Health and Community Services
September 14, 2010
Federal, Provincial and Territorial Health and Healthy
Living / Wellness Ministers Agree on Ways to Strengthen the Health of
Canadians
At their annual meeting today, Canada's Ministers of Health discussed
a range of issues important to strengthening the health of Canadians.
Ministers endorsed* a Declaration on Prevention and Promotion that
will guide their efforts to promote healthy living across Canada. In
response to Canada's high rates of childhood obesity, ministers also
released
Curbing Childhood Obesity: A Federal-Provincial-Territorial
Framework for Action to Promote Healthy Weights.
As a first step
they will engage citizens, government and non-government partners, and
industry to develop a shared approach to turn the tide on childhood
obesity. This will include discussions on different ways to increase the
availability and accessibility of nutritious foods, and decrease the
marketing of foods and beverages high in fat, sugar and/or sodium to
children.
"I am extremely pleased that we reached agreement to focus more of
our attention on helping Canadians, especially children, lead healthier
lives," said the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health.
"Childhood obesity is a national public health challenge that requires
all sectors to get involved."
"By working together we can change the social, economic and physical
environments that influence the health of children and families," said
the Honourable Jerome Kennedy, Minister of Health and Community
Services, Newfoundland and Labrador. "We must focus on early education
and support for healthy eating, physical activity and positive
self-esteem in order to address the true cause of obesity."
Ministers reviewed the latest scientific knowledge related to ongoing
research in the area of multiple sclerosis (MS) treatment. Recognizing
how difficult and frustrating living with MS is for thousands of
Canadians, Ministers re-affirmed their collective support for advancing
the scientific research necessary to determine the safety and
effectiveness of the MS liberation procedure.
Ministers agreed on a way forward. There are studies underway where
preliminary results are expected to be available in a matter of months.
Ministers supported Canadian research efforts that have been launched to
date to determine if there is a link between CCSVI and MS and will work
together to responsibly accelerate this scientific research.
Co-ordinated clinical trials of the CCSVI treatment will happen in
Canada if and when the scientific evidence supports it. Ministers'
resolve to work together is strong. They are committed to doing
everything they can to accelerate progress in this area.
Ministers acknowledged the role of governments in working with all
stakeholders to help create the conditions that make the healthy choice
the easier choice. Sodium reduction is an important part of healthy
living and ministers are encouraging
Canadians to reduce their consumption
to close to 1,500 mg per day, the recommended daily intake for Canadians
aged nine to 50 years of age, and less for those younger and older.
Ministers adopted the interim goal of reducing the sodium intake of
Canadians to a population average of 2,300 mg per day by 2016. This
represents a reduction by one-third from present levels of 3,400 mg per
day. In support of this effort, Health ministers call on industry
leaders to fast-track voluntary sodium reduction in food products, and
to work with governments to increase education and awareness of
consumers, industry, health professionals and other key stakeholders.
Ministers support the immediate implementation of voluntary targets
including a monitoring mechanism and engaging in exploratory discussions
on the role that regulatory instruments could play and under what
conditions they could be used.
Ministers also received a status update on Canada's isotope supply
situation. Ministers will continue to study the impact of the past
year's supply disruptions. Minister Aglukkaq acknowledged a request from
the P/T Ministers to strengthen the security of Canada's isotope supply.
For more information:
Declaration on Prevention and Health Promotion:
www.phac-aspc.gc.ca
Curbing Childhood Obesity: An FPT Framework for Action to
Promote Healthy Weights:
www.phac-aspc.gc.ca
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Media contacts:
Health Canada Media Relations
(613) 957-2983 |
Public Health Agency of Canada Media
Relations
(613) 941-8189 |
Jenny VanAlstyne
Office of the
Honourable Leona Aglukkaq
Federal Minister of Health
(613) 957-0200
|
Tansy Mundon
Director of
Communications
Department of Health and Community Services for Newfoundland
and Labrador
709-729-1377, 685-2646
tansymundon@gov.nl.ca |
|
* |
It should be noted that although Quebec shares the general goals
of the Declaration and Framework for Action, it was not involved
in developing them and does not subscribe to a Canada-wide
strategy in this area. Quebec intends to remain solely
responsible for developing and implementing programs for
promoting healthy living within its territory. However, Quebec
does intend to continue exchanging information and expertise
with other governments in Canada. |
2010 09 14
4:35 p.m.
|
