ParticipACTION Applauds Government of Canada's Federal Budget Commitment to Physical Activity

TORONTO, Feb. 27, 2018  /CNW/ - ParticipACTION is thrilled that today's Federal Budget includes $25 million over five years, starting in 2018-2019, for ParticipACTION to increase participation in daily physical activity among Canadians. This strategic and much-needed new investment will be used to help tackle social norms through a long-term, multi-partner and coordinated public education and engagement effort led by ParticipACTION.

"For too long now, society has inadvertently engineered daily physical activity out of people's lives. We are living a modern life that does not support or encourage us to do one of the basic things that make us healthy: move," said Elio Antunes, president and CEO of ParticipACTION. "This investment will help us to change that."

Today's funding announcement highlights a commitment by the Government of Canada toward physical activity and the importance it plays in the lives of all Canadians. ParticipACTION will be positioned to lead Canada toward a more active lifestyle through physical activity and sport, partnering with others in the not-for-profit, public and private sectors. ParticipACTION also applauds the Government of Canada for its Federal Budget support of increased participation of women and girls in sport, the promotion of sport among Indigenous youth, and seniors' health.

"In order to make physical activity a more vital part of everyday life in Canada, we need to give people opportunities to move more, and support them to do it. That is our goal," said Antunes. "ParticipACTION is grateful for all the support we have received from the federal government and we remain committed to help Canadians sit less and move more, making physical activity a vital part of everyday life."

About ParticipACTION
ParticipACTION is a national non-profit organization whose mission is to help Canadians sit less and move more. Originally established in 1971, ParticipACTION works with its partners, which include sport, physical activity, recreation organizations, government and corporate sponsors, to make physical activity a vital part of everyday life.

SOURCE ParticipACTION

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