The burden of disconnected health care systems falls heavily on our health care providers. The fact that only 29% of providers share electronic information securely and seamlessly outside of their offices is entirely unacceptable.
The fact that fax machines are still used is entirely unacceptable.
The fact that Canadians have to walk around with printed copies of their health information, while other sectors have moved fully digital decades ago is unacceptable.
On Wednesday, February 4, 2026 the Government of Canada introduced Bill S-5, the Connected Care for Canadians Act. This Act is part of Canada’s plan to build up and protect the health care system, and empower Canadians to have more control over their health.
The Act is about enabling different systems to connect. At its core, Bill S-5 is about patient safety. It’s about keeping pace with emerging international standards in digital health care to remain competitive globally.
The legislation would require all information technology (IT) companies providing digital health services in Canada to adopt common standards to support protected and secure information exchange across various systems. Canadians should feel safe knowing that their medical records are secure and protected, for their own use, and for the use of their health care providers.
“When personal health information can travel freely and securely between patients, clinics, hospitals and labs, people will have better health outcomes and doctors will have more time to focus on care. It also makes it easier for patients to manage their own care in partnership with doctors and other health professionals,” said Dr. Margot Burnell, President, Canadian Medical Association.
The health care sector is also one of the fastest growing sectors in Canada’s economy. This legislation will establish the foundation needed for the health sector to benefit from AI innovations that can improve patient care, system efficiency and create economic opportunity for Canadian companies.
The Government of Canada is collaborating with its provincial and territorial partners in the development of the regulations to ensure the protection and secure sharing of Canadians’ own health data and to improve patient outcomes, while ensuring existing strict privacy legislation is respected.
