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Wellesley Institute works in research and policy to improve health and health equity in the GTA through action on the social determinants of health.

Home Blog Economic inequality Got The message? Income Inequality Causes Poor Health: Richard Wilkinson

Michael Shapcott

Got The message? Income Inequality Causes Poor Health: Richard Wilkinson

The stunning new Three Cities research on growing income inequality in Toronto underscores the urgency of the message delivered by UK epidemiologist Richard Wilkinson during his recent Canadian tour: Inequality is bad for everyone. Poor health is a direct result of income inequality, says Wilkinson in an on-line interview that was conducted during his visit to Canada. And he adds that government policies to privatize essential services and slash social programs only add to the misery and burden of inequality. The Equality Trust web site contains a great deal of policy and research info in inequality. The Wellesley Institute joined with MASS LBP, the Metcalfe Foundation and the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives for Wilkinson’s Canadian tour.

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Michael Shapcott

Michael Shapcott

Michael Shapcott is Director, Affordable Housing and Social Innovation at Wellesley Institute. Michael has worked extensively in Toronto, in many parts of Canada, nationally and internationally on social innovation, the non-profit sector, civic engagement, housing and housing rights, poverty, social exclusion, urban health and health equity. He is recognized as one of Canada’s leading community-based housing and homelessness experts. He is currently on secondment to the Princes' Charities Canada.

Acknowledgement of Traditional Land

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.