In many countries, including Canada, suicide ranks among the top ten causes of death. A number of countries have developed national suicide prevention strategies in response to this. However, Canada has not & this manuscript explores the reasons why the federal government has not promulgated such a strategy. Even so, the government has passed some measures that may impact the Canadian suicide rate, for example, gun control & the decriminalization of attempted suicide. The public advocacy efforts of the Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention are briefly discussed. (7 refs.)