Building a More Connected Health Care System
Canada’s new government is building a more connected, modern health care system.
Data saves lives. Technology should work for people — improving care, reducing burden on providers, and ensuring our health system is ready for the future.
Today, the Government of Canada introduced Bill S-5, the Connected Care for Canadians Act, a key step in strengthening and protecting Canada’s health care system while giving Canadians more control over their own health information.
Why This Matters
Right now, Canada’s health care system remains fragmented:
Only 29% of primary care providers securely share patient information outside their practice.
Fax machines are still widely used in health care settings.
Nearly 60% of physicians report that administrative burden harms their mental health.
Canadians are often forced to carry printed copies of their own medical records.
In an era where banking, travel, and commerce have gone fully digital, this is unacceptable.
What Bill S-5 Does
The Connected Care for Canadians Act would:
Require IT companies providing digital health services in Canada to adopt common interoperability standards.
Enable secure and protected information exchange across health systems.
Prohibit data blocking that prevents secure sharing between providers.
Accelerate adoption of the Pan-Canadian Interoperability Roadmap, developed collaboratively with provinces and territories.
Importantly:
The Act does not create a digital ID, central database, or national platform.
It enables — but does not compel — secure access and information sharing.
It would apply only in provinces and territories that do not already have substantially similar legislation in place.
Positioning Canada for the Future
Health care is one of the fastest-growing sectors in Canada’s economy.
By establishing clear national standards, this legislation:
Improves patient safety and care coordination.
Reduces administrative burden on providers.
Enables responsible AI innovation in health care.
Positions Canada to remain competitive alongside jurisdictions such as the United States, Australia, and the European Union, which have already implemented digital health interoperability frameworks.
Canadians deserve a system where their health information is secure, accessible, and working for them — not trapped in disconnected systems.
The Big Picture
Bill S-5 is about patient safety, provider support, and modernization.
By connecting systems securely and responsibly, we are building a stronger, more resilient health care system for today and for the future.
That’s how we Build Canada Strong.
