Remembering December 6 continues to be an important exercise for Canadians. Though there is no excuse for not considering how violence impacts the lives of Canadian women every single day, it’s crucial that we remain appropriately horrified when someone kills a woman just for being a woman. But there are other ways violence against women […]
Health systems and Health equity
Dealing with the impacts of refugee health cuts
The health impacts of the federal government’s decision to cut health benefits to many refugees are becoming increasingly apparent. In our analysis, conducted prior to the cuts being implemented, we found that the changes to the Interim Federal Health Program would result in the severe reduction or elimination of health care services for refugees who […]
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Building a healthier and more equitable Toronto: Two practical guides
Two powerful new reports from Toronto’s Centre for Urban Growth and Renewal set out practical strategies for building a healthier and more equitable Toronto. Toward Healthy Apartment Neighbourhoods: A Healthy Toronto by Design Report focuses on Toronto’s tower neighbourhoods – high-rise and high-density communities scattered throughout the city (and the Greater Toronto Area) – and offers a […]
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Cut to housing benefits will affect the health of the homeless, women, children, and people with disabilities
In the 2012 Ontario budget, the government announced that it was eliminating the Community Start-Up and Maintenance Benefit (CSUMB). The CSUMB helps people receiving social assistance to pay for large or unexpected housing-related costs, supporting them to become and remain housed. As of January 1, 2013, the CSUMB will end and 50 percent of its […]
The Real Cost Of Cutting CSUMB
In its 2012 budget, the Ontario government announced that it was eliminating the Community Start-Up and Maintenance Benefit (CSUMB) as of January 1, 2013. The CSUMB is designed to assist people receiving social assistance who have large or unexpected housing-related costs. Having access to this kind of immediate and flexible fund can often be the […]
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Social finance generating excitement as a supplement, not a substitute, for government social investments
Canada’s non-profit sector plays a vital role in the health of individuals and the entire community (see, for instance, the Wellesley Institute paper Reducing Disparities and Improving Population Health: The role of a vibrant community sector), so there is a great deal of interest in the role of social finance, including social impact bonds, in strengthening […]
Is Halloween candy really what’s scaring you?
This Halloween, Ontario’s doctors are suggesting that we scare kids – and parents – by putting gruesome images on their candy. Similar to anti-smoking campaigns, the hope is that people will avoid unhealthy foods if they can see the diseases it contributes to. We know that diet and nutrition contribute to obesity – that isn’t […]
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Childhood obesity: What we can do right now
This morning, Dr. Monika Dutt, Cape Breton’s Medical Officer of Health, spoke to CBC Radio about options and opportunities to reduce the health impacts of obesity. Dr. Dutt was responding to a recent call from the Ontario Medical Association to put graphic pictures on junk food packaging to deter people from eating these kinds of […]
How Ontario government ministries are acting on social determinants of health
This is a guest blog by Nicoda Foster and Christine Chan, Masters of Public Health Students at the University of Toronto and University of Liverpool respectively. They also both work in policy analysis and project management in the health sector in Toronto, Ontario. We would like to share findings from a survey we conducted over […]
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Important progress toward a health-enabling social assistance system, but more work is required
The release today of the final report of the Commission for the Review of Social Assistance in Ontario recommends a number of important steps toward improving the health of people on social assistance. Increasing rates Most significantly, the Commission recommended an immediate increase of $100 per month for single people receiving Ontario Works (OW). OW […]