Defining Federal Health Activities

In 1927, Canadians had celebrated the 60th anniversary of Confederation and, in preparation for a federal–provincial first ministers’ meeting, each department had been asked to prepare a memorandum indicating where its activities overlapped with those of the provinces. Although the Department of Health had been careful not to infringe on provincial sovereignty, the Department of Justice concluded that the federal authorities had no legal basis for involvement in health matters other than those specified in section 91 of the British North America Act. This pronouncement was to have long-term consequences for the development of health policy.