Great letter. Maija Kagis SSHRC Tel: 613-943-1149 Fax: 613-947-0223 >---------- >From: Sherrie Tingley[SMTP:[log in to unmask]] >Sent: Wednesday, October 22, 1997 8:49 AM >To: [log in to unmask] >Subject: Re: Letter to be published in the Toronto Globe and Mail > >On Tuesday, October 21, 1997 2:58 PM, Mike Nelson[SMTP:[log in to unmask]] >wrote: >> It's good to see Dennis speaking out on behalf of public health. Keep at >> it! > >Mike, > >I would agree totally with you, but I am afraid for someone in Ontario who >is most effected by this government I am perplexed why there is silence in >our smaller communities across the province. Is that because the >homeless, hungry and stressed people in the smaller communities are not at >risk of health problems? Is that because that the increased participation >in the sex trade of women on welfare is not a problem in smaller >communities? Is that because the forced participation in workfare without >workplace safety and employment standards in Ontario for ALL welfare >recipients is a good thing in terms of health? > >At first I thought that it was due to the fact that many 'health promotion' >groups were funded by the Harris government, but that is not the case, we >have many federally funded projects. > >I can only conclude that in terms of health promotion that it is better to >have a larger group of people in deeper need because that way they can turn >to you for help and you can teach them about the food guide and how they >should quit smoking? Or maybe people are hoping to participate in the >workfare programs in their communities? > >Maybe some of the Ontario people can explain to me how the income policies >of this government are healthy public policy in terms of health, the >welfare cuts, the housing polices and the welfare reform. > >Thanks, > >S >> >> > The "sound principles" that the Ontario conservatives plan >> > to continue (Vision first, details later in Tory game plan, >> > Oct. 20) are consistent with recent developments in >> > public health. That is, increasing economic inequality >> > through policies that transfer resources from the less >> > well-off to the wealthy is associated with decreasing social >> > cohesion and increased societal malaise. This malaise can >> > take many forms including increased death and illness rates, >> > violence, and as is already evident in the case of >> > Metropolitan Toronto, greater use of food banks and shelters >> > for the homeless. In the end, all members of a society, both >> > the disadvantaged and the well-off, experience these effects >> > through a process of what social epidemiologists call "the >> > symptoms of disintegration." And, luckily for those opposed >> > to the destruction of our society, these symptoms are so >> > clear and pervasive that they can be readily attributed by >> > the public to the "sound policies" of the present >> > government. >Sherrie Tingley >Barrie Action Committee for Women >[log in to unmask] >