FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 4, 2006

HEALTH COMMITTEE OFF TO A RUNNING START

VICTORIA — In an effort to lead by example, Members of the Select Standing Committee on Health donned their running shoes to participate in a 5 km fun run and 1.5 km walk open to government and Legislative Assembly employees.

“Committee members believe that parents and grandparents must lead by example when it comes to promoting physical fitness and healthy nutrition choices,” said committee chair Ralph Sultan, MLA. “My own recent personal health experience has brought into focus the importance of daily physical activity — whether you are six or 60.”

Assigned to find effective strategies to promote childhood health and wellness, the all-party parliamentary committee will be holding public hearings over the next few months to examine successful health and wellness campaigns from other jurisdictions; researching incentives and disincentives to help influence behaviour, particularly as it relates to healthy nutrition and physical activity; and studying the factors contributing to unhealthy eating and physical inactivity in youth of today.

“By participating in this run, we hope to demonstrate our commitment to promoting practical and common-sense solutions to the growing childhood obesity problem,” said deputy chair David Cubberley, MLA. “We are committed to encouraging young people to adopt lifelong health habits to enable British Columbians to lead the way in healthy living and physical fitness.”

The members of the Select Standing Committee on Health are:

Ralph Sultan, MLA, West Vancouver-Capilano (Chair)

John Nuraney, MLA, Burnaby – Willingdon

David Cubberley, MLA, Saanich South (Deputy Chair)

Val Roddick, MLA, Delta South

Katrine Conroy, MLA, West Kootenay - Boundary

Michael Sather, MLA, Maple Ridge – Pitt Meadows

Dave S. Hayer, MLA, Surrey – Tynehead

Katherine Whittred, MLA, North Vancouver - Lonsdale

Daniel Jarvis, MLA, North Vancouver - Seymour

Charlie Wyse, MLA, Cariboo South

Information about the committee’s work and transcripts of hearings can be found on its web site at http://www.leg.bc.ca/cmt/health, by contacting any committee member, or by contacting:

Kate Ryan-Lloyd, Clerk Assistant and Committee Clerk
Room 224, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, B.C., V8V 1X4
Phone: 250-356-2933 (24 hours) Toll-free: 1-877-428-8337 Fax: 250-356-8172
E-mail: healthcommittee@leg.bc.ca

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