Colorectal cancer screening in Canada, 2026
Initial colorectal cancer screening referral strategies
All provinces and territories have strategies to refer people to colorectal cancer screening. Many jurisdictions require a referral from a physician prior to distribution of a screening kit, while others distribute kits to eligible individuals with a mailed invitation letter or after an invitation letter has been sent. Participants can also access a screening kit by contacting some screening programs directly or requesting a test online.
Initial colorectal cancer screening referral strategies
| P/T | Physician referral | Other healthcare provider referral (e.g., NP, community health nurse) | Self-referral | FIT kit distribution at public events | Referral through other screening programs | Mailed invitation letters | Kit automatically sent to participants | Referral through program website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| YT | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| NT | ✓ | ✓ | ✓* | ✓* | ||||
| NU* | ✓ | ✓ | ||||||
| BC | ✓ | ✓* | ||||||
| AB | ✓ | ✓ | ✓* | ✓* | ✓ | |||
| SK | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| MB | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| ON | ✓ | ✓* | ✓* | ✓ | ||||
| QC* | ✓ | ✓* | ||||||
| NB | ✓ | |||||||
| NS | ✓ | ✓ | ||||||
| PE | ✓ | ✓* | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| NL | ✓ | ✓ | ✓* | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Data are current as of October 2023, except for Ontario which is current as of March 2024 and Manitoba which is current as of February 2026. Data for Nunavut presented in this table is from data collected for the 2021-2022 E-Scan. For the most up-to-date information, please reference each jurisdiction’s program website.
*Footnotes:
NT: In regions where the organized screening program has been rolled out
NU: NU has launched a colorectal cancer screening program. Visit Nunavut’s colorectal cancer screening program page for the most up-to-date information on the program.
BC: NPs are the same as providers in BC and can order laboratory tests and refer to specialists. Tests need to be ordered by someone with a valid practitioner number, regardless of professional designation.
AB: Clients can complete a self-assessment questionnaire online to determine eligibility. Individuals who meet FIT’s average risk criteria and are currently due for screening will be mailed a test directly to their home
AB: Starting January 2022, Albertans receive a letter invitation to get screened when they turn 50.
ON: NPs, Health Canada nurses at nursing stations, staff on mobile coaches
ON: FIT kit can be requested by phone via Health811.
QC: Currently working on expanding access to opportunistic screening for people who cannot easily see a PCP
QC: Nurse
PE: Any healthcare provider
NL: The program will accept self-referrals at public engagement events and mail a screening kit to clients.