The Big Reset and missing remedies

The Big Reset, the 338-page report from Dame Moya Greene as chair of the Premier’s Economic Recovery Team, has created a furor since it was made public. It recommends numerous panaceas to save our province from a terrifying financial crisis. Understandably, its radical recommendations have been regarded as shock therapy by some government and political establishments. Yet the report has several gaps, which need further attention.

Despite the highest per capita spending on health, there have been no apparent beneficial impacts on outcomes. Instead, the report underlines a high prevalence of chronic diseases. Furthermore, the report refers to Health Accord NL’S strategic plan of focusing on social determinants of health (SDH) as crucial to producing better results.

In light of the emphasis on SDH, the Health Accord team, however, only recommended in terms of an efficient and effective health-care system as the prime means to meet the province’s needs.

But the primary premise of SDH as laid down by the World Health Organization emphasizes social protection, food insecurity, education, unemployment, housing, environment, early childhood development, social inclusion and access to affordable health services.

Surprisingly, Greene’s report completely ignored the issue of food insecurity, which makes the province vulnerable to all forms of ill health. A regular, nutritious diet for the health and wellbeing of every individual is a no-brainer. Numerous studies show how food insecurity is the prime reason for high rates of chronic diseases.

The issue of food insecurity cannot be addressed by merely improving healthcare delivery. There is an urgent need to increase food production in the province. Currently, 90 per cent of food is imported, hence the cost is higher, and the quality (particularly fresh vegetables and fruits) is worse than in other provinces. The average expenditure on food is $9,450 per household in N.L.; thus, total annual spending on food is $2 billion, and we spend nearly $1.8 billion of that on imported food.

Food-exporting regions in North America and elsewhere are already under severe stress to maintain production due to climate change. Being a net food importer, this province is highly vulnerable to future access to food. Similar to a green economy (as mentioned often in the report), we also need a green revolution to reduce our dependence on importing food. Local food production will generate jobs, revenue and promote good health. There are renewed efforts by community-based organizations to enhance food production by embracing modern technology. However, the government has to focus on creating a critical mass of young, dynamic, technosavvy food growers to replace aging farmers.

Expecting Memorial University to lead the development of a green economy won’t be possible with a 30 per cent budget cut. That proposed measure may be a historic blunder. Developing new technology and promoting products is an ongoing endeavour, not a one-time investment. Technology can be developed in a lab, but its promotion needs a rigorous interdisciplinary approach, such as creating an appropriate business model, applying behavioral economics in changing paradigms of energy usage, and factoring in demographic transition in social acceptance, so substantial investment is required.

Small municipalities face tremendous challenges in providing essential services — such as drinking water — due to declining revenues and aging infrastructure. There is no clear vision in the report on how to revive crumbling services in those communities.

For the fishery, the report emphasizes better environmental management of marine resources for both wild and farmed fish. DFO has already warned of a dwindling caplin stock threatening the health of stocks of bigger fish such as cod, salmon, turbot and char, and there is no clear sign of renewal. A recent report about climate change altering the warm Gulf Stream and cold Labrador current is an emerging threat to the North Atlantic ecosystem. These changes may permanently threaten Atlantic cod, and efforts towards its recovery may be in vain.

Perhaps the best alternative will be land-based aquaculture. This closed system has several advantages, such as fewer possibilities of contaminating the ocean ecosystem and the escape of farmed species. Florida has already started land-based Scandinavian salmon farms, where high energy usage for cooling water in a hot climate is costprohibitive. Climate-wise, this province has an edge. The world-class Marine Institute can also give advantage points. Atanu Sarkar, associate professor Division of Community Health and Humanities Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland St. John’s