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March 21 2013

alPHa’s members are the public health units Hon. , Hon. Teresa Piruzza in Ontario. Minister of Health and Long-Term Care Minister of Children & Youth Services 10th Flr, Hepburn Block 14th Flr 80 Grosvenor St 56 Wellesley St W alPHa Sections: Toronto, ON - M7A 2C4 Toronto, ON - M5S 2S3.

Boards of Health Dear Ministers Matthews and Piruzza, Section Council of Ontario Re: No Time to Wait: the Healthy Kids Strategy Medical Officers of Health (COMOH) On behalf of the Council of Ontario Medical Officers of Health (COMOH), a section of the Association of Local Public Health Agencies (alPHa), I am writing to congratulate you on the release of the Healthy Kids Panel Report, No Time to Wait: the Healthy Kids Strategy, and to Affiliate convey our strong support for its content, recommendations and plans for action. Organizations: As the medical leadership for Ontario’s Public Health Units, we know that implementing these ANDSOOHA - Public Health Nursing recommendations is imperative to reduce the burden of preventable morbidity and mortality Management caused by the many chronic diseases for which obesity is a major risk factor. We therefore offer our unanimous endorsement of the panel’s recommendations and full support for the Association of Ontario suggested actions as we encourage the Government, along with all parties, to act swiftly and Public Health Business decisively to implement them. As the panel noted, if action is not taken now, very harsh Administrators measures may be required later.

Association of Public Health The implementation of the full Healthy Kids Strategy can be expected to reap enormous Epidemiologists dividends both in reducing obesity-related suffering and in reducing the massive associated in Ontario financial burden on the acute care and long term care systems. The report makes a very strong case for achievable and vital recommendations, reflecting what the Panel heard not only from Association of experts in a variety of disciplines, but, importantly, from the families in Ontario. Supervisors of Public Health Inspectors of This Report resonates strongly with us, as it speaks to the core focus of Public Health, which is Ontario the prevention of disease through different and complementary empowering approaches and Health Promotion strategies. Public health is already carrying out key roles in many areas addressed by the Ontario strategy and supportive roles in all of them. We are eager to partner with the province to achieve the reduction in obesity rates that is the goal of the strategy. Our specific roles and Ontario Association of responsibilities, our knowledge and expertise and our connections with multiple stakeholders Public Health Dentistry uniquely situate the public health sector to be a supporting and positive force for the change you are leading. Ontario Society of

Nutrition Professionals in Public Health The report lists six milestones that should be met within the first year of action. The Province’s organized Public Health system, working with our deep network of municipal and other partners, stands ready to contribute to the implementation plan, and its execution; to assist in the development of components of the preconception visit and its promotion in the community; to apply our experience in tobacco control to restricting the promotion of unhealthy foods; to examine the components of EPODE and assessing their applicability in local

areas of Ontario; to assist in the development of indicators and reporting mechanisms to ensure the effectiveness of the strategy; and to provide expert advice on how public health’s existing programming (which is largely locally collaborative in nature) intersects with all areas of the strategy and what enhancements would best serve its objectives.

www.alphaweb.org Providing Leadership in Public Health Management We also know that there are many opportunities to leverage what public health already does, for the quick implementation of interventions that will have an immediate impact. With the proper resources and support, our existing health promotion capacity and activities can be put to excellent use in all three areas of the proposed strategy. Locally, Public Health’s connections are strong and collaborative across sectors. We have already worked under this government’s leadership to begin Healthy Communities partnerships, and our extensive networks poise Public Health as ready agents to make change happen “on the ground”. In addition, public health plays an important role in local and municipal readiness for policy change, a key factor for success.

The Ontario Public Health Standards already have program standards and list specific requirements of Boards of Health to address healthy weights, healthy eating and physical activity in the areas of both Child Health and Chronic Disease Prevention. Fulfillment of these program standards and requirements intersect well with many of the recommendations in the report. COMOH commits to taking next steps with you, and to remaining engaged over the longer term to realize the comprehensive strategy that is proposed in the report. It is one that clearly recognizes that our obesity problem is the product of far more than unhealthy behaviours and choices, and makes unambiguous and achievable recommendations to solve it. It emphasizes that a healthy start in life, a healthy food environment and healthy communities are all prerequisites to its success, and we agree that a comprehensive approach is critical.

In striking the Healthy Kids Panel, the Ontario Government made a commitment to reducing childhood obesity by 20 per cent over five years. This is a very ambitious goal and yet we find the report to be grounded in the reality of our systems and the economy. The voices of families in the report remind all of us that we have to move, and move now.

In addition to expressing our full support for the specific recommendations, we would like to commend the overall process. The Panel’s composition, collaborative work, and encompassing final recommendations have set the stage for readiness in Ontario to implement the Healthy Kids Strategy in full. We acknowledge the Panel Co-Chairs and thank you, Ministers, for your leadership in the important next steps. We look forward to working with you further on this important issue.

Yours truly,

Dr. Valerie Jaeger, Vice-Chair, Council of Ontario Medical Officers of Health

Copy: Hon. , Tim Hudak, Leader, Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario Andrea Horwath, Leader, New Democratic Party of Ontario Saäd Rafi, Deputy Minister, Health and Long-Term Care Kate Manson-Smith, Assistant Deputy Minister of Health and Long-Term Care (Health Promotion Division) Darryl Sturtevant, Assistant Deputy Minister, Ministry of Children and Youth Services Dr. Arlene King, Chief Medical Officer of Health Kelly Murumets, Co-Chair, Healthy Kids Panel, and President and CEO, ParticipACTION Alex Munter, Co-Chair, Healthy Kids Panel and President, and CEO, CHEO