The Ontario Prevention Clearinghouse is releasing the following to the media, in English and French, today regarding the new Ministry of Health Promotion:
Media Release
New Minister of Health Promotion encouraged to make a real impact on health of Ontarians
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE/ le Français est ci-dessous
Toronto, ON. (July 6, 2005) Premier Dalton McGuinty's announcement of a new Minister for Health Promotion is welcome news in a province where health care costs are spiralling and insufficient resources are invested in prevention and health promotion. This appointment positions Ontario to lead Canada by championing a multi-sectoral approach to health promotion in order to help people and society become and remain healthy.
Preventing chronic diseases, which contribute to 75% of deaths in Canada at a cost of $28 billion yearly, means recognizing that good health is inextricably linked to living conditions. Income, housing and education influence the personal health choices we make about diet, exercise, and smoking. In order to make a real and lasting impact on the health of Ontarians, the new Ministry must address underlying factors that determine health, illness and social problems. For instance, Ontario quickly needs an expansion of inclusive health promotion strategies that target the homeless, Aboriginal people, women, and new immigrants; a greater investment in early childhood development; and policy change to narrow the health gap between wealthy and poor.
"We hope that Minister Watson and Premier McGuinty will take Ontario farther than other jurisdictions in defining healthy public policy, and not rely just on encouraging the public to engage in healthy lifestyles," says Connie Clement, Executive Director of the Ontario Prevention Clearinghouse and Chair of the Ontario Chronic Disease Prevention Alliance.
The appointment of Minister Watson paves the way for Ontario to 'move upstream' and bring health promotion out from the shadow of the acute care system. To be successful, Ontario must avoid ministries that work in isolation so that 'silo-thinking' does not hamper efforts. We count on Minister Watson to collaborate across government ministries and with local organizations.
"Collaborative approaches to health promotion that address healthy lifestyles and living conditions are flourishing in the health promotion sector at the local level. We look forward to working closely with the new Ministry to share success stories and contribute to creating a healthier Ontario," says Clement.
For more information contact:
Connie Clement, Ontario Prevention Clearinghouse at 416-408-2249 ext. 273.
Krissa Fay, Ontario Prevention Clearinghouse at 416-408-2249 ext. 275.
Cummuniqué de presse
Le nouveau Ministre de la promotion de la santé est encouragé à avoir un véritable impact sur la santé des Ontariens.
POUR DIFUSION IMMÉDIATE la version anglaise précède.
Toronto, ON. (6 juillet 2005) L'annonce par le premier ministre Dalton McGuinty d'un nouveau ministre de la promotion de la santé est une bonne nouvelle pour une province où les coûts de santé augmentent constamment et où insuffisamment de ressources sont investies dans la prévention et la promotion de la santé. Cette nomination positionne l'Ontario comme chef de file au Canada pour soutenir une approche multisectorielle de la promotion de la santé afin d'aider la population et la société à devenir et demeurer en bonne santé.
La prévention des maladies chroniques, qui représentent causent 75% des décès au Canada à un coût annuel de 28 milliards de dollars annuels, nous oblige à reconnaître qu'une bonne santé est inextricablement liée aux conditions de vie. Le revenu, le logement et l'éducation influencent les choix personnels de santé que nous faisons en matière de régime alimentaire, d'exercice, et de tabagisme. Afin d'avoir un impact véritable et durable sur la santé des ontariens, le nouveau ministère doit s'attaquer aux facteurs fondamentaux qui déterminent la santé, la maladie et les problèmes sociaux. En effet, l'Ontario a besoin rapidement d'une expansion des stratégies inclusives en promotion de la santé qui visent les sans-abri et indigènes, les femmes et les nouveaux immigrés, ainsi qu'un plus grand investissement dans le développement de la petite enfance, tout comme la mise en place de politiques favorables à la réduction des inégalités entre les riches et les pauvres en matière de santé.
"Nous espérons que le ministre Watson et le premier ministre McGuinty mèneront l'Ontario plus loin que d'autres juridictions en définissant une politique publique saine, et ne compteront pas seulement sur l'encouragement du public à s'engager dans des modes de vie sains," dit Connie Clement, Directrice générale du Centre ontarien d'information en prévention et Présidente de l'Association pour la santé publique de l'Ontario.
La nomination du ministre Watson prépare le terrain pour que l'Ontario travaille en amont des problèmes et positionne la promotion de la santé comme un élément distinct des soins de santé d'urgence. Pour ce faire, l'Ontario doit éviter que les des ministères fonctionnent en isolation et qu'une pensée en silo n'entrave pas les efforts d'une approche globale. Nous comptons donc sur le ministre Watson pour collaborer avec les différents ministères et les organismes locaux.
"Les approches collaboratives en promotion de la santé qui considèrent les modes de vie sains et conditions de vie sont en pleine expansion dans le secteur de la promotion de la santé au niveau local. Nous avons hâte de travailler étroitement avec le nouveau ministère pour partager des succès et contribuer à créer un Ontario plus en santé" affirme Mme Clément.
Pour plus d'information, contacter:
Connie Clément, Centre ontarien d'information en prevention au 416-408-2249 poste 273.
Krissa Fay, Centre ontarien d'information en prevention au 416-408-2249 poste 275.
-----Original Message-----
From: Social Determinants of Health [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of
Dennis Raphael
Sent: June 29, 2005 12:20 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [SDOH] New Ministry of Health Promotion
Letter to editor:
The Ontario government is to be commended for developing a new Ministry of
Health Promotion. The key question is whether the new Ministry is going to
reflect 30 years of Health Canada and Canadian Public Health Statements
concerning the primary importance of providing adequate living conditions
for health and addressing issues of poverty, hunger, income and housing
insecurity, and the collapse of the social safety net. Or is it going to
turn into another vehicle for pounding Ontarions over the head about their
"lifestyle" habits, of which research evidence indicates are clearly of
secondary importance to adequate living conditions in promoting health?
Dennis Raphael
School of health Policy and Management
York University
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