OTTAWA, ON, Oct. 28, 2026 /CNW/ -- Yesterday, as the Chief Public Health Officer of Canada, I released The State of Public Health in Canada 2026 annual report. The report examines seven population health trends that offer insights into the health of people in Canada. The topics include years in good health, mental health, toxic drug harms, sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections, measles, cancer, and wildfires.

These findings highlight both areas of improvement and emerging challenges. Taken together, they point to a few observations that stand out to me.

Public health gains cannot be taken for granted. The report shows that progress is not always permanent. While important gains have been made in some areas, emerging and recurring challenges highlight the need for continued public health attention. This is evident in several areas. While life expectancy has largely rebounded following the COVID-19 pandemic, years lived in good health have declined. Likewise, although overall cancer diagnoses and deaths have declined, new cases of some cancers are rising and warrant further monitoring.

Some groups continue to experience worse health outcomes than others. These differences are shaped by broader social factors, such as income and housing, as well as structural factors, such as systemic racism and colonialism. Because many public health issues share these underlying drivers, addressing them requires collaboration across communities, sectors, and systems.

Finally, the report outlines three areas that will help inform my priorities as CPHO:

• Supporting the health and well-being of younger populations
• Strengthening prevention and preparedness for current and emerging public health challenges
• Building public health knowledge, trust, and leadership

Across each of these, advancing health equity and supporting reconciliation remain essential.

I hope this report informs ongoing conversations and inspires continued action to build healthier communities and improve health outcomes for everyone in Canada.

Health of People in Canada dashboard

As a complement to my annual report, the Health of People in Canada dashboard includes data, resources, and features to help measure and monitor population health in Canada, using over 50 indicators. This is a useful resource for anyone interested in population health as it provides trusted data across several public health topics.

Related products

• Health Inequalities Data Tool
• Quality of Life Hub

SOURCE Public Health Agency of Canada