New Quarantine Act to further protect the health of Canadians
OTTAWA, Dec. 12 /CNW Telbec/ - The Government of Canada announced today
the coming into force of the new Quarantine Act. The modernization of this
legislation addresses urgent issues with respect to the spread of communicable
diseases in Canada and abroad.
"Significant public health events, like SARS and the current threat of
avian influenza have shown that communicable disease outbreaks continue to
threaten our health," said the Honourable Tony Clement, Minister of Health.
"The Act provides the flexibility and response tools required to address such
outbreaks in an age where travel times are measured in hours rather than
weeks."
The new Quarantine Act modernizes existing legislation that dates back to
1872 and provides new tools to manage serious public health threats. New
provisions include the ability to divert an aircraft to an alternate landing
site, to designate quarantine facilities at any location in Canada, and to
prevent entry to Canada of travellers that represent an imminent and severe
public health risk.
The Quarantine Act also compliments other legislative initiatives to
strengthen Canada's public health system such as the creation of the Public
Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) and the Office of the Chief Public Health
Officer.
The Act also creates two new classes of officials, Environmental Health
Officers and Screening Officers. These officials, along with Quarantine
officers, will oversee the screening, assessment, and if necessary, detention
of people, transport vessels, goods and cargo crossing Canadian borders that
represent a public health risk. The presence of these officers will strengthen
national preparedness for future potential public health risks including an
influenza pandemic.
"Preparing for an influenza pandemic and other public health risks
remains a priority," says Dr. David Butler Jones, Chief Public Health Officer.
"The enactment of the new Quarantine Act represents a huge step forward in
this task."
The Quarantine Act has also built-in a number of guarantees to protect
the rights and liberties of travellers, including limits on the sharing of
personal health information.
For more information on Quarantine Services in Canada, please visit
http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/media/nr-rp/2006/2006_10bk1_e.html
OTTAWA, Dec. 12 /CNW Telbec/ - The Government of Canada announced today
the coming into force of the new Quarantine Act. The modernization of this
legislation addresses urgent issues with respect to the spread of communicable
diseases in Canada and abroad.
"Significant public health events, like SARS and the current threat of
avian influenza have shown that communicable disease outbreaks continue to
threaten our health," said the Honourable Tony Clement, Minister of Health.
"The Act provides the flexibility and response tools required to address such
outbreaks in an age where travel times are measured in hours rather than
weeks."
The new Quarantine Act modernizes existing legislation that dates back to
1872 and provides new tools to manage serious public health threats. New
provisions include the ability to divert an aircraft to an alternate landing
site, to designate quarantine facilities at any location in Canada, and to
prevent entry to Canada of travellers that represent an imminent and severe
public health risk.
The Quarantine Act also compliments other legislative initiatives to
strengthen Canada's public health system such as the creation of the Public
Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) and the Office of the Chief Public Health
Officer.
The Act also creates two new classes of officials, Environmental Health
Officers and Screening Officers. These officials, along with Quarantine
officers, will oversee the screening, assessment, and if necessary, detention
of people, transport vessels, goods and cargo crossing Canadian borders that
represent a public health risk. The presence of these officers will strengthen
national preparedness for future potential public health risks including an
influenza pandemic.
"Preparing for an influenza pandemic and other public health risks
remains a priority," says Dr. David Butler Jones, Chief Public Health Officer.
"The enactment of the new Quarantine Act represents a huge step forward in
this task."
The Quarantine Act has also built-in a number of guarantees to protect
the rights and liberties of travellers, including limits on the sharing of
personal health information.
For more information on Quarantine Services in Canada, please visit
http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/media/nr-rp/2006/2006_10bk1_e.html