alPHa
Position
Access to adequate, acceptable and healthy nutrition and physical activity is essential to the healthy growth and development of children and plays an important role in the prevention of disease in later life. The government of Ontario must recognize
its role in providing supports for healthy eating as well as promoting physical activity in schools and in the home. Strategies to ensure access to a healthy and adequate diet for all Ontarians as well as to address the specific issue of the alarming
rise in obesity must be developed.
(Please visit the Determinants of Health page for advocacy related to barriers to accessing nutritious food.)
Developments on A19-11
July 26, 2019 alPHa has written a letter to the Minister
of Health that introduces alPHa Resolution A19-11, Public Health Funding to Support Healthy Weights and Prevention of Childhood Obesity.
Developments on A16-6:
July 21 2016
alPHa has transmitted a letter to the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care that introduces this resolution.
July 12 2016
alPHa has issued a news release (with input form Heart and Stroke) announcing the passage of this resolution.
Resolution
A15-6, Physical Literacy in Educational and Childcare Settings
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THAT the Association of Local Public Health Agencies request the Ontario Ministry of Education and its stakeholders to provide for the public health, safety, and welfare of all Ontario residents by enhancing the
development of physical literacy in educational and childcare settings through:
1. Adopting a mandatory assessment of physical literacy for elementary and secondary students across the province; 2. Ensuring that quality daily health and physical education programming is delivered by health and physical education specialists in all Ontario elementary and secondary schools; 3. Evaluating compliance and enforcing the Daily Physical Activity (Policy/Program Memorandum No. 138) requirement; 4. Providing ongoing staff training related to physical literacy for all teachers, early childhood educators, and childcare providers; 5. Strengthening the Day Nurseries Act/Child Care and Early Years Act to promote and support physical literacy development in licensed childcare settings; and 6. Making health and physical education credits a mandatory requirement for grades 9-12.
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Developments on A15-6:
January 2016
The the Ontario Society of Physical Activity Promoters in Public Health has assembled a small working group to continue advocacy on this issue, and has submitted a letter to the Minister of Education, which refers to alPHa's resolution among other expressions of support.
August 31 2015
Reply received from the Minister of Education, which outlines several related Ministry
initiatives.
July 30 2015
alPHa has written a letter to the Minister of Education that introduces this resolution.
Resolution A13-6, Mandatory Physical Education for Ontario
Secondary School Students
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THAT alPHa urge the Government of Ontario to endorse the "Taking Action to Prevent Chronic Disease” report from Cancer Care Ontario and Public Health Ontario, and take immediate action towards implementation of the recommendation to require
students to earn a physical education credit in every grade from 9 to 12 to achieve high school graduation; AND FURTHER that a collaborative approach be taken to development of the curriculum that includes the Ministry of Education, Ministry
of Health and Long Term Care, Boards of Education, Secondary School staff, parents and students to ensure a positive experience for Ontario’s youth that will encourage healthy active living into adulthood.
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Developments on A13-6:
August 26 2013
Response to the July 16 alPHa Letter received from the Minister of Education. Please click here to read.
July 16 2013
alPHa Letter to the Minister of Education introducing this resolution. Please click here to read.
Developments on #A12-5:
June 17, 2019
The Government of Canada has introduced The Food Policy for Canada, which has similar aims to those of Resolution A12-5.
July 12 2012
alPHa Has written a letter to the Premier introducing alPHa Resolution A12-5, which calls on the Province to create an Ontario Food and Nutrition Strategy
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Resolution: # A11-10, Regulation and Reduction of Sodium in the Canadian Food Supply
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| THAT the Association of Local Public Health Agencies encourage the federal Minister of Health, the Chief Public Health Officer for Canada, Ontario’s Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, and the Chief Medical Officer of Health of Ontario
to support and implement the aforementioned recommendations outlined in the 2010 Report of the former Federal Sodium Reduction Working Group. |
Developments on #A11-10:
October 25 2016
alPHa has written to the Minister in response to her Oct 24 announcement.
October 24 2016
The federal Minister of Health has announced a Healthy Eating Strategy for Canada, which includes specific measures on sodium reduction, trans
fat elimination and restrictions on marketing to children.
November 26 2015
alPHa has written a letter to the Federal Minister of Health that links a number of points in her mandate
letter to this and four other alPHa resolutions.
October 20 2015
The Liberal Platform plank on Healthier Kids contains the following pledge:
We will do our part to help Canadian children live healthier lives, with less exposure to known health risks.
To help families make better food choices, we will: bring in tougher regulations to eliminate trans fats, similar to those in the U.S., and to reduce salt in processed foods.
The whole platform can be viewed here
May 8 2013
Bill C-460, Sodium Reduction Strategy for Canada Act, is defeated by a vote of 147-122
May 8 2013
CSPI has submitted a new letter to the Minister of Health, which cites the Joint Statement referred to below.
January 31 2013
Debate begins on Bill C-460 in the House of Commons. The Centre for Science in the Public Interest has presented a letter of support co-signed by over three-dozen health organizations, including alPHa, COMOH and the Simcoe-Muskoka District Health
Unit. Please click here for more information.
November 28 2012
alPHa has written to the federal Minister of Health in support of Bill C-460, the Sodium Reduction Strategy for Canada Act, which also includes alPHa's supporting Resolution A11-10.
May 11, 2012
alPHa has written a letter to the Premier in support of Bill 86, Healthy Decisions for Healthy Eating, which would require the disclosure of calorie and sodium information
beside menu items in large chain restaurants. This resolution was attached. Please click here to read.
October 24, 2011
Response received from the federal Minister of Health. Please click here to read.
August 19, 2011
alPHa has written a letter to the Federal Minister of Health introducing this Resolution. Please click here to read.
July 28, 2011
The Ontario Medical Association has launched a sodium consumption awareness campaign; click here to learn more
.
| Resolution: # A10-7, Integrating Food Literacy Training into Ontario’s School Curriculum |
| THAT the Association of Local Public Health Agencies call on the Government of Ontario to integrate a wide range of food literacy skills into the Ontario school curriculum; AND FURTHER that the Association of Local Public Health Agencies partner
with the Ontario Public Health Association, Toronto Public Health and other interested stakeholders to develop and implement an effective province-wide advocacy plan. |
Developments on #A10-7:
December 16, 2021
MPP Daryl Kramp has provided a written update on the progress of Bill 216 (which is expected to be re-introduced in Feb 2022) via e-mail.
March 29, 2021
MPP Daryl Kramp has provided a written update on the progress of Bill 216 via e-mail.
January 21, 2020
alPHa has sent a letter in support of Bill 216
October 19, 2020
PC MPP Daryl Kramp has introduced Bill 216, Food Literacy for Students Act, 2020.
September 30, 2010
Response received from the Minister, which outlines general health literacy provisions in the existing curriculum that may address food literacy and nutrition.
Please click here to read.
August 20, 2010
alPHa has written a letter to the Minister of Education introducing this Resolution. Please click here to read.
Developments on #A09-1 / A08-13:
June 8, 2023
alPHa has made a submission to a new consultation aimed at informing regulations to be developed
and introduced in 2024 that will restrict advertising to children in Canada.
April 5, 2023
alPHa has sent a letter to Prime Minister Trudeau & Minister Duclos that calls for the acceleration
of regulatory action on restricting marketing to children in Canada.
March 4, 2022
Letter from the alPHa President sent to the Prime Minister
and federal Minister of Health that calls for accelerating Canada's Healthy Eating Strategy, which includes developing regulatory restrictions on marketing to children.
December 17, 2019
alPHa has sent a letter to the new federal Minister of Health congratulating her
on her appointment and outlining how alPHa's work aligns with elements of her mandate. This resolution is attached.
February 15, 2019
Letter transmitted from the alPHa President to all Ontario Senators expressing support for Bill S-228,
which would impose restrictions on the marketing of unhealthy food and beverages to children.
September 18, 2018
Bill S-228 (Child Health Protection Act), legislation to amend the Food and Drugs Act – prohibiting food and beverage marketing directed at children - has passed third reading. More information on this Bill is available here.
January 2017
The Heart and Stroke Foundation has released its 2017 Annual Report, and it examines how industry is marketing unhealthy food and beverages directly to our children and youth, and how this is affecting their preferences and choices, their family relationships and their health. It makes a strong case for banning such marketing via legislation.
October 25 2016
alPHa has written to the Minister in response to her Oct 24 announcement.
October 24 2016
The federal Minister of Health has announced a Healthy Eating Strategy for Canada, which includes specific measures on sodium reduction, trans fat elimination and restrictions on marketing to children.
October 15 2016
A letter has been sent from the alPHa President to the federal Minister of Health in support of
Senate Bill S-228, the Child Health Protection Act, which if passed would put restrictions on the marketing of unhealthy food and beverages to children.
September 27 2016
Canadian Senator Nancy Greene Raine (PC) has introduced Bill S-228, which, if passed, would ban food and beverage marketing to children under 13 years of age. This is well aligned with alPHa’s Resolution A08-13 as well as the position of the Stop Marketing to Kids Coalition, of which alPHa is a supporter.
April 2016
The Stop Marketing to Kids Coalition (of which alPHa is a supporter) has launched a blog.
March 9 2016
alPHa has written a letter in support of recommendations related to this resolution
contained in the 2016 Canadian Senate Report, Obesity in Canada: Whole-of-Society Approach for a Healthier Canada.
February 24 2016
A national coalition advocating for restrictions on food and beverage marketing to children and youth was launched February 24th 2016 at the Chronic Disease Prevention Alliance of Canada (CDPAC) pan-Canadian conference. Co-led by the Heart and Stroke
Foundation and the Childhood Obesity Foundation, the Stop Marketing to Kids Coalition says the time has come to protect children and to support parents to make healthy decisions for their families. The coalition has developed the Ottawa Principles,
which outline the policy recommendation of restricting commercial marketing of all food and beverages to children and youth 16 and under. The Ottawa Principles also include a set of definitions, scope, and principles to guide policy development. alPHa
contributed to the development of the Ottawa Principles and has endorsed the Coalition's recommendation. More here: www.stopmarketingtokids.ca.
November 26 2015
alPHa has written a letter to the Federal Minister of Health that links a number of points in her mandate
letter to this and four other alPHa resolutions.
October 20 2015
The Liberal Platform plank on Healthier Kids contains the following pledge:
We will do our part to help Canadian children live healthier lives, with less exposure to known health risks.
To help families make better food choices, we will introduce new restrictions on the commercial marketing of unhealthy food and beverages to children, similar to those now in place in Quebec.
The whole platform can be viewed here
March 6 2015
alPHa has written a letter to the Chair of the Childhood Obesity Foundation and the Vice President,
Research, Advocacy and Knowledge Exchange of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada confirming alPHa's endorsement of the Ottawa Principles for restricting marketing to children.
November 27 2014
alPHa Staff attended a day-long meeting in Ottawa that was designed as a preliminary step towards bringing oranizations with interest in regulating marketing to children together, with a view to forming a national coalition. Proceedings can be viewed here.
May 9 2013
More than 20 national and provincial health and scientific organizations have joined together in advance of Canada Health Day 2013 in support of a policy statement calling for a restriction on marketing of foods and beverages high in fats, added sugars or sodium targeted to children under the age of 13.
June 20, 2011
Reply to the May 17 letter received from the Minister of Consumer Services, suggesting that the Minister of Health Promotion and Sport is the most appropriate contact for
matters related to the Consumer Protection Act. Please click here to read.
May 17, 2011
alPHa has written a letter to the Minister of Consumer Services in support of Private Member’s Bill 175. Please click here to read.
May 12, 2010
alPHa has co-signed a letter to the Minister of Health (Canada) that urges her to take action at the World Health Assembly to strengthen protections of children against
commercial marketing. Please click here to read.
January 4, 2010
Response from Heritage Minister outlining the current regulatory regime governing advertising standards. Please click here to read.
November 13, 2009
Letter written to Canadian Heritage Minister (Responsible for the Broadcasting Act and the CRTC) introducing alPHa's position on prohibiting commercial advertising to children.
Please click here to read.
November 10, 2009
alPHa has received a response from the Minister of Industry. Please click here to read.
September 10, 2009
Reply received from the Minister of Consumer Services. Please click here to read.
August 4, 2009
alPHa has written to the federal Ministers of Health and of Industry, as well as the provincial Minister of Consumer Services to introduce this resolution, along with Resolution
A08-13 calling for a specific ban on commercial marketing of food and beverages to children less than 13 years of age. Please click here to read.
| Resolution: # A08 - 13, Ban on Commercial Advertising of Food and Beverages to Children Under the Age of 13 |
| THAT the Association of Local Public Health Agencies call for a ban on all commercial advertising of food and beverages targeted to children under 13 years of age by the Government of Ontario and the Government of Canada; AND FURTHER THAT
the Association of Local Public Health Agencies partner with the Ontario Public Health Association, Toronto Public Health and other interested stakeholders to develop and implement an effective province-wide advocacy plan.
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Developments on #A08-13:
October 25 2016
alPHa has written to the Minister in response to her Oct 24 announcement.
October 24 2016
The federal Minister of Health has announced a Healthy Eating Strategy for Canada, which includes specific measures on sodium reduction,
trans fat elimination and restrictions on marketing to children.
October 15 2016
A letter has been sent from the alPHa President to the federal Minister of Health in support
of Senate Bill S-228, the Child Health Protection Act, which if passed would put restrictions on the marketing of unhealthy food and beverages to children.
September 27 2016
Canadian Senator Nancy Greene Raine (PC) has introduced Bill S-228, which, if passed, would ban food and beverage marketing to children under 13 years of age. This is well aligned with alPHa’s Resolution A08-13 as well as the position of the Stop Marketing to Kids Coalition, of which alPHa is a supporter.
April 2016
The Stop Marketing to Kids Coalition (of which alPHa is a supporter) has launched a blog.
March 9 2016
alPHa has written a letter in support of recommendations related to
this resolution contained in the 2016 Canadian Senate Report, Obesity in Canada: Whole-of-Society Approach for a Healthier Canada.
February 24 2016
A national coalition advocating for restrictions on food and beverage marketing to children and youth was launched February 24th 2016 at the Chronic Disease Prevention Alliance of Canada (CDPAC) pan-Canadian conference. Co-led by the Heart and Stroke
Foundation and the Childhood Obesity Foundation, the Stop Marketing to Kids Coalition says the time has come to protect children and to support parents to make healthy decisions for their families. The coalition has developed the Ottawa Principles,
which outline the policy recommendation of restricting commercial marketing of all food and beverages to children and youth 16 and under. The Ottawa Principles also include a set of definitions, scope, and principles to guide policy development. alPHa
contributed to the development of the Ottawa Principles and has endorsed the Coalition's recommendation. More here: www.stopmarketingtokids.ca.
November 26 2015
alPHa has written a letter to the Federal Minister of Health that links a number of points in her mandate
letter to this and four other alPHa resolutions.
October 20 2015
The Liberal Platform plank on Healthier Kids contains the following pledge:
We will do our part to help Canadian children live healthier lives, with less exposure to known health risks.
To help families make better food choices, we will introduce new restrictions on the commercial marketing of unhealthy food and beverages to children, similar to those now in place in Quebec.
The whole platform can be viewed here
March 6 2015
alPHa has written a letter to the Chair of the Childhood Obesity Foundation and the Vice President, Research, Advocacy and Knowledge Exchange of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada confirming alPHa's endorsement of the Ottawa Principles for restricting marketing to children.
November 27 2014
alPHa Staff attended a day-long meeting in Ottawa that was designed as a preliminary step towards bringing oranizations with interest in regulating marketing to children together, with a view to forming a national coalition. Proceedings can be viewed here.
May 9 2013
More than 20 national and provincial health and scientific organizations have joined together in advance of Canada Health Day 2013 in support of a policy statement calling for a restriction on marketing of foods and beverages high in fats, added sugars or sodium targeted to children under the age of 13.
June 20, 2011
Reply to the May 17 letter received from the Minister of Consumer Services, suggesting that the Minister of Health Promotion and Sport is the most appropriate contact for matters related to the Consumer Protection Act.
Please click here to read.
May 17, 2011 alPHa has written a letter to the Minister of Consumer Services in support of Private Member’s Bill 175.
Please click here to read.
March 31, 2011 NDP MPP Rosario Marchese has introduced Private Member's Bill 175, Consumer Protection Amendment Act (Protecting Children from Targeted Advertising of Unhealthy Food and
Drink), 2011.
Please click here for more information.
May 12, 2010 alPHa has co-signed a letter to the Minister of Health (Canada) that urges her to take action at the World Health Assembly to strengthen protections of children against commercial
marketing.
Please click here to read.
November 13, 2009
Letter written to Canadian Heritage Minister (Responsible for the Broadcasting Act and the CRTC) introducing alPHa's position on prohibiting commercial advertising to
children. Please click here to read.
November 10, 2009
alPHa has received a response from the Minister of Industry. Please click here to read
.
September 10, 2009
Reply received from the Minister of Consumer Services.
Please click here to read.
August 4, 2009
alPHa has written to the federal Ministers of Health and of Industry, as well as the provincial Minister of Consumer Services to introduce this resolution, along with Resolution
A09-1 calling for a general ban on marketing to children less than 13 years of age. Please click here to read.
February 5, 2009
As part of its annual winter meeting, alPHa held a panel discussion on advertising to children in order to inform next steps for advocating on this resolution. Notes
and presentations on the discussion are available in the Proceedings Package. Please click here to read.
Resolution A23-6, Advocating for a National School Food Program in Canada.
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NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Local Public Health Agencies (alPHa) calls on the Federal Government to:
Follow through on its commitment from 2021 and allocate $1 billion over five years in Budget 2024 to establish a National School Nutritious Meal Program as a key element of the evolving Food Policy for Canada, with $200 million per year
to contribute to provinces, territories and First Nations, Métis, and Inuit partners to fund their school programs10,13.
- Enter discissions with Indigenous leaders to negotiate agreements for the creation and/or enhancement of permanent independent distinctions based First Nation, Métis and Inuit school meal programs10,13.
- Create a dedicated school food infrastructure to enhance food production and preparation equipment and facilities so they can reliably and efficiently serve healthy food in adequate volumes10,13.
AND FURTHER that alPHa endorses the work of the Coalition for Healthy School Food; a non-partisan network of more than 260 non-profit organizations advocating for public investment in a universal cost shared nutritious SFP,
with consistent national standards13.
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Developments on A23-6
April 19, 2024
Resolution closed by the alPHa Board of Directors.
Rationale: Complete Satisfaction of Operative Clause(s).
April 5, 2024
alPHa has sent a letter of congratulations to the Prime Minister for the April 1 announcement.
April 1, 2024
The Prime Minister has announced the launch of a National School Food Program, with a commitment of $1B over five
years.
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CLOSED Resolution: # A09-4, Trans Fat in the Food Supply
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THAT the Association of Local Public Health Agencies (alPHa) urge the Federal Minister of Health to take immediate steps to amend the Food and Drug Act or regulations to restrict the levels of synthetic trans fat permitted in foods to the limits recommended by the Federal Trans Fat Task Force (2006); AND FURTHER that alPHa urge the Government of Ontario to take immediate steps towards regulating trans fat levels in foods and beverages available in Ontario food premises, including, but not limited to, supporting Bill 156 Healthy Decisions for Healthy Foods; AND FURTHER that alPHa urge the Government of Ontario to, in keeping with recent measures taken by the Government of British Columbia, take immediate steps towards regulating trans fat levels in foods and beverages available in Ontario foodservice operations; AND FURTHER that alPHa urge the Government of Ontario to expand the trans fat regulations of Bill 8 Healthy Foods for Healthy Schools to include all foods available or provided (not just sold) by Ontario schools;AND FURTHER that alPHa urge Ontario boards of health and municipalities to consider taking actions to regulate trans fat served in local food premises such as has been done in the cities of Calgary, Montreal and Toronto.
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Reason for Closure:
September 29 2017
The alPHa Board of Directors has determined that the Operative Clause has been satisfied:
September 15, 2017 - Health Canada has announced a ban on partially hydrogenated oils (PHOs)—the main source of industrially produced trans fats—in all food sold in Canada, to take effect on September 15 2018. The ban was finalized through a Notice
of Modification adding PHOs to the List of Contaminants and Other Adulterating Substances.
| CLOSED Resolution: Resolution: # A12-2 - Mandatory Physical Education |
THAT alPHa urge the Government of Ontario to endorse the "Taking Action to Prevent Chronic Disease” report from Cancer Care Ontario and Public Health Ontario, and take immediate action towards implementation of the recommendation to require
students to earn a physical education credit in every grade from 9 to 12 to achieve high school graduation; AND FURTHER that a collaborative approach be taken to development of the curriculum that includes the Ministry of Education,
Ministry of Health and Long Term Care, Boards of Education, Secondary School staff, parents and students to ensure a positive experience for Ontario’s youth that will encourage healthy active living into adulthood; AND FURTHER that
the curriculum include the establishment of a challenge process under the current Ministry of Education Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition Policy for students to earn credit for physical education completed outside the school setting
that meets or exceeds the requirements of the Ministry of Education’s Health and Physical Education curriculum.
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Reason for Closure:
June 4 2013
Resolution re-introduced as #A13-6.
April 26 2013
The alPHa Board of Directors has recommended re-introduction of the Resolution in a letter to the HKPR Board of Health.
February 4 2013
Response received from the Resolution sponsor (Haliburton - Kawartha - Pine Ridge), indicating that the endorsement of the OPHEA Report does not satisfy the original intent.
September 28 2012
The alPHa Board endorsed an Ontario Physical and Health Education Association (OPHEA) request for support for finalizing and implementing the revised Health and Physical Education Curriculum. The report contains the following passage: "Through its focus
on the development of physical literacy (i.e., the ability to move with competence and confidence in a wide variety of physical activities), the revised elementary curriculum is inspiring a lifelong love of physical activity in children, and it’s
past time that the secondary curriculum did the same". The Board then recommended that the Resolution sponsor be asked if this would satisfy its original intent.
June 11 2012
Resolution referred to alPHa Board of Directors
Reason for Closure:
April 26, 2013
The alPHa Board has closed this Resolution, as the promotion of healthy active living is an important part of several recent public policy initiatives, including Ontario’s Action Plan for Health Care, the Healthy Kids strategy, and the Seniors Strategy
(including the recent announcement of direct funding to LHINs for Seniors’ exercise, physio and falls prevention programs). The original intent of the Resolution was to provide for healthy, active living programs aimed at seniors specifically
April 18, 2013
The Ontario Government has announced that it will provide direct funding to LHINs to provide physiotherapy, group exercise classes and falls prevention services to seniors in long-term care homes and in communities across Ontario beginning August 1, 2013.
Please click here for more information.
Developments on #A07-2:
June 15, 2009
alPHa has passed a new resolution on this subject, which urges more specific action on mandating the removal of trans fat from the food supply. Please click here to read.
| CLOSED Resolution: # A05-8, Healthy Weights |
| NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT aIPHa urges the Premier of Ontario, the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, the Minister of Health Promotion and the Chief Medical Officer of Health to act immediately to develop specific, objectives, goals
and targets based on the recommendations of Healthy Weights, Healthy Lives and to implement a healthy weights action plan to meet them, ideally as an integral component of a pan-Canadian healthy living strategy, to advance the recommendations
of "Healthy Weights, Healthy Lives". |
Developments on #A05-8:
June 20, 2006
Ontario government unveiled Ontario's Action Plan for Healthy Eating and Active Living and a $10 million investment this year that builds on the province's existing prevention
programs.
Please click here for more information. alPHa is represented on the Advisory Committee on Healthy Eating and Active Living.
| CLOSED Resolution: # A04-6, Childhood Obesity
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| THAT the Association of Local Public Health Agencies (alPHa) urges the Chief Medical Officer of Health to review and make recommendations on childhood obesity in the next annual report; AND FURTHER that alPHa urges the Government of Ontario
to strike an expert panel to study childhood obesity and to recommend an Ontario obesity strategy. |
Developments on #A04-6:
January 18, 2005
This Resolution was closed following the release of the requested CMOH Report - Healthy Weights, Healthy Lives,
but the Advocacy Committee agreed that healthy weights would remain a top priority.
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