Ontario is taking action to strengthen and better coordinate the province’s response to future public health emergencies or events, like a pandemic.

Later today, the province will introduce the Health Protection and Promotion Amendment Act, 2010.  The proposed Act, if passed, would give the Chief Medical Officer of Health (CMOH) new authority to direct boards of health and medical officers of health to adopt measures during a pandemic or other public health emergency. The CMOH would only issue directives if there is an imminent public health-related risk and a coordinated response is necessary to protect the health of Ontarians.

The legislation would also expand the Minister’s authority to use publicly owned spaces, on the advice of the CMOH, for public health purposes, such as holding immunization clinics.