CBC Archives

This activity is best suited for senior students taking Sociology, Physical Education, or Political Science. The Health Canada Web site includes a section called Healthy Living. Students will have the opportunity to assess the information on this section of the Web site and to determine whether such information should reasonably be paid for with tax dollars, as well as whether the publication of such information has an impact on Medicare.

Direct students to the Medicare topic on the CBC Radion and Television Archives Web site. They should review all 10 clips, keeping in mind why Medicare was created and why there was opposition to the initiative.

Divide the class into eight groups. Assign each group one of the following topics: Food and Nutrition, Physical Activity, Alcohol and Drug Abuse, Family Violence, Mental Health, Safety and Injury, Sexuality, and Smoking. Have groups visit the Health Canada Web site at www.hc-sc.gc.ca/english/lifestyles/index.html and make notes about the information they find on their topic.

Students will then create a visual interpretation of their information. Have students share their presentations before holding a class discussion about the following questions:

1. Why has the federal government paid to make this information available to all Canadians?
2. Is the Health Canada Web site a good use of taxpayer dollars?
3. What is the impact of, if any, on the Medicare program, of providing this information to the public?

When all of the presentations have been completed and the debates have taken place, have each student write a position paper on the following statement: “Canadians are responsible for ensuring that they live a healthy lifestyle in order to be eligible for state funded Medicare.”

Following submission of the position papers, you may want to hold a formal debate in class.