Bill C-303: An Act to establish a national strategy for health data collection

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First Reading LEGISinfo Bilingual view XML PDF Skip to Document Navigation Skip to Document Content ENGLISHSUMMARYSUMMARY1 Short Title1 Short Title2 Interpretation2 Interpretation3 National Health Data Strategy3 National Health Data Strategy4 Reports to Parliament4 Reports to Parliament Second Session, Forty-third Parliament, 69-70 Elizabeth II, 2020-2021 HOUSE OF COMMONS OF CANADA BILL C-303 An Act to establish a national strategy for health data collection FIRST READING, May 28, 2021 Ms. Jaczek 432113 SUMMARY This enactment requires the Minister of Health to develop a national strategy, in consultation with representatives of provincial and territorial governments and of Indigenous governing bodies, as well as with health researchers and public health experts, for the collection of health data in order to ensure that such data is available in a consistent manner across Canada for research and policy development. It also provides for reporting requirements in relation to the strategy. Available on the House of Commons website at the following address: www.ourcommons.ca 2nd Session, 43rd Parliament, 69-70 Elizabeth II, 2020-2021 HOUSE OF COMMONS OF CANADA BILL C-303 An Act to establish a national strategy for health data collection Preamble Whereas the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for coordinated national health practices to protect Canadians and their health; and Whereas improved and standardized health data collection would assist in the development of effective health policy for the benefit of all Canadians; Now, therefore, Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows: Short Title Short title 1 This Act may be cited as the National Health Data Strategy Act. Interpretation Definitions 2 The following definitions apply in this Act. Indigenous governing body means a council, government or other entity that is authorized to act on behalf of an Indigenous group, community or people that holds rights recognized and affirmed by section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982. (corps dirigeant autochtone) Minister means the Minister of Health. (ministre) National Health Data Strategy National strategy 3 (1) The Minister must, in consultation with representatives of provincial governments and Indigenous governing bodies, as well as with health researchers and public health experts, develop a national strategy for the collection of health data in order to ensure that such data is available in a consistent manner across Canada for research and policy development. Content (2) The strategy must include measures to (a) create a national public health database; (b) establish an independent board whose mandate is to (i) perform a comprehensive review of existing reports on health information and current health data collection needs, (ii) develop national standardized definitions as they relate to the collection of public health data, and (iii) develop uniform health data collection practices across Canada; (c) provide the Minister, provincial representatives responsible for health and representatives of Indigenous governing bodies access to the national public health database for the purpose of developing data-driven policy in response to public health concerns; (d) ensure that the personal health information and privacy of Canadians are respected during the collection and storage of health data — as well as when data is accessed for research and policy development purposes — including through the use of aggregated and anonymized health data; and (e) provide for annual meetings between the Minister, provincial representatives responsible for health and representatives of Indigenous governing bodies on the coordination of health data collection across Canada. Reports to Parliament Tabling of national strategy 4 (1) Within two years after the day on which this Act comes into force, the Minister must prepare a report setting out the national strategy and cause it to be tabled in each House of Parliament on any of the first 15 days on which that House is sitting after it is completed. Publication (2) The Minister must publish the report on the website of the Department of Health within 10 days after it has been tabled in both Houses of Parliament. Report 5 Within three years after the report referred to in section 4 has been tabled in both Houses of Parliament, and every five years after that, the Minister must, in consultation with the parties referred to in subsection 3(1), prepare a report on the effectiveness of the national strategy that sets out the Minister’s conclusions and recommendations, and cause the report to be tabled in each House of Parliament on any of the first 15 days on which that House is sitting after it is completed. 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