November 2010 - Our Voice in Action

OPHA supports renewed Ontario government commitment to tobacco control

On October 20, OPHA issued a media release in response to the recently released report from the Tobacco Strategy Advisory Group (TSAG) outlining their recommendations to the provincial government. The report, Building on Our Gains, Taking Action Now: Ontario’s Tobacco Control Strategy for 2011 – 2016, includes a number of recommendations that were informed by leading researchers in tobacco control. It builds on the Smoke-Free Ontario Strategy, calls for measures to reduce both the supply and demand for all tobacco products, and takes a “whole of government” approach.

OPHA is calling on the government to quickly begin taking action on the report's recommendations to reduce tremendous burden of illness due to tobacco use.

 

OPHA applauds F/P/T Framework document

The Federal, Provincial and Territorial Ministers of Health and Health Promotion/Healthy Living committed to focus efforts to curb childhood obesity. In September, 2010, they released their framework document, Curbing Childhood Obesity: A Federal, Provincial and Territorial Framework for Action to Promote Healthy Weights [PDF].

The report highlights that Canada is in the midst of a childhood obesity crisis; more than one-in-four children and youth are overweight or obese. A number of complex and interacting factors contribute to this situation and therefore complex multisectoral action is required.

The framework consists of three integrated strategies:

  1. Making childhood overweight and obesity a collective priority for action;
  2. Coordinating efforts including supportive environments, early action and nutritious foods;
  3. Measuring and reporting on collective progress.

The F/P/T Ministers of Health and Health Promotion/Healthy Living For Strategy will:

    For Strategy 1:

  • Be a catalyst for change, encourage shared leadership by mobilizing and engaging societal level support and champion shared actions across government departments.

    For Strategy 2:

  • Coordinate efforts in three policy priorities: create supportive environments for physical activity and healthy eating; encourage the identification and early action to address children at risk for overweight and obesity; and

  • Improve the availability and accessibility of nutritious foods while decreasing the availability, accessibility and marketing of less nutritious foods.

    For Strategy 3:

  • Measure and report on collective progress in reducing overweight and obesity, learning about successful interventions and modifying approaches.

In the brief report many evidence-based strategies were identified including the promotion of the baby-friendly initiative for supporting breastfeeding, protecting children from marketing of foods and beverages of poor nutritional qualities, school based physical activity and healthy eating initiatives and mental health promotion to name a few.

Related OPHA-produced documents:

 

OPHA calls to include snow sport helmets under the Hazardous Product Act

OPHA recently created a Briefing Note on the Private Members' Bill C-289 [PDF]. This bill seeks to have recreational snow sport helmets added to the Hazardous Products Act. The amendment of this legislation would prevent the advertising, import and sale of snow sport helmets that do not meet Canadian Standards. OPHA recommends that the Federal government pass this bill to amend the Act.

OPHA believes it is the responsibility of the federal government to ensure that properly tested helmets are available for purchase and to prohibit the advertising, sale and import of those helmets which fail to meet Canadian Standards. In doing so, we can help to reduce death and disability among snow sport participants as well as reduce the social and economic costs associated with these injuries.