Population Health in Canada: A Working Paper

Abstract

The population health movement has gained prominence in Canada and elsewhere. Policy makers, program planners and researchers are taking note that health is strongly influenced by forces and factors that lie largely beyond the health care system. The development of population health in Canada is the central focus of the National Conference on Shared Responsibility for Health & Social Impact Assessments to be held May 2-3, 1999 in Vancouver, Canada. This paper is intended to provide conference participants with common knowledge and vocabulary and frame a number of key issues for discussion in the conference. The paper provides a snapshot of population health activities in Canada. Finally, it introduces and briefly discusses political, logistical, resource allocation, measurement and evaluation issues. Concepts, frameworks and approaches associated with population health are included in an appendix. This overview of population health and associated issues is intended to focus conference participants on the three key themes of the conference: the need for tools and measures for assessing the health and social impact of programs and policies; a recognition of shared responsibility for population health across sectors of government and society; and concern for accountability in decision-making around population health.

Acknowledgments

This discussion paper was prepared by C. James Frankish, PhD, Associate Director of IHPR and BC Health Research Scholar, Gerry Veenstra, PhD, Postdoctoral Fellow at IHPR and at the Centre for Health Services and Policy Research, and Glen Moulton, BA, BEd, Masters Candidate in Education, University of British Columbia. It was made possible by Health Canada who provided the funds for the project. We would like to thank James Dunn, Lawrence W. Green, John Horvath, Glenn Irwin, Heidi Liepold, Aleck Ostry and Deanna Williamson for their comments.

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