Population Health in Canada: A Working Paper

VII: Summary of Key Issues and Questions

The issues raised in this paper are intended to provoke discussion and debate among participants in the National Conference. These issues align with the foci of the plenary and discussion sessions planned for the conference. More specifically, some key issues and questions are:

What is the meaning of a population health approach and how can it be distinguished from other approaches?

• How can a population health approach be incorporated into policy and program decision-making through shared responsibility and collaborative actions across sectors?

• What are the desired outcomes of population health interventions? How are they measured through health and/or social impact assessments?

• What tools presently exist for evaluating the process, implementation, short-term impacts and longer-term outcomes of population health initiatives?

• Who should be responsible for implementing population health? For what outcomes? To whom should they be accountable? How can we build on the notions of shared responsibility and intersectoral collaboration? § What resources are needed to support meaningful population health initiatives? Where will they be found?

• What can be learned from examining population health activities in Canada to date? How can these lessons best be shared among various stakeholders and jurisdictions?

• What role can/should different levels of government and different sectors of society play in implementing a population health approach in Canada?

• What elements belong in short-term, mid-range and longer-term goals or objectives for population health in Canada?

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