In November 2006 and February 2007, respectively, the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology and the Subcommittee on Population Health began two vitally important and comprehensive studies. The first was an examination of the state of early learning and child care in Canada. The second explored the impact of the multiple factors and conditions that contribute to the health of Canada's population - referred to collectively as determinants of health. Determinants of health encompass a wide range of personal, social, economic and environmental factors that include, for example, prenatal and early childhood experiences, education, employment, working conditions, income, social status, housing, sex, culture, physical environments, lifestyle and coping skills, to name a few. Differences in health status result from the combination and interaction of health determinants, and give rise to health disparities between individuals and among various segments of the population.