Today in a cabinet shuffle, the Ontario government created a new ministry
of Health Promotion.
This could be very welcome news - health promotion getting a high profile,
explicit funding and led by a minister, Jim Watson, with background as
mayor in Ottawa, broadcaster and community leader.  Or it could be a
troubling development, as 'health promotion' becomes separated from other
policy and actions related to a broad focus on conditions of health.

In a press release from the Premier, health has some prominence, but it is
separated into different 'boxes' of health services, healthy living, and
environmental conditions in three different ministries. The press release
notes [with some editing]
http://www.premier.gov.on.ca/english/news/CabinetShuffle062905.asp:

"In health care, we are making real progress in shortening wait times for
important medical procedures and improving families' access to doctors and
other health professionals through family health teams.... Minist[ry] of
Health and Long-Term Care.

At the same time, the government is doing more to keep people healthy....
Minist[ry] of Health Promotion, marking the first time Ontario has
dedicated a portfolio to promoting healthy living and illness prevention.

Health is a core priority for the government. Cleaning up the air we
breathe and protecting the water we drink is critical to our people's
health.... Minist[ry] of the Environment."


At least the new Ministry of Health Promotion has a placeholder of a
website, indicating more information coming soon.
http://www.gov.on.ca/MBS/english/government/minOverviews/hpr.html

Let's have some discussion about the implications of this new Ministry of
Health Promotion - does it have potential for addressing conditions
affecting health, or is it a dilution to only individual lifestyle?  What
has been the experience in other places, such as in Nova Scotia where the
office of Health Promotion (or is it a Ministry /Department) was set up in
2002 (see website at http://www.gov.ns.ca/ohp/), or in British Columbia
with the separation into  Health Services and Health Planning ministries?

Or the discussion could move to a more public venue as suggested by Dennis
Raphael on SDOH earlier today: "Now is the time to send a letter to the
Toronto Star and Globe and Mail suggesting that the Ministry of Health
Promotion provide the prequisities of health a la the Ottawa Charter for
Health Promotion".

Either way, this new development offers an opportunity to get health
promotion talked about. I look forward to seeing a lively exchange.

Alison Stirling

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