This document is intended to provide relevant information to Canadian public health professionals and administrators, as well as to others who wish to undertake and sustain intersectoral activities fostering health and equity in the context of budget cuts. It outlines challenges, opportunities, and strategies to be considered when implementing or sustaining intersectoral action for health and equity in the context of budget cuts.
It is now well recognized in public health that intersectoral action is a relevant factor in ensuring that the missions of health prevention and promotion are carried out and that complex and multifactorial problems are addressed. In addition to the usual challenges associated with collaboration, actors wishing to implement or sustain intersectoral action are sometimes confronted with a significant issue, namely budget cuts. Because intersectoral action depends on adequate and stable funding and strong government support, periods of fiscal austerity,…