First published online January 5, 2023
The Challenge of Exposing and Ending Health Inequalities through Social and Policy Change: Canadian Experiences
Abstract
The Canadian health system is often perceived as excellent. However, a closer examination of the political economy of health in
Canada shows a radically different picture. It is a picture of persistent inequality and a history of the inability to address such
inequality. Despite numerous public policy interventions to address preventable health inequalities—that is, health inequities—
this societal problem persists. This research addresses how and why health inequities, especially class, race/ethnicity, and gender
health inequities, persist in Canada and how to reduce such differences through public policy action. To address these questions,
I performed a critical realist review, focusing on the political economy of health and policy change. Then I conducted a thematic
analysis of the interview data gathered from 23 semi-structured interviews with leading Canadian policy academics, activists, and
advocates. The results demonstrate that the capitalist economic system; the co-constitutives of capitalism, namely colonialism,
racism, and sexism; and maldistributive public policies primarily cause health inequities in Canada. Canada’s health inequities
reduction requires pushing for redistributive public policies; uniting and strengthening labor unions, civil society groups, and social
movements; and engaging in electoral politics. Reducing health inequities may involve struggling within and against capitalism and
struggling for socialism.
Arnel