Manitoba is further bolstering its preparedness against public health threats and emergencies with a new Public Health Act that is now in effect, Health Minister Theresa Oswald announced.
“Manitoba has a robust public health strategy to prepare and protect citizens from threats ranging from West Nile Virus to potential future threats such as a pandemic flu,” Oswald said. “This new act builds on that work to ensure provisions are in place to help public health officials identify health threats and respond quickly in the case of a health emergency.”
The new act clarifies responsibilities and powers for provincial public health functions such as health surveillance, disease and injury prevention, and population health assessments. The minister said measures provided under the act will help officials better understand the health issues facing Manitobans on a day-to-day basis and act quickly and effectively in an emergency situation such as a communicable disease outbreak.
“The roles and responsibilities of Manitoba’s public health officials are more clearly defined under the act, which will help them monitor the health of Manitobans, identify potential risks and act swiftly when it’s required,” said Dr. Joel Kettner, Manitoba’s chief medical officer of health, who will become the chief provincial public health officer once the act is proclaimed. “The act strikes a balance between an individual’s rights and the need to protect and promote public health.”
Among the important provisions under the act are measures that will:
• require the chief provincial public health officer to report on the health status of Manitobans at least every five years;
• significantly raise fine levels from the current level of $5,000 to be consistent with other public protection legislation;
• in the case of an individual, up to $100,000 for a conviction for failure to comply with an emergency health hazard order and up to $50,000 for other offences; and
• in the case of a corporation, up to $1,000,000 for a conviction for failure to comply with an emergency health hazard order and up to $500,000 for other offences;
• provide appropriate powers to deal with communicable diseases and enable medical officers of health to take appropriate action;
• make clear that the exercise of any power under the act that restricts an individual’s rights or freedoms must be no greater than is necessary to respond to the threat to public health; and
• respect health information privacy rights by limiting the collection, use and disclosure of personal information or personal health information to the least amount necessary.
“The province’s public health professionals provide important information and guidance to Manitobans on a range of issues from sexually transmitted infections and childhood immunizations, to illnesses such as West Nile Virus,” said Healthy Living Minister Kerri Irvin-Ross. “This updated act strengthens provisions the province has put in place to improve both public health protection and public health reporting.”
The ministers noted a portion of the act also addresses the sale of inhalants and other substances sold as intoxicants. The provisions will allow authorities to seize products like gasoline, cleaning solvents and aerosol disinfectants from individuals and retailers who are or may be knowingly selling them as intoxicants. The province is implementing an educational campaign for retailers and other stakeholders to apprise them of the changes.
The province’s previous Public Health Act has been in place since 1965 with significant amendments made through the Security Management Act in 2002 which strengthened Manitoba’s ability to respond to public health emergencies.
Oswald noted Manitoba publishes detailed public health information online including:
• emergency preparedness measures for potential and emerging threats like pandemic influenza and avian influenza;
• fact sheets on Lyme disease, West Nile Virus, listeriosis and other public health threats;
• immunization levels; and
• cases of reportable diseases and sexually transmitted infections.
More information about the Public Health Act is available online.
