The Ministry of Health Promotion

The Ministry of Health Promotion was created on June 29, 2005 when Premier McGuinty asked the Honourable Jim Watson to become Ontario's first Minister of Health Promotion.

Dr. George Pasut, Acting Chief Medical Officer of Health and Ruth Hawkins, Assistant Deputy Minister, Public Health Division, have a joint reporting relationship to the new Ministry of Health Promotion as well as the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care.

The Ministry will help Ontarians lead healthier lives by delivering programs that promote healthy choices and healthy lifestyles. To do this the Ministry will work closely with partners, stakeholders and all levels of government.

In addition, the Ministry will facilitate access to information and programs by partnering with various ministries, including the ministries of Health and Long Term Care, Education, Agriculture and Food, Children and Youth Services and Labour on initiatives that can target specific sectors of society.

The identified priorities for this new Ministry of Health Promotion are:

• Smoke-free Ontario Strategy

• Health Weights

• Active Living

• Injury Prevention

• Mental Health and Substance Use

Ministry of Health Promotion