BC is facing a perfect storm of intersecting crises: affordability, extreme weather due to climate change and a healthcare system under strain.
All of these issues are adding to poor mental health, which is making the opioid and substance use crisis worse.
Diseases like cancer, type 2 diabetes, heart and lung diseases and poor mental health affect one in three British Columbians and are the leading causes of premature death in BC. These put a heavy burden on individuals, families, and the healthcare system.
Fortunately, data shows that between 50% and 80% of chronic diseases can be prevented.
When government invests in healthy communities, it gives people the chance to lead healthier lives, which reduces pressure on the healthcare system.
We ask the provincial government to:
Build healthy and resilient communities, by
- Increasing affordable housing that includes supportive social infrastructure, such as funding for parks and recreation facilities
- Funding community groups and non-profits that offer childcare, seniors’ programs, newcomer services, and other mental health programs
- Increasing support to improve accessibility for people of all abilities and ages, including adaptive equipment, programs and rehabilitation services
- Increasing affordable housing that includes supportive social infrastructure, such as funding for parks and recreation facilities
- Funding community groups and non-profits that offer childcare, seniors’ programs, newcomer services, and other mental health programs
- Increasing support to improve accessibility for people of all abilities and ages, including adaptive equipment, programs and rehabilitation services
Reduce poverty, by
- Providing Income and Disability Assistance rates that keep up with inflation so people can afford healthy basics
- Funding more low-cost physical activity programming and subsidies for sport for low-income families
- Providing Income and Disability Assistance rates that keep up with inflation so people can afford healthy basics
- Funding more low-cost physical activity programming and subsidies for sport for low-income families
Support healthy food for all, by
- Establishing a universal Healthy School Food Program for all public schools
- Expanding the delivery of programs that teach food literacy and cooking skills to promote healthy eating
- Supporting non-profits involved in distributing food as an important short-term means to address food insecurity
- Establishing a universal Healthy School Food Program for all public schools
- Expanding the delivery of programs that teach food literacy and cooking skills to promote healthy eating
- Supporting non-profits involved in distributing food as an important short-term means to address food insecurity
Protect clean air and reduce youth vaping, by
- Renewing BC’s Tobacco and Vaping Strategy
- Raising the legal smoking and vaping age to 21
- Investing in public and active transportation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions improve local air quality and increase mobility options
- Renewing BC’s Tobacco and Vaping Strategy
- Raising the legal smoking and vaping age to 21
- Investing in public and active transportation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions improve local air quality and increase mobility options