Lung cancer screening: who qualifies in each province

People aged 55 to 74 with a long smoking history can get a free low-dose CT lung cancer screening scan in British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador, while Nova Scotia and Saskatchewan start the age range at 50 and Alberta runs its own program, according to provincial program pages and the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer.

The partnership’s national tracker, current as of February 2026, lists seven provinces as offering or piloting screening: B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador. Manitoba, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island are still planning, and the territories have no program. Screening is meant for people with no symptoms, and the programs say meeting the basic criteria does not guarantee a scan, because a nurse or navigator assesses each person’s risk first.

Where there is no program, a health-care provider can still order a low-dose CT scan if they judge it appropriate, the Canadian Cancer Society says on its screening finder. People with symptoms such as a cough that will not go away should see a provider rather than wait for a screening program.

British Columbia

B.C. covers the whole province. The BC Cancer program is open to people aged 55 to 74 who currently smoke or used to smoke commercial tobacco regularly, and the scan is free. People can refer themselves by calling 1-877-717-5864 for a five to 10 minute phone consultation with a navigator. If eligible, a local hospital CT department contacts them to book. The program requires a primary care provider, and the page lists HealthLink BC at 8-1-1 and the Health Connect Registry as options for people without one.

Alberta

The Alberta Lung Cancer Screening Program says it is accepting new participants, and people already enrolled will see no change in their care. Booking is by phone at 1-866-727-3926. The program’s landing page does not list age or smoking-history criteria, so callers should confirm eligibility when they phone. The page also notes that some older materials still carry Alberta Health Services branding during the move to Primary Care Alberta.

Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan’s LungCheck is a phased rollout. It is open to people aged 50 to 74 who have smoked commercial tobacco daily for 20 or more years and feel well. For now, scans are offered in Swift Current through a physician partnership at the Associate Family Physicians Clinic, with more clinics and communities planned. The LungCheck line is 1-833-571-5864.

Manitoba

Manitoba has no organized program or pilot. The Canadian Partnership Against Cancer lists it as planning for implementation under the name LungCheck. People concerned about their risk can talk to a health-care provider.

Ontario

The Ontario Lung Screening Program accepts people aged 55 to 74 who have smoked cigarettes every day for at least 20 years, not necessarily in a row. A health-care provider can refer a patient, and people can also contact a participating hospital site on their own to have the referral criteria assessed. The partnership’s tracker says the program was to be fully implemented in all Level 1 and 2 thoracic surgery centres by March 31, 2026.

Quebec

Quebec calls its effort a demonstration project, and the partnership’s tracker describes a phased rollout from winter 2026. According to Quebec.ca, people aged 55 to 74 who smoke, or quit after smoking for at least 20 years, and who are covered by RAMQ can take part. They can ask a doctor or nurse practitioner, or contact the regional screening coordination centre directly, with or without a family doctor. Outside Lanaudière and Laval, the number is 1-844-656-4312. Eligible people can take part from anywhere in the province and are directed to the nearest facility, and travel costs are their own.

New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island

Neither province has a program or pilot. The partnership lists New Brunswick and P.E.I. as planning to start in 2026. In the meantime, a provider can decide whether a scan makes sense.

Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia’s program covers the Central Zone (Halifax, Dartmouth, Bedford, Sackville, the Eastern Shore and West Hants) and the Eastern Zone (Cape Breton, Richmond, Inverness, Victoria, Guysborough and Antigonish counties), with the rest of the province to follow. It is open to people aged 50 to 74 who have smoked daily for at least 20 years, including those who have quit, and who have no symptoms. No referral is needed. People can call 1-833-505-5864 or email [email protected], and a nurse navigator makes the first assessment by phone.

Newfoundland and Labrador

A pilot launched on March 11, 2024, in St. John’s and Grand Falls-Windsor for people aged 55 to 74 with at least 20 years of smoking. A provider can refer a patient or people can self-refer at 1-833-752-4964. The pilot was scheduled to end on March 31, 2025, and the partnership’s tracker says full implementation is expected in 2026, so callers should confirm that the line is still taking new referrals.

Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut

Yukon and the Northwest Territories have no lung cancer screening activity. Nunavut is planning a pilot. Residents can raise their smoking history with a health-care provider.

For readers in provinces that are still planning, related screening guides are available on the site, including how to get a colon cancer FIT kit by province, breast screening age and self-referral rules and PSA test coverage. Another way to lower lung risk at home is to test the house for radon.

This article is based on official guidance from provincial cancer and health agencies (BC Cancer, Alberta’s screening program, SaskCancer Agency, Cancer Care Ontario, Quebec.ca, Nova Scotia Health and Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services) and the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer, and is provided for general public information. It’s not a substitute for medical advice, if you have questions about how this applies to you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

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Sources: Canadian Partnership Against Cancer; BC Cancer; Alberta Lung Cancer Screening Program; SaskCancer Agency; Ontario Health; Quebec.ca; Nova Scotia Health; Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services.