Come summer, I enjoy sticking closer to home – close enough to spend time outdoors with family, including my young grandchildren. Carefree days, plenty of fresh air and outdoor fun – if you’re a child, that’s what summer should bring. Unfortunately, by choice many children will spend their summer inside in front of a television, video game or computer screen. On average, kids are spending six hours a day in front of an electronic device. This is almost as much time as their parents spend at work.

Children who develop healthy habits at an early age often continue to lead a healthy lifestyle into adulthood. However, today, most of them miss the mark. Statistics Canada reports that only seven per cent of Canadian youth get the recommended level of 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity per day. Childhood obesity in Canada has tripled over the past three decades. And sport participation rates for Canadian youth has steadily declined, dropping from 77 per cent in 1992 to 59 per cent in 2005.

Our government has worked hard to deliver initiatives to help kids get moving in order to stay fit and healthy. As part of our Economic Action Plan, we delivered additional funding for ParticipACTION, an organization that delivers community-based physical activity and fitness programs. We also created the Children’s Fitness Tax Credit to create more incentive for parents to enroll their children in physical activity. Through this tax credit, parents can receive up to $500 per child in tax relief against the costs of registration in approved physical activities, such as hockey, soccer or ballet. In addition, our government has partnered with provincial governments and key, national sport leaders to renew the Canadian Sport Policy, an initiative that supports the Canadian organizations who believe in the positive effects of sport and physical activity in our country.

Our government believes in the benefits of sport, physical activity and recreation in Canada. Active living is important to the health and well-being of Canadians of all ages and abilities.

I intend to enjoy a healthy, active summer – I hope you have the opportunity to do the same.

-30-

The audio version of Garry's July 1, 2013 op-ed column can be heard by clicking here