Canada Loses $100 Billion Annually to Poor Health

A new report by Deloitte Canada reveals that poor health drains $100 billion from the country's economy each year. This estimate comes from the Health Productivity Gap framework, which accounts for lost economic output due to caregiving, illness, and premature death.

The report breaks down these losses into three categories: unpaid caregiving ($48.5 billion), living with a health condition ($55.1 billion in lost economic value from time away from work), and premature death ($1.1 billion).

Roughly a quarter of this total loss is recoverable, according to Deloitte, which translates to $25 billion.

The report highlights the significant impact of mental health on workforce participation, with 40 percent of long-term disability claims attributed to mental health issues in 2024. Substance use also compounds these effects, particularly in industries such as construction.