Conference of Federal-Provincial-Territorial Ministers responsible for Sport, Physical Activity and Recreation
NEWS RELEASE – FEDERAL-PROVINCIAL-TERRITORIAL GOVERNMENTS TO BOOST ABORIGINAL PARTICIPATION IN SPORT, SET PHYSICAL ACTIVITY TARGETS FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH, AND ENCOURAGE ACTION TO REDUCE VIOLENCE IN SPORT
Victoria, British Columbia, May 22, 2008 – Federal, provincial and territorial Ministers responsible for Sport, Physical Activity, and Recreation agreed on a number of areas at their annual meeting today in Victoria, British Columbia: advancing Aboriginal participation in sport; increasing physical activity, and encouraging action to reduce violence in sport.
Ministers received an update from the Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute on current levels of physical activity among children, youth and adults in Canada. Having established a baseline level for physical activity of children and youth, using the Canadian Physical Activity Levels of Children and Youth Study (CANPLAY), Ministers* set Canada’s first-ever national physical activity targets for children and youth aged 5 to 19:
- to increase, by seven percentage points, by 2015 the proportion of children and youth who participate in 90 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity over and above activities of daily living; and
- to increase from 11,500 steps to 14,500 steps per day, by 2015, the average number of steps taken by all children and youth, which is equivalent to an increase of 30 minutes per day.
These targets represent an important foundation for collaborative work between and within jurisdictions.
Ministers established a new annual reporting schedule to monitor progress toward increasing leisure-time physical activity in every province and territory by ten percentage points by the year 2010, a target set by Ministers* in Bathurst, New Brunswick, in 2003. Ministers directed their officials to bring forward options, including an examination of best practices, for practical ways to meet and exceed these targets. They also received an update on the status of bilateral agreements that have been negotiated between the Public Health Agency of Canada and provincial and territorial governments. The agreements will help to deliver pan-Canadian responses to physical inactivity, unhealthy eating and unhealthy weights.
Ministers underscored the important role of the North American Indigenous Games (NAIG) in contributing to Aboriginal sport development, by announcing a one time commitment of up to two million dollars to assist provincial and territorial teams to travel to the competition. NAIG 2008 is being held in Cowichan, British Columbia from August 3 – 10. Ministers agreed to develop a formal funding framework comprised of mandatory standards for athlete preparation and team selection as a basis for funding for travel to future NAIG events.
The Ministers also approved the development of a Canada Games Aboriginal Coach Apprenticeship Program, to be piloted at the 2009 Canada Summer Games in Prince Edward Island and the 2011 Canada Winter Games in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The program will support the development of Aboriginal apprentice coaches for each Canada Games and help build coaching capacity within Aboriginal communities.
Ministers collectively acknowledged the issue of violence in some sports and paid particular attention to hockey, and agreed to encourage sport organizations to take actions to eliminate violence in sport with a view to creating a healthier and safer sport environment. The Ministers recognized the on-going work between Sport Canada and Hockey Canada. Ministers will continue to monitor progress on eliminating violence in sport.
The Chair of the Canada Games Council presented the strategic plan for the Canada Games to Ministers. They acknowledged the excellent work of the Council, and highlighted the Canada Games’ contribution to nation building and its significant role in supporting the Long Term Athlete Development Model in Canada.
Ministers emphasized their continued commitment to the Canada Games and agreed to implement an enhanced governance relationship with the Canada Games Council. This includes annual reporting by the Council to governments against its strategic plan and the identification of issues of particular importance to governments. Ministers directed officials to work with the Council in formalizing its approach to marketing and fundraising and to report back at the 2009 conference.
The next meeting of Federal, Provincial/Territorial Ministers is scheduled to take place August 13-14, 2009 in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.
* For its part, Quebec has its own programs, action plans, objectives and targets for physical activity. It contributes to Canada-wide initiatives by sharing information and best practices.
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Information:
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Trish Fougner |
Laryssa Waler |
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Donald Boulanger |
Jacinthe Perras |
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Blair MacLean |