Listen A new report by the Canadian Medical Association says the biggest barrier to good health is poverty. The report says factors such as poor housing, lack of access to healthy food and early childhood programs all affect health.
The report was released Tuesday and is based on public consultations at six “town halls” in cities across the country.
The report made 12 recommendations, including the possibility of a guaranteed annual income approach to alleviating poverty though a pilot project funded by the federal government.
Another recommendation is a national food security program that would ensure access to safe and nutritious food for all Canadians.
The report called attention to the issue of child poverty. About one in seven Canadian children live in poverty–a rate that has continued to increase over the past 15 years.
Earlier this year, the Conference Board of Canada gave Canada a “C” on the issue, placing Canada 15th out of 17 peer countries. Only Italy and the US had a lower ranking.
Dr. Anna Reid, a Yellowknife emergency room physician who is president of the CMA, says federal, provincial and territorial governments must give top priority to developing an action plan to eliminate poverty if the nation’s health.
Taking the necessary steps, the CMA says, would go a long way to improving the health of all Canadians.
Dr. Reid told a press conference in Ottawa on Tuesday, “The cost of inaction is higher than acting.”
Terry Haig spoke with Dr. Reid in Ottawa as she prepared to fly back to the Northwest Territories.
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