MEDIA ADVISORY: Health-care professionals protest loss of long form census

TORONTO, Sept. 1 /CNW/ - Medical and population health researchers and health-care professionals are warning that the cancellation of the mandatory long form census will create a significant health risk for Canadians. That's why they are participating in a series of media events in cities across the country on Thursday, September 2.

Initiated by the "Save the Census Campaign", being spearheaded by social planning bodies across Canada, these events will feature Medical Officers of Health, physicians, nurses, medical researchers, representatives of Community Health Centres and other health-care professionals who are concerned about the health implications of this decision.

"Long form census data is used to make decisions about local health care and public health services, and as a foundation for population-based research into medical conditions and diseases. Loss of this data will make it more difficult to address the pressing health needs of Canadians," said Dr. David McKeown, Medical Officer of Health for the City of Toronto.

Events are planned for Thursday, September 2nd in Toronto, Ottawa, Sudbury, Winnipeg, and Edmonton. Confirmed participants include Medical Officers of Health, the Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario (RNAO), the Canadian and Ontario Epidemiological Societies, and front-line medical researchers.

EVENT LISTING

TORONTO

    
    Tomorrow, Thursday September 2nd, 10:00 a.m.
    Women's College Hospital, Main Lobby
    76 Grenville Street, Toronto (please note there is NO on-site parking)
    Organizer: John Campey, Social Planning Toronto [phone] x 260
    Speakers:
    -   Dr. David McKeown, Medical Officer of Health, City of Toronto
    -   Rob Milling, Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario (RNAO)
    -   John McLaughlin, Vice-President, Population Studies and Surveillance,
        Cancer Care Ontario
    -   Anne-Marie Holt, President, Ontario Association of Public Health
        Epidemiologists
    -   Cherie Miller, Director of Community Health, Regent Park Community
        Health Centre

    OTTAWA

    Thursday, September 2nd, 10:00 a.m.
    Carlington Community and Health Services
    930 Merivale Road, Ottawa ON
    Organizer, Peggy Taillon, Canadian Council on Social Development (613)
    236 8977 x 1
    Speakers:
    -   Dr. Isra G. Levy, Chief Medical Officer of Health, City of Ottawa
    -   Michael Birmingham, Executive Director Carlington Community & Health
        Services and National Association of Community Health Centres
    -   Nancy Watters, Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario (RNAO)

    SUDBURY

    Thursday, September 2nd, 10:00 a.m.
    City of Lakes Family Health Team Sudbury Site, 960 Notre Dame Avenue,
    Unit C. Sudbury
    Organizer: Janet Gaspirini, Social Planning Council of Sudbury (705) 675-
    3894
    Speakers:
    -   Dr. Chris Bourdon, Chief of Staff, Sudbury Regional Hospital
    -   Isabelle Michelle, Sudbury District Health Unit
    -   Dr. David Marsh, Associate Dean, Community Engagement, Northern
        Ontario School of Medicine

    WINNIPEG

    Thursday, September 2nd, time TBD.
    Aboriginal Health and Wellness Center of Winnipeg
    181 Higgins Avenue (Time to be confirmed)
    Organizer: Wayne Helgason, Winnipeg Social Planning Council (204) 943-
    2561
    Speakers:
    -   Darlene Hall, Executive Director, Aboriginal Health and Wellness
        Center of Winnipeg
    -   Sandra Gessler, Professor, Faculty of Nursing, University of Manitoba

    EDMONTON

    Thursday, September 2nd, 1:00 pm
    Friends of Medicare Office, 10512 122nd St, Edmonton
    Organizer: David Eggen, Friends of Medicare [phone]
    Speakers:
    -   Dr. Colin Soskolne, President, Canadian Society for Epidemiology and
        Biostatistics
    -   John Kolkman, Research Coordinator, Edmonton Social Planning Council
    

For more information please visit www.savethecensus.ca

For further information: Jeremy Tudor Price, Communications Officer, Social Planning Toronto, [phone] x 214; John Campey, Social Planning Toronto, [phone] x 260, (cell) 647-283-9657; Peggy Taillon, Canadian Council on Social Development, [phone]