Canada’s provincial, territorial and federal wellness ministers met in Halifax this week to discuss health care innovations, collaborative work across jurisdictions, and other topics to improve health outcomes for patients, says Health and Wellness Minister Doug Currie.
“These meetings provide a platform for discussion and learning,” said Minister Currie. “In the nine months since the Council of the Federation mandated the Health Care Innovation Working Group, which is co-chaired by Premier Ghiz, we have been working collaboratively to advance health care across the nation. The 13 Premiers have high expectations of us and our Ministries, and it is my belief that these high expectations have pushed us to complete a lot of work in a short period of time.”
Thursday’s provincial/territorial ministers meeting focused on continued collaboration. “We identified the significant work which remains to be implemented and developed a plan for going forward with the health care innovations initiative,” said Minister Currie.
The Department of Health and Wellness will work with Health PEI and local health care providers to develop customized, practical deployment strategies that will ensure that the recommendations endorsed by Premiers in July have a tangible impact for Islanders.
Today’s meeting, which included the federal minister, discussed an array of efforts to support Canadians to live healthier lives and make healthier choices. Ministers reviewed the current state of physical fitness across the country, and Minister Currie was alarmed at the rapidly rising rate of obesity. It was recognized that 59 per cent of adult Canadians and 26 per cent of Canadian children are overweight or obese. Obesity rates in children have almost tripled in the last 25 years. It is projected that in 20 years up to 70 per cent of middle-age Canadians will be overweight or obese. Affected adults die three to seven years earlier than their counterparts. Obesity is difficult to reverse. As such, prevention in childhood is crucial.
Minister Currie has directed his department to prepare strategic efforts in the area of wellness and healthy living, with an emphasis on our Island youth. “We need to continue the great work we are doing with programs like go!PEI, and further develop initiatives such as our Active Start Program,” said Minister Currie. “I want to expand our Active Start program, to provide every child 3 to 6 years of age with the opportunity to master fundamental motor skills and fundamental sport skills.”
Reversing trends in childhood overweight and obesity is a collective priority for action by all governments. Provincial/territorial health ministers look forward to releasing the first report on childhood obesity trends and progress at next year’s meeting so that all Canadians will have relevant information to support continued multi-sectoral action.