Marginal note:Short title

1. This Act may be cited as the Department of Health Act.

Marginal note:Department established

• 2. (1) There is hereby established a department of the Government of Canada, called the Department of Health, over which the Minister of Health, appointed by commission under the Great Seal, shall preside.

• Marginal note:Minister

  (2) The Minister holds office during pleasure and has the management and direction of the Department.

Marginal note:Deputy head

3. The Governor in Council may appoint an officer, called the Deputy Minister of Health, to hold office during pleasure and to be the deputy head of the Department.

Marginal note:Powers, duties and functions

• 4. (1) The powers, duties and functions of the Minister extend to and include all matters over which Parliament has jurisdiction relating to the promotion and preservation of the health of the people of Canada not by law assigned to any other department, board or agency of the Government of Canada.

• Marginal note:Particulars

  (2) Without restricting the generality of subsection (1), the Minister’s powers, duties and functions relating to health include the following matters:

  • (a) the administration of such Acts of Parliament and of orders or regulations of the Government of Canada as are not by law assigned to any other department of the Government of Canada or any minister of that Government relating in any way to the health of the people of Canada;

  • (a.1) the promotion and preservation of the physical, mental and social well-being of the people of Canada;

  • (b) the protection of the people of Canada against risks to health and the spreading of diseases;

  • (c) investigation and research into public health, including the monitoring of diseases;

  • (d) the establishment and control of safety standards and safety information requirements for consumer products and of safety information requirements for products intended for use in the workplace;

  • (e) the protection of public health on railways, ships, aircraft and all other methods of transportation, and their ancillary services;

  • (f) the promotion and preservation of the health of the public servants and other employees of the Government of Canada;

  • (g) the enforcement of any rules or regulations made by the International Joint Commission, promulgated pursuant to the treaty between the United States of America and His Majesty, King Edward VII, relating to boundary waters and questions arising between the United States and Canada, in so far as they relate to public health;

  • (h) subject to the Statistics Act, the collection, analysis, interpretation, publication and distribution of information relating to public health; and

  • (i) cooperation with provincial authorities with a view to the coordination of efforts made or proposed for preserving and improving public health.