FederalBill C-239Second Reading

Bill C-239: An Act to amend the Canada Health Act (accountability)

Sponsor: Sukh DhaliwalIntroduced September 22, 2025Last checked August 30, 2026

Read the official text on parl.caOfficial version — LEGISinfo, Parliament of Canada

What this bill does

This bill amends the Canada Health Act to require each province to develop and implement an accountability framework with benchmarks for timely access to primary care, elective procedures, and emergency care, and to publicly report on those benchmarks and health care spending efficiency, as a condition for receiving their full Canada Health Transfer cash contribution.

Plain-language summary by Legisail.

Business impact

Compliance

This bill primarily affects provincial governments and the public health care system rather than private businesses directly. However, health care providers — hospitals, clinics, physician practices, and allied health professionals across all provinces — would be indirectly affected as provincial governments set new access benchmarks and reporting requirements that could change how health services are delivered and measured. Health care IT and data analytics firms may see increased demand for systems to track and publicly report on wait times, spending efficiency, and benchmark compliance. Private sector employers across Canada could eventually benefit if the accountability framework leads to shorter wait times and improved access to care, reducing employee absenteeism related to delayed medical treatment.

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Where this bill is

First ReadingSeptember 22, 2025