QUESTION PERIOD — Health
Report on the State of Public Health in Canada 2020
November 17, 2020
Honourable senators, my question is for the Leader of the Government in the Senate.
Senator Gold, last week, Dr. Theresa Tam, the Chief Public Health Officer of Canada, issued a report on the state of public health in Canada in 2020. She proposes a health equity approach to the COVID-19 framework with work in four high-impact areas based on the consequences of COVID-19: economic security and employment conditions; a stable housing and healthy built environment; health, education and social services systems; and environmental sustainability.
The report, like my own white paper — Building Forward Better: A Clean and Just Recovery from the COVID-19 Pandemic — is based in part on the One Health concept, a holistic approach helpful for preventing and responding to the pandemic as it considers the links between humans, animals and the environment. Her excellent report also highlights inequality in Canada, the need to further support mental health, and to fight racism, discrimination and misinformation to overcome this pandemic.
Senator Gold, how does the government intend to follow up these important recommendations of its top health scientist?
Senator, thank you for your question. The Government of Canada values the input and ongoing good counsel of Dr. Tam and of all the public health professionals at the federal and provincial levels. It’s guided the policy of this government throughout this crisis.
The recommendations of Dr. Tam will be and are being considered seriously by the government and its provincial counterparts and will be taken seriously, as her advice always is.
