Protecting the public is a key role of all levels of government in Canada. This role takes many forms. During a public health emergency, preparation, timely and evidence-based decisions, considering the unique needs of vulnerable populations, and balancing between action taken to protect the public while being cognizant of the impact of such actions on the longer-term well-being of the public, particularly equity-deserving groups, is critical. This article reflects on some of our historical failures in public health to protect the public in Canada, the lessons learned, how these impacted our experience during COVID-19, and how the related framework for optimizing our work can protect the public in future events.
BhaskarSTanJBogersM, et al.At the epicenter of COVID-19 - the tragic failure of the global supply chain for medical supplies. Front Public Health. 2020;8:562882. doi:10.3389/fpubh.2020.562882
Robson J, Tedds L, Aknin L, et al.Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Women in Canada. Royal Society of Canada. 2022.
16.
Canadian Institute for Health Information. The Impact of COVID-19 on Long-Term Care in Canada: Focus on the First 6 Months. Ottawa, ON: CIHI; 2021.
17.
StaempfliSHavaeiFPhinneyAMacPheeM. Unintended consequences of pandemic management strategies on residents and family in one long-term care home in British Columbia: a patient-supported qualitative study. Innov Aging. 2022;6(5):igac036. doi:10.1093/geroni/igac036
LamABacani-AngusKRichardsKGriffinRKarachiwallaF. A health equity lens contributes to an effective pandemic response: a Canadian regional perspective. Health Promot Pract. 2022;24:201-206. doi:10.1177/15248399211072530
23.
TiwanaHSmithJKirbyMPurewalS. Equity lens on Canada’s COVID-19 response Review of the literature. Int J Health Pol Manag. 2024;13:8132. doi:10.34172/ijhpm.2024.8132
