Recent experience such as SARS and the Walkerton water tragedy focused public, political and media attention on public health services across Ontario. Both federal and provincial governments have responded to these public health emergencies with commissions, reports and new visions for public health. While the response of government has included commitments for additional resources for public health, the new vision focuses almost exclusively on expanding and strengthening the disease control responsibilities of the public health system. As a result, there are very real concerns that the role of public health nurses to implement strategies that promote health and build capacity in individuals, families and communities has been and will continue to be diminished. (abstract from the document)