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Canada’s incoming chief public health officer Dr. Joss Reimer has identified combating health misinformation and rebuilding public trust as her key priorities as she prepares to take on the role. In her first interview following the announcement of her three-year appointment, Reimer emphasized the need for a proactive approach to countering false health information.
“One of the biggest challenges with health misinformation is the speed at which it changes, because it doesn’t take a lot of time to come up with a lie,” Reimer said on Friday. She acknowledged the significant erosion of trust in public health institutions during the COVID-19 pandemic, noting that difficult measures had widespread impacts on Canadians’ lives.
“Because there was so much difficulty — people were losing jobs and income, people were being separated from loved ones. And whether or not those were right decisions, it was hard,” she explained. “We have a lot of trust-building that we’re going to need to do that’s going to take years.”
Reimer brings substantial pandemic experience to the role, having served as chief medical officer for the Winnipeg health authority and medical lead for Manitoba’s COVID-19 vaccine implementation task force. She will succeed Dr. Theresa Tam, who retired in June after eight years as Canada’s top public health official. During the pandemic, Tam became a familiar presence to Canadians through her regular updates on evolving public health guidance.
Health Minister Marjorie Michel highlighted the critical timing of Reimer’s appointment, citing multiple concurrent public health challenges facing Canada, including “a resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles, the threats posed by avian influenza A (H5N1), HIV and tuberculosis, the ongoing impacts of the illegal drug crisis and the harmful impacts of false health information.”
The measles outbreak is particularly concerning, as Canada recently lost its measles elimination status that it had maintained since 1998. Reimer, who comes from a small town affected by the outbreak, has witnessed the impact of vaccine hesitancy firsthand.
“I come from a small town which is part of the measles outbreak and where we have seen a fair bit of vaccine hesitancy,” she said. “We need to have partnerships from on the ground, from community leaders all the way up to the federal government.”
Reimer noted that the rise in measles cases isn’t surprising given the disease’s highly contagious nature combined with growing vaccine hesitancy fueled by misinformation. Public health experts across Canada have expressed alarm at the loss of elimination status, with the United States and Mexico potentially facing similar outcomes.
The spread of health misinformation has been a growing concern, with Canadian health officials warning that unreliable information extends beyond social media. In December, Michel expressed concerns about American health institutions as information sources for Canadians, citing the Trump administration’s cuts to research funding and promotion of false vaccine information.
Despite these challenges, Reimer remains optimistic about international collaboration while emphasizing Canada’s need to establish its own reliable information sources. “I know that there are still really amazing people in the American system doing wonderful work, and so I think that there’s a lot of ways that we can continue to work together,” she said.
Reimer brings a diverse background to the position, holding a master’s degree in public health and having conducted research on sexually transmitted diseases and drug-related harms. She previously served as president of the Canadian Medical Association (CMA), where she delivered a formal apology to Indigenous Peoples for harms caused by the medical profession.
Dr. Margot Burnell, the current CMA president, praised Reimer’s leadership during the pandemic, describing her as “a source of calm and measured leadership for Manitobans.” Burnell added that during her CMA tenure, Reimer “led the fight against false health information and advocated strongly for solutions to improve access to care for everyone in Canada.”
Nancy Hamzawi, president of the Public Health Agency of Canada, expressed confidence in Reimer’s appointment, stating that her “vision and dedication will help advance the public health and well-being of Canadians.”
Reimer is scheduled to officially begin her term on April 1, 2026.
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7 Comments
Interesting to see the focus on countering health misinformation. With the speed of information spread these days, it’s a constant battle. Kudos to Dr. Reimer for acknowledging the need to rebuild trust after the difficult pandemic measures.
Agreed, it will take time and a proactive approach to regain public trust. Transparency and clear communication from health authorities will be key.
Identifying misinformation and rebuilding public trust are ambitious but necessary goals for Canada’s new chief public health officer. The pandemic has underscored the need for authoritative, fact-based communication from health authorities.
Agreed. Transparent, consistent messaging from health leaders will be essential to counter misinformation and restore confidence in public institutions.
A critical role for Canada’s top doctor to take on. Rebuilding public trust in health institutions after the pandemic challenges will be no easy task, but an essential one. Combating misinformation with facts and transparency is crucial.
The erosion of trust in public health institutions is a concerning trend. Dr. Reimer has her work cut out for her, but her experience and focus on combating misinformation are encouraging steps in the right direction.
Tackling health misinformation is a crucial priority for Canada’s new top doctor. With the COVID-19 pandemic as a prime example, the spread of false information can have devastating consequences. Rebuilding public trust will be critical.