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Background / Timelines
- Each year in Canada, more than two-thirds of deaths result from
four groups of chronic diseases: cardiovascular, cancer, type 2
diabetes, and respiratory. Risk factors that lead to these
diseases, such as physical inactivity and unhealthy eating, are
growing, particularly among some vulnerable groups
- In September 2002, the Federal/Provincial/Territorial (F/P/T)
Ministers of Health agreed to work together on an Integrated
Pan-Canadian Healthy Living Strategy. The goals of the Strategy are
to improve overall health outcomes and to reduce health disparities
by addressing the common preventable risk factors - namely physical
inactivity and unhealthy eating.. The Strategy aims at targeting
all Canadians with a special focus on children and youth,
Aboriginal peoples and other vulnerable groups.
- A consultation process was undertaken throughout 2003 and
included:
- Four pre-consultation meetings,
- Nine Strategic Roundtables,
- An online consultation workbook,
- A national level Healthy Living Symposium, and
- Further meetings with key representative stakeholder
groups.
- In September, 2003 the F/P/T Ministers of Health endorsed the
Healthy Living Strategy Framework and five action items, which
included:
- Creation of an Intersectoral Healthy Living Network;
- Action in the areas of research, surveillance, and best
practices;
- Exploration of options and models for an Intersectoral
Fund;
- Exploration of options for a communications/health information
strategy; and,
- Further dialogue with Aboriginal stakeholders.
- In September 2004, First Ministers highlighted the importance
of efforts to address prevention, promotion and public health, and
the sustainability of the health system. First Ministers committed
to working across sectors through the Strategy's framework on
initiatives such as Healthy Schools (schools are one of the key
settings of the framework to address concerns related to healthy
living among Canadian children and youth).
- The Coordinating Committee of the Intersectoral Healthy Living
Network was launched September 22 - 24, 2004. It is being lead by
co-chairs representing Federal /Provincial /Territorial governments
and the non-profit sector. It will act as an engine to move the
Healthy Living agenda forward and ensure the guiding principles of
the Network and Strategy are upheld.
- Under the guidance of the Coordinating Committee, four Working
Groups were established, composed of members from Federal
/Provincial /Territorial networks, the private sector and
non-profit organizations. The four groups and their functions are
as follows:
- Social Marketing / Public Information Working Group -
Developing a social marketing campaign with consistent, universal
and targeted messaging on Healthy Living.
- Priorities and Objectives Working Group - Developing specific
objectives, targets, performance indicators and evaluation
frameworks for the Strategy.
- Research and Surveillance Working Group - Developing an
integrated research agenda and identifying best practice and
surveillance activities for the Strategy.
- Intersectoral Fund Working Group - Exploring options and models
for an Intersectoral Fund.
- The second meeting of the Coordinating Committee for the
Intersectoral Healthy Living Network (IHLN) took place in Ottawa on
April 7 and 8, 2005. The purpose of this meeting was to provide
members with the opportunity to contribute to specific elements of
the Healthy Living Strategy.
- Federal, Provincial and Territorial Ministers of Health
approved the Integrated Pan-Canadian Healthy Living Strategy at
their annual Conference, held on October 22 and 23, 2005 in
Toronto, Ontario.