Wellesley Institute works in research and policy to improve health and health equity in the GTA through action on the social determinants of health.
Climate change from greenhouse gas emissions is a major threat to human and planetary health. As transportation is a significant contributing factor to the climate crisis, strategies to cut emissions need measures to improve public transit systems to reduce private vehicle use. Green infrastructure that contributes to more sustainable travel must also address inequities in […]
Continue ReadingEquitable public transit important for climate change mitigation
Transit ridership is increasing this fall as students return to school and more people return to the office. With it, there may be increased concerns about violence on the TTC. Concerns about transit safety have been linked to houseless people and people with mental illness. However, the evidence shows they are more likely to be […]
Continue ReadingA safe TTC requires an equitable, trauma-informed approach
In Canada, 31 per cent of older adults are immigrants, and up to 50 percent are not fluent in either official language. For those with limited English proficiency, language is frequently a barrier when seeking or accessing health and community support services. This includes housing supports, where a lack of translation and interpretation supports could […]
Access to affordable, accessible, and reliable public transportation is critical for the good health of individuals and communities. The cuts to TTC services listed in the new budget will decrease the frequency of services and increase crowding in already underserved areas. This will have a disproportionate impact on the health of women as well as […]
Continue ReadingToronto’s cuts to public transit will worsen health equity
According to the latest census data several changes have taken place in Toronto’s housing market which have had consequences for population health. More people are renting their homes than ever before, women and older adults continue to live in unhealthy rental housing, and fewer homes are available at rents affordable to low-income households. Additionally, many […]
Continue ReadingErosion of affordable rental housing in Toronto: Findings from the 2021 census
We are in the midst of a 7th wave of COVID-19. We are seeing infections, hospitalizations and deaths rise. Our communities, services and economy are strained because of burnout and the number of people off sick. But these early impacts are not the final story. We now know that a portion of people who […]
Continue ReadingThe delayed response to long COVID: Prioritizing equity
Our previous New Normal Election Analysis pieces examined seniors’ care, income inequality, good jobs, mental health, and anti-racism, and housing. Below we look at provincial party commitments on components included under our Thriving in the City framework, which identifies the goods, resources, and services a Greater Toronto Area (GTA) family with young children needs to […]
Our previous New Normal Election Analysis pieces examined seniors’ care, income inequality, and good jobs, mental health, and anti-racism. Below, we look at provincial party housing commitments. We have assessed the parties on how they would deliver affordable housing, which low-income households need; increase rental affordability and community housing – key where owning is not […]
Continue ReadingElection 2022: How do party promises stack up on housing?
Our previous New Normal Election Analysis pieces examined seniors’ care and income inequality. Below, we look at provincial party commitments towards creating good jobs, improving mental health, and addressing anti-racism and health system equity. Good Jobs A good job is crucial for health, and for equity. It consumes so much of our time, and is […]
Continue ReadingElection 2022: Good jobs, mental health and anti-racism
Wellesley Institute’s New Normal is a vision of a better Canada, Ontario, and Greater Toronto Area where everyone thrives post-pandemic. In the lead-up to this provincial election we will examine issues raised in our New Normal blog series to see how the commitments of our leading political parties stack up. Do they seek to bring […]
We wish to acknowledge this land on which the Wellesley Institute operates. For thousands of years, it has been the traditional land of the Huron-Wendat, the Seneca, and the Mississaugas of the Credit. Today, this meeting place is still the home to many Indigenous people from across Turtle Island and we are grateful to have the opportunity to work on this land.
Revised by the Ceremonial Committee at the University of Toronto Office of Indigenous Initiatives in April 2021.