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Canadian Public Health Association

Policy and Advocacy Blog


2023

CPHA’s new policy process: Truth and Reconciliation, equity and advocacy impact

June 8, 2023

Part 1:  Looking back to look forward Canadian news is rife with examples of organizations stumbling in living up to their stated commitments to Truth and Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples. For both governmental and non-governmental organizations, challenges continually emerge in translating principled commitment into routines of day-to-day practice.  Stumbles can happen despite sincere intentions, excellent training sessions, and expert advice. This is because training and advice are just the first steps in translating ideals…


2021

Invest in Renewable Energy for a Healthy, Green and Just Recovery

April 6, 2021

Over the coming years, the federal government will be investing in programs and policies to kick-start the Canadian economy and get people back to work after COVID-19. These investments provide an opportunity to redirect our economy and communities to address the growing threat of climate change, make our communities healthier and more resilient, while also reducing the health inequities in our society that have been highlighted by the pandemic.

To create a more sustainable world, we must significantly reduce our reliance on fossil fuels because their extraction and use releases…


Retrofitting buildings for healthy, green and just communities

March 23, 2021

There has never been a better time for Canadians to reap the benefits of making our homes, schools and community buildings more energy efficient, more comfortable, and healthier.

As part of the post-COVID-19 economy recovery, the federal government will make significant investments to kick-start the economy and get people back to work. This is an excellent opportunity to tackle the health and environmental threats related to climate change, promote a transition away from fossil fuels, and build more resilient and inclusive communities.

Few programs can exceed the…


Zero-emission vehicles support healthy, green and just communities

March 9, 2021

In the coming years, Canadian governments will be investing in programs and policies to kick start our economy and get people back to work. As professionals who are deeply concerned about the threat posed by climate change, we see these post-COVID-19 investments as an opportunity to transition away from fossil fuels, retrain workers displaced by the transition, and create new opportunities for young people.

We are inspired by the


Invest in active travel to create healthy, green and just communities

February 23, 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic has many people thinking about how our communities are designed. Do they support walking and cycling? Do they give easy access to jobs, essential services, or greenspace? With everyone needing to maintain physical distance from others in public spaces, there is a demand for more space for pedestrians and cyclists.

Communities across the country have temporarily opened streets for pedestrians and cyclists and installed bike lanes along major travel routes. Statistics Canada reports that nearly 7% of the 2 million commuters who used to take public transit are…


Invest in public transit to create healthy, green and just communities

February 9, 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic is having a devastating impact on public transit systems that rely heavily on the fare box for their funding. With collective fare box losses as high as $400 million per month, transit agencies across Canada have been forced to eliminate service routes and jobs during the pandemic. Twice in 2020, the Canadian government provided emergency funding that has been used, in part, to keep transit systems afloat and operating. It…


2020

Working Together to Defeat Invasive Meningococcal Disease

April 24, 2020

Lucie Marisa Bucci, Senior Manager, Immunize Canada Megan Acton, Program Manager, International Federation on Ageing (IFA)

April 24 is World Meningitis Day, and on this day, the International Federation on Ageing (IFA) together with the Confederation of Meningitis Organisations (CoMO) and Immunize Canada want to remind you that meningococcal disease is a health risk you should not take. As we grow older, our immune system does not function as well as it once did. We become more susceptible to infectious diseases at a time when illness can lead to complications,…


2019

Results from the CPHA policy and advocacy survey

December 5, 2019

Thanks to everyone who completed our recent policy survey. The results help us better understand what you expect and need from CPHA in the area of policy analysis and advocacy.

18% of CPHA members responded to the survey. You shared your input on completed, ongoing, and proposed policy and advocacy subjects.

The results indicate that there is broad general support among members for both the policy development and advocacy work that has been undertaken over the past two years. It also demonstrated support for several of the ongoing projects, as well as select subjects…


2018

Canada’s Food Guide revamp is good for people and the planet

February 15, 2018

A version of this commentary appeared in the CBC News

What is a healthy diet?

New Year’s diet conversations still abound around water coolers Canada-wide as people debate the various merits and shortcomings of sugar, gluten, meat, dairy, tofu and other edibles. Scientific articles, shiny celebrities and representatives of various groups who produce, transform and sell food all compete for our attention as we try to figure out what to eat.

How is anyone supposed to know who to listen to?

Canadians’ traditional solution to this conundrum has…


2017

Climate change and vector-borne illness

July 26, 2017

The Earth’s climate is changing and the effects on health are well documented. What is less well known is how changing climate will affect the risk of vector-borne diseases.  Insects, the vectors for many illnesses, are dependent on a consistent climate for survival, reproduction and development. Changes in temperature, precipitation and humidity can alter their distribution, potentially increasing the risk of disease transmission. As a result, vector surveillance could be used for potential disease surveillance. 

Two well-known vector-borne illnesses in Canada are West…