Province says move will connect more than one million additional Ontarians to earlier colorectal cancer detection and treatment
Screening eligibility to drop from age 50 to 45 beginning July 1
The Ontario government is lowering the eligibility age for publicly funded colorectal cancer screening in a move aimed at improving early detection rates and expanding access to preventive care across the province.
Beginning July 1, Ontarians aged 45 and older will become eligible for publicly funded colorectal cancer screening through the province’s ColonCancerCheck program. The current eligibility age is 50. Individuals considered at increased risk due to family history will qualify for screening at age 40, or 10 years earlier than the age at which a relative was diagnosed.
The province said the expansion will provide more than one million additional people access to screening services designed to detect colorectal cancer earlier, when treatment outcomes are generally more successful.
“Colorectal cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers in Canada, with rates rising among younger people,” said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “That’s why we are taking this critical step to connect more than one million younger Ontarians to detection and treatment as early as possible, so that they can get the care they need, when and where they need it.”
Province aims to improve access to early screening
The change reflects growing concern among health experts about the increasing incidence of colorectal cancer among younger adults in Canada and globally.
Under the current system, patients younger than 50 typically require a referral after presenting symptoms or undergoing a medical examination before they can access screening services. The revised eligibility rules will allow eligible residents aged 45 to 49 to obtain screening tests directly through their primary care provider or by contacting Health811, without requiring a referral.
Ontario said eligible residents without a family doctor can access testing by calling Health811 at 866-797-0007. Starting in July, people in the 45-to-49 age group will also begin receiving letters from the ColonCancerCheck program encouraging them to complete an initial screening test.
Patients with abnormal test results will be contacted by their physician, nurse practitioner or Ontario Health to arrange follow-up care, including colonoscopies where necessary.
The province noted that individuals under 40 who receive a referral from a physician following a medical examination will continue to have access to publicly funded screening through the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP).
Increased-risk individuals eligible sooner
Ontario defines higher-risk individuals as those with one first-degree relative — a parent, sibling or child — diagnosed with colorectal cancer before age 60, or those with more than one relative diagnosed at any age.
Those individuals will now qualify for screening beginning at age 40 or earlier depending on family history.
The government said the expansion builds on earlier preventive care measures, including lowering the age for self-referral mammograms to 40 in Fall 2024. According to the province, more than 280,000 women have since been screened through the expanded breast cancer screening initiative.
Health leaders welcome evidence-based policy change
Healthcare organizations, cancer specialists and advocacy groups broadly welcomed the policy announcement, describing it as an important step toward prevention-focused healthcare.
“The evidence is clear: colorectal cancer rates are rising globally and across Canada, and earlier screening saves lives. Lowering the screening age to 45 is an evidence-based decision that will help detect precancerous disease earlier and diagnose cancers when treatment is most effective. This is an important step forward for improving outcomes for patients and families, and we commend the Ontario government’s leadership in advancing prevention-focused care.”
- Dr. Kevin Smith, President and CEO, University Health Network
“What we are seeing in practice is a real shift, with colorectal cancer increasingly affecting younger adults. That reality makes it clear that the future of cancer care is prevention and early detection, before disease becomes more advanced or harder to treat. Earlier screening gives us the chance to intervene sooner and fundamentally change the trajectory for patients.”
- Dr. Sami Chadi, Site Lead, Gastrointestinal Surgical Oncology Program, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre
“In-Common Laboratories (ICL) commends the Ontario Government for lowering the colorectal cancer screening age from 50 to 45 as of July 1st. This change will enable more Ontarians to gain access to the fecal immunochemical screening test (FIT). As a Canadian, not-for-profit medical laboratory company, we are proud to work with the government to ensure that more Ontarians can benefit from cancer screening and timely, preventative care.”
- Isaac Gould, Chief Executive Officer, In-Common Laboratories
Ontario joins growing push for earlier colorectal cancer screening
Cancer advocacy organizations said Ontario’s decision could influence other provinces to adopt similar policies.
“Ontario’s decision to lower the screening age to 45 for average-risk individuals reflects what the evidence has been telling us for years—colorectal cancer is increasingly affecting younger adults. We commend Ontario for taking this important step, joining Prince Edward Island in leading the way. Through our #ScreenAt45 campaign, we’re urging every province and territory to follow suit so Canadians everywhere can benefit from earlier detection.”
- Barry Stein, President and CEO, Colorectal Cancer Canada
“As colorectal cancer increasingly affects younger Canadians, lowering the screening age will help find more cancers earlier, when treatment is more likely to be successful. We applaud Ontario’s decision to lower the screening age to 45, a move that will improve health outcomes and save lives. As Canada’s largest province, and the second to make this change, we hope this builds momentum and sets a strong example for other jurisdictions across the country to follow Ontario’s lead.”
- Dr. Stuart Edmonds, Executive Vice President, Mission, Research and Advocacy, Canadian Cancer Society
Colorectal cancer remains major public health concern
According to the province, ColonCancerCheck currently performs more than 780,000 fecal immunochemical tests (FITs) annually.
Colorectal cancer is the fourth most commonly diagnosed cancer in Ontario and remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths in the province. Ontario said nine out of 10 people diagnosed with colon cancer can be cured when the disease is detected early.
The province also noted it is accelerating access to eight new cancer therapies, including one treatment targeting colorectal cancer, through its Funding Accelerated for Specific Treatments program.