Month: July 2011

Although the poorest group of Canadians are enjoying a minimally higher level of income, the income gap between the rich and the poor in Canada got wider. That was what the Conference Board of Canada concluded in its analysis of income inequity in a report titled How Canada Performs that was released on July 13, 2011.

Income gaps are associated with inequalities in health. Overall, the rich are healthier, while the poor are the least healthy. A widening income gap forecasts a potential widening of health inequalities. This poses a warning for public health to prepare for increasing inequalities.

First, public health can find what is working to reduce health inequities, and step it up.

Second, public health can try and find new ways to effectively reduce health inequities.

It is likely that what works will address multiple determinants of health, and will be done through multi-sectoral partnerships.

Lastly, and this is not specific to public health, I think our society needs to move away from viewing personal wealth as a main indicator of success in life. Many people feel ashamed about being poorer than other people, and this leads to a chain of events that eventually leads to poorer health. Personal wealth is only a means to a good life, and it is not the only means.

The answer is quite a bit, but the conversation hasn’t gotten very far yet.

For example, I didn’t meet anyone else from public health at last week’s David Suzuki Foundation Green Café to discuss gaps and opportunities for the green economy. I did meet people from businesses and labour, sustainability consultants, and recent grads (e.g., chemical engineering).

Also, most of the publications I found while working on a research proposal on climate justice were not from public health. The perspectives were economic and labour, social, and environmental.

As climate change continues to affect the entire planet, the green economy is projected to grow. It’s time for public health to have a bigger voice in the green economy. Climate is environment, and environment is one of the determinants of health. Public health will also need to address the health inequities that result because the already disadvantaged (e.g., the poor) will be more negatively affected by climate change.

But what can public health do?

First, public health can go where the conversations are already happening. There is still a lot of evolving dialogue on the green economy. There is room to learn and to seek opportunities for partnerships.

Second, public health can initiate new conversations. Take advantage of the momentum of the green economy.

Having a voice is just the beginning, but it has to start somewhere. Climate change affects us all. It’s too important for public health not to have a bigger voice.