The federal government is taking its first formal step toward developing a national men’s health strategy, launching an online survey to gather input from Canadians.
Health Canada confirmed the survey will open in early March and run through early June, marking the first official acknowledgement of work underway to create a comprehensive strategy focused on the health of men and boys.
Federal Health Minister Marjorie Michel is leading the initiative, with a full strategy expected later this year.
The move follows calls from advocacy group Movember and researchers at the University of British Columbia, who released a report last summer urging the government to act.
Their findings show 75,000 Canadian men died prematurely in 2023, many from preventable causes.
The report also found that a majority of men delayed seeking medical treatment for symptoms, and fewer than half felt listened to during their initial health-care encounters.
Health Canada says improving men’s health outcomes could save taxpayers an estimated $12.4 million annually, with billions more gained through increased productivity.
In a statement, Michel said improving men’s and boys’ health will strengthen families and communities across the country, emphasizing that better health outcomes benefit everyone.
If implemented, Canada would join a small group of countries — including the United Kingdom, South Africa, Malaysia and Brazil — that have established national men’s health strategies.
The U.K.’s strategy highlights that men live shorter lives than women and face higher rates of cancer, cardiovascular disease and Type 2 diabetes.
It also notes that three out of four suicide deaths in 2024 were men.
Officials stress that improving men’s health is not a zero-sum effort but a complementary objective within Canada’s broader public health priorities.