Cervical cancer screening in Canada, 2026
About this section
Organized cervical cancer screening programs are available in most provinces. These programs screen eligible individuals who are asymptomatic (no signs or symptoms of cervical cancer present) and at average risk for cervical cancer. Where organized screening programs are not available, screening services may be accessed opportunistically (outside the organized program) through a primary care provider (PCP). This section describes cervical cancer screening programs, guidelines, and recruitment methods in provinces and territories across Canada.
Cervical cancer screening programs in Canada
There are nine fully implemented cervical cancer screening programs in Canada. Four jurisdictions are planning for implementation.
Screening parameters, referral strategies, and promotional strategies, as well as integrated IT systems, are all elements of organized screening programs (WHO, IARC).
- All 13
- provinces and territories have implemented or are planning to implement cervical cancer screening programs
Cervical cancer screening programs in Canada
| P/T | Program start date | Program name | Agency responsible for program administration |
|---|---|---|---|
| YT | No organized screening program available (plans are underway to expand Yukon’s ColonCheck screening program to include cervical cancer screening). | Yukon Government Health and Social Services | |
| NT | No organized screening program available. In the process of planning and completing pre-implementation activities for a cervical cancer screening program. | Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority | |
| NU* | No organized screening program available. Planning for a universal HPV screening for the Territory. | Government of Nunavut Department of Health | |
| BC | 1955 | Cervix Screening Program | BC Cancer |
| AB | 2000 | Alberta Cervical Cancer Screening Program | Alberta Health Services |
| SK | 2003 | Screening Program for Cervical Cancer | Saskatchewan Cancer Agency |
| MB | 2000 | CervixCheck | CancerCare Manitoba |
| ON | 2000 | Ontario Cervical Screening Program | Ontario Health (Cancer Care Ontario) |
| QC | A cervical screening program is currently in development.* | Programme québécois de cancérologie [Quebec Oncology Program] Minister of Health and Social Services |
|
| NB | 2014 | New Brunswick Cervical Cancer Prevention and Screening Program | New Brunswick Cancer Network (NB Department of Health) |
| NS | 1991 | Cervical Cancer Prevention Program | Nova Scotia Health Cancer Care Program |
| PE* | 2001 | Cervical Cancer Screening Service | Health PEI |
| NL | 2003 | Cervical Screening Initiatives Program | Cancer Care Program, Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services |
Data are current as of October 2023, except for Nunavut which is current as of February 2026 and Ontario which is current as of March 2024. Data for Yukon presented here 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:
NU: The Government of Nunavut is working on the development of the cervical cancer screening program guidelines. The goal is to establish an HPV primary screening process with option for self-sampling. In addition, to promote HPV vaccination across the territory.
QC: Cervical cancer screening is currently done opportunistically using Pap testing or HPV testing as the primary screening method depending on the region. Rollout of HPV testing by region: Cervical cancer screening – Healthcare professionals – MSSS (in French only).
PE: The lab supports clinicians by providing reminders for abnormal results without a follow-up. Otherwise, screening in PEI is primarily opportunistic.