Comparing Chronic Disease Surveillance and Management in New Brunswick and Ontario: A Closer Look
- cdekleva1
- Mar 14
- 3 min read
Updated: Mar 30
New Brunswick and Ontario share some commonalities but also have distinct differences in how they handle chronic disease surveillance, management, and funding.
Table 1
Comparing Ontario & New Brunswick
| Ontario (ON) | New Brunswick (NB) |
Community Level |
| |
· Similarities | Both provinces include both rural and urban regions, which can lead to differences in access to healthcare, nutritious food, and recreational amenities. Both are confronted with challenges from aging populations, which can put pressure on community resources and healthcare systems. | |
· Differences | As Canada’s most populous province, ON is Canada’s most populated province. It’s home to more urban centers, such as Toronto and Ottawa, which offer better access to specialized healthcare, public transportation, and community programs. However, rural areas in Northern Ontario may encounter considerable challenges in accessing healthcare services. | With a smaller population and more rural areas, NB often struggles with healthcare access in remote regions. The province has fewer large urban centers, which can limit access to specialized care and community resources compared to ON. |
Policy Level |
| |
· Similarities | Both provinces are part of Canada’s universal healthcare system, which ensures that all residents have access to medically necessary services without direct charges (e.g. OHIP in ON). Both provinces have public health policies addressing chronic diseases, such as diabetes and heart disease, through prevention and management programs. | |
· Differences | Ontario receives more funding and resources from the federal government for healthcare infrastructure, public health campaigns, and innovative programs. For example, the province has invested in digital health initiatives like telehealth services. | With a smaller population (and tax base) plus an older population, NB faces challenges in funding healthcare services. The province has struggled with long wait times and physician shortages, which are less pronounced in ON. NB has also focused on policies to retain healthcare workers, such as incentives for doctors to work in rural areas. |
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