May 7, 2015

The Right Honourable Langevin Building 80 Wellington Street Ottawa, ON K1A 0A2

Hon. Rona Ambrose, P.C., M.P. Minister of Health Building, Tunney's Pasture Postal Locator: 0906C Ottawa, ON K1A 0K9

Dear Prime Minister Harper and Minister Ambrose:

Re: Continued support for the implementation of Canada’s National Alcohol Strategy

On behalf of the Board of Health of the Peterborough County-City Health Unit in Ontario, I am writing to express appreciation for your commitment to the prevention of harms caused by the use and misuse of alcohol and to encourage continued and enhanced support.

The work of the National Alcohol Strategy Advisory Committee (NASAC) has been made possible mainly via Health Canada’s support. The resources provided have been integral to the achievements made by the NASAC which enhances the success of organizations with similar mandates, such as ours, across Canada.

Since 2008, the NASAC has undertaken the multifaceted and intricate task of reducing alcohol- related harms through their efforts to implement the 41 recommendations of Canada’s National Alcohol Strategy. This initiative allows all stakeholders to take collective action through multi-sector partnerships and a shared responsibility. As a result, duplication is avoided and reach and impact are maximized. Even though the efforts of the NASAC take a national scope, their approach also serves as a model for stakeholders at provincial, regional or municipal levels to emulate. The province of Ontario is taking this approach through the report called Addressing Alcohol Consumption and Related Harms at the Local Level and the Peterborough County-City Health Unit is following suit working to create a local strategy to address alcohol in our community that is complimentary to this work.

It is well established that alcohol is no ordinary commodity and that it is associated with considerable health and social costs that impacts individuals, communities and populations. Therefore, it is vital to understand the risks involved and how to minimize those risks. The path

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10 Hospital Drive, Peterborough, ON K9J 8M1 P: (705) 743-1000 or 1-877-743-0101 F: (705) 743-2897 www.pcchu.ca to a culture of moderation is being forged by the work of the NASAC through a collaborative, multi-faceted and long-term approach that is based on evidence-informed policies and practices. I urge you, therefore, to support this work through continued and augmented financial support.

Thank you for your consideration. If you require more information, please feel free to contact Deanna VandenBroek, Health Promoter, Substance Misuse Prevention Program at [email protected] or (705)-743-1000 ext. 223.

Yours in health,

Original signed by

Councillor Lesley Parnell Chair, Board of Health

/at

c: Hon. Peter Gordon Mackay, P.C., M.P., Minister of Justice Rita Notarandrea, Interim CEO, Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse; Co-chair of NASAC Andrew Murie, CEO of MADD Canada; Co-chair of NASAC Carolyn Davison, Director of Addiction Services in the Mental Health Children’s Services Addictions Branch, Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness; Co-Chair of NASAC Cheryl Arratoon, Senior Advisor, Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse Ontario Boards of Health Association of Local Public Health Agencies

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10 Hospital Drive, Peterborough, ON K9J 8M1 P: (705) 743-1000 or 1-877-743-0101 F: (705) 743-2897 www.pcchu.ca