What Is Happening Elsewhere
The Government Agenda
International Initiatives
What is Happening Elsewhere?
As noted by Ronald Labonte, "population health" is a "made in Canada
term." Other than Australia, this term is not used in the same way as
it is in this country. Nevertheless, many organizations, even those working
on specific issues, appear to have shifted (or are shifting) their policy
and program work to embrace "a bigger picture" perspective that shares
common elements found within a population health approach.
International Initiatives 
The Public Health Agency of Canada has been actively
involved in international work that contributes to the development of
health promotion and population health.
The
World Health Organization's Regional Office of Europe (WHO/Euro)
In order to strengthen an understanding of population health,
the World Health Organization's Regional Office of Europe produced a final
report entitled Population Health - Putting Concepts into Action by Dr.
H. Zöllner and S. Lessof. This report aims to put population health concepts
into action. The report can be found here.
Verona
Initiative
Health Canada was involved in the Verona Initiative. This initiative
was created by the European Regional Office of the World Health Organization
(WHO/Euro) to secure broader dissemination and uptake of WHO/Euro's "Investments
for Health" approach. In 1998, 51 countries of the World Health Organization's
European Region agreed to a new health policy "Health
21- 21 objectives for the 21st century", one which emphasizes
health, social and economic development (managing the triangle). The
aim of the Verona Initiative is to develop our understanding of how
to invest in order to improve health at all levels in society.
The
Fifth Global Conference on Health Promotion (Mexico City, June 5-9,
2000)
The theme, Bridging the Equity Gap, addressed health determinants related
to economically and socially disadvantaged populations. Eighty-seven
countries, including Canada, signed the Mexico Ministerial Statement
for the Promotion of Health From Ideas to Action. The Statement affirms
that health promotion strategies contribute to the sustainability of
local, national and international health activities, and commits signers
to draw up country-wide health promotion plans.
International
Union for Health Promotion and Education (IUHPE)
Health Canada supports the International Union for Health Promotion and
Education (IUHPE) by attending IUHPE international conferences and supporting
funding where applicable. In particular, Health Canada is funding a special
series on training and education in the International Journal Of Health
Promotion and Education by Dr. Marcia Hills from the University of Victoria
and Dr. Michel O'Neill from the Groupe de recherche et d'intervention
en promotion de la santé, (GRIPSUL) at the University of Laval. In addition,
the IUHPE has recently released a report: The Evidence of Health Promotion
Effectiveness: Shaping Public Health in a New Europe - a Report for the
European Commission.
 The
Government Agenda
Many of the most important determinants of health involve policies and
programs that lie outside the jurisdiction of the Public Health Agency
of Canada and the broader, traditional health system. The kinds of change
called for by a population health approach will require significant changes
in the way the federal government allocates resources and structures
itself to share knowledge and responsibility.
While health is already a key item on the federal agenda, it is essential
to ensure that health is more than a priority - it must be seen as a lever
to achieving other government priorities, such as social cohesion, environmental
and economic sustainability, public engagement, and social justice. By
strengthening understanding of the interrelationships between health and
other policy issues, and ensuring that health is seen as integral to developing
Canadian society, broader social and economic policies affecting Canadians
can reflect and benefit from a population health approach.
-from Taking Action on Population Health
Many government organizations, particularly those that address health
and social development, the economy and environment, are shifting their
policy and program work to embrace "a bigger picture" perspective
that shares common elements found within a population health approach.
While very few refer to this work as "a population health approach"
some are involved in determinants of health research and evidence-based
practice research. Others are implementing sustainable development strategies.
Still others provide multi-sectoral and multidisciplinary policy research
and analysis. Please note that the following examples are illustrative
and are not intended to be mutually exclusive or an exhaustive list (see
also International Initiatives).
The National
Children's Agenda
The National Children's Agenda started with several federal and provincial
departments coming together. It has evolved into a multi-sectoral partnership
that will provide a vehicle through which all segments of Canadian society
can address the needs of children.
The
Policy Research Initiative
PRI is a Government of Canada initiative to strengthen public policy
research and development in Canada. Note the population health theme site
and newsletter, with articles highlighting early childhood development;
social inequalities in health; children and young families; health services
research; global perspectives on health, and more.
Department of Justice /
National Crime
Prevention Center
One area that shares common elements found within a population health
approach is The National Strategy on Community Safety and Crime Prevention.
This strategy is aimed at developing community based responses to crime,
with a particular emphasis on children and youth, Aboriginal people, and
women.
Environment
Canada - What is Sustainable Development?
There are a number of areas of activity at Environment Canada that
are complementary to a population health approach, particularly in the
areas of sustainable development and its emphasis on quality of life and
well-being; the integrated approach to planning and decision making; and
commitment to equity. The site clarifies the meaning of sustainable development
and highlights some of the landmarks along Canada's path.
Federation of Canadian
Municipalities
FCM's policies and programs focus on a number of population health
aspects. For example: their Quality of Life Initiative; community safety
and crime prevention; and housing and social infrastructure. As well,
the federation is working in long term partnerships with business leaders
and others to create strong and healthy communities.
Commissioner
of the Environment and Sustainable Development
The amendments to the Auditor General Act, which established the position
of Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development, impose
a new onus on the federal government. Twenty-seven departments and agencies
are now required to outline their departments' objectives and action plans
for integrating sustainable development into their policies, programs
and operations. These strategies are critical for advancing the federal
government's sustainable development agenda, and for measuring progress
against it.
The
Applied Research Branch of Human Resources Development Canada
This branch was established in 1994 to generate policy-relevant research
to guide HRDC's development of creative solutions to labour market, employment,
human capital development, income security, social development, labour
adjustment and workplace innovation issues and problems.
Province of Saskatchewan
/ Saskatchewan Health
The 1996 Health Progress Report called Renewal Is Working provides
an overview of the Ministry's direction. The report also supports a population
health approach.
The
Centres of Excellence for Children's Well-Being
The development of the Centres of Excellence for Children's Well-Being
is part of the federal government's contribution to the National Children's
Agenda. The centres will contribute to federal leadership in knowledge
generation and dissemination on children's issues. They will ensure that
advanced knowledge is disseminated more broadly among families, community-based
organizations, educators, health professionals, and government decision
makers, and improve our understanding of children and what they need to
develop in healthy ways.
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