Protéger les plus vulnérables, un impératif de santé publique
This resource is only available in French.
Employment and income are important social determinants of health [1]. In November 2016, the Québec government adopted a new act to better align training and jobs to facilitate entry into the labour market (Bill 70) [2]. This reform requires new social assistance applicants to enroll in a labour market integration program known as Objectif Emploi (French only) or face financial penalties in the form of reduced social assistance rates.
In this memorandum to the Québec Government, Montreal and Montérégie’s public health directors advocate for the removal of the financial penalties from the program, noting that their implementation has the potential to increase food insecurity and homelessness in their regions [3]. In the memorandum, the public health directors use local surveillance data, evidence from the literature and their knowledge from working with intersectoral partners to develop seven recommendations for improving the Objectif Emploi program.
Recommendations in the report include not only the removal of the of the financial penalties associated with the program but also call for a health impact assessment; ongoing evaluation of the program; provisions for the quality of jobs included under the program; and accessible health care, childcare and public transportation for program participants regions [3].
Use this resource to
- see an example of upstream public health action to reduce health inequities; and
- see public health advocacy for policy change to improve the social determinants of health action.
Related resources
Let’s Talk: Advocacy and health equity (2015)
Let’s talk: Moving upstream (2014)
Health inequities in the age of austerity: The need for social protection policies (2017)
Income-related policy recommendations to address food insecurity (2015)
Reference
Direction régionale de santé publique du CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l’Île-de-Montréal et Direction de santé publique du CISSS de la Montérégie-Centre. (2017). Protéger les plus vulnérables, un impératif de santé publique. Montréal and Longueuil, QC: Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. Available from: http://www.dsp.santemontreal.qc.ca/fileadmin/documents/dossiers_thematiques/Autres_thematiques/Inegalites_sociales_de_sante__ISS_/12092017_Mem_Proteger_les_plus_vulnerable_final.pdf
References
[1] National Collaborating Centre for Determinants of Health. (2014). Glossary of essential health equity terms. Antigonish, NS: National Collaborating Centre for Determinants of Health, St. Francis Xavier University.
[2] Assemblée Nationale du Québec. (2016). An Act to allow a better match between training and jobs and to facilitate labour market entry. Available from: http://www2.publicationsduquebec.gouv.qc.ca/dynamicSearch/telecharge.php?type=5&file=2016C25A.PDF.
[3] Direction régionale de santé publique du CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l’Île-de-Montréal et Direction de santé publique du CISSS de la Montérégie-Centre. (2017). Protéger les plus vulnérables, un impératif de santé publique. Montréal and Longueuil, QC: Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec. Available from: http://www.dsp.santemontreal.qc.ca/fileadmin/documents/dossiers_thematiques/Autres_thematiques/Inegalites_sociales_de_sante__ISS_/12092017_Mem_Proteger_les_plus_vulnerable_final.pdf.
Tags: Socioeconomic status, Structural determinants, Working conditions, Public Health Unit/Health Authority, Report / Document