ARCHIVED - Health Canada - Supplementary Tables

"Promoting Innovative Solutions to Health Human Resources Challenges" - Report by the Standing Committee on Health was released June 17, 2010. The Government Response was tabled October 6, 2010

The Committee's report contained twenty-nine recommendations. The Committee stated that thinking boldly and broadly about Health Human Resources is necessary to develop local and unique solutions that involve a wide range of health professionals from midwives to health information managers. The Committee concluded that on-going collaboration is needed between different levels of government, including leadership from the federal government in providing secure and sustained funding mechanisms geared towards: primary care reform, better integration of internationally educated health professionals, and increasing the number of Aboriginal health human resources. The Committee recommended that the federal government needs to be more effective in its promotion of collaborative planning in Health Human Resources with interested jurisdictions, either through existing mechanisms or the establishment of new ones.

The Government Response affirmed its commitment to addressing the Health Human Resources issues raised, and highlighted the extensive work that it has already taken in this area.

For further information, please visit:
House of Commons Committees - HESA (40-3) - Promoting Innovative Solutions to Health Human Resources Challenges

"The Way Forward: Addressing Elevated Rates of Tuberculosis Infection in On-Reserve First Nations and Inuit Communities" - Report by the Standing Committee on health Report was released June 8, 2010. The Government Response was tabled October 6, 2010.

The Committee's Report contained fourteen recommendations under the following themes: Health Canada's National TB Program, Collaboration Across Jurisdictions, Involvement of First Nations and Inuit Communities in TB prevention and Control; and Social Determinants of Health.

The Government Response reconfirmed its commitment to reducing TB rates among on-reserve First Nations and Inuit and acknowledged the complexity of TB and the need for coordinated efforts by multiple partners to reduce the burden of this disease. In addition, The Government stressed that addressing the social determinants of health for First Nations is one of the most important ways to prevent disease, including TB. The Government also stated that it is committed to collaborating with partners to reduce the incidence of TB in the Aboriginal populations of Canada.

For further information, please visit:
House of Commons Committees - HESA (40-3) - The Way Forward: Addressing the Elevated Rates of Tuberculosis Infection in on Reserve First Nations and Inuit Communities - Cover Page

2010 Fall Report of the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development

Chapter 3--Adapting to Climate Impacts

Government reports have demonstrated that climate change affects all regions of the country and a wide range of economic sectors.  These impacts and the need to adapt to them touch on virtually all federal government portfolios, with significant implications for policies and programs related to Canadians' health and the country's industry, infrastructure, and ecosystems.   Adapting to actual or expected changes in climate involves adjusting our decisions, activities, and thinking.  These adjustments are essential both to minimize adverse effects and to take advantage of new and beneficial opportunities.  The government acknowledges that climate change is inevitable and that we must adapt to its impacts in order to reduce their severity.

The OAG examined five key federal departments whose mandates are affected significantly by climate change--Environment Canada, Natural Resources Canada, Health Canada, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, and Fisheries and Oceans Canada.  The OAG looked at whether the departments are identifying and assessing the risks posed by climate change in their areas of responsibility and whether they are taking steps to adapt to the risks by considering them in their planning and decision making. Further, they looked at four climate change adaptation programs in these departments to determine whether they have collected and disseminated information in a usable way to those who need the information.  The report made three recommendations, of which one was directed at Health Canada.

Departmental Response:
Health Canada agrees with the recommendation of the Auditor General of Canada.

For further information on this audit, please visit:
http://www.oag-bvg.gc.ca/internet/English/parl_cesd_201012_03_e_34426.html#hd3b

October 2010 Office of the Privacy Commissioner

Audit of The Protection of Personal Information in Wireless Technology:  An Examination of Selected Federal Institutions

The entities that the Office of the Privacy Commissioner (OPC) examined deliver services and programs that Canadians depend on.  The delivery of these services and programs requires the use of sensitive personal information. These entities have an obligation to ensure that they implement technical, physical and administrative safeguards to protect the integrity and security of personal information that they transmit and store within wireless environments.

The PCO examined whether the audit entities have assessed the threats and risks of the wireless technologies and have implemented measures to mitigate these risks.  They also looked at the controls in place to protect personal information managed within a wireless environment, including the use of passwords and encryption and restrictions on the use of PIN-to-PIN messaging.  Further, they also tested surplus wireless devices (smart and cellular phones) and scanned for wireless access points within or immediately surrounding the premises occupied by the audit entities.  The Report made nine recommendations, of which seven apply to Health Canada.

Departmental Response:

Health Canada agrees with the recommendations of the Office of the Privacy Commissioner.

For further information on this audit, please visit:
http://www.priv.gc.ca/information/pub/ar-vr/ar-vr_wt_2010_e.cfm