Reports

On September 19, 2025, amendments to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) International Health Regulations (IHR) came into force worldwide. Canada accepted these regulations without parliamentary consideration, effectively ceding decision-making authority to the WHO in future health crises. Canada’s federal government and the WHO both contend that Canada is “bound” by the IHR. This report argues that accepting the new regulations undermines Canadian sovereignty and the democratic will of Canadian voters. Uncritically accepting WHO guidance is also unwise generally, given the WHO’s harmful guidance during Covid. WHO-guided Covid policies cost Canadians a great deal of social and economic harms, including persistent high death rates long after lockdowns and vaccine mandates. Further, the revised IHR conflict with Charter protections of mobility, privacy, expression, and democratic accountability. This report concludes that Canada’s decision to follow these regulations is consistent with its UN-centric traditions but dangerously misguided. Our report recommends that the federal government cooperate internationally while withdrawing from the new regulations and rejecting subordination to the WHO, as other countries have done.