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Our Voice in Action |
OPHA Makes Moves to Strengthen Advocacy Initiatives
At its most recent Annual General Meeting in November 2007 OPHA's membership voted unanimously to approve changes in its governance structure designed to strengthen the efficacy of its advocacy initiatives.
Based on advice from a consultant last year, OPHA moved to increase its capacity and prioritize its advocacy agenda. It also introduced a change in governance that will streamline the internal advocacy process: It changed the relationship between the workgroups and the Board of Directors.
Prior to the AGM the interests of the workgroups were represented to the Board by the Members at Large. Starting this year Workgroup Chairs will automatically become members of the Advocacy Committee. This move, it is thought, will enable workgroups to work more effectively together on advocacy issues.
To initiate this change, the Board is inviting workgroup chairs to attend the Board session in January to participate in the development of key actions to address health inequities by addressing social determinants.
There are already a number of actions that have been identified by our workgroups and others that have not received the attention and support that might allow these actions to be effective. These potential actions will be addressed.
Positions put forth by the Food Security Workgroup (FSWG) at the AGM will also be addressed. Below is an excerpt from OPHA Resolution (2007) Access to a Nutritious Diet for All. In the Resolution FSWG recommend:
THAT the OPHA request, through the Food Security Workgroup, that the Province develop a comprehensive poverty reduction strategy;
and
THAT the OPHA request, through the Food Security Workgroup, that the Province do the following:
- Establish an independent committee including low-income people, policy experts and advocates to develop rational and just criteria for determining Ontario Works (OW) and Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) rates;
- Implement OW and ODSP rates that reflect the real cost of living and are indexed annually to reflect inflation, including the findings of yearly Nutritious Food Basket surveys conducted by local Boards of Health based on protocols established by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long- Term Care;
- Set the shelter component maximum for OW clients at 85 percent of the median market rent for each local housing market, based on annual surveys conducted by the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation;
- Implement immediately the full Ontario Child Benefit;
- Implement immediately a $10/hour minimum wage, and that the minimum wage be indexed to keep pace with inflation, and accompanied by a review of the Employment Standards Act to ensure vulnerable workers are protected;
and
THAT the OPHA work with organizations which share these goals, such as Dietitians of Canada (DC), the Ontario Society of Nutrition Professionals in Public Health (OSNPPH), the Association of Local Public Health Agencies (alPHa), the Association of Ontario Health Centres (AOHC), and Registered Nurses Association of Ontario (RNAO);
and
THAT a copy of the member approved resolution be forwarded to the Acting Chief Medical Officer of Health for Ontario; and the Ontario Ministers of Community and Social Services, Finance, Health and Long –Term Care, Children and Youth Services, and Health Promotion; the Public Health Agency of Canada, and the Office of Nutrition Policy & Promotion, Health Canada.
Implementation Strategy
The resolution will be implemented by the OPHA Food Security Workgroup (FSWG).
Step 1.
Copies of the resolution will be sent to the Acting Chief Medical Officer of Health for Ontario; and the Ontario Ministers of Community and Social Services, Finance, Health and Long –Term Care, Children and Youth Services, and Health Promotion; the Public Health Agency of Canada, and the Office of Nutrition Policy & Promotion, Health Canada.
Step 2.
Copies of the resolution will be sent to DC, OSNPPH, alPHa, AOHC and RNAO and the alPHa/COMOH/OPHA social determinants of health work group with a request to work together on advocating for the measures identified in the resolution.
Step 3.
Letters will be sent to the appropriate provincial ministries and provincial premier, including signatures from all of the involved organizations. All letters will request a response and an invitation to meet to discuss the proposals further.
Step 4.
The FSWG will inform the press of the measures taken and the importance and urgency of the issue.
The activities of the Food Security Workgroup are just one example of the possible initiatives that will arise at the Board's Action Planning Session on January 24 to address the social inequities in health. The Board will contribute to the strengthening of advocacy initiatives by seeking the support of other organizations — e.g., constituent societies, other NGOs and other potential partners — who might help OPHA advance our advocacy position. The Board will continue to participate in the process by identifying steps that could be taken to support advocacy initiatives.
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