Parliamentary review of IHR amendments
Petitioners ask Parliament be allowed to debate and vote on IHR amendments adopted 27 May 2022 and to review the WHO Pandemic Treaty. The government responds that Canada will keep sovereignty and follow treaty processes.
Why we would sign this petition
- It ensures elected representatives review and approve binding IHR changes before they take effect, strengthening democratic oversight.
- Parliamentary scrutiny helps protect Canadian control over domestic health decisions by subjecting treaty commitments to national approval.
- Public debate increases transparency and lets stakeholders seek changes to better reflect Canadian interests before commitments are made.
Why we wouldn’t sign this petition
- Requiring immediate parliamentary votes could delay Canada’s participation in time‑sensitive international responses and reduce its influence in negotiations.
- Parliamentary review might limit the government’s ability to quickly adopt international measures that deliver health or economic benefits.
- Legal reviews and intergovernmental coordination could address concerns without impeding international cooperation or timely action.
The summary and both sets of reasons are AI-generated from the petition and given equal weight. Claims are the petitioners’ own; consult the official record for the full text.
Official petition
PETITION TO THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA Whereas: Parliament has neither discussed nor debated Canada's participation in a proposed World Health Organization (WHO) International Treaty on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness, and Response (Pandemic Treaty) that is currently being negotiated and due to be signed by May 2024; In parallel to the Pandemic Treaty drafting process, hundreds of amendments have been proposed by 16 member states to the International Health Regulations (IHRs), which govern the conduct of countries and provide the legal framework for the WHO to exercise its powers; Parliament has neither discussed nor debated the amendments to 5 Articles of the IHR that were adopted by the 75th World Health Assembly on May 27, 2022 and states have 18 months to opt out of these amendments; The outcomes of these efforts will give legally binding, "emergency" powers to the WHO, with potential far- reaching impacts on the lives, health and human rights of Canadians; and Canada must be careful not to agree to anything that could give away our sovereignty on health care, even if there is tremendous international pressure to do so for the sake of pandemic preparedness. We, the undersigned, citizens of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to urgently allow Parliament the opportunity to debate and vote on the amendments to the IHRs that have already been adopted by the 75th World Health Assembly and to allow opportunity for parliamentary scrutiny of the proposed amendments currently being negotiated by WHO delegates.
Government response
Response by the Minister of Health Signed by Maggie Chi Canada’s sovereignty over its health care will always be maintained. This is a foundational principle guiding the federal government’s work related to the World Health Organization (WHO) Pandemic Agreement and International Health Regulations (IHR) (2005) amendments, including ongoing collaboration with provinces, territories, Indigenous organizations, health care providers, industry partners, and other stakeholders. Canada remains a key contributor to global efforts to enhance pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response, which bring important health, social and economic benefits to Canadians and the broader global community. By taking part in global health initiatives, we help safeguard the health and well-being of Canadians. As the role of the WHO Secretariat has been and will continue to be advisory in nature, the WHO does not have jurisdiction in the territory of Member States, including Canada. Canada was an active participant in the negotiation and adoption of the latest amendments to the IHR (2005) and, as such, was able to ensure that its priorities and interests were reflected in the negotiated outcome. The IHR (2005) amendments that received consensus at the 77th World Health Assembly continue to respect national sovereignty and Canada will remain in control of any future domestic decisions related to health emergencies. The Pandemic Agreement text adopted at the 78th World Health Assembly by WHO Member States in May 2025 was the result of an extensive process that started in December 2021 when the 194 WHO Member States, including Canada, launched an intergovernmental negotiating body to develop a Pandemic Agreement. Canada was actively engaged throughout the process, working to include provisions to help improve global pandemic prevention, preparedness and response. Now that the Pandemic Agreement text has been adopted, Member States will continue negotiations on a Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing (PABS) Annex, which will form an integral part of the Pandemic Agreement. Canada will continue to engage with its internal and external partners and stakeholders to inform the development of its negotiating positions on the PABS Annex. Once the PABS Annex has been adopted by the World Health Assembly, the Pandemic Agreement will be open for signature and ratification. Canada would then determine whether to sign and ratify the Agreement consistent with its domestic treaty adoption process, assessing how the Agreement would be implemented by Canada, provinces and territories, and other stakeholders. Canada is in the process to officially consider becoming Party to the amendments to the IHR (2005). All new treaties and amendments are subject to the treaty adoption process, which includes both legal steps through legal authorizations in the form of Orders in Council to sign and ratify (or accept or accede), and policy ones, like tabling in Parliament, the latter habitually taking place prior to Canada considering being bound at public international law through ratification or another mechanism.