Tuesday, January 27, 2015
Grey Bruce Health Unit
Bruce Grey Poverty Task Force and the Grey Bruce Health Unit Response to Final Report of the Precarious Work Group of Peace and Justice
The report of the Precarious Work Group of Peace & Justice is critical reading and the Bruce Grey Poverty Task Force supports the call for Living Wage policies passed by all municipal councils in Grey Bruce. In 2013, the Bruce Grey Poverty Task Force surveyed people living in poverty or with lived experience, (average aged 35-56). They prioritized the provision of a “living wage” as the most important thing to reduce poverty for families and individuals.
In Bruce and Grey Counties, there is an increase in families surviving on part-time, seasonal and casual employment. These families do not have the security or benefits enjoyed in more traditional employment relationships. Many zero hour contracts exist resulting in people being employed but receiving no payment for being on-call for work i.e. Personal Support Workers. Many families are resorting to food banks and other community chartable programs in order to get by. These precarious employment relationships are becoming the ‘new normal’ for our workforce.
Lower income from under unemployment or no employment challenges the ability to provide basic necessities. People with low income or without a job tend to experience more health problems including adult onset diabetes, heart attacks and mental health issues such as depression, anxiety and increased suicide rates.
- The unemployment rate for youth aged 15 – 24 is 14%.1
- Lowest incomes in Grey Bruce are found in rural areas and in downtown Owen Sound.2
- 11% of children aged 17 and under in Grey Bruce live in low income families.1
“We need to address the trend of precarious work in our communities to ensure that families are able to provide for their families. Stopping this trend will reduce the need for social supports and allow families to live in dignity,” says Jill Umbach, Planning Network Coordinator, Bruce Grey Poverty Task Force.
The Grey Bruce Health Unit advocates for “Health in All Policies” and wants council members to recognize that the actions they take as elected officials will affect the health, equity and sustainability of their community. Municipal government can shape the health of a community through the design and delivery of policies, programs and services. We ask their support for actions that improve the health of our communities.
As a society, we act collectively to assure the conditions in which people can be healthy; this is the essence of Public Health. Good health comes from a variety of factors: income and social status; education and literacy; employment and working conditions; early childhood development; housing and social supports; personal health practices; and a smaller extent from the health care system and our own genetics.
A “Health in All Policies” means...
- Working with partnerships to implement a living wage policy.
- Investing municipal resources to support under resourced families.
- Support to create reliable employment and business opportunities.
1. “Statistics Canada 2011 Census of Canada,” 2012.
2. (HEAL), Human Environments Analysis Laboratory, “Mapping Opportunities for Healthy Eating and Healthy Physical Activity in Grey-Bruce, Ontario,” Western University, 2012.
Media Contacts:
Drew Ferguson
Public/Media Relations
Grey Bruce Health Unit
519-376-9420 ext 1269
BlackBerry 519-377-5242
d.ferguson@publichealthgreybruce.on.ca
Jill Umbach
Planning Network Coordinator
Bruce Grey Poverty Task Force
519-377-9406
jill.umbach@gmail.com
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