The following statement was issued today by Paul Shelley, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation. It was also read in the House of Assembly:

I rise in this House today as the minister responsible for sport and recreation in the province to inform honourable members about SummerActive 2004, a national promotion that is organized by Health Canada in partnership with provinces and non-government organizations. The event, which runs until June 19, provides Canadians with information and support to improve their health through regular physical activity, healthy eating and tobacco-free living. In this province, the Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation works in partnership with the Newfoundland and Labrador Parks and Recreation Association to co-ordinate this campaign.

Each year as part of SummerActive my department hosts a Sneaker Day Walk to create awareness about the benefits associated with an active and healthy lifestyle. This morning Health and Community Services Minister Elizabeth Marshall and I participated in the annual Sneaker Day Walk at the Confederation Building. Approximately 100 people turned out to participate in a walk around Kent�s Pond and back to the building. On behalf of our departments, Minister Marshall and I congratulate this year�s Sneaker Day Walk champions, the Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation.

Physical inactivity is a major concern for this government and for all involved in the development and delivery of recreation and sport programs in the province. Recent statistics indicate that the health of two thirds of Canadian children is threatened by increased obesity rates caused in part by physical inactivity. Type 2 diabetes is now being diagnosed in children as young as nine years of age. In addition, due to the onset of obesity in childhood, the Heart and Stroke Foundation is predicting that heart disease in this generation will likely occur 20 years earlier than previously dictated by experience.

As a government we are concerned about the negative consequences associated with physical inactivity and we are committed to providing opportunity for increased participation. For this reason, my department is pleased to have recently partnered with the federal government through Sport Canada on a bilateral agreement to help young people in junior high school and in rural areas benefit from participation in sport.

The three-year $1.1 million agreement will support three programs - Regional Games, Travel Subsidy and a Festival of Sport. I am particularly excited about the Festival of Sport Program and the opportunity this program will present for junior high school students to participate in physical activity through organized sport. The program will be administered by School Sports Newfoundland and Labrador and will involve a series of multi-sport competitions between junior high schools throughout the province. There are approximately 21,000 students in grades seven to nine in our province. The Festival of Sport Program will encourage participation from all junior high school students, regardless of their athletic ability.

Government recognizes the importance of working in partnership with the federal government to increase the opportunity for all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians to participate in physical activity and sport. We are committed to supporting initiatives that increase physical activity levels and developing further opportunities for Newfoundlanders and Labradorians to participate in organized sport. We recognize that events such as SummerActive go a long way in promoting the benefits of a healthy lifestyle gained through regular physical activity.

This year�s partnership between the Department of Health and Community Services and the Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation is an important first step in working together to address physical inactivity. I am confident that we will continue to build this partnership as we address this important issue. On behalf of Minister Marshall and myself, we thank all MHAs and government employees who took time out of their schedules to participate in today�s Sneaker Day Walk. Together we can help increase physical activity in Newfoundland and Labrador.

2004 06 01                                        1:50 p.m.