Vote for investments in healthier communities for all!

With a provincial election underway and a federal election anticipated shortly, Public Health Sudbury & Districts is encouraging voters to consider the power of their ballot to help shape and create healthier communities.

“Elections are critical times for us to take stock of where we are as a society and what we should prioritize and invest in for the next few years,” said Dr. Mustafa Hirji, Acting Medical Officer of Health and Chief Executive Officer for Sudbury and districts. “Having just emerged from the worst public health emergency of a generation and facing population health challenges around substance use, resurgent vaccine-preventable infections around the world, and the spectre of an avian influenza pandemic, now is the time to invest in a public health sector that is sustainably funded and positioned to combat these threats,” said. Dr. Hirji.

Like Public Health, countless other community agencies and individuals across Sudbury and Manitoulin districts rally their efforts every day to respond to community needs, advance community health, promote equity, and prevent disease. However, over the past decade, Public Health funding has not kept pace with inflation while the population has grown and new mandates have arisen. With a continuously shrinking budget, Public Health struggles to deliver on its commitments to the community.

Four areas of public health focus

1. Funding for local public health

• Candidates and voters should prioritize sustainable investments in public health for the long-term wellness and vibrancy of their communities.

2. Childhood vaccinations

• Ensure that public health efforts across the province have the necessary funding to vaccinate and to protect children, alongside partners in primary care and pharmacies.

3. Being prepared for emergencies

• Focus investments in public health to be better prepared for future emergencies and pandemics and be ready to respond in ways that maintain a sense of normalcy and reduce disruptions and hardships.

4. Investing in our children

• Prioritize that funding be tied to inflation and population growth for public health programs like Healthy Babies, Healthy Children and other health promotion activities to stem society’s biggest challenges.

Voter actions

• Consider the issues that are important to your community and the investments that are required to support them.
• Get to know your local candidates and understand what is of importance to them and the vision of their party.
• Ask questions and take part in polite and respectful discussions.
• Respect different points of view and look to find common ground.

Be informed and vote

Visit Elections Ontario for information about voting www.elections.on.ca/en.html, including

• important dates
• voter registration
• ways to vote (by mail, in advance, or in person)
• voting locations

For more information about Public Health Sudbury & Districts, please visit phsd.ca or call 705.522.9200 (toll-free 1.866.522.9200).

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Dr. Mustafa Hirji, Acting Medical Officer of Health for Public Health Sudbury & Districts encourages voters to consider four areas health when gathering information and casting their ballots.