Established in 2021 under the authority of Section 9 of the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care Act, the OHDC supports the development of a person-centred learning health system. The Council advises on the use of health data to generate analytics, insights, and innovations necessary for the health care sector and government decision-makers. It also fulfills the legislative mandate of the Electronic Health Record Advisory Committee under Section 55.11 of the Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004. The OHDC consists of up to 20 members, plus a Chair, all appointed by the Minister of Health for terms of up to two years, with the possibility of renewal.
Dr. Teresa Scassa is the Canada Research Chair in Information Law and Policy, a Faculty member at the University of Ottawa Centre for Law, Technology and Society, and a Full Professor in the Faculty of Law, Common Law Section. Her research focuses on the intersection of law and technology, with expertise in intellectual property, privacy, data governance, and artificial intelligence.
This appointment is a testament to Dr. Scassa’s leadership in shaping policy and legal frameworks around data governance and privacy. Her extensive work in these areas will contribute to the OHDC’s mission of enhancing the strategic management of Ontario’s health data.
Congratulations to Dr.Teresa Scassa!