A commentary by a former health-care leader who is an adjunct professor at the University of Victoria, University of Alberta and University of Calgary as well as editor-in-chief of Healthcare Management Forum.
Recent commentaries from Ken Fyke and Trevor Hancock, along with the BBC Reith Lectures by Ben Ansell, highlight urgent issues in our health-care systems, economy, and democracy.
Fyke calls for visionary and courageous leadership to address critical health-care challenges, emphasizing the need for systemic reforms to ensure every British Columbian has timely access to primary care, surgeries, and comprehensive health services.
Hancock stresses the necessity of transforming our economic values. He argues that our current economic system, driven by profit and materialism, is unsustainable.
We must shift towards an economy that values natural, human, and social capital, integrating these into our economic models to promote societal well-being and environmental sustainability.
The concept of indefinite growth must be replaced by a steady-state economy that prioritizes sufficiency over excess.
Ansell highlights the importance of robust democratic processes. Effective governance relies on transparent and accountable political leaders and institutions that foster citizen engagement and trust. Strengthening these democratic foundations is essential to address the multifaceted challenges we face today.
Analyzing the performance of Canadian federal and provincial governments, political parties, and interest groups reveals a mixed bag of preparedness to tackle health-care reform, economic transformation, and democratic resilience.
Often, political expediency trumps necessary actions. However, there are pragmatic steps that governments in Canada can take to bring about meaningful change.
First, health-care reform. Recommit to universal, accessible, and comprehensive public health by incentivizing federal-provincial-territorial collaboration and cooperation.
Co-operative federalism, which emphasizes intergovernmental co-operation, co-ordination, and joint action, should replace divided federalism. Implement a nationwide strategy for primary care that ensures every citizen has a family doctor.
This can be achieved by increasing funding for medical education, incentivizing doctors to work in underserved areas, and integrating nurse practitioners and other health-care professionals into primary care teams to alleviate the burden on physicians.
Second, economic transformation. Shift towards a green economy by investing in renewable energy projects, supporting sustainable agriculture, and implementing policies that promote circular economy principles.
The global movement toward globalization has led to significant economic growth but also resulted in negative consequences, such as increased disparity and exploitation.
The backlash against globalization is fueling nationalism and protectionism, which undermine the principles necessary for a high-functioning global economy.
Canada must help restore a fair global economic order by promoting policies that reduce disparities and ensure equitable opportunities for all.
Moreover, it is essential for businesses and industries to be partners in promoting economic, democratic, and health outcomes. Healthy Canadians contribute to a healthy economy and uphold robust political and social values.
Governments should provide tax incentives for businesses that adopt environmentally friendly practices and invest in job retraining programs for workers transitioning from fossil fuel industries.
Third, democratic resilience. Strengthen democratic institutions by enacting campaign finance reforms to reduce the influence of money in politics, enhancing transparency through open data initiatives, and promoting civic education programs to increase political literacy and citizen engagement.
Additionally, governments should support independent media and fact-checking organizations to combat misinformation and promote evidence-informed public discourse.
Consider adopting proportional representation (PR) to ensure fairer representation, where the number of seats a party receives in Parliament matches its share of the popular vote.
PR can reduce wasted votes, increase voter turnout, foster coalition governments, and mitigate regional divisions, leading to a more inclusive and representative democracy.
The emergence of generative artificial intelligence (AI) presents both a significant opportunity and a threat.
AI can help address many issues, from optimizing health-care delivery to driving economic innovation and enhancing democratic engagement.
However, it is crucial to establish safeguards to prevent the nefarious use of AI that could harm humanity. Implementing ethical guidelines, regulatory frameworks, and robust oversight mechanisms will ensure AI contributes positively to society.
By adopting these recommendations, Canadian national and provincial governments can foster a society characterized by the peace, order, and good government envisioned by the founders of Confederation.
Courageous and visionary political leadership is imperative to steer us towards a sustainable and prosperous future for all Canadians.
As citizens, we must carefully monitor and assess the performance of our governments and the platform/planks of our political parties to determine the extent to which they aspire toward these ideals. An equitable and prosperous Canadian future relies on our civic behaviour.
