The health of all Canadians is a responsibility that the government takes very seriously, helping all its citizens to enjoy a life expectancy that approaches 80 years. In fact, Canadian health statistics are vastly better than the world average, making Canadians among the healthiest in North America.

Canada is proud to have been among the first nations to provide publicly administered universal health care, generally referred to as Medicare. This health care is protected by the Canada Health Act, adopted in 1984, which guarantees that at any time, anyone who needs medical attention has access to modern hospitals, clinics, doctors and specialists - at no cost to the user. Under the terms of this Act, the provinces provide all residents with health insurance cards, which entitle the bearer to receive free medical care for almost all procedures.

Few countries can boast this type of quality universal health care system, one which serves to protect the physical and mental well-being of residents of Canada regardless of financial standing.