Physical Activity, Sport And Recreation Sector Applauds Canadian Sport Policy, Looks To Broader Integrated Strategy

With inactivity levels at record highs, the Canadian Sport Policy is a vital catalyst to bring physical activity back into the lives of Canadians

Ottawa, ON (Marketwire) - The leaders of four national sport, physical activity and recreation associations expressed support for the new Canadian Sport Policy (CSP 2012), endorsed Wednesday by Canada's Federal - Provincial / Territorial (F-P/T) Ministers responsible for Sport, Physical Activity and Recreation.

Chris Jones, Senior Leader of the Sport Matters Group and Acting Executive Director of Physical & Health Education Canada (PHE Canada), Kelly Murumets, President and CEO of ParticipACTION, and Cathy Jo Noble, Executive Director of Canadian Parks and Recreation Association (CPRA), all voiced their support of the CSP 2012.

"The new policy provides a roadmap to how we can get to a healthier, more active and more inclusive future," said Chris Jones. "It provides some flexibility to players in the sport system and in related sectors as to how they collaborate both with governments and among themselves, in implementing the priorities of the new policy."

Crucially, the recommendations contained in CSP 2012 are consistent with those outlined in two other national policy documents also presented to Ministers during the meeting: the Active Canada 20/20 Strategy, authored by over fifty physical activity organizations in consultation with over 1700 stakeholders, and the National Recreation Agenda Report, authored by over 200 provincial recreational experts brought together under the leadership of the Canadian Parks and Recreation Association and the Interprovincial Sport and Recreational Council.

"Taken together, the Canadian Sport Policy, the Active Canada 20/20 Strategy and the National Recreation Agenda Report offer a comprehensive vision of how to achieve a healthier, more active country," said Kelly Murumets. "If we provide a foundation of physical activity opportunities for all Canadians, we can reduce the risk of chronic and preventable disease, improve wellbeing and increase life expectancy."

"These three policy initiatives represent the future foundation for the sport, recreation and physical activity and education sectors," said Cathy Jo Noble. "Although developed through independent processes, the initiatives are mutually supportive and have overall objectives in common, a connection to health promotion and disease prevention, and a number of actions that must be undertaken in order to realize a more active Canada."

The prospects for a comprehensive implementation of the main recommendations of the three documents are considerably enhanced by both the breadth and the unity of purpose of the member organizations involved in the development of these strategic policy documents.

For more information on the Canadian Sport Policy, please visit www.sirc.ca/csprenewal.cfm. For more information on Active Canada 20/20, please visit www.activecanada2020.ca. For more information on the National Recreation Agenda, please visit www.lin.ca/national-recreation-summit.

SOURCE: Sport Matters Group