GEOG 1HB3 Human Geographies: City & Economy Winter 2016

Homework Task #6 Code Red (Reflection)

RESPONSES & ANSWERS
Instructions:
Please use the space below to write a 300-600 word reflection addressing the statement below.
For more specific instructions, be sure to have read the accompanying Instructions &
Questions document. For general guidance on what should be included in a reflection, please
see section 3.3 of your courseware, and your notes about writing reflections from Tutorial #4.
You may begin by simply typing your response below.
When you are finished, save this document to your computer (insure it is saved as a .doc or
.docx file or else it may not be properly read in Avenue/Turn-it-In), and then submit it to the
appropriate drop-box on Avenue to Learn (Homework Task #6) BEFORE the beginning of
Tutorial #6.
Reflection Statement: The concentration of poverty and inequality in particular areas of
Hamilton (as illustrated via the Code Red series) is the most-pressing (important) local issue
of our lifetime.
Due to different areas of Hamilton with varying levels of poverty, a variation in access to
public health care exists across the city neighbourhoods allowing for further research to be
conducted on Code Red. Some neighbourhoods in Hamilton experience third world lifespans
and health outcomes particularly in lower-central part of Hamilton. Through Code Red, the
health equity in Canada can be improved.
During tutorial discussion with my group, we proposed a couple of solutions to resolve
the problem of concentration of poverty and inequality in particular areas of Hamilton. One
solution that we came up with was that if the government increased employment opportunity in
the city then this would help the society and economy as it would give every person an equal
opportunity to earn enough money to fulfil their own basic needs. And also, upon employment
the government should provide free financial consultation to the employees which would help
educate the community on how to properly manage their savings.
Before this tutorial discussion, I did not know anything about Hamiltons Code Red.
Initially, I never considered that parts of Hamilton were experiencing problems related to

poverty and health inequity. Upon learning about this in tutorial, it encouraged me to think and
reflect on the consequences that it could have on the community living in Hamilton. Due to this,
it can create gaps between the societies based on income leading to several problems such as
increasing crime rates in the city, increases political inequality, decreases education and most
important of all, decreases health. People with low-income sometimes have limited access to
quality health care and healthy food leading to higher mortality rates and ultimately higher
health care costs which further deepens the poverty rate for specific communities.
As Canada being considered a first-world country, the poverty should not be high enough
to be considered a problem for the society and economy in my opinion. Poverty exists almost
everywhere in the world today but poverty should not be leading factor in affecting the lifespan
of people. Everyone has the right to proper health care access and healthy food and it should not
be based on an individuals income. One quick solution that the government can implement is
that instead of having a minimum wage, there should be a living wage which would allow
for people to meet their basic needs thereby decreasing poverty rates and improving health
outcomes.
I come from a low-income family and I personally have experienced problems such as
access to quality food and sometimes proper health-care. However, through proper education I
have been able to turn my life around. Through proper financial consultation from my previous
hiring managers, I have been able to properly manage my finances thereby improving my future
life. I believe that through proper education, several problems such as poverty and health care
equality can be improved. One thing that I have noticed is that most people cannot afford to
leave their current neighbourhoods in order to have better access to food and health care.