Federal bill aims to boost secure digital health information sharing across Canada

The federal government has introduced legislation aimed at improving how Canadians access and share their personal health information, with a focus on patient safety and more coordinated care.

Bill S-5, known as the Connected Care for Canadians Act, was tabled last week as part of Ottawa’s broader effort to modernize the health system through secure and interoperable digital tools.

Health Minister Marjorie Michel said the proposed law would help ensure patients and care providers have timely access to critical health data.

“Timely and secure access to personal health information is critical to saving lives and improving care for Canadians,” Michel said in a statement. She said the legislation is intended to give Canadians more control over their own health information while helping care teams make informed decisions.

The bill would require information technology companies that provide digital health services in Canada to adopt common standards for secure information exchange. Federal officials say this would help ensure health data can be shared safely across different systems, between care providers and directly with patients.

Canada Health Infoway, a federally funded not-for-profit that works with governments and health organizations on digital health initiatives, welcomed the legislation.

“The Connected Care for Canadians Act recognizes that timely, secure access to health information is foundational to better care,” said Michael Green, Infoway’s president and chief executive officer. He said modern digital standards and trusted data sharing can help improve care coordination and ease administrative pressures on health providers.

The federal government said it is working with provinces and territories on the development of regulations tied to the legislation, emphasizing that existing privacy laws would remain in place.

Ottawa has framed the bill as part of a long-term strategy to make the health system more sustainable, arguing that better digital connectivity can reduce duplication, improve patient outcomes and help the system respond to growing demand.

If passed, the legislation would lay the groundwork for more consistent digital health practices across the country, with the goal of making it easier for Canadians to access their own health information and for providers to deliver more seamless care.