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alPHa Position
alPHa agrees with the statement by Canada's former Minister of State for Public Health, that "poor living conditions such as poverty, food insecurity, family violence, inadequate housing, unsafe environmental conditions, social discrimination, poor working conditions and lack of education...are often the root causes of poor health." alPHa believes that health inequalities due to these factors are measurable and that clear cause-and-effect evidence exists to inform interventions to reduce preventable illness and premature death.
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RESOLUTION
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RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
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A09-5 - World Health Organization Commission on Social Determinants of Health (WHO-CSDH): Call to Action for Ontario Public Health
THAT alPHa congratulate the CSDH for its work and endorse the content and recommendations of the WHO – CSDH final report;
AND FURTHER that alPHa call on the MHP and the OAHPP to immediately begin work to determine their respective leadership roles in implementing the WHO – CSDH recommendations and in supporting boards of health to do the same;
AND FURTHER that alPHa work in partnership with boards of health to identify opportunities for individual and collective board action to reduce health inequities through the implementation of the Ontario Public Health Standards;
AND FINALLY that alPHa widely communicate its support for the WHO – CSDH and this resolution to the Ontario and Canadian public health community, including the Chief Public Health Officer of Canada,and the Council of Chief Medical Officers of Health, and the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs for Ontario and the Minister for Indian and Northern Affairs Canada.
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August 25 2009
Brief note of thanks received from Prof. Sir Michael Marmot via e-mail for the August 20 letter.
August 20 2009
Letter written and sent as per the operative clauses of Resolution A09-5. Please click here to read.
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A08-9 - Back-to-School and Winter Clothing Allowances for Children in Families on Social Assistance:
THAT the Association of Local Public Health Agencies call upon the provincial government to continue to issue both the back-to-school and the winter clothing allowances;
AND FURTHER THAT these allowances be paid 100% by the Province of Ontario
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March 23 2009
Response received from the Premier's Office to the March 4th letter. Please click here to read.
March 4 2009
Letter written to the Premier, copied to all members of the Cabinet Committee on Poverty Reduction, introducing this and three other poverty-related resolutions passed at the 2008 annual meeting. Please click here to read.
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A08-10 - Ontario Poverty Reduction Strategy:
THAT the Association of Local Public Health Agencies (alPHa) call for a government commitment to implement a coordinated, long-term poverty strategy with targets, timelines, a dedicated budget and ongoing evaluation in order to achieve sustained results, including meeting a target of reducing 2005 poverty rates by 25% by 2012 and 50% by 2017.
AND FURTHER THAT alPHa endorse the content and recommendations of the Campaign 2000 discussion paper, A Poverty Reduction Strategy for Ontario.
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March 23 2009
Response received from the Premier's Office to the March 4th letter. Please click here to read.
March 4 2009
Letter written to the Premier, copied to all members of the Cabinet Committee on Poverty Reduction, introducing this and three other poverty-related resolutions passed at the 2008 annual meeting. Please click here to read.
February 25, 2008
The Ontario Government has introduced Bill 152, the Poverty Reduction Act. Its key requirements are
- successive governments to report annually on key indicators of opportunity - these will typically include income levels, school success, health care and housing.
- future governments to consult widely before developing future strategies, including consultation with those living in poverty.
- Ontario to develop a new strategy at least every five years.
- future governments to set a specific poverty reduction target every five years.
January 29, 2009
alPHa and the OPHA have sent a joint letter to the Finance Minister and the Chair of the Cabinet Committee on Poverty Reduction congratulating them on the release of Breaking the Cycle, Ontario's Poverty Reduction Strategy and suggesting several policy interventions that should be included. Please click here to read. (March 13 2009 - Reply received from Minister Matthews)
December 4, 2008
The Provincial Government has announced its Poverty Reduction Strategy, as developed by the Cabinet Committee led by Deb Matthews. It commits to set a five-year target of reducing poverty by 25% as urged by the "25 in 5" coalition.
To achieve this, it pledges
- Legislation requiring the government to report annually on "key indicators of opportunity" - income levels, school success, health care and housing
- $1.3B annually (includes a $230M increase)for the full implementation of the OCB
- Reiterations of commitments to dental health, housing and school nutrition programs
- Investments in a range of social programs for vulnerable youth
It is worth noting that the bulk of the report is largely a summary of related provincial initiatives that are not new, and that its success appears to depend on commitment from the federal level.
The full report is available on the Ontario Poverty Reduction Strategy�s dedicated Web site:
http://www.growingstronger.ca/english/default.asp
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A08-11 Poverty Reduction Strategy Linked to Healthy Babies Healthy Children Program Base Funding
THAT the Association of Local Public Health Agencies urge the Government of Ontario to ensure that the Cabinet Committee on Poverty Reduction identifies the HBHC Program as a critical intervention in a poverty reduction strategy;
AND FURTHER THAT the Government of Ontario recognize that the HBHC Program provides services that Ontario’s families require, particularly low income families, that assist families to overcome the impact of poverty, provide children with a healthy start in life, and enhance opportunities for life-long success contributing to a strong Ontario economy;
AND FURTHER THAT the Government of Ontario provide a significant increase to base funding to cover the full costs of delivery for all eligible clients for HBHC Programs along with annual increases to maintain service delivery to complement the poverty reduction strategy;
AND FURTHER THAT the Association of Local Public Health Agencies utilize the results of the HBHC alPHa survey conducted with its member boards of health to inform the development of an advocacy strategy focused on funding for the Healthy Babies Healthy Children (HBHC) Program;
AND FURTHER THAT the Association of Local Public Health Agencies work in partnership with other agencies or organizations regarding further advocacy strategies in support of the HBHC program.
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March 23 2009
Response received from the Premier's Office to the March 4th letter. Please click here to read.
March 4 2009
Letter written to the Premier, copied to all members of the Cabinet Committee on Poverty Reduction, introducing this and three other poverty-related resolutions passed at the 2008 annual meeting. Please click here to read.
January 29, 2009
alPHa and the OPHA have sent a joint letter to the Finance Minister and the Chair of the Cabinet Committee on Poverty Reduction congratulating them on the release of Breaking the Cycle, Ontario's Poverty Reduction Strategy and suggesting several policy interventions that should be included, with specific mention of enhancements to the HBHC program. Please click here to read.
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Resolution A08-12 - Provincial Dental Program
THAT the Association of Local Public Health Agencies (alPHa) urge the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, the Provincial Poverty Reduction Committee and the Premier of Ontario to immediately implement the dental program for low income families as promised in the 2008 provincial budget.
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January 21 2010
Response to alPHa's December 2009 letter received from the Premier. Please click here to read.
December 17 2009
Letter written to the Premier urging follow through on a coherent provincial strategy for dental services for low-income Ontarians, with a renewed focus on adults. Please click here to read.
July 7 2009
Letter sent to the Premier urging immediate and full implementation of the dental program for low-income Ontarians that was promised in the 2008 provincial budget. Please click here to read.
March 23 2009
Response received from the Premier's Office to the March 4th letter. Please click here to read.
March 4 2009
Letter written to the Premier, copied to all members of the Cabinet Committee on Poverty Reduction, introducing this and three other poverty-related resolutions passed at the 2008 annual meeting. Please click here to read.
December 4th 2008
The Provincial Government has announced its Poverty Reduction Strategy, as developed by the Cabinet Committee led by Deb Matthews. It commits to set a five-year target of reducing poverty by 25% as urged by the "25 in 5" coalition.
To achieve this, it pledges
- Legislation requiring the government to report annually on "key indicators of opportunity" - income levels, school success, health care and housing
- $1.3B annually (includes a $230M increase)for the full implementation of the OCB
- Reiterations of commitments to dental health, housing and school nutrition programs
- Investments in a range of social programs for vulnerable youth
It is worth noting that the bulk of the report is largely a summary of related provincial initiatives that are not new, and that its success appears to depend on commitment from the federal level.
The full report is available on the Ontario Poverty Reduction Strategy's dedicated Web site:
http://www.growingstronger.ca/english/default.asp
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#A05-18, Adequate Nutrition for works and Ontario Disability Support Program Participants and Low Wage Earners
This resolution calls for immediate increases to provincial social assistance rates and minimum wages in order to ensure adequate nutrition.
Please see A01-19 Below for further history on this subject.
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March 13 2009
Letter written to the Premier urging him to add a Healthy Food Supplement to Ontario's social assistance rates as part of the 2009 Put Food in the Budget Campaign. Please click here to read.
February - March 2009
alPHa, in partnership with the 25 in 5 Network for Poverty Reduction, is engaged in a campaign to "Put Food in the Budget", the goal of which is to have a $100.00 Healthy Food Supplement added to social assistance rates, as a down-payment toward closing the widening gap between social assistance payments and the true cost of the essentials for living, including healthy foods.
alPHa has provided the following materials in an information package to its members, encouraging them to use it to inform local efforts (for a summary of these, please click here):
September 25, 2007
alPHa has sent a letter to the leaders of Ontario's major political parties to request statements on how they will use the Cost of a Nutritious Food Basket data, collected by all health units each year, to determine adequate social assistance and minimum wage rates.
The letter includes alPHa's 2007 survey of health units on their individual survey results, which clearly illustrates that the cost of healthy eating has been steadily rising throughout Ontario since at least 2003, with an average increase of about 3.3% since 2006. Some health units have reported increases significantly higher than this.
Please click here to read the letter
April 25, 2007
alPHa has received a reply to the April 12 letter to the Premier. Please click here to read.
April 12 2007
alPHa has sent a letter to the Premier of Ontario in support of the Toronto Board of Health Report, Impact of Poverty on Children's Current and Future Health, which includes advocacy for the increases described in Resolution A05-18. Please click here to read the letter.
Please click here to read the Toronto Board of Health Report, Impact of Poverty on Children's Current and Future Health
April 12 2007
alPHa has forwarded this Resolution to the Minister of Finance as part of a response to the measures announced in the March 2007 Ontario Budget. Please click here to read the letter.
March 19 2007
The March 19 2007 federal budget included a $2000 annual tax credit for each child under 18, which will apply to all families, and result in the further exemption of approximately 180 000 low-income families from the tax roll
December 11 2006
alPHa President Liana Nolan made a presentation to the Minister of Finance during the 2007 Budget consultation, which included urging specific consideration of the operative clause of this resolution. Please click here to read the speaking notes
May 15, 2006
The final report of the Task Force on Modernizing Income Security for Working-Age Adults (MISWAA) is released. While it does not make the call for immediate and substantial increases to social assistance rates and minimum wage, it makes strong statements about their inadequacy. 14 recommendations are aimed at the federal and provincial governments to strengthen income security. Please click here to read the report.
April 5, 2006
Endorsement of alPHa Resolutions A05-18 and A05-19 received from the Ontario College of Family Physicians. Please note that this correspondence was sent to the Federal Minister of Health and the Provincial Ministers of Health, Children and Youth Services, Health Promotion and Community and Social Services. Please click here to read.
February 15, 2006
Response received from the Minister of Community and Social Services outlining the recent changes to Ontario Works and ODSP, explaining the new restrictions on the Special Diet Allowance and referring to the Review of Employment Assistance Programs in Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support Program. Please click here to read the response.
February 2 2006
Response received from the Minister of Labour indicating that increases to the minimum wage beyond those already planned would require renewed consideration by the government. Please click here to read the response.
January 9, 2006
Letter written to Minister of Community and Social Services Sandra Pupatello and Minister of Labour Steve Peters introducing this resolution. Please click here to read.
December 1, 2005
alPHa circulated a news release to all of its members for distribution to local media outlets informing of the passage of this Resolution. Please click here to read.
Nov 21, 2005
Please see the Toronto Board of Health Report calling for immediate increases to social assistance rates. It contains a wealth of statistics that illustrate that the purchasing power of OW recipients has steadily and significantly declined since 1995.
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#A02-10, Aboriginal Public Health in Ontario
The opererative clause, passed in 2002, of this resolution recommends and urgently requests that a comprehensive review and consultation process, to include First Nations representatives, senior federal and provincial health ministry representatives, municipal government representatives, alPHa and Boards of Health representatives, be initiated by the provincial and federal government for the purpose of:
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Clearly determining an Aboriginal Public Health system in and for Ontario First Nation citizens;
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Developing, resourcing and staffing an Aboriginal Public Health Resource centre;
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Establishing methods of funding, reporting and evaluating such systems so as to guarantee the equitable and quality delivery of all aspects of the Health Protection and Promotion Act and its Regulations to all First Nation citizens of Ontario while maintaining fiduciary responsibility of the Federal government in accordance with the Canadian Constitution (British North American Act) and Treaty rights of First Nation Citizens.
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March 17, 2008
alPHa has received a reply from the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs indicating that the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care is working with the federal government on a First Nations public health framework
and providing a contact for his ADM for a meeting. Please click here to read.
December 12, 2007
alPHa has written a letter to the new Minister of Aboriginal Affairs to make him aware of this resolution and some of the progress that has occurred thus far, and invite further discussion about the role of the new Ministry. Please click here to read.
October 2007
alPHa is participating in a meeting organized by the Ontario chiefs of first nations communities on October 25th and 26th to review public health strategies for their communities.
alPHa is also organizing a day-long session on public health and First Nations for its annual winter meeting, to be held February 8th 2008.
November 2005
The "Blueprint on Aboriginal Health: A 10-Year Transformative Plan" was prepared for the Meeting of First Ministers and Leaders of National Aboriginal Organizations. The governments of Canada, each of the provinces and territories along with the Canada Assembly of First Nations, Ontario Congress of Aboriginal Peoples, Québec Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, Nova Scotia Métis National Council and New Brunswick Native Women’s Association of Canada contributed to this plan. Click here to read the plan.
September 30, 2005
alPHa has received communication from the Chief Medical Officer of Health providing a summary of key findings from a survey of public health stakeholders regarding the development of concrete initiatives on Aboriginal health. Gathered from responses to a memo she issued in June of 2005, it is anticipated that they will provide focus for needs and priorities as the provincial component of the national Aboriginal Health Blueprint is developed.
Please click here to read the cover letter.
Please click here to read the Summary of Responses from Public Health Stakeholders
January 24, 2005
alPHa has sent a letter to Minister of State (Public Health) Carolyn Bennett to follow up on two resolutions, one of which is specific to the province's role in providing funding for speech language and audiology programs in general, with a view to extending them into aboriginal communities. This was used as an example to inquire about the new federal agency's role in First Nations public health matters. Please click here to read the letter.
January 30, 2004
Jo-Anne Miller, Provincial Program Manager, Ontario Aboriginal Health Advocacy Initiative (OAHAI), gave a presentation titled, Aboriginal Access to Health Care Systems, at the alPHa 2004 All Members' Meeting. This presentation discussed the Aboriginal Healing and Wellness Strategy, which includes programs and services ranging from community wellness workers to information clearinghouses. A discussion was also held about the work done in 1994 to develop the Aboriginal Health Policy to help the Ministry of Health address the inequities, poor health and poverty of Ontario's Aboriginal people. Based on principles of holistic health and partnership, the Policy provides for strategies on health status (healing and wellness programs, health empowerment, equitable funding), access to services (language, transportation, health worker recruitment), and planning and representation. Underlying many of these strategies is the need to respect traditional native approaches and values to health. To view the presentation click here.
October 29, 2003
alPHa staff has invited staff of the Ontario Aboriginal Health Advocacy Initiative to present at the January 29-30, 2004 All members Meeting. The purpose of this presentation will be to introduce some of the most pressing public health issues facing Aboriginal, First Nations and Metis people and open a dialogue with local public health agencies on how they could be addressed.
Read the original letter of request by clicking here.
February 7, 2003
Response received from Geoff Kettel at the Public Health Branch (PHB) indicating that "there are ongoing discussions between the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and Health Canada regarding a coordinated approach to the delivery of health services for the Aboriginal community".
September 19, 2002
Letter received from Robert Nault, federal Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, applauding alPHa's efforts in this regard, further indicating that the mandate to provide such services is held by Minister of Health Anne McLellan.
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CLOSED RESOLUTIONS
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#A05-4, Determinants of Health as a Mandatory Public Health Program
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Association of Local Public Health Agencies (alPHa) request that the Mandatory Health Programs and Services Guidelines be revised to include the Determinants of Health as a recognized health program and service area and planning framework for all Ontario boards of health
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October 30, 2007
The alPHa Advocacy Committee has recommended closure of this Resolution as the process of replacing the Mandatory Health Programs and Services Guidelines with the Ontario Public Health Standards nears completion. SDOH is not a stand alone program, but references to “vulnerable populations” appear throughout and the goal of the Foundational Standard is “to achieve effective public health policy and practices that respond to the evolving social, economic, behavioural, cultural, as well as physical conditions and factors, which are determinants of health and well-being.”
February 19, 2007
Ontario Public Health Standards Draft for Consultation released. SDOH is not a separate program. Please see alPHa’s response to the consultation
November 20, 2006
alPHa has received a reply from Program Standards Review Committee co-Chair George Pasut to the letter described below. Please click here to read.
October 3 2006
alPHa has sent a letter to the co-chairs of the Program Standards Review Committee to introduce this resolution, supported by the Discussion Paper described below. Please click here to read.
March 2006
The Subury and District Health Unit has led a process to explore the rationale and the means to integrate social and economic determinants of health into the Ontario public health mandate. With input from a wide range of public health stakeholders throughout the province, the SDHU has released a Discussion Paper on the subject. It argues that public health is in a position to lead efforts to improve health status through new determinants of health mandates that should be added to the public health roster during this time of transformation. Please click here to read the discussion paper.
December 15, 2005
alPHa has sent a letter to the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care introducing the Resolutions passed at the 2005 Annual General Meeting for follow-up and action by his Ministry. Please click here to view the letter.
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#A01-19, Ontario Works Allowances and Adequate Nutrition
The operational clause of this resolution passed in 2001 states that the Government of Ontario is urged to review and ensure that the Basic Allowance portion of Ontario Works Financial Assistance allows for adequate nutrition.
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February 1 2007
Resolution closed by alPHa Board of Directors
January 11 2006:
The alPHa Advocacy Committee agreed that Resolution #A05-18, Adequate Nutrition for works and Ontario Disability Support Program Participants and Low Wage Earners adequately accounts for the intent of this one and that any further advocacy would be based on its operative clauses.
June 15, 2005
alPHa has received a detailed response to the concerns raised about Ontario Works benefits in the January 31 letter. Please click here to read.
April 01, 2005
alPHa received a response to the letter below. Please click here to read.
January 31, 2005
alPHa has sent a letter to Minister of Children and Youth Services, introducing these and one other resolution. Please click here to read the letter.
April 23, 2004
Response to March 23rd letter received from Minister Pupatello with items on skills training, affordable housing, and top-ups for special dietary needs. Please click here to read.
March 23, 2004
Letter sent to Community and Social Services Minister Sandra Pupatello reintroducing Resolution A01-19 and congratulating the government for scrapping the lifetime ban for welfare fraud. Please click here to read.
January 9, 2004
Formal announcement of the end of lifetime ban and three / six month suspension policies made by Social Services Minister Sandra Pupatello. Click here to read the news release.
December 17, 2003
Social Services Minister Sandra Pupatello promises to abolish the lifetime ban from social assistance of anyone convicted of welfare fraud, as well as to raise social assistance rates, though no details are offered.
March 28, 2003
alPHa member, Porcupine Health Unit, passed resolution in support of #A01-19 calling for a review of the basic allowance of Ontario Works Financial Assistance to ensure recipients meet adequate nutrition needs and that the province provide funding to families ineligible to receive social assistance due to fraud conviction to help them meet nutritional and accommodation needs.
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#A05-19, Tax Relief for Families with Children Living in Poverty
This resolution urges that any tax changes contemplated during the 2006 federal election campaign include, as a first priority, a significant, non-refundable tax credit to be paid poor families with children
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April 27 2007
Resolution closed by alPHa Board of Directors
April 24 2007
alPHa Advocacy Committee recommends closure of resolution, as it was aimed at candidates prior to the last federal election and not because of any opinion about the adequacy of tax measures recently announced.
March 19 2007
The March 19 2007 federal budget included a $2000 annual tax credit for each child under 18, which will apply to all families, and result in the further exemption of approximately 180 000 low-income families from the tax roll
December 11 2006
alPHa President Liana Nolan made a presentation to the Minister of Finance during the 2007 Budget consultation, which included urging specific consideration of the operative clause of this resolution. Please click here to read the speaking notes
April 5, 2006
Endorsement of alPHa Resolutions A05-18 and A05-19 received from the Ontario College of Family Physicians. Please note that this correspondence was sent to the Federal Minister of Health and the Provincial Ministers of Health, Children and Youth Services, Health Promotion and Community and Social Services. Please click here to read.
Jan. 4, 2006 : alPHa has sent a letter to each of the major federal party leaders’ headquarters introducing this Resolution. Please click here to view the letter.
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