>Hon. Finance Minister Flaherty & Members of Parliament
>
>Happy holidays.  I am writing in response to your solicitation of 
>input on how we can best focus any upcoming packages for financial 
>stimulus of the economy.  I know that your Government wishes to act 
>in ethical manner, that you wish to act in ways that are consistent 
>with the best available evidence, and that it must hard to lead a 
>Government when too many Canadians are living in poverty and 
>sleeping on our streets.  I wish to provide a perspective on how an 
>economic-stimulus package can best help Canadians.
>
>First, I would note that the free market has been effective in 
>improving the overall health of Canadians.  In contrast, the free 
>market has been very ineffective in reducing health and social 
>inequities among Canadians.  Strong evidence suggests that during 
>good times - the rich benefit more than the poor.  During bad times, 
>the poor suffer disproportionately more than the wealthy!  The World 
>Health Organization also recently stated that the most important 
>problem facing all governments in the world is the need for a rapid 
>reduction in health and societal inequities.
>
>Based on these considerations, I respectfully suggest that financial 
>support should be provided in direct proportion to those who need it 
>the most.  That it, the poor (and initiatives that benefit them 
>directly) should receive the greatest attention.  The wealthy have 
>benefited the most during the good times. Therefore, they should 
>need the least support during these challenging times.
>
>This would suggest that infrastructure funding should be directed 
>first toward the eradication of homelessness through a national 
>housing program.  It would also suggest that First Nations should 
>benefit the most.  To do otherwise, would be at odds with the 
>evidence and ethics.
>
>In parallel, I suggest that your Government should have a public 
>conversation regarding the profound disconnect between 1) the 
>'evidence' re the 'true' determinants of the health of Canadians and 
>the actions taken to date by governments.  Namely, that the 
>health-system is not the primary determinant of 
>health.  Socioeconomic factors are a far, far greater determinant of 
>our health.
>
>I believe that the WHO was correct when they said that meaningful 
>reductions in equities will require a "fundamental redistribution of 
>wealth, power and resources".  In this vein,  I would also argue 
>that any financial stimulus package should part of a larger, 
>forceful and evidence-based package of policies and programs.  This 
>package should place the reduction of health and societal 
>disparities at the pinnacle of planning, and allocations of human, 
>financial, and structural resources by all levels of government.
>
>Specific actions could include: 1) creation of a national housing 
>program,  2) greater allocations of human, financial, and structural 
>resources toward ending homelessness, 3) a significant decrease in 
>income taxes for persons living in poverty, 4) creation of 
>legislated, precise federal targets for reducing poverty, and other 
>health and societal inequities in Canada, 5) an increase in minimum 
>wages across Canada, and 6) a pan-Government, federal review of the 
>role and capacity of every federal department in reducing health and 
>societal inequities.
>
>Finally, I would respectfully recommend that your Government 
>publicly commit to gathering the best available evidence from across 
>the globe on how to address the paramount question posed by the WHO 
>- namely, "how can Governments act to rapidly reduce in health & 
>societal inequities?"  Government should then adapt/mimic the 
>approaches used by those countries that have achieved fewer existing 
>inequities.
>
>In my humble view, Canada, Canadians and our Government(s) will not 
>be healthy until we succeed in greatly reducing the above 
>inequities.  Increasing wealth may be good for the health of 
>Canadians however, it has done little to address societal 
>inequities.  I strongly encourage you and all members of Parliament 
>to work with with federal, provincial/territorial, and municipal 
>politicians to take the steps that will improve the health and 
>quality of life of Canadians by reducing societal inequities.
>
>Best regards Dr. Jim Frankish
>
>Dr. Jim Frankish
>Professor & Director, Centre for Population Health Promotion Research
>College for Interdisciplinary Studies, and School of Population & 
>Public Health (Medicine)
>Room 425, Library Processing Centre 2206 East Mall Vancouver BC V6T 1Z3
>O: 604-822-9205, F: 822-9210, C: 778-987-9205, [log in to unmask]
>Personal web - http://www.jimfrankish.com, Partners in Community 
>Health Research Training Program, www.pchr.net

Dr. Jim Frankish
Professor & Director, Centre for Population Health Promotion Research
College for Interdisciplinary Studies, and School of Population & 
Public Health (Medicine)
Room 425, Library Processing Centre 2206 East Mall Vancouver BC V6T 1Z3
O: 604-822-9205, F: 822-9210, C: 778-987-9205, [log in to unmask]
Personal web - http://www.jimfrankish.com, Partners in Community 
Health Research Training Program, www.pchr.net

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