Tourism, Culture and Recreation
August 18, 2009
Ministers Strive to Increase
Physical Activity Levels in Children and Youth
Increasing physical
activity levels for the country�s children and youth was
the primary focus of the recent
federal-provincial-territorial (FPT) meetings of
ministers responsible for sport, recreation and physical
activity, held August 13-14 in Charlottetown, Prince
Edward Island.
First and foremost, ministers agreed to work
collectively to meet the previously established 2008
pan-Canadian physical activity targets. Ministers also
agreed on a joint policy statement focusing on
collective efforts to increase physical activity for
children and youth.
The Honourable Clyde Jackman, Minister of Tourism,
Culture and Recreation, said it is imperative that our
country�s children and youth become more physically
active.
�As ministers responsible for sport, recreation and
physical activity, it is essential that we continue to
work together to educate the children and youth of this
country on the importance of maintaining a healthy and
active lifestyle,� said Minister Jackman. �Collectively,
we have already made positive strides and will continue
to do so as we focus on our common goals.�
In conjunction with the joint policy statement,
ministers also committed to: endorse the after-school
time period as an opportunity for government policy and
programming efforts focusing on the physical activities
on children and youth in partnership with non-government
organizations; work with ministers of health and
education to improve the health and well-being of the
country�s children and youth; and, support collective
action items across governments such as:
social-marketing efforts to endorse similar physical
activity messaging. In the meantime, Ministers also
directed their senior officials to seek out possible
opportunities for government partnerships focusing on
increasing physical activity levels in adults and to
report back with options.
Minister Jackman highlighted the potential impact of
approximately $8.1 million in new funding that has been
invested over the past three years through the
Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation to further
the goals in the Provincial Government�s recreation and
sport strategy, Active, Healthy Newfoundland and
Labrador.
�Enduring investments in initiatives that encourage
healthy lifestyles including physical activity and
nutritious food choices will hopefully result in a
healthier population,� said Minister Jackman. �My
department will continue to work closely with the
Departments of Health and Community Services and
Education � their input and expertise is a key factor in
achieving our overall goals.�
In addition to the decisions concerning increasing
physical activity levels for children and youth,
ministers also discussed and agreed to: provide funding
for Aboriginal athlete�s to travel to future North
American Indigenous Games (NAIG); provide continued
support for the Coaching Association of Canada (CAC);
and, provide continued support to the Canada Games and
the Canada Games Council. Ministers also congratulated
Tom Quinn and Piers MacDonald as the newly appointed
chair and vice-chair of the council.
For more detailed information on the FPT meetings in
PEI, visit:
www.scics.gc.ca/cinfo09/830963004_e.html
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Media contact:
Debbie Marnell
Communications Specialist
Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation
709-729-0585, 699-9048
debbiemarnell@gov.nl.ca
2009 08 18
3:30 p.m. |