Environmental health metanarratives: an analysis of policy making in Ontario, Canada

This paper provides a narrative analysis of a policy document, issued by the Ontario Premier's Council on Health, Well-Being and Social Justice, entitled "Our Environment, Our Health". It begins by outlining the background for the production of the document and establishing the nature of narrative analysis. The intention of this method is to reveal dominant and suppressed ideas through identifying narrative, non-stories and counter-stories. It then goes on to provide an analysis of the overall policy piece and its constituent parts, healthy ecosystems, healthy communities and healthy workplaces. The document's power is seen not only in its authorship but also in demonstrating the moral basis of individual responsibility to achieve collective targets and to undertake collection action.