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The Role of the Public Health Agency
of Canada
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| Please note that this document was published by Health Canada
prior to the announcement of the establishment of the Public
Health Agency of Canada on September 24, 2004. Any reference
to Health Canada should be assumed to be to the Public Health Agency
of Canada. |
Population health
The goals of a population health approach are to maintain and improve
the health of the entire population, and to decrease inequities in health
status among various population groups.
This approach focuses on the interrelated conditions or determinants
that most influence health, and applies the evidence to suggest broad
priority areas for action.
Intersectoral action is one of the key directions for improving the
health status of the population adopted by the Federal, Provincial and
Territorial Ministers of Health in Strategies
for Population Health: Investing in the Health of Canadians 
The need for intersectoral action recognizes that key factors which
determine population health fall within the purview of many sectors in
addition to health.
Only through action within and between sectors at the local, regional,
provincial and national levels will it be possible to influence the social,
economic, and environmental conditions that enable and support the health
and well-being of Canadians.
The influence of the working environment
Poor working environments and employment conditions can have a negative
impact on health. It has been proven that people who have more control
over their work environment and fewer job stress-related demands tend
to be healthier.
Thus, safe, healthy, and supportive working conditions and environments
are being recognized as important elements that contribute to the health
and well-being of Canadians.
Health Canada is working with many partners in many sectors to facilitate
the creation of supportive workplace settings, and healthy physical environments
both at home and work. This can only be accomplished through a combination
of research, knowledge synthesis, information dissemination, and inter-sectoral
collaboration.
Health Canada is promoting active living at work as a key component
of its population health strategy.
The data that are available on this web site has been collected to give
businesses a helping hand in establishing active living work policies
and programs for their employees.
As well, this web site aims to promote best practices and provide businesses
with ideas on how to get started,
how to promote physical activity in their work environments and how to
capitalize on the benefits associated with active living at work.
Health Canada's Healthy Living Unit
The Healthy Living Unit has the lead responsibility within
Health Canada for delivering on the federal government's role in physical
activity. The work of the Unit is based on an approach to partnerships
that is multi-sectoral, multi-level, and multi-disciplinary.
The goals of the Healthy Living Unit are:
- to encourage and assist all Canadians to be physically active by
increasing their awareness and understanding about the benefits of
physical activity and the range of opportunities to be physically active
in daily life;
- to influence positive social and physical environments and opportunities
that facilitate the integration of physical activity into daily life,
and that are accessible to, and equitable for, all Canadians;
- to establish partnerships with government and non-governmental agencies
across levels and sectors, and encourage and support collaborative
action and increased capacity to foster physical activity in Canada.
Federal Role in the Promotion of Physical Activity
The federal government has a key role to play in several areas: strategic
leadership and policy development, knowledge development and information
dissemination, partnership building, and the general promotion of physical
activity. In keeping with the population
health approach, emphasis is placed on the determinants
of health within specific life stages and across the life span.
1 - Strategic Leadership and Policy Development
Addressing the determinants of physical activity in a coordinated and
cost-effective way requires Health Canada to play a leadership role with
other federal departments and the governments of other countries as well
as a shared leadership role with provincial/territorial governments,
national voluntary organizations, and the private sector.
This federal leadership role includes identifying emerging issues and
establishing policies and plans which enable all Canadians to have access
to equitable opportunities to be active. To this end, it is recognized
that additional support may be needed to address the systemic barriers
to physical activity which are particularly apparent among Canadians
with a disability, girls and women, older adults, and Aboriginal Peoples.
2 - Knowledge Development and Information Dissemination
Research, knowledge development, and information synthesis are key elements
of evidence-based planning and policy development. As well, authoritative
information must be provided to the general public, and to professionals
and government policy makers in physical activity, health and other fields
in order to enable informed choices.
This information will advise them of the recommended levels and types
of physical activity to achieve health benefits and the many other benefits
of physical activity for individuals, for society, and for the environment.
On-going monitoring and periodic evaluations are also necessary - to
assess the impact and cost-effectiveness of programs.
3 - Partnerships and Alliances
Federal policy places a major emphasis on working in collaboration with
partners. Social and physical environments affect the choices available
to Canadians for integrating physical activity into daily life. A number
of disciplines/fields have an impact on the availability of opportunities,
including fitness, recreation, and sport education, urban planning, transportation,
workplaces and health.
Action is also required to develop and implement strategies that increase
awareness about the important contribution of physical activity in addressing
issues in other fields, such as youth at risk, transportation and protection
of the environment. Collaborative partnerships are needed with the public,
private, and voluntary sectors in these fields to achieve common goals.
The federal government has a role in contributing financial assistance
and strategic advice to national organizations which further health objectives.
Working in collaboration increases the critical mass for addressing national
problems.
Click here to see a list of our partners.
4 - Promoting and Communicating the Benefits of Physical Activity
The federal government has a role in communicating the important benefits
of physical activity and the health risks of physical inactivity to Canadians,
and working with provincial and territorial partners to foster consistent
national messages. Media campaigns promote awareness of issues, influence
attitudes, reinforce individual choices and lend support to other strategies.
As well, celebrations and special events can be a cost-effective way
of attracting corporate sector support in order to raise the profile
of physical activity and to mobilize hundreds of communities to promote
a variety of opportunities to be active.
Promotion, mass media awareness campaigns, and events are not sufficient
in themselves to provide an on-going supportive social environment for
Canadians to be active. They can, however, be a potent force if combined
with complementary strategies which encourage supportive physical and
social environments.
Tell us what you are doing
We would like to promote best practices and innovative initiatives on
this web site. Tell us what you are doing and your organization could
be featured as a case study for leadership in the field of active living
at work.
Write to us at:
The Business Case for Active Living at Work
Healthy Living Unit
Jeanne Mance Building - 1907C1
Ottawa Ontario K1A 1B4
or
E-mail us at: Business_case@hc-sc.gc.ca
or
Call us at: 613-941-0377
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