decision-making of the governance committees.


Federal Partners: Federal Partner Program Activity (PA): Names of Programs for Federal Partners: Total Allocation (from 2008-2009 to 2012-2013): (Million $) Planned Spending for 2009–10 :
(Million$)
Expected Results for 2009–10:
Canadian Food Inspection Agency Food Safety Active Prevention 114.2 20.1 Better understanding of food safety risks
Increased collaboration with industry to implement effective risk mitigation measures
Strengthened standard setting and appropriate regulatory backstops
Further engagement with Canadians in food safety decision making
Targeted Oversight 77.1 13.2 Enhanced inspection of high risk sectors
Enhanced targeted import control measures
Rapid Response 32.2 6.0 Enhanced recall capacity
Further targeted consumer risk communication
Canadian Institutes of Health Research Strategic Priority Research Targeted Oversight 27.1 2.3 Increased knowledge of post-market drug safety and effectiveness to inform decisions
Increased capacity in Canada to address priority research on post-market drug safety and effectiveness
Health Canada Consumer Products Active Prevention 41.0 3.6 Increase effective use of standards by industry and improved compliance with product safety obligations
Better informed consumers properly selecting and safely using products
Responsive and proactive, risk-based product safety regulatory framework
Targeted Oversight 15.7 2.7
Rapid Response 17.9 3.4
Pesticide Regulation Active Prevention 6.9 1.3
Rapid Response 8.0 1.0
Food and Nutrition Active Prevention 29.6 4.9 Increased awareness and understanding of food safety risks by consumers and health professionals
Increased awareness and understanding of regulatory requirements by industry
Rapid Response 1.3 0.2 Improved ability to respond when unsafe food is identified
Health Products Active Prevention 57.6 10.8 Increased awareness and understanding of health products safety risks by consumers and health professionals
Increased awareness and understanding of regulatory requirements by industry
Targeted Oversight 34.6 3.9 Improved information, data and knowledge sharing related to health products, and associated adverse health incidents
Improved monitoring of products and associated adverse health incidents
Rapid Response Existing Resources Existing Resources Improved ability to respond when unsafe health products are identified
Public Health Agency of Canada Health Promotion Targeted Oversight 4.5 0.6 More and better data on unintentional injuries, illnesses and deaths due to consumer products
Engagement of risk assessment stakeholders
Chronic Disease Prevention and Control Targeted Oversight 3.5 0.4
Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Active Prevention 18.3 4.0 New information and data on enteric disease issues and the impact of interventions on public health
Total     489.5 78.4