The healthcare system is tasked with saving lives and improving the health of populations and individuals. But what if it is contributing to environmental degradation and global warming, and making us sicker in the process? The healthcare system is the fifth largest producer of greenhouse gas emissions globally and contributes 4.6% to all greenhouse gasContinue reading “Cleaning up our act in healthcare”
Category Archives: Health
Albertans deserve better protection
Since 2016, more Albertans have died of opioid poisonings than COVID-19 deaths in the province. While the provincial government, albeit reluctantly, followed public health advice to keep Albertans safe from COVID-19 deaths and hospitalization, their approach to the concurrent pandemic of opioid deaths completely misses the mark. The opioid crisis is a poisoning crisis ratherContinue reading “Albertans deserve better protection”
Health care reform is within reach
Last week, the federal government pledged an additional $46 billion over 10 years to provinces and territories for health care delivery. Primary care, health care workforce, information sharing and mental health and substance use were cited as priority areas. This much-awaited funding announcement left more than a few people disappointed. Provincial and territorial premiers wereContinue reading “Health care reform is within reach”
Alberta Health Services needs strengthening, not dismantling
During her campaign for leadership of the UCP party, Danielle Smith made clear her plans to overhaul Alberta Health Services (AHS). She threatened to fire the entire AHS board and appoint an interim health commissioner reporting directly to herself and the health minister. While concentrating power into her hands, she says she wants to decentralize health careContinue reading “Alberta Health Services needs strengthening, not dismantling”
Primary health care in crisis
Primary care is the corner stone of a high-functioning health care system. Yet, many Albertans are struggling to find a family doctor, or if they are lucky enough to have a family doctor, to get an appointment in a timely fashion. In response to this crisis, the UCP government announced the Modernizing Alberta’s Primary Health CareContinue reading “Primary health care in crisis”
Food for a healthy planet and healthy people
Agricultural land covers 40% of the global land mass and food production accounts for up to 30% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Now more than ever we have to pay attention to how we eat in order to keep ourselves and our planet healthy. Agriculture continues to encroach into forests and other carbon rich ecosystemsContinue reading “Food for a healthy planet and healthy people”
Cleaning up our act on plastic pollution
They are convenient, inexpensive and versatile but plastics are harming our health and our planet. Recognizing the damaging effects of plastic pollution, the federal government recently announced regulations limiting single use plastics. But they do not go far enough to protect human health or ensure environmental sustainability. Eighty billion tons of plastics have been producedContinue reading “Cleaning up our act on plastic pollution”
Rethinking our understanding of mental health and mental illness
Canadians were in a mental health crisis well before the COVID-19 pandemic. But as with many other things, the pandemic served to shine a spotlight on the depth and breath of this serious issue. According to Statistics Canada, a shocking 1 in 3 Canadians suffers from mental illness during their lifetime. Five to 10 percentContinue reading “Rethinking our understanding of mental health and mental illness”
Road traffic deaths are preventable
When a pedestrian is killed crossing the highway on the way to “community” housing, it is not an accident. It is death by design – or some would say – a lack of design, and we all have blood on our hands. From the urban planners who designed the housing project in its current location,Continue reading “Road traffic deaths are preventable”
Effective Policy Needed to Reduce Alcohol-Related Harms
Many of us welcomed in the New Year with a glass of our favourite alcoholic beverage, even if in muted celebration this year. Alcohol is an ubiquitous and accepted part of our culture, associated with times of festivity, socializing with friends and family and relaxing after a hard day at work. While there are social,Continue reading “Effective Policy Needed to Reduce Alcohol-Related Harms”
The Engaged Citizen 