Raphael D. When Social Policy is Health Policy. Why Increasing Poverty and Low Income Threatens Canadians’ Health and Health Care System

School of Health Policy and Management, York University
Canadian Review of Social Policy/Revue Canadienne de politique sociale
Spring/Summer 2003, No. 51, p. 9-28Concerns about increasing numbers of Canadians living in poverty and on low incomes have primarily been raised by the social development and social welfare sectors. The health-related consequences of these increases are profound yet the public health and health care communities have been strangely silent concerning these issues. This is surprising as accumulating evidence indicates that poverty and low income have significant effects upon the health of populations. The current policy environment in Canada is one where increases in numbers of Canadians living in poverty and on low incomes are not seen by policy makers as particularly problematic. Yet such increases clearly threaten the health of Canadians and the
sustainability of the Canadian health care system.