Opinion
It’s time to abandon the ‘detect and react’ approach to managing crises
By Craig Stephen and Justina C. Ray November 2, 2020
We need to stop squandering the tremendous health assets nature has gifted us and ensure we do not leave future generations with an impoverished foundation for health.
Our health care system is still largely geared to deliver reactive rather than preventative care, write Craig Stephen and Justina C. Ray. Photograph courtesy of Unsplash
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the critical role that underlying socio-economic and political factors—often called social determinants—play in health outcomes. But while factors like poverty, education, and access to health care have been well understood for decades to have a serious, and combined, impact on the state of our health, the role that the health of the natural world has in shaping the determinants of health and health outcomes has largely been ignored in Canada.
Related Stories
Liberals and Conservatives can’t even agree on their divisions over release of Winnipeg lab documents
Government House Leader Mark Holland says releasing any sensitive Winnipeg lab documents could compromise ongoing investigations, and could potentially could endanger the lives of Canadian security intelligence officers.O’Toole attack on Guilbeault an appeal to blue collar class, says strategists
The tone and style of the Jan. 11 video is an example of Erin O’Toole’s Conservatives 'ramping up,' and 'doubling down' on their rhetoric, says NDP strategist Cameron Holmstrom.
Canada boosts Ukrainian military training mission, but yet to match Kyiv’s ask for lethal weapons, sanctions
Canada's commitment to its Ukrainian training mission will increase by 60 soldiers to 260 'within days,' and it could increase over time to 400. In a NAFTA renegotiation team reunion, Freeland’s Finance Department adds Steve Verheul
Widely praised across the partisan spectrum, Steve Verheul has been called an 'architect' of Canada's trade policy.‘Cacophony of views’ in national media landscape may not serve viewers, says former CBC bureau chief
On a recent episode of the Herle Burly podcast, veteran former journalist and political strategist Elly Alboim weighed in on the state of the national media.Back in business: House Committees primed to play catch up with busy agendas
‘We’re definitely trying to catch up in an ever-changing period of time for everyone,’ says NDP Whip Rachel Blaney of upcoming House committee work. Ukraine envoy ‘confident’ talks will lead to Canada meeting requests as Russian threat looms
As the Canadian government is believed to be preparing a decision on Ukraine's three requests for assistance, Kyiv's top diplomat in Ottawa says 'intensive communication' has taken place at the highest levels.Reconciliation ‘has no end date,’ says GG Simon who hopes for a future of healing in Canada
Mary Simon wants to make a significant impact on reconciliation, wants Arctic communities to be healthy and vibrant, and wants to do her part to help fight climate change. It's ambitious stuff.RCMP union tours Alberta as province explores new police force, contract policing increasingly under microscope
Contract policing arrangements between the Mounties and a number of provinces and municipalities have come increasingly under review by policymakers in recent years. Trending Stories
