Timmins, Ontario – As we prepare for the October 26 municipal elections, everyone in our community has a role to play in keeping us healthy.
Northeastern Public Health (NEPH) is encouraging everyone to make health a priority in the upcoming municipal election: by voting, supporting others to vote, and supporting municipal decision-making that builds healthy communities.
Decisions made by municipal leaders affect all of us. Municipal leaders can make health a priority by:
- Taking into consideration the health of their constituents,
- Supporting policies, programs, and services that improve health,
- Considering how people may be affected differently by their decisions, and
- Ensuring that decisions benefit people of all ages and abilities.
To help voters, candidates, and those who are acclaimed consider health in the election and beyond, NEPH has developed a resource called Putting Health on the Agenda: Municipal Election 2026. This resource highlights seven health priorities where municipalities can make a difference. These issues affect the health and well-being of people and communities across the health unit area. They are: Social Connection, Growing Healthy Families, Built Environment, Substance Use and Retail Environments, Climate Change, Housing and Homelessness, and Food Security and Affordability.
“By voting, everyone can make a difference in the health in their community. Supporting municipal representatives to make health a priority will help build communities where people want to live, move to, and stay,” says Dr. Linna Li, Acting Medical Officer of Health and CEO for Northeastern Public Health.
All candidates and acclaimed leaders are being sent information packages highlighting these local issues and ways that municipal decisions can affect their community’s health. The information will be shared with the broader public as well through Facebook and online at www.neph.ca.