Lung cancer screening in Canada, 2026
About this section
This section describes the status and key activities of lung cancer screening programs in each jurisdiction.
Lung cancer screening programs
Lung cancer screening programs, pilots and pre-implementation projects
Seven provinces are currently offering lung cancer screening, and there is variability in how each jurisdiction provides screening services. All ten provinces have or are developing a lung cancer screening program that includes integrated smoking cessation supports. Screening parameters, referral strategies, and promotional strategies, as well as integrated IT systems, are all elements of organized screening programs (WHO, IARC).
To accelerate the implementation of organized lung cancer screening programs across Canada, the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer (the Partnership) made funding available in 2020 to provinces and territories to plan, implement, scale, and spread lung cancer screening activities. All 10 provinces accepted funding. The Partnership continues to fund many provinces as they continue planning and implementation activities, until such time that their programs are fully operational and have sustainable funding to support ongoing activities. To reduce barriers in lung cancer screening, provinces are engaging with high-risk populations and First Nations, Inuit, and Métis to ensure that lung cancer screening programs are culturally appropriate and meet the needs of high-risk populations.
In the table below, screening programs defined themselves as “full programs” if they are organized programs, are available jurisdiction-wide and embed a culturally safe approach to care. A full organized program would also include elements such as eligibility criteria, quality assurance mechanisms, patient navigation, participant recall, diagnostic follow up, etc. Programs defined themselves as “partial” if they are organized programs that have rolled out in certain sites or for certain populations across the jurisdiction, are being phased-in over time by gradually increasing the capacity of screening sites, or are otherwise still working towards being a full program. Programs define themselves as “pilots” if they offer lung cancer screening for high-risk individuals, but include time-bound screening activities that do not have confirmed sustainable funding.
Lung cancer screening programs in Canada
| P/T | Start date | Implementation status | Program/pilot/project name | Agency responsible for program administration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| YT | N/A | No current lung cancer screening activities | Government of Yukon Health and Social Services | |
| NT | N/A | No current lung cancer screening activities | Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority | |
| NU | N/A | Planning for implementation, starting with a pilot project phase during the coming year | Government of Nunavut Department of Health | |
| BC | 2022 | Full program, province-wide | BC Lung Screening Program | BC Cancer, Provincial Health Services Authority |
| AB | 2022 | Pilot (extended) | Alberta Lung Cancer Screening Program (ALCSP) | Alberta Health Services |
| SK | 2025 | Partially implemented | LungCheck | Saskatchewan Cancer Agency |
| MB | N/A | Planning for implementation | LungCheck | CancerCare Manitoba |
| ON | 2021 (pilot began in 2017) | Full program, province-wide* | Ontario Lung Screening Program (OLSP) | Ontario Health (Cancer Care Ontario) |
| QC | 2021 | 2021-2024: Pilot
2024-2025: Transition to lung cancer screening Winter 2026: Phased rollout of lung cancer screening |
Dépistage du cancer du poumon au Québec [Quebec lung cancer screening] | Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux (Ministry of Health and Social Services) |
| NB | Target 2026 | Planning for implementation | New Brunswick Cancer Network (NB Department of Health) | |
| NS* | 2024 | Partially implemented | Nova Scotia Lung Screening Program | Nova Scotia Health Cancer Care Program |
| PE | Target 2026 | Planning for implementation | PEI Lung Cancer Screening Program | Health PEI |
| NL* | 2024 | Pilot | NL Lung Screening Pilot Project | Cancer Care Program, NL Health Services |
Data are current as of February 2026.
*Footnotes:
ON: As of March 31, 2026, ON will be fully implemented in all Level 1 and 2 Thoracic Surgery centres across Ontario.
NS: Program is being rolled out across the province in each of Nova Scotia Health’s four management zones. Central zone launched January 19, 2024, Eastern zone launched April 10, 2025. Soft launches are underway in the two remaining zones with full implementation planned for 2026.
NL: (Pilot concluded in January 2025). In the 2025-2026 provincial budget GovNL announced funding for a program. Implementation expected in 2026.