The Agency achieves its objectives through leadership and partnership. It consults with provincial and territorial governments in the area of public health, fosters cooperation in that field with foreign governments and international organizations and collaborates with provincial and territorial governments to coordinate federal policies and programs.

Through work with provinces and territories, the Agency contributes to federal efforts to identify and reduce public health risk factors and to support national readiness for public health threats.

Through work with provinces and territories, the Agency translates public health skills and knowledge into action across the public health spectrum, including promoting health, preventing infectious and chronic disease, and preparing for health-related emergencies.

The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) is made up of three Branches, including two Laboratories, and has more than 2,400 staff contributing to the achievement of the Agency's mission. In addition to the National Capital Region, PHAC has a presence in the Atlantic, Quebec, Ontario and Nunavut, Manitoba and Saskatchewan, Alberta and Northwest Territories, and British Columbia and Yukon Regions.

PHAC's main areas of focus are: prevention of disease and injury and the promotion of health; federal leadership and accountability in managing public health emergencies; sharing Canada's expertise with the rest of the world, and applying international research and knowledge to Canada's public health programs; strengthening intergovernmental collaboration on public health and facilitating national approaches to public health policy and planning; and advancing Aboriginal public health issues along with Health Canada.