Health
How Health spent its budget in fiscal year 2023-24, on a Volume II appropriations basis.
Department Spending
In FY 2023-24,
$13.96B
was spent by Health
In FY 2023-24,
2.7%
of federal spending was by Health
Health Canada is the federal department responsible for protecting and improving the health of Canadians. It develops health policies, regulates pharmaceuticals and medical devices, enforces food safety standards, and funds public health programs. The department works with provinces and territories to support the healthcare system while ensuring safety standards for drugs, consumer products, and nutrition guidelines.
Through the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), Health Canada monitors public health risks, manages disease outbreaks, and promotes health initiatives. It also funds medical research via the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and oversees healthcare services for Indigenous communities.
Health Canada spent $13.96B in fiscal year (FY) 2024. This was 2.7% of the $513.9 billion in overall federal spending. The department ranked tenth among federal departments in total spending.
Health Canada accounted for 2.7% of all federal spending in FY 2024. 10 government departments accounted for 73.2% of federal spending in FY 2024
Federal spending may shift over time due to population growth, changes in policy and programs, and emerging challenges. Since FY 1995, overall federal spending has risen 74.9%, while Health Canada spending has decreased 19.9% when adjusted for inflation.
The department's spending grew at a rate significantly lower than overall spending, reflecting shifts in federal priorities. In FY 2024, Health Canada accounted for 2.7% of all federal spending, 3.14 percentage points lower than in 1995.
Major legislation, internal or global economic conditions, and acute events like the COVID-19 pandemic can significantly influence government spending year to year. For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, federal support programs led to a temporary surge in spending. Health Canada expenditures increased from $5 billion in FY 2019 to $14.2 billion in FY 2021 before stabilizing in recent years.
Federal departments often contain other entities including offices, crown corporations and agencies. The Health Canada entities with the biggest expenditures in FY 2024 were
Health Canada is led by the Minister of Health, who is appointed by the Governor General on the advice of the Prime Minister and formally sworn into office at Rideau Hall. Upon appointment, the Minister takes the Oath of Office and the Oath of Allegiance, becoming a member of the King's Privy Council for Canada.
These Ministers are some of the cabinet members who serve at the Prime Minister's discretion. Their tenure typically ends when they resign, are replaced, or when a new Prime Minister takes office and appoints a new cabinet. Outgoing ministers remain in their roles until their successors are sworn in.
How did Health spend its budget in 2023-24?
Spending by entity, FY 2023-24
Department of Health
Public Health Agency of Canada
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Patented Medicine Prices Review Board
$7.09B
$4.43B
$1.35B
$1.08B
$14M
Health’s share of federal spending
Percentage of federal spending, 1995–2025
Line items
Complete appropriation (vote/allotment) and transfer-payment lines, in dollars. Search, sort, and download the full table.
| Vote | Description | Total available | Used ▼ | Lapsed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vote 10 | Grants and contributions | $5,505,198,211 | $4,997,847,198 | $507,351,013 |
| Vote 1 | Operating expenditures | $4,752,968,974 | $3,771,873,594 | $981,095,380 |
| Vote 1 | Operating expenditures | $1,675,626,389 | $1,491,462,038 | $184,164,351 |
| Vote 5 | Grants | $1,283,479,883 | $1,258,382,393 | $25,097,490 |
| Vote 1 | Operating expenditures, grants and contributions | $769,962,161 | $748,999,481 | $20,962,680 |
| Statutory amounts | Statutory amounts | $566,473,809 | $566,361,403 | $112,406 |
| Vote 10 | Grants and contributions | $571,629,010 | $481,907,030 | $89,721,980 |
| Statutory amounts | Statutory amounts | $336,134,735 | $273,347,789 | $62,786,946 |
| Statutory amounts | Statutory amounts | $159,844,246 | $155,564,101 | $4,280,145 |
| Vote 1 | Operating expenditures | $82,969,828 | $79,891,020 | $3,078,808 |
| Vote 5 | Capital expenditures | $64,659,785 | $56,974,216 | $7,685,569 |
| Vote 5 | Capital expenditures | $33,754,323 | $30,161,227 | $3,593,096 |
| Vote 5 | Capital expenditures | $51,382,187 | $20,079,920 | $31,302,267 |
| Vote 1 | Program expenditures | $17,213,824 | $12,656,859 | $4,556,965 |
| Statutory amounts | Statutory amounts | $10,182,784 | $10,182,784 | $0 |
Explore other federal departments
Health figures are on a Volume II appropriations basis and will not match the Volume I consolidated headline totals. See the methodology for details.
