The federal and Ontario budgets of 2012: what's in it for health equity?

Health equity has started to receive significant attention among Canadian policy-makers, with acknowledgement at both the federal and provincial levels of the importance of reducing health inequities. However, a challenging budget environment has led to a number of budget cutbacks in areas that are likely to negatively influence social determinants of health, such as housing, education, and social assistance. This article analyzes both the federal and Ontario budgets of 2012 and their potential impacts on and implications for health equity. Even though health care services have largely remained untouched in both budgets, the article argues that existing health inequities will be further amplified through the implementation of cutbacks in sectors other than health, given the importance of social determinants of health (SDH) for health equity outcomes.