I agree - We should be happy if any party acts positively on the SDOH. And I
applaud WISE for actively lobbying all parties on these isssues.

I won't speak for others, but my point was that, in our electoral system, we can
only vote for one party at election time. So which party's policies are most
likely to improve population health and reduce health disparities? From my
perspective, right now, it's the NDP - even if Jack's speech and his foreword
in Dennis's book don't clearly articulate it. If we can convince the other
parties to build affordable housing, raise the minimum wage and social
assistance (or better yet institute a GAIA), create a national public childcare
system, protect public health care, strengthen public education and job
training, and empower Aboriginals and other minority groups, then great. But
the NDP is already promoting such policies. And unless there is a massive shift
in public opinion (as we've seen recently with respect to climate change), I
think it's going to be very difficult to get the Liberals or the Conservatives
or even the Greens to change course (and even if they do change course in
response to public pressure, how committed will they be?).

So, by all means, lobby all parties. Any change for the better IS a change for
the better. I hold no illusions that any single party will create a utopia. The
NDP can be criticized for many things. But when there is an election, let's look
carefully at whose policies do the best job of addressing the SDOH and improving
well-being. I'll be surprised if it isn't the NDP. That's all.

Jeff





Quoting Ocean - WISE <[log in to unmask]>:

> For the record...
>
> Two items had been posted to this list earlier today - a speech and an
> article, both by Jack Layton. Given that this is a listserv, subscribers
> should feel safe in assuming that these items were up for discussion.
>
> My posts today, with the exception of a legitimate response to a post
> that addressed me directly, focused on Jack Layton's remarks. Their
> subject matter was neither DR nor his book.
>
> I like Carlos' comment: "No one political party will have the answer; we
> are the answer."
>
> A fundamental part of our being the answer involves leaving partisanship
> behind in favour of trying to influence ALL parties for change.
>
> That's what WISE does.
>
> Yes, I was guest speaker to the /public forum/ on poverty hosted by the
> GPC in Vancouver. I also participated in a teleconference consultation
> with the NDP women's caucus recently, met on March 3rd with the
> Conservative's Bev Oda, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Status of
> Women, and just yesterday had my Oda presentation delivered, in person,
> to Stephane Dion, Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada. WISE pushes all
> politicians and policymakers to make the DOH a priority.
>
> If subscribers are allowed only to make favourable comments about the
> NDP (or favourable/unfavourable comments about other parties), then
> obviously I'm on the wrong list. If we want Canada and Canadians to wake
> up to the importance of the DOH, then any party's position should be up
> for criticism.
>
> Ocean
>
> --
> Chrystal Ocean, Coordinator
> Wellbeing through Inclusion Socially & Economically
> http://www.wise-bc.org/
> 250-748-8093
>
>
>
>
>
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