Minister Applauds New Health Promotion Focus in Ontario

Rodney MacDonald, Minister of Health Promotion sent congratulations today, June 30, to Ontario for naming a Minister of Health Promotion. The new portfolio is similar to the Nova Scotia Health Promotion model.

Premier John Hamm created Nova Scotia Health Promotion in December 2002 to improve the health of all Nova Scotians now, and for future generations.

"In Nova Scotia we have seen how effective a health promotion portfolio can be in creating new opportunities for helping people live healthier lives across the province," said Mr. MacDonald. "I am pleased to see Ontario make health promotion a priority and send my personal congratulations to Minister Jim Watson on his appointment. I look forward to sharing our own experiences and offering any assistance necessary to the new minister."

Jim Watson, member-of-provincial parliament for Ontario, was appointed by Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty as part of a cabinet shuffle.

Since the creation of Nova Scotia Health Promotion, smoking rates have dropped from 30 per cent to 22 per cent. This year's priority areas are healthy eating and physical activity, especially among young people.

As a result of new government investments, school boards will have new supports for breakfast programs, following guidelines outlined in the Healthy Eating Nova Scotia Strategy.

Participating school boards will also have a sport animator for the next school year. Sport animators will link schools with community sport programs and will provide more opportunities for children to be active. Together these programs help create environments that will allow children to grow into healthy adults.

Nova Scotia Health Promotion has six priority areas focusing on physical activity, injury prevention, addiction prevention, healthy eating, healthy sexuality and tobacco control.