Ministers identify sport and recreation infrastructure as top
priority.
August 5, 2005
For Immediate Release
REGINA, August 5, 2005 -
Federal, provincial and territorial Ministers responsible for Sport, Physical
Activity and Recreation identified sport and recreation infrastructure
as their number one priority during their annual conference in Regina
on August 4 and 5. Improved infrastructure will advance sport and physical
activity in communities across the country while addressing critical health
challenges and strengthening Canadian communities.
Ministers recognize the direct connection between physical activity,
sport participation and healthy communities with the provision of, and
access to, sport and recreation infrastructure. Ministers directed officials
to develop by November 30, 2005, the parameters of a long-term national
approach dedicated to sport and recreation infrastructure based on information
shared between jurisdictions and to be implemented bilaterally between
the Provincial/Territorial Governments and the Government of Canada.
The findings of the Conference Board of Canada report entitled Strengthening
Canada: The Socio-Economic Benefits of Sport Participation in Canada were
presented to the Ministers. The report outlines the positive effects
of sport participation and physical activity on economic performance,
health, skills development, and social cohesion.
The Ministers concluded that health promotion through physical activity,
sport and recreation, in conjunction with the education system, needs
to be better integrated in each jurisdiction in order to maximize the
benefits for Canadians. They will encourage the development of mechanisms
from the community level to the national level that will facilitate better
collaboration and improve program efficiency. Recognition of this priority
was reflected in the First Ministers' Meeting of September 2004,
when they gave their collective support to the integrated strategies,
such as Healthy Living, development of Public Health goals, and advancing
work on Healthy Schools.*
Ministers affirmed their leadership role as key partners in the efforts
to promote the health of Canadians through physical activity and sport
participation in Canada. Provincial and territorial Ministers adopted
a resolution urging the federal government to commit to multi-year bilateral
agreements on physical activity, starting as soon as 2006.
Given that physical inactivity costs the Canadian health care system
at least $2.1B annually, Ministers have committed to continuing work under
the Collaborative Plan of Action, in support of the goal of increasing
by at least 10 percentage points the number of active Canadians.*
In addition to ongoing monitoring of physical activity levels, Ministers
have agreed to build on the success of the F-P/T SummerActive campaign,
directing officials to develop a complementary WinterActive program.*
Ministers agreed to proceed with the implementation of a new approach
to sport and physical activity development called long-term athlete development
(LTAD) in consultation with national, provincial and territorial sport
organizations. Through the development of physical literacy (fundamental
skills such as throwing, running and jumping), the LTAD models will help
to develop a lifelong involvement of Canadians in physical activity and
sport participation as well as developing future athletes.
Ministers, together with the national sport community, set out performance
targets for Canada at the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games. These
national performance targets call for Canada to rank as the top country
in medal count at the Olympics and in the top three countries at the Paralympics.
Ministers have agreed to work with the Vancouver 2010 Organizing Committee
so that the Olympic and Paralympic Games are truly Canada's games.
Ministers expressed satisfaction with the implementation of the Canadian
Sport Policy and governments' progress on the federal, provincial and
territorial priorities for collaborative action over the period 2002-2005.
The next step in its implementation will be the establishment and implementation
of a new set of actions for 2006-2009. These new actions will contribute
to increased participation and success of Canadian athletes at major international
events, and fulfill Canada's vision of becoming a leading sport
nation.
Ministers endorsed the Canadian Coach and Sport Leadership Mandate that
will enhance coaching development for the benefit of Canadians of all
ages participating in organized sport for recreational purposes or competitive
levels.
Ministers agreed to work towards achieving the establishment and support
of national and provincial/territorial governing bodies, respectively
responsible for Aboriginal sport, physical activity and recreation. The
Ministers also agreed to review the Canada Games program to consider equity
and access for meaningful inclusion of Aboriginal peoples, in the context
of long-term athlete development principles.
On the Canada Games, the Ministers agreed that the existing framework
was outdated and directed officials to prepare recommendations by June
2006 for a new financial framework that will ensure a better relevance
to current and future fiscal environments, as well as a new hosting rotation
cycle.
Ministers extended their best wishes to the athletes participating in
the 2005 Canada Summer Games, starting tomorrow in Regina. They also
acknowledged 2005 as the International Year of Sport and Physical Education
as declared by the United Nations.
The next meeting of Ministers is scheduled for June 2006.
*While concurring with the objectives of these initiatives, Quebec is
pursuing the implementation of its own action plan in these sectors.
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For more information contact:
Randy King
Communications Consultant
Saskatchewan Culture, Youth and Recreation
Tel.: (306) 536-6341
