The recently approved City of Toronto budget, which nearly doubled funding to the Toronto Community Crisis Service (TCCS), is a welcome step to better support people experiencing crisis. TCCS is a non-police-led mental health crisis response that some consider the city’s fourth emergency service. Vulnerable people experiencing a mental health crisis too often face coercive […]
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Needed: A national approach to race-based data for health equity
Canadian healthcare institutions have rarely asked about the race or ethnicity of the people they serve. Contrary to popular belief, this is not because it’s illegal. Canadian institutions have simply been hesitant to openly discuss race and their role in racial discrimination. But waves of change are underway. As many healthcare institutions have turned their […]
Continue ReadingNeeded: A national approach to race-based data for health equity
Communities must own their health data
Canadians are increasingly expressing worries about the collection and use of their data. Institutional and legislative measures exist to offer protection for our personal information. But traditional data governance practices have gaps that we will need to close if we want to be able to use data to improve the fairness of health systems. As […]
Learning from the pandemic experiences of Latin Americans in Toronto
The unequal impact of COVID-19 on low-income and racialized groups became very evident during the first 18 months of the pandemic. A new study of the experiences of one of the hardest hit communities in Toronto – Spanish-speaking Latin Americans – is now shedding light on what can be done about the barriers to equitable […]
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Getting to the root of the mental health crisis
Bell Let’s Talk’s 2024 campaign, “Let’s create real change” opens a crucial conversation about taking lasting action to address the mental health crisis. Worrisome mental health trends are being observed globally and in Toronto. According to Toronto Public Health, the number of Toronto residents reporting very good or excellent mental health has fallen from 71 […]
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Ending disparities in auto insurance premiums
Cities in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) have some of the highest auto insurance rates in Ontario. Certain neighbourhoods are further impacted due to insurance assessments that determine certain areas as being higher risk. Those who live in areas outside of metropolitan centres often must rely on private vehicles to get them to and from […]
Continue ReadingEnding disparities in auto insurance premiums
Winter plan for people sheltering outdoors falls short
Cold weather can have a devastating impact on people who are homeless, leading to hypothermia, frostbite and even death. Adequate shelter spaces and a safe and dignified outdoor outreach strategy are critical to supporting people living outdoors. The City of Toronto’s 2023 Winter Services Plan outlined steps to support those who are sheltering outdoors this […]
Continue ReadingWinter plan for people sheltering outdoors falls short
Remembering December 6
Thirty-four years ago, 14 women were killed at École Polytechnique in Montreal. Across the country today, people are remembering the women we lost that day and why. We remember that a man walked into a classroom and opened fire; his only motivation, his only target, was women. Violence against women isn’t gone, and until it […]
From surviving to thriving for persons with a disability
More than 6.2 million Canadians live with a disability that impairs their daily activities. In Ontario, 25 per cent of people live with a disability, most with more than one type. While physical disabilities related to pain, flexibility, and mobility are the most common, mental health-related disabilities are on the rise as the COVID-19 pandemic […]
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Commentary on the impact of cutting temporary COVID-19 policies
Ontario’s decisions earlier this year to end temporary funding for Physician and Hospital Services for Uninsured Persons (PHSUP) and eliminate a COVID-19 paid sick leave program will worsen inequities in access to healthcare services and cause disproportionate harm to racialized and low-income communities. This is particularly concerning as COVID-19 infection rates grow this fall. The […]
Continue ReadingCommentary on the impact of cutting temporary COVID-19 policies