Income Inequality

Currently there are many problems and flaws with the way the Canadian government’s policies deal with healthcare, income inequality and poverty. Time to time changes in policies have been made, perhaps to improve these issues, however, the gap between rich and poor keeps increasing and there is very little improvement in healthcare and the economy. In fact, healthcare keeps on becoming costly. Major issues like income inequality and poverty are not being taken care of by the government. According to Dr. Raphael (2002) poverty is caused by several reasons such as inequality in people’s income, weak social services and lack of other social supports (p.VI). He states, “Poverty directly harms the health of those with low incomes while income inequality affects the health of all Canadians through the weakening of social infrastructure and the destruction of social cohesion.”(Raphael, 2002, p. VI) Income inequality and poverty are interrelated with the way government structures policy decisions in its social and economic sphere (Raphael, 2002, p. VI). Dr. Raphael (2002) also claims that the health effects of poverty is strongly related to income inequality and poverty because societies that has high levels of poverty is bound to be economically unequal (p. 4). Canada’s government policies are inefficient in preventing income inequality and poverty. We do not get to see the whole picture as to how the Canadian government ignores and/or fails to provide services in all parts of Canada who requires improvement of healthcare, prevent income inequality and poverty. People who are living in urban areas are extensively lacking access to healthcare. The population in rural areas of Canada are lower than the population in urban areas. As a result, the government provides less healthcare in rural, northern and remote areas (Hay, Varga-Toth, Hines, 2006, p. III). I believe government is able to do this because people in cities knows less and/or cares less about people

References: Cbc News (2011, January 3) Canada 's CEO wages recession-proof: study. CBC News Publication. Retrieved April 29, 2011, from http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/story/2011/01/03/money-canada-ceo-wages.html Grant, T Globemedia Publishing Inc., p. 1-3. Retrieved April 29, 2011, from http://www.ftlcomm.com/ensign/reality/edgingtowardawareness/weeklyRant/2010/012_dec_9/GlobeandMail.pdf Directions. Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, p. 1-20, Retrieved April 29, 2011, from http://intraspec.ca/CanadasRichAndPoor_1.pdf Hay, D., Varga-Toth, J., & Hines, E. (2006, September) Frontline Health Care in Canada: Innovations in Delivering Services to Vulnerable Populations Toronto: York University School of Health Policy and Management, p. 1-63. Retrieved April 29, 2011, from http://www.thecanadianfacts.org/The_Canadian_Facts.pdf Palme, J. (2006, June) Income distribution in Sweden. The Japanese Journal of Social Security Policy, 5(1), 16-26 Raphael, D. (2002, June) Poverty, Income Inequality, and Health in Canada. The CSJ Foundation For Research and Education, p Soroka, S. N. (2007, February) Canadian Perceptions of the Health Care System. Health Council of Canada, p