Seniors, Wellness and Social Development
March 23, 2015

The following statement was given today in the House of Assembly by the Honourable Clyde Jackman, Minister of Seniors, Wellness and Social Development:

Minister Recognizes Unplug and Play Week

Mr. Speaker, I rise in this Honourable House today to recognize March 23-29 as Unplug and Play Week, and to challenge Newfoundland and Labrador families to take the pledge and unplug and play for at least 60 minutes a day.

Research shows that the majority of young people in Canada are not getting enough physical activity on a daily basis. We live in a world where many of our young people have access to computer games, television and various electronic devices � with the average Canadian child spending close to eight hours a day in front of a screen. We need to change that.

Mr. Speaker, as a government we recognize the need to encourage young people to get out from behind those screens on a regular basis, to get up and get moving, playing and involved in a more healthy, active lifestyle. This past January, the Provincial Government announced a partnership with ParticipACTION in its new Make Room for Play campaign, which calls on Canadian families to step away from their screens to encourage more active play.

Unplug and Play is a continuation of the Make Room for Play Campaign, and is another great reminder of how important it is not only for young people but for entire families to put down their electronics for at least 60 minutes a day and get outside for some physical activity. There are some great resources available online at www.participaction.com that will help families and encourage participation in this fun and worthwhile initiative.

Mr. Speaker, we all know life can get busy, but I sincerely believe that monitoring our young people�s screen time and replacing it with physical activity time is essential for healthy development.

With the support of the province�s sport and recreation partners, the community, organizations like ParticipACTION and, most importantly, parents, I believe we can help our young people get moving. Efforts such as Unplug and Play Week will help develop active, healthy lifestyles and habits that will serve them well throughout their lives.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

2015 03 23                             1:45 p.m.