Territories get failing grades in national health 'report card'

The three territories get a failing grade in a new health report issued by the Conference Board of Canada.

The 'report card' looked at things such as life expectancy, infant mortality, deaths due to cancer, suicide and conditions such as diabetes and heart disease. It compared residents' health in each province and territory, while comparing Canada as a whole to the U.S., Japan, Australia and 12 countries in Western Europe.

Yukon, N.W.T. and Nunavut are all at the bottom with a 'D-.'

The national average is 'B,' while British Columbia sits at the top with an 'A.'

The report says most Yukon deaths can be attributed to cancer and diabetes.

The poor results are not a big surprise for public health professionals in the territory.

Yukon's Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Brendan Hanley, says cancer deaths can be directly linked to high smoking rates here.

"We have lung cancer rates that are significantly higher than the national average. For many years we've struggled with high smoking rates in Yukon that are consistently much higher than the national average. So it's really the risk factors catching up."

Hanley says people also forget that alcohol is linked to many cancers.

"There's a relationship between breast cancer and alcohol. Many of the gastrointestinal cancers, stomach cancer, esophogeal cancer, liver cancer and colorectal cancer all have a relationship with alcohol," he says. "We also know that we have high drinking rates in the territory."

Hanley says he'd like to see a screening program for colorectal cancer. Risk factors there include smoking, alcohol use, obesity and poor diet.

Hanley adds that Yukon's life expectancy is also affected by a high rate of serious injuries and trauma. 

He says that too is linked to high rates substance abuse but he says those deaths aren't included in the conference board report.

Meanwhile, the death rate from diabetes in NWT and Nunavut is low.

That's because the populations there tend to die younger, before they develop the disease, which typically shows up in later years.

The report says Nunavut's score of 'D' on self-reported mental health is not surprising given its high suicide rate.

Yukon scores an 'A' for having one of the lowest suicide rates in the country.

The Conference Board of Canada's Director for Health Innovation, Policy and Evaluation, Gabriela Prada says while the territories do poorly on most health indicators, it's important to keep in mind the socio-economic factors.

"Poverty, infrastructure, cost of living, education and housing, have a huge impact on the health of the population," she says. "In order to address the poor health outcomes in the territories, efforts must be made to improve socio-economic conditions."

She says that requires a tailored approach that includes traditional knowledge and "building on strengths that reinforce the sense of community."