Federal budget benchmarks from CCPA … ” health and socioeconomic circumstances are always connected”

The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, lays out an general overview of the budget including analysis of the social determinants of health in Public Health.

… A test for this historic budget is whether it recognizes that health and socioeconomic circumstances are always connected—not just in pandemic circumstances—by planting the seeds for a public-led recovery, including a plan to pay for it in the long term.

Does it achieve?

Focusing on the public health arm of the health care system, there are no significant changes in the budget. In fact, the budget largely conflates public health and the broader health care system, which dilutes public health’s unique concerns such as the health of populations, prevention and root causes of poor health. There are no strong signals in this budget of efforts to shift provincial/territorial health spending more towards prevention, versus downstream treatment.

In terms of strengthening the social determinants of health, the budget contains some very important new commitments, such as the robust plan for high quality, affordable child care. This initiative signals a significant commitment to strengthening conditions for health and social equity, especially for women and families. …

CCPA image of masked people and components of society -housing, civic institutions, statistical charts, $.

See the post here: https://www.policyalternatives.ca/2021-federal-budget-analysis

“… hints of promising changes to long term care policies..” – the speech from the throne

Pat Armstrong’s analysis with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives explains how we can focus on cracks of opportunity to advance care.

(Image from report: Champlain LHIN report: Planning for Long-Term Care: When care at home is no longer possible)

If not now, when? The throne speech and long term care

… The throne speech also promised “further targeted measures for personal support workers” to “better value their work and their contribution to society.” That could simultaneously address some aspects of systemic discrimination, given that racialized and/or immigrant women disproportionately staff these jobs. It could also help address the shortage of people willing to do the work, as well as help prevent a further she-cession.

Similarly, the throne speech’s promise to implement “a Canada-wide early learning and childcare system” could also support these workers, given that women still bear the primary responsibility for this care. …

See the blog post here: https://behindthenumbers.ca/2020/09/24/if-not-now-when-the-throne-speech-and-long-term-care/

Learn more about Ottawa Local Resources from the Council on Aging of Ottawa : https://coaottawa.ca/committees/health/long-term-care-in-ottawa/

---

Discussion on the National Housing Strategy – homelessness and housing meets the rest of society

In depth discussion where a basic human need, housing relates to the needs of all of us including: homelessness, social housing, renting, and families buying a house.

See panel discussion here: Agenda Discussion on Federal Housing Strategy November 2017