Federal government to tackle social determinants of health


Carolyn Bennett, federal Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs (photo credit: Sean Kilpatrick)

The following is from a November 30, 2015 article in iPolitics by Kyle Duggan:

Liberal cabinet minister and medical doctor Carolyn Bennett says the new federal cabinet will factor the social determinants of health into policy making across a range of issues. Bennett, Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs, made the comments speaking at the kickoff of a key Ottawa health policy conference hosted by Canada 2020, a progressive policy think-tank.

“I didn’t like sending asthmatics back into smog days,” Bennett said. “I now see the system as my patient. That’s actually what needs the care right now.” Continue reading

National Medicare Week in Canada


The following article is from the Canadian Health Coalition newsletter.

National Medicare Week (November 29 – December 5, 2015) is an important moment to celebrate our public health care system that is the pride of our nation. It is also a crucial time to focus on our vision for public health care moving forward.

With the recent commitment of our Prime Minister to work with the provinces to negotiate a new health accord there is great work ahead of us. Our movement will push to ensure this agreement will adequately protect our health care system from ongoing threats of privatization and international trade deals, while also including measures to provide a National Drug Plan and a National Strategy for Seniors Care that are essential to caring for everyone
in Canada.

This week health care advocates from coast to coast to coast will pull together to send a strong message to our newly elected government that we expect strong action to preserve and expand our public health care system.

To find out how you can take action in support of Canada’s public health care system, please visit the Canadian Health Coalition website at: healthcoalition.ca