Northwest Health Unit wants the public to “Get Informed, Be Heard, and Vote”

NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO – One of the more controversial topics on the public mind during this election is health care in the northwest. COVID-19 has shown light on Northwestern Ontario’s limited access to family physicians, mental health care, and addiction centres.

“We hope that people make an informed decision on who to vote for based on which political party platform best represents their views on issues that are meaningful to them,” says Dr. Kit Young Hoon, Medical Officer of Health at NWHU.

Therefore, the Northwest Health Unit’s “Get Informed, Be Heard, and Vote” campaign aims to help the public make an informed decision at the ballot box by learning about important topics.

“By supporting healthy public policy, provincially elected officials can make a difference in the health of residents. These changes at the government level can change socio-economic, cultural, and environmental conditions in ways that reduce health inequities and support healthy individual behaviours,” explains Dr. Young Hoon.

The campaign materials focus on policy priorities such as health and the pandemic, climate and the environment, income/poverty, housing, discrimination/acceptance, and food insecurity. Most of these issues have been worsened throughout the pandemic, and sound policy and decisions related to these topics will be needed to address these topics.

For more information about the campaign, please visit the health unit’s website, www.nwhu.on.ca.