Having accurate and up-to-date health data is essential for Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) to make decisions that keep people in Canada healthy. We use health data to promote healthy living, prevent and manage chronic and infectious diseases, respond to health emergencies, prepare for future public health threats, and assess and improve how our health systems are working.

Host Megan Beahan is joined by Chris Allison, PHAC's Chief Data Officer and Director General, Centre for Data Management, Innovation and Analytics, and Elizabeth Toller, Director General of Health Canada's Health Care Strategies. They explore what health data is, how it's shared and break down some misconceptions.

Learn more:

• Public health data - Canada.ca

• Working with partners to modernize public health data - Canada.ca

• Working together to improve health care in Canada: Overview - Canada.ca

• FPT Communique: Federal, Provincial, Territorial Health Ministers' and Ministers Responsible for Mental Health and Addiction - Canada.ca

Toys are a part of everyday life for a lot of people in Canada, and it’s important to make smart and safe choices when choosing the right toy for the kids in your life.

Host Megan Beahan is joined by Ashley Artelle, Compliance and Enforcement Advisor with Health Canada’s Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch. They chat about what to watch for with the toys our kids play with, share important safety tips, and talk about Health Canada's role in toy safety.

Learn more:

• Toy safety – Canada.ca
• Magnet safety – Canada.ca
• Battery safety: Button batteries – Canada.ca
• Advanced search – Recalls, advisories and safety alerts – Canada.ca
• Water beads may pose life-threatening risks to young children - Canada.ca

We love our pets. They are part of the family. But they can sometimes spread bacteria that could cause illnesses. This week on the podcast, we learn about enteric illness and how our pets can spread them.

Host Megan Beahen welcomes Anne-Marie Lowe, Manager of the Public Health Agency of Canada’s Outbreak Assessment and Detection Team. Their conversation aims to raise awareness about how bacteria can spread and what you can do to protect yourself and your animal companions.

Learn more:

• Public Health Notices - Canada.ca

• Pet food and treats - Canada.ca

• Pet food safety - Canada.ca

• Raw pet food safety - Canada.ca

• Salmonella and Reptiles - Canada.ca

• Pets: Healthy animals, healthy people - Canada.ca

• Reptiles and amphibians: Healthy animals, healthy people - Canada.ca

• Rodents: Healthy animals, healthy people - Canada.ca