Minister of Health (Canada)

Liberal MP Mark Holland speaks during a news conference in Toronto (cropped)

Minister of Health of Canada
Ministre de la Santé
Health Canada
Style	The Honourable
Member of	Cabinet of Canada
Reports to	Parliament of Canada
Seat	Ottawa, Ontario
Appointer	Monarch (represented by the Governor General)
Term length	At Her Majesty's pleasure
Formation	1996
First holder	David Dingwall

The Minister of Health (French: Ministre de la Santé) is a minister of the Crown in the Cabinet of Canada responsible for overseeing the Department of Health. The position was created in 1996, and the first person to hold the office was David Dingwall.

Responsibilities

The Minister of Health is responsible for the overall stewardship of the Canadian health system. This includes the administration of the Canada Health Act, which ensures that all eligible residents of Canada have reasonable access to medically necessary hospital and physician services without direct charges at the point of care. The Minister also oversees the Public Health Agency of Canada, which is responsible for public health, emergency preparedness, and response to health crises.

History

The position of Minister of Health was established in 1996 when the responsibilities for health were separated from the Minister of National Health and Welfare. The creation of this position was part of a broader reorganization of the federal government's health portfolio to better address the evolving health needs of Canadians.

List of Ministers of Health

• David Dingwall (1996–1997)
• Allan Rock (1997–2002)
• Anne McLellan (2002–2003)
• Ujjal Dosanjh (2004–2006)
• Tony Clement (2006–2008)
• Leona Aglukkaq (2008–2013)
• Rona Ambrose (2013–2015)
• Jane Philpott (2015–2017)
• Ginette Petitpas Taylor (2017–2019)
• Patty Hajdu (2019–2021)
• Jean-Yves Duclos (2021–2023)
• Mark Holland (2023–present)

Related Positions

The Minister of Health works closely with other federal ministers, including the Minister of Indigenous Services, the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, and the Minister of Seniors. These positions collaborate to address various aspects of health and well-being for different populations within Canada.

See Also

• Health Canada
• Public Health Agency of Canada
• Canada Health Act
• Cabinet of Canada
• Governor General of Canada
• Parliament of Canada