By Josepha Esemogie

Every woman in Ontario deserves quality healthcare. Women in Ontario continue to experience health disparities that could be readily reduced. From research to treatment options to access to services and programs, many women are overlooked and underserved because healthcare has traditionally not considered the impact of sex and gender differences.

Our health system has not always understood the factors influencing women’s health status, with only 1.2 percent of Canada’s research chairs in women’s health. Will it ever be understood?

Health Gap

Ontario has a health gap problem, as shown in the healthcare system. Research shows that women’s needs, including physiological differences, cultural challenges, and life circumstances, are often not taken into consideration. Addressing health gaps in women’s health in Canada requires a comprehensive understanding of the numerous factors that contribute to disparities. Socioeconomic, cultural, and structural factors can influence these disparities, and for women in marginalized and disadvantaged communities, this gap is even wider. Some key areas where health gaps may exist for women in Ontario are.

• Research: Historically, women have been underrepresented in clinical trials, leading to a lack of understanding of how specific treatments may affect them differently than men. Women are often overlooked in health research studies, yet they have different risk factors for certain diseases and may also respond differently to various treatments and medications. Until the 1990s, women were not included in most healthcare and medical research studies.
• Mental Health: Women are more likely than men to experience mental health issues, such as depression, anxiety, and trauma. The stigma surrounding mental health may prevent some women from seeking help. This also includes the trauma from domestic violence, sexual assault, and harassment, which can have profound and lasting effects on women’s physical and mental health.

We can see the prevailing gap in many aspects, including chronic diseases, access to healthcare without geographical or financial barriers, and cultural sensitivity, and we, as Canadians, need to realize that we are failing Ontario women.

Addressing the Health Gap

Canadians are among the healthiest people in the world. Nonetheless, our health system has not always understood the factors which influence the health status of women, trans women, girls, and gender-diverse communities, nor has it addressed their issues concerning research, education, leadership, and health interventions.

Addressing health gaps in women’s health is essential to public health efforts in any country, including Canada. While Canada has made noteworthy progress in promoting gender equality and improving women’s health outcomes, more must be done.

Ontario’s Ministry of Health has done some research and made initiatives to address these gaps like the POWER study (Project for an Ontario Women’s Health Evidence-Based Report), a multi-year project funded by Echo: Improving Women’s Health in Ontario, an agency of the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care which produces a comprehensive report on women’s health. But is it enough?

These health gaps require a comprehensive and collaborative approach involving healthcare providers, policymakers, researchers, and communities. Initiatives focusing on education, awareness, and policy changes can contribute to narrowing the health gap in women’s health in Canada.

The Next Step

With all the initiatives and research the government has done, more is needed for the people of Ontario. To reach a certain point where the health gap is reduced, and the disparities are barely visible, the government would have to introduce new policies to make the gap less visible. Some of the changes could include:

1. Address the Economic Disparities: Reduce health inequities resulting from women’s social roles and status; this includes promoting equal pay for equal work, affordable childcare, and family-friendly workplace policies.
2. Access to Healthcare Services: Service planning must consider the unique needs of diverse groups of women. Offer or subsidize childcare services for women with children so they can attend health and support services.
3. Gender Responsive Policies: This includes policies on chronic conditions, reproductive health, maternal care, mental health, and violence prevention.

The inequities and disparities in the healthcare sector will only disappear once the government acts on new policies to help bridge this gap and create a new healthcare system that Canadians would be proud of.

Communities, countries, and the world are only as strong as their women’s health.

By Abdi Ayana

The evidence is irrefutable: the earth has warmed during the industrial era. Unless we act immediately to reduce emissions, we will face the worst consequences of climate change caused by carbon emissions. And the most effective and efficient tool to mitigate carbon emissions is a carbon tax, which is a charge placed on greenhouse gas pollution mainly from burning fossil fuels.

Canada: One of the Worst Polluters

Canada’s National Observer asserts that earth’s average surface temperature has risen by about 1.0°C since 1880 and this warming is largely caused by human activities. The amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has increased from about 280 parts per million in 1880 to 410 ppm in 2019. Carbon dioxide, the most dominant greenhouse gas is produced by the burning of fossil fuels, industrial production, and land use change. Globally, almost 80% of greenhouse gas emissions from human sources come from the burning of fossil fuels and industrial processes. Activities that contribute to emissions include: driving vehicles, electricity production, heating and cooling of buildings, operation of appliances and equipment, production and transportation of goods, and provision of services and transportation for communities.

Canada is one of the top ten global emitters of climate pollution. In 2021, about 28% of Canada’s total greenhouse gas emissions came from the oil and gas sector, 22% from transport, 13% from buildings and 11% from the heavy industry sector. As a result, the analysis by U.K.-based Carbon Brief studies cumulative emissions since 1850 says Canada is responsible for 2.6 percent of the world’s total carbon emissions and as a result bears greater responsibility to align itself with a climate-safe future. Temperature has increased in all regions of Canada and in the surrounding oceans. Since 1948, when nation-wide records became available, Canada’s annual average temperature over land has warmed by a best estimate of 1.7°C. As a result, Canada is warming at more than twice the global rate and the Canadian Arctic is warming at about three times the global rate.  

Impact of Climate Change

Greenhouse gases from human activities are the most significant driver of observed climate change which in turn is having impacts on the environment, health and the economy.

Environmental Impact

• Average annual temperatures are expected to increase
• Snow, sea ice and glacier coverage will decrease resulting in rising sea levels and increased coastal flooding
• Heat waves are likely to increase in frequency and severity, resulting in higher risks of forest fires
• Many wildlife species will have difficulty adapting to a warmer climate and will likely be subject to greater stress from diseases and invasive species

Health Impact

• Greater risk of respiratory and cardiovascular problems;
• A new study by the American Association for Cancer Research suggests that pollution is also associated with increased risk of mortality for several other types of cancer, including breast, liver, and pancreatic cancer.

Economic Impact

• Agriculture, forestry, tourism and recreation may be affected by changing weather patterns
• Human health impacts will place additional economic stress on health and social support systems
• Damage to infrastructure such as roads and bridges caused by extreme weather

The Solution: A Carbon Tax

A carbon tax is the most efficient and powerful method of combating global warming and reducing air pollution, according to a new report from the International Monetary Fund. Under a carbon tax, the government sets a price that emitters must pay for each ton of greenhouse gas they emit. Businesses and consumers will take steps, such as switching fuels or adopting new technologies, to reduce their emissions to avoid paying the tax.

Taxes on greenhouse gases come in two broad forms as explained by C2ES:

1. an emissions tax: based on the quantity an entity produces
2. a tax on goods or services: a carbon tax on gasoline

This has already proven to be a success in British Colombia where a carbon tax was introduced in 2008. Analyses suggest that the policy has reduced emissions by up to 15%. Meanwhile, provincial real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by more than 17% from 2007 to 2015 outpacing the rest of Canada. Furthermore, per-capita gasoline demand dropped by 15% between 2007 and 2014.

Climate change is here to stay and its impacts are unavoidable. A carbon tax is proving to be the most powerful tool in the fight against climate change and the government must ensure it is comprehensive across Canada to be even more effective.