Conference of Federal-Provincial-Territorial Ministers responsible for Sport, Physical Activity and Recreation

NEWS RELEASE – MINISTERS TAKE ACTION TO PROMOTE SPORT, PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND RECREATION  IN YEAR OF SPORT

Prince George, British Columbia, February 13, 2015 – As we celebrate 2015 as  the Year of Sport in Canada, federal,  provincial and territorial Ministers responsible for sport, physical activity  and recreation reaffirmed the importance of these sectors in the lives of  Canadians and agreed to take action in a number of areas at their meeting held February 12-13 in Prince  George, British Columbia.

Ministers provided updates on the status of sport,  physical activity, recreation and special initiatives in their respective  jurisdictions to mark the Year of Sport in Canada, as well as discussed  government approaches to celebrate the role sport plays in our country’s  culture and to encourage Canadians to seek its benefits.  

As a signature event of the Year of Sport in  Canada, Ministers highlighted the high quality of the organization and facilities in place  for the 2015 Canada Winter Games taking place in Prince George over the next  action-packed 17 days. Ministers reaffirmed the importance of the Canada Games  – a legacy to all Canadians – which has seen over 200,000 athletes, coaches,  officials and volunteers participate since 1967 and has been a strong  foundation for developing some of Canada’s top international athletes.  Ministers also committed to further discussions on a proposal from the Canada  Games Council for activities related to the Canada  Games 50-150 Celebration and Commemoration Project, marking the 50th  anniversary of the founding of the Canada Games during Canada’s  sesquicentennial celebration in 2017.

An update was provided on progress for the 2015 Pan and Parapan American  Games, taking place in July and August in Toronto and the Greater Golden  Horseshoe. Toronto 2015 will be the largest multi-sport event ever hosted in  Canada, with over 10,000 top athletes and officials from 41 countries and  territories from across the Americas and the Caribbean competing at more than  30 venues in 15 municipalities across southern Ontario. This  event is an opportunity to showcase Canada’s cultural diversity on an  international stage, and will help generate significant economic benefits  through construction and tourism.

A progress report was delivered on recent  activities in support of the 2012 Canadian Sport Policy (CSP2012). CSP 2012  guides all governments, institutions and organizations committed to enhancing  sports participation, which will yield positive benefits for Canadians, while  respecting each government’s jurisdiction. By 2022, the policy aims to have a  dynamic and innovative Canadian culture that promotes and celebrates  participation and excellence in sport. Ministers also provided details on the  initiatives they plan to undertake in their jurisdictions to advance the  objectives of the policy.

Ministers reviewed progress on a number  of physical activity and recreation initiatives.  Provincial and Territorial Ministers1  endorsed and the Government of Canada supported the Framework for Recreation in Canada 2015, a collaborative effort  between P/T governments and the Canadian Parks and Recreation Association, that  provides a united vision for the recreation sector. The Frameworkprovides opportunities to enhance  mental and physical well-being, connect people and nature and address  constraints to participation.

Ministers have also agreed to continued  collaboration with colleagues in Health and/or Health Promotion/Healthy Living  to issue the 2015 Healthy Weights Progress Report, currently in development2.   This collaboration between  governments and across departments will help to align complementary efforts to  help children, youth and families achieve and maintain healthy weights and  healthier, more active lifestyles.

Ministers received a report on the current status  of physical activity levels among children, youth and adults in Canada,  including the links between physical inactivity, sedentary living and  preventable chronic disease. The complex challenge of increasing physical  activity for all Canadians defies single solution approaches – partnerships and  collaboration across all sectors of society is needed to get more Canadians  moving. Ministers gave direction to apply findings from the report to advance  approaches and program interventions to increase population-level physical  activity through collaborative action and jurisdictional initiatives.

Finally, Ministers directed officials  to review Active Canada 20/20: A Physical  Activity Strategy and Change Agenda for Canada, with a view to developing a  pan-Canadian framework to be brought to Ministers for endorsement at a future  meeting.

The next meeting of federal, provincial and  territorial ministers is scheduled to take place in July 2017, just prior to  the beginning of the 2017 Canada Summer Games in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
1  Although Quebec is not opposed to the principles underlying this framework, it  has its own programs, action plans, objectives and targets for the promotion of  physical activity and healthy lifestyle, all areas which are Quebec’s  responsibility. The Government of Quebec does not participate in federal,  provincial and territorial initiatives in this area, but agreed to exchange  information and best practices with other governments.

2 In  2011, Ministers endorsed the Declaration  on Prevention and Promotion (Declaration) and Curbing Childhood Obesity: A Federal, Provincial and Territorial  Framework for Action to Promote Healthy Weights (Framework), released by  Ministers of Health and/or Health Promotion/Healthy Living in 2010. Although  Quebec shares the general goals of the Declaration and Framework, it was not  involved in developing them and does not subscribe to a federal, provincial and  territorial strategy in this area.

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