Policy

Indicators

Grades

Quick Stats

Recommendations for Action

Federal Government Strategies

C

• Complete the development of a comprehensive national physical activity plan.

• The strategy should include a large-scale awareness campaign to promote physical activity and reduce time spent in sedentary activities; environmental change to make the social and physical environments more supportive of physical activity and less supportive of sedentary pursuits; promotion of active commuting and ensuring that there are safe routes to school; daily PE and daily physical activity at school; opportunities to be active after school in after-school programs, extracurricular programs and community-based programs; access to safe green spaces and play spaces; and inclusive programming to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to be active regardless of motor development, skills, abilities or disabilities, gender age and culture.

• Revise and update the Canadian Physical Activity and Sport Act to accommodate the multi-level needs identified in the national physical activity plan.

• Work effectively across departments and ministries in strategic, collective efforts to increase physical activity.

• Provide sustained funding for evidence-informed policy initiatives.

Provincial/Territorial Government Strategies

B+

• As reported last year, the majority of provinces have developed specific physical activity strategies.

Federal Government Investments

F

• As reported last year, federal spending in real dollars per capita is half the amount that it was bin 1986. Many physical activity promotion organizations continue to experience cuts.

• Dramatic, sustained increases in federal spending are required.

• Regular, transparent disclosure of spending directly on physical activity is required.

• Economic incentives that encourage sport participation (e.g., income transfers where immediate price reduction when paying memberships, etc.) need to be tested.

• Look to national physical activity plan in the United States as a model to follow in Canada – Federal leadership is needed on the issue.

Provincial/Territorial Government Investment

C-

• Leading provinces are investing well in health behaviour (BC: $21.00 per capita; QC: $16.80 per capita), but there is room for improvement in other provinces and territories.

• More, longer-term partnerships and program sustainability are required.