September 26, 2007
For Immediate Release

News Release

Backgrounder
	Canada’s New Government Invests in National Physical Activity and Healthy Eating Projects

Canada’s New Government Helps to Promote Physical Activity Among Canadians

OTTAWA – The Honourable Tony Clement, Minister of Health and Minister for the Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario, today before addressing the National Parks and Recreation Conference and Trade Show in Ottawa, made two announcements to promote more physical activity and healthy living among Canadians:

• Announcing a federal investment of $5.4 million over two years for 14 projects across Canada that promote physical activity, healthy eating and healthy weights;  
• Re-launching Canada’s Physical Activity Guides, which provide information on becoming more active and highlight the benefits that result from improving physical health.  The guide is available in versions for children, youth, adults and seniors. 

“Canada’s New Government continues to move forward on measures that help Canadians to be more active and healthy,” said Minister Clement. “To build on our success, today I am proud to announce funding for projects intended to boost physical activity levels, and to re-launch our Canada Physical Activity Guide.”

The projects, which will be delivered by non-government organizations in Canada, are national in-scope and provide innovative approaches to increasing physical activity and healthy living among Canadians including youth, families, and individuals with disabilities.

Minister Clement added:  “It is time for a change in the way Canadians think about physical activity, because eating poorly and skipping regular exercise will increase the risk of developing diseases such as cardiovascular disease, type-2 diabetes and cancer.”

To promote physical activity and healthy eating, Canada’s New Government has:

• Introduced Canada’s first Children’s Fitness Tax Credit to help parents with the costs of their children’s organized physical activities;
• Revised the Canada Food Guide and released Canada's first ever Food Guide for First Nations, Inuit and Métis;
• Renewed funding for ParticipACTION, after funding had been terminated in 2001;
• Provided annual SummerActive and WinterActive programs in communities across Canada;
• Supported the Concerned Children’s Advertisers’ Long Live Kids campaign.

In addition to the health impact, the economic costs of physical inactivity and poor eating are significant.  In 2001, the economic burden of physical inactivity in Canada was estimated to be $5.3 billion, while the cost associated with obesity was $4.3 billion.

For more information on Canada’s Physical Activity Guides, please visit www.phac-aspc.gc.ca.

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Media Inquiries:

Laryssa Waler
Office of the Honourable Tony Clement
Federal Minister of Health
(613) 957-0200

Alain Desroches
Public Health Agency of Canada
(613) 948-7970