Now, the York University Professor Emerita and Distinguished Research Professor from the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies will bring that expertise to a national initiative tasked with strengthening Canada's care infrastructure.
Pat Armstrong
A newly formed federal advisory panel, the Sectoral Table on the Care Economy will advise the federal government on how to better support both paid and unpaid care providers.
Armstrong, a leading voice in health-care research and social policy, will work alongside a diverse group of experts to provide recommendations aimed at improving working conditions, addressing regional disparities and ensuring care remains accessible for those who need it most.
"The care economy is fundamental to the well-being of individuals, families and communities," says Armstrong, whose research is rooted in health-care advocacy and reform. "This initiative represents an opportunity to bring research and direct experience together in the care economy to support meaningful policy development across Canada. By ensuring that the voices of both paid and unpaid providers are heard, the Sectoral Table on the Care Economy will help guide strategies that acknowledge their essential contributions."
A Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, Armstrong is recognized internationally for her research on social policy, women's work and health care. She has led major studies, including a decade-long international project on reimagining long-term residential care and research on healthy aging in residential settings.
Her extensive body of work, which includes numerous books and journal articles, has examined critical issues such as privatization in health care, working conditions in nursing homes and gender equity in care work. She has also served as an expert witness in multiple cases related to health-care work and pay equity.
"Governments make better decisions when we listen to experts in the field," says Canada's Minister of Jobs and Families, Steven MacKinnon. "This sectoral table will provide our government with first-hand knowledge on how we can better support the care economy, understand the contributions of paid and unpaid Canadian carers, and best support families and future generations to come."
The advisory panel includes 12 appointed members who will work to: enhance support for both care providers and recipients; and address challenges across health care, home and community care, long-term care, disability care and child care. It will also explore financing options, promote equity and recommend strategies to reduce regional disparities in care services.
Armstrong's role on the panel underscores York University's standing as a leader in social policy research, with faculty actively contributing to national and global discussions that drive positive change.
"York University has long been at the forefront of research in social policy and health care, and I'm honoured to contribute to this work in a way that bridges academic insights with real-world impact," says Armstrong.
The first meeting of the Sectoral Table on the Care Economy is scheduled for spring of this year.
This story was originally featured in YFile, York University's community newsletter.
