🍁 civid v1

Status and purpose

• Bill C-239 was introduced at first reading on September 22, 2025.
• It would amend the Canada Health Act to require provinces to implement health-services accountability frameworks to qualify for a full cash contribution under the Canada Health Transfer.

Canada Health Act changes

• Each province would have to develop and implement a framework setting standards for reasonable access to services under its health care insurance plan. The provincial health minister could consult the federal Minister or counterparts in other provinces.
• Frameworks would have to include benchmarks for timely access to primary care, elective procedures and emergency care, along with transparent reporting requirements on benchmark achievement and the efficiency of provincial health spending.
• Provinces would have to provide the federal Minister with information about their transparency measures and publish their frameworks online. They would also have to publish an annual report on benchmark achievement and spending efficiency as soon as feasible after each fiscal year.
• Provinces would have to periodically review and update benchmarks based on emerging evidence and best practices.
• The bill would add failure to implement a framework to the matters covered by the Act’s referral process. Following a referral, the Governor in Council could order a reduction or withholding of a province’s cash contribution for failure to comply with the accountability requirements. Any reduction or withholding would be reimposed in succeeding fiscal years while the federal Minister is satisfied, after consulting the provincial health minister, that the failure continues.

Coming into force

• The provisions would come into force on a day or days fixed by the Governor in Council. The provided text does not set a date or estimate costs.