ADVANCING A BETTER CANADA FOR ALL: FALL 2003

This Fall presents unique windows of opportunity for advancing a better Canada for all of our neighbours; however, there remains enormous challenges as well when it comes to enabling a fairer society.  The Foundation continues to provide grants to assist in this regard.

Strengthening Universal Health Care

In Washington on Monday, September 22nd, former Health Commissioner and Atkinson Economic Fellow, Roy J. Romanow,  received the Pan American Health Organizations's prestigious award for Leadership in Inter-American Health. In accepting the PAHO award he said, "As you reflect on the lessons learned in regard to the evolution of primary health care in the Americas..the first lesson is that values matter...the second lesson is that repect matters.  Actively engaging citizens in shaping the policies and programs that will affect them is critical to their success.. What makes Medicare the quintessential Canadian program is that it is the convergence point where so many of our values come together.  That's why we call the Commission's report Building on Values. Medicare demonstrates that as community we can accomplish so much more than we could ever dream of doing as individuals." Mr. Romanow's PAHO thank you speech is featured in What's New and the Roy J. Romanow corner under What We Fund.

Back home in Canada, the first ministers have gone almost six months beyond the deadline they set for establishing one of Romanow's key recommendations, the Health Council of Canada (HCC), intended to provide independent and transparent information about who is spending what, with what effects.  I find it remarkable and disappointing that several of the provinces that are trying to either scuttle the HCC or limit its independence, are the same provinces that like to use "accountability" as an illusionary sword with their own transfer payment agencies in their respective provinces!

Mr. Romanow, who continues to enjoy remarkable support from the public and is one of the most sought after speakers in Canada, is emphasizing the importance of the key determinants of health, including income, early childhood education and care, housing and the environment. 

Economist Armine Yalnizyan, our other Atkinson Economic Justice Fellow, is also working hard to provide evidence-based reasons for ensuring that our health care system is both strengthened and cost effective.  For more information check out our Armine Yalnizyan's "Economic Justice Fellow's Corner under What We Fund.

Sixth Annual Ruth Atkinson Hindmarsh Award Granted

The Gatehouse, a unique and effective "safe place" for children who have been objects of, or have witnessed, abuse, has received this award, the largest of its kind in Canada. Visit the Gatehouse Press Release and the Ruth Atkinson Hindmarsh Award Section under What We Fund for more information.

Atkinson Journalism Fellowship in Public Policy

Ann Rees, a former journalist at the Vancouver Province and now coordinator of the journalism program at Kwantlen University College in Richmond B.C. has concluded her year long investigative work on freedom of information.  Entitled The Right To Know, Ms. Rees's series was launched in the Star in September with a blockbuster report on what the province of Ontario has been up to during the past eight years when it comes to issues of transparencey and politicization of the information process. 

First Duty Symposium

Toronto's First Duty Symposium brought together an amazing array of front line leaders in education and social services, government officials, and experts from across Canada, to talk about the policy and program opportunities of these promising projects that are testing seamless early learning and care programs for children and their families. Bruce Junior Public School, one of five sites in Toronto, was featured in the Toronto Star in September.

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Cheers

Charles E. Pascal