| MPP
Arnott Raises Need for Recreation Programs to Enhance
Health of Children and Families
Waterloo-Wellington
MPP Ted Arnott raised a question with the Minister of
Tourism and Recreation, Frank Klees, about what the
Government is doing to see that recreation programs
benefit children and families. He asked the question
in the Ontario Legislature on November 28, 2002 and
the following is the Hansard record of that debate:
Mr
Ted Arnott (Waterloo-Wellington): My question is for
my honourable friend the Minister of Tourism and Recreation.
As you well know, sports and recreation are important
contributors to our economy and our way of life, accounting
for 1.1% and 1.3% of Ontario's economic development
and contributing immeasurably to the health and social
well-being of our population.
A
study by the Canadian Medical Association reports that
sport and recreation promotion leads directly to financial
savings in the cost of health care. They estimate that
for every 10% increase in physical activity in our population,
health expenditures would go down by $51 million. This
is clearly something we want to encourage and support.
We want to ensure that all Ontarians are encouraged
to increase their level of physical activity.
Will
the minister inform the House what he is doing, as the
minister overseeing recreation, to see that low-income
children and youth across Ontario have opportunities
to participate in sports and recreation?
Hon
Frank Klees (Minister of Tourism and Recreation): I
want to thank the member for Waterloo-Wellington for
his question. Our government is indeed committed to
ensuring that all children, regardless of income level,
but particularly those from lower-income families, as
well as, I might add, children with disabilities, have
access to sports activities and other physical activities.
Earlier
today, I was pleased to be in Richmond Hill, at the
YMCA Early Years Centre, to announce a new initiative
of my ministry called the community sport opportunity
fund. Through that fund, we are committing an additional
$1.25 million to provide more opportunities for children
from lower-income families as well as children with
disabilities to participate in sports activities and
other physical activities.
We
believe that everyone in this province, regardless of
economic status, should have the opportunity for a good,
healthy start in life. We encourage people to take advantage
of this program.
Mr
Arnott: It's reassuring to know that the government
is committed to making physical activity opportunities
more accessible to low-income children and young families.
My
supplementary question to the minister is this: what
is the minister doing to develop new recreation projects
aimed at increasing broad-based participation in recreation,
sports and physical activity in a safe environment?
Hon
Mr Klees: I'm pleased to add to this. I was also at
the same time pleased to announce our ongoing investment
in my ministry's recreational development fund. The
amount of $2.1 million has been added to that program.
The recreational development fund is designed to invest
in initiatives that promote involvement in recreation
and sport and physical activities by all Ontarians,
regardless of age or ability, including children, youth
and older citizens of the province. This fund also supports
opportunities for sport and recreation safety initiatives
at the community level, such as those that facilitate
training and recruitment of community coaches, leaders
and volunteers.
We
believe that this program will do a great deal toward
advancing physical education and physical activities
within the province. We encourage municipalities and
community groups to take advantage and make their applications
to participate in this program.
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