Certified Public Health Inspectors and the Alberta Public Health Act

1.       What is a Certified Public Health Inspector (Canada); commonly known as a Public Health Inspector (PHI)?

a.       CPHI(C) are certified by the Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspection (CIPHI) https://ciphi.ca/certification/

b.       Usually, the PHI - trainee has completed a separate undergraduate degree, then completes another Bachelor of Environmental Health from an accredited institution such as Edmonton’s Concordia University. After passing all course work (about 18 months, depending on the institution) the trainee must complete at least one 12-week practicum at a host – organization learning how to apply their classroom lessons in the real world. Certification requires two written submissions and an oral exam before the Board of Examiners of CIPHI. Once they’ve passed the Board exam, they are Certified Public Health Inspectors (Canada). This credential is recognized across Canada, and other countries. It is not recognized in Quebec.

c.       CPHI(C) are responsible in Alberta for enforcement of two Acts; The Alberta Public Health Act, and the Tobacco Smoking and Vaping Reduction Act.

d.       Employed by Environmental Public Health or the Ministry of Primary and Preventative Health they are delegated as “Executive Officers” of the Public Health Act. This enables the Public Health Inspector to conduct inspections, and enforce the Act including issuing Executive Officer’s Orders. If violations of the Act and Regulations are egregious enough and are not corrected in a timely manner the PHI may bring charges against the owner at Court of King’s Bench.

e.       Under Bill 11 The Health Statutes Amendment Act, public health investigators (new designation which is not specified in the Amendments as an “executive officer”) may assess fines of at least $100 per infraction. More details will be laid out in an upcoming blog post.

2.       What is the Public Health Act?

a.       The Act is the preeminent public health law in Alberta. Available at the King’s Printer https://open.alberta.ca/publications/p37 , the September 2025 revised statute is the most current, barring amendments under Bill 11.

b.       This enables “Executive Officers” (the Minister responsible for the Act, their designee, Medical Officers of Health, Certified Public Health Inspectors (Canada)). Executive Officers must meet the requirements under the Qualification of Executive Officer’s Regulation https://open.alberta.ca/publications/1999_051 . Powers under the Act including the ability to inspect any public place (a place where the public has an interest), and certain private places (such as a rental accommodation as part of a private home). Enforcement includes closure of facility from operating, suspension of a Food Handling Permit, charges at Court of King’s Bench.

c.       Amendments to the Act are coming under Bill 11 The Health Statutes Amendment Act will create Public Health Investigator’s (this will be explored further in a blog post)

3.       What is a public health inspection?

a.       When a PHI shows up at your facility unannounced, they present their identification and you MUST give them full access. Failure to allow the PHI to enter and conduct their inspection may lead to charges under the Act. You must answer their questions, allow them full access, they will take pictures or record video, and they can take any records they wish (they must provide a receipt and return as soon as possible).

b.       They may identify infractions of the Act or pertinent Regulation (for example the Food Regulation, the Nuisance and General Sanitation Regulation)

c.       These infractions are also known as “non-compliances” (with the Act/Regulations), or “violations” of the same.

                                                               i.      They may be critical posing an imminent threat to public health. For example, an obstructed hand sink posing a difficulty for convenient hand washing. This must be corrected at time of inspection.

                                                             ii.      Non-critical: these are items that are not compliant with the Act/Regulations and must be corrected in a timely manner. For example, broken floor tile, gaps in kitchen door allowing pest entry, incomplete or missing records.

4.       What is the Environmental Public Health Information System?

a.       This is the database that all public health inspections are recorded within 1 - 5 business days of the inspection. https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/eph/Page18195.aspx

b.       Basic information is pulled from the inspection and violation (non-compliances) boilerplate are posted to the Environmental Public Health Portal.

c.       Inspections stay on the portal for 3 years.

5.       What is the public portal?

a.       This is where Environmental Public Health posts inspection results:

                                                               i.      Here is the link https://ephisahs.albertahealthservices.ca/inspections/all/