September 22, 2026

Hon. Marjorie Michel
Minister of Health, Health Canada
hcminister.ministresc@hc-sc.gc.ca

Hon. Sylvia Jones
Minister of Health, Government of Ontario
Sylvia.jones@ontario.ca

Dear Honourable Ministers,

Re: Support for the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit Board of Health RECOMMENDATION/RESOLUTION REPORT – Global Conflict, Health Equity, and Community Preparedness 2026-05-14

On behalf of the Lakelands Public Health (LPH) Board of Health, we are writing to formally communicate our endorsement of the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit Board of Health’s recommendation (enclosed) regarding global conflict, health equity, and community preparedness.

The Board recognizes that public health systems have a role in identifying how global crises affect local conditions, including health equity, emergency preparedness, mental health, environmental health, and community resilience.

Now, more than ever, global health, health equity, emergency preparedness, and conflict response are interconnected. Framing these issues as local public health concerns helps communities prepare for the direct and indirect impacts of global crises.

Current conflicts in the Middle East and Sudan have direct and indirect consequences for the lives and well-being of local residents. These impacts may include increased financial pressures linked to rising fuel and fertilizer costs, as well as anxiety, depression and other mental health challenges experienced by diaspora members with personal, family, or cultural ties to affected regions.

Conflicts also create environmental health risks when bombardment damages critical infrastructure such as oil refineries and industrial sites. The release of toxic pollutants from these sites can contribute to environmental degradation, with implications for air, water, soil, and long-term public health.

By acknowledging the connections between global inequities and local realities, the LPH Board of Health reaffirms its commitment to advancing health equity, strengthening resilience, and supporting preparedness efforts that protect the well-being, particularly of equity-denied populations within our region.

Sincerely,

Original signed by

Deputy Mayor Ron Black
Chair, Board of Health

/ag

Encl.: Windsor-Essex County Health Unit Board of Health Resolution, May 2026
cc: Local MPs and MPPs
Ontario Boards of Health
Association of Local Public Health Agencies