Mr. Speaker, today I am pleased to provide Members with details on the Active After School Program which is part of the GNWT’s Healthy Choices Framework.
As you know, the Healthy Choices Framework is an interdepartmental initiative that includes the departments of Health and Social Services; Education, Culture and Employment; Justice; Transportation; and MACA.
The government is raising awareness of the direct link between good health and positive lifestyle choices, through the collaboration and the integration of healthy choices programs across these departments.
Through the Healthy Choices Framework and the Active After School Program, the GNWT is working to build our future by promoting healthy and active living among children and youth. Improving the physical and mental well-being of our youth will create healthy, educated Northerners as envisioned in the 16th Assembly’s vision of Northerners
Working Together.
Mr. Speaker, in 2009, Active Healthy Kids Canada reported that 87 percent of children and youth in Canada, including the Northwest Territories, do not meet Canada’s Physical Activity Guide recommendations for daily physical activity and that 90 percent of Canadian children and youth are spending far too much time in front of television, computer and video screens. It has also been found that the most inactive time for youth is the “after school period,“ which is 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.
The benefits of physical activity are widely known. Individuals who are physically active are less likely to be affected by chronic heart diseases, osteoporosis, diabetes and some types of cancer. It is also clear that physical activity programs can positively affect the ability of a student to learn and keep young people occupied during times when they might find other, less desirable activities to be involved in.
Mr. Speaker, the Active After School Program is a collaborative effort between MACA and the NWT Sport and Recreation Council that will provide funding support for 18 after school physical activity pilot programs across the Northwest Territories this winter. The projects will stretch across the Territory and incorporate a broad range of activities, including cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, Nordic walking, hip hop, floor hockey and badminton.
In some cases, funding is being provided for much needed equipment such as soccer balls and basketballs, or to set up fitness centres with cardio and weight machines, or to provide students with a healthy snack to fuel their play.
Although the programs vary in the types of activities they offer, they all have two key things in common. First, they are trying new ways to encourage more youth to be physically active, particularly those who may not be attracted to our more traditional sport and recreation activities. Second, they are providing physical activity programming for youth in that key after school time period when they might just as easily sit down in front of a TV, video game, or computer screen before their parents are home at the end of their day.
Through the leadership of the NWT Sport and Recreation Council, each of these pilot initiatives will be evaluated to determine their effectiveness and to see if they made a real difference in encouraging our youth to be physically active.
Mr. Speaker, I look forward to providing Members with an update on these important projects later in the year.
