The Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of Health, is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Gregory Taylor as Canada’s next Chief Public Health Officer, for a term of five years beginning September 24, 2014.   Dr. Taylor’s appointment follows on a rigorous, national selection process.

As Canada’s lead public health voice, the Chief Public Health Officer (CPHO) plays an important leadership role in Canada.  The CPHO’s partnership  with provinces, territories and the international health community, is integral to mitigating and responding to public health issues that matter most to Canadians.  As the CPHO, Dr. Taylor will provide evidence-based advice to the Minister of Health on priority public health matters, such as chronic and infectious disease prevention and control, health promotion and emergency preparedness. 

Dr. Taylor obtained his MD from Dalhousie University in Halifax, where he also completed a family medicine residency. He completed a fellowship in Community Medicine at the University of Ottawa, and joined Health Canada’s Laboratory Centre for Disease Control in 1995. He has since held a number of key leadership roles within the Public Health Agency of Canada, most recently serving as Deputy Chief Public Health Officer, where he led the Agency’s response to H5N1 and is currently leading our efforts on Ebola.

As we welcome Dr. Taylor to his new role, the Government of Canada also thanks Dr. David Butler-Jones, the first named Chief Public Health Officer in Canada, for his contribution to the Agency’s success over the past decade.  His leadership has helped place Canada at the forefront of international public health. 

Quick Facts

• The CPHO works in close collaboration with provincial and territorial governments to ensure Canada’s coordinated and comprehensive approach to existing and emerging public health issues.
• The CPHO represents the Public Health Agency of Canada within a variety of arenas, including international forums and organizations. International liaison and surveillance strengthens Canada’s ability to address disease control issues on a global scale. The CPHO reports to Parliament once a year, via the Minister of Health, on the state of public health in Canada.
• The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) is the main Government of Canada agency responsible for public health in Canada. The Agency’s primary goal is to strengthen Canada’s capacity to protect and improve the health of Canadians and to help reduce pressures on the health-care system.
• This appointment was the result of a comprehensive nation-wide competitive process launched last Spring and finalized over the last year.

Quotes

“Dr. Taylor has done a remarkable job as Deputy Chief Public Health Officer and has earned the confidence of the international community and his public health colleagues across the country.  Today’s announcement is another important step forward for Canada in ensuring the health and safety of the public. I have the utmost confidence in Dr. Taylor in meeting Canada’s public health challenges.  Dr. Taylor’s steady guidance and tremendous efforts during disease outbreaks, including H5N1 and Ebola, are proof of the positive experience and expertise he will bring to the table as our new Chief Public Health Officer. I look forward to working with him in his new role.”

The Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of Health

“Health has been a passion of mine, for most of my life and career and this position provides me with the unique opportunity to influence the health of all Canadians.  There is no greater honour than to work with the many committed professionals - across jurisdictions, expertise and experience – to protect the health of Canadians.”