Premier Andrew Furey announced the beginning of Newfoundland and Labrador’s well-being week on Monday, while touting the province as Canada’s first ‘well-being province’. (Darryl Murphy/CBC)
Premier Andrew Furey kicked off Newfoundland and Labrador’s second annual well-being week on Monday, touting the province as Canada’s first “well-being province.”
Furey said the designation comes alongside a new approach within government, which he says will view overall health and well-being beyond physical health and will prioritize the social determinants of health — like access to safe housing, quality education and social equality — in decision-making.
He called it a shift in how health is viewed throughout the government.
“We’re interested in capturing ‘you’ as all the components of your health. So your overall well-being,” Furey said.
“Your mental health, equally important, your social health, your family and friends and community, important. Your economic health, important. Your environmental health, important. And by looking at all of those facets and components of health, we’re really capturing your well-being. And my government will definitely continue to take your well-being as the top, number-one priority in everything we do.”
Furey made a similar announcement marking the first well-being week just over a year ago. The announcement faced criticism from opposition, particularly the NDP, who said it lacked substance to help residents who were struggling.
Hundreds of events to mark well-being week will happen across the province, Furey said, adding community leaders he spoke with following last year’s events were enthused by government looking at health on a broader scale.
A group that champions social and economic well-being also reacted positively to the declaration.
“We know what makes us sick comes down to your life or the social determinants of health. And we know that those programs and services are offered by your community sector, your non-profits, …who are contributing to your overall health,” said Colin Corcoran, CEO of the Community Sector Council N.L., which represents around 6,000 community organizations in the province.
“We’re incredibly encouraged by today’s announcement … and look forward to seeing how we can continue to partner for the well-being of our province and with the community sector.”
Newfoundland and Labrador is also aiming to become Canada’s healthiest province by 2030. Furey said time was taken to start with the fundamentals outlined in Health Accord N.L., and said the province is ahead of schedule on many of the “key ingredients” of the plan.
“Is there still work to do? Of course, but that’s why we set out expectations at the very beginning that this was going to be a 10-year Health Accord,” he said.
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