Several causes showed remarkable progress in terms of both reduced mortality and diminished differences across the income quintiles, while a few causes showed the opposite: both higher mortality and greater inequality.

For some causes, most progress occurred in the period immediately following the introduction of universal Medicare in Canada. For other causes, progress continued fairly steadily throughout the entire 25-year study period, or even accelerated during the latter years (1986-1996).

For a few causes, however, the situation deteriorated over the latter 10 years, and more notably over the most recent 5-year period, which coincided with a period of increasing unemployment and higher prevalence of low income in Canada.

Go to Comment Form