June 20, 2005
Healthy Living Minister Theresa Oswald today accepted the final report and the recommendations of the all-party Healthy Kids, Healthy Futures Task Force, aimed at keeping children and youth active and healthy now and into their adult lives.
“We heard Manitobans have a very good understanding of what they need to be healthy and about the supports needed to help children and youth achieve their health goals,” said Oswald. “Promoting good health for our young people is clearly a shared responsibility for all citizens of our province.”
The all-party task force toured the province and consulted with Manitobans between November 2004 and March 2005 to find out their views on healthy living for children and youth. In addition to public meetings, the task force visited schools and held a youth forum to hear what young people themselves had to say about healthy living.
The Healthy Kids, Healthy Futures Task Force examined issues of nutrition, physical activity and injury prevention, and identified priorities, initiatives and actions that can be implemented over the short-, medium- and long-term to provide support for healthy environments. Recommendations in the report cover 10 key areas:
educational health promotion initiatives,
nutrition in schools,
physical activity in schools,
recreation facilities and access,
recreation leadership,
active transportation,
injury prevention,
low-income families,
First Nations communities, and
mental health and wellness.
“Manitobans told us that to be healthy they need access to nutritious foods, a wide range of healthy activities and the province needs to work more diligently with the federal government to improve the health status of Aboriginal people,” said Oswald.
The members of the all-party task force chaired by Oswald included:
Marilyn Brick, vice-chair, MLA for St. Norbert;
Tom Nevakshonoff, MLA for Interlake;
Andrew Swan, MLA for Minto;
Mavis Taillieu, MLA for Morris;
Cliff Cullen, MLA for Turtle Mountain; and
Jon Gerrard, MLA for River Heights.
“I would like to thank all of the members of the task force for the interest and enthusiasm they brought to our work,” Oswald said. “We believe our recommendations will help support efforts to promote healthy living for children and youth.”
The final task force report is available at http://www.gov.mb.ca/healthykids/index.html.
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BACKGROUND INFORMATION
SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS
The following is a summary of the recommendations made by the task force. Please see the report for all 47 detailed recommendations.
Educational Health Promotion Initiatives
A variety of initiatives should be undertaken to promote healthy living and provide educational resources for families and schools.
Nutrition in Schools
Access to nutritious foods in schools should be increased.
Physical Activity in Schools
Physical education/health education (phys ed/health) from Kindergarten to Senior 4 should be mandated. Implementation will vary according to grade to provide maximum flexibility for parents, students and schools.
Recreation Facilities and Access
Access should be increased to recreation facilities through the community use of schools, the innovative design of new facilities and the promotion of activities that are less dependent on facilities such as walking, cycling and skiing.
Recreation Leadership
The use of recreational directors across the province should be increased and youth leadership in recreation should be encouraged.
Active Transportation
Active transportation among youth should be encouraged.
Injury Prevention
A variety of educational initiatives on topics such as water safety, bicycle helmets and farm safety should be undertaken to reduce unintentional injuries while maintaining high levels of activity among youth.
Low Income Families
Access to good nutrition and opportunities for physical activity for low-income families should be improved.
First Nations Communities
Accessibility to traditional and nutritious foods, and to culturally-focused physical activity and recreational programs should be increased.
Mental Health and Wellness
Mental health and wellness education and supports to youth should be enhanced to prevent and address issues such as eating disorders, depression, drug and alcohol addictions and other related concerns.