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Hot Topic |
Health and the Environment
The environment is finally getting the attention it deserves. OPHA was proud to lead the planning and hosting of the Public Forum at the recent CPHA conference. With over 1,500 in attendance, Dr. Suzuki spoke to a capacity crowd when he stated, "Our Environment is our Health".
We were fortunate to have the David Suzuki Foundation use this opportunity to release its "Prescription for a Healthy Canada: Towards a National Environmental Health Strategy" report, and to have Dr. Suzuki appear in person as part of a panel discussion. Also on the panel were: Dr. Lynn Marshall, Her Excellency Ingrid Iremark, Swedish Ambassador to Canada and, as moderator, CBC Radio host Adrian Harewood.
The introduction to the "Suzuki Strategy" identifies that Canada does not have legally binding standards for air quality and drinking water, permits the use of pesticides that other countries ban, allows higher pesticide residues on foods than other countries, and has failed to or does not adequately regulate some toxic substances.
Five priority areas are identified in the Strategy:
- Improve Research and Monitoring
- Strengthen Laws, Regulations, and Policies
- Build Professional Capacity and Raise Public Awareness
- Confront the Unjust Distribution of Environmental Harms and Protect Vulnerable Populations
- Prioritize Environmental Health on the International Stage
The OPHA Environmental Health Workgroup has had an opportunity to continue to work with the Suzuki Foundation in advancing these recommendations.
On August 20, 2007 a product of the work of another OPHA/Environmental Health Workgroup partnership was the release of a paper, Cancer and the Environment in Ontario: Gap Analysis on the Reduction of Environmental Carcinogens. This paper calls on the federal and provincial governments to develop a toxics use reduction strategy framework with a focus on reducing exposure to environmental carcinogens. The involvement with industry is critical in this strategy as it focuses on finding substitutions for the toxic substances presently used. This toxic reduction strategy truly supports Recommendation #2 in the Suzuki Strategy.
The environment is truly an important topic in the Ontario election. View our Election Guide [PDF, 334kb] for issues to raise with your local candidates.
Post-election, OPHA will need to continue to put forward its recommendations regarding the environment to whichever party is elected.
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