Environment Committee on Dec. 3rd, 2012

[Dr. François Reeves]

That is a nice question.

First, I'm a heart specialist, so I will answer to what I know. I'm really not an oncologist or a cancer specialist.

What I know is that all women have a risk of one out of seven to have breast cancer. At the beginning of the century it was one out of 20. In South America nowadays it's one out of 40.

First, how come my wife has a one out of seven risk of having breast cancer and if I were in Patagonia, this risk would drop by a factor of five or six?

Second, during all my training and during my 23 years of career practice, I've seen a lot of things about vitamin D. I say that within the reasonable limits suggested by the

Canada's Food Guide.

I don't remember the exact words in English—

[A voice]

It's the Canada Food Guide.

[Dr. François Reeves]

If you are within those reasonable limits of the Canadian Food Guide, that's okay, but on a general standpoint I think we do not spend enough time outside in our society. Everything that can bring us outside, especially nice streets, we'll get out. It's the same for our children, I can tell you.

[James Lunney, Conservative, Nanaimo—Alberni, BC]

Absolutely.

I wanted to pick up on that because Mr. Ricketts started talking about the gardener who is 90-plus years old. I just have to mention that for our colleagues across the way there. I know that a member of their caucus, Monsieur Genest, is a gardener, and if you mention gardening to him, his visage just lights up like the sun.

I know that getting kids to play outdoors is important. You mentioned some of the opportunities in Ottawa along the Rideau Canal and along the Ottawa parkway. You can ride your bike around that parkway and think you're out in the country.

We've heard a lot of talk at committee here about nature deficit disorder. I just wondered if you would expand on the benefits of getting out, exercising outdoors, and interacting with nature as a closing, because we're up to the last minute or so. Whoever wants to go with that, go ahead.

[Don Maciver]

I can quickly say that we have outdoor educators, and they have identified that nature deficit disorder issue to me because people are tending to stay indoors and play with computers and computer games and video-type things. They're not going outside like they used to.

I think also there's a sense that parents want their children out in safe conditions, and they don't necessarily think that the world is safe out there. There are a whole bunch of things that are conspiring to result in what you've just described.

[James Lunney, Conservative, Nanaimo—Alberni, BC]

Thank you for that.

[The Chair, Conservative, Mark Warawa]

I want to thank the witnesses again for a very interesting testimony. I'm sure you've helped each one of us to understand the issue better.

Colleagues, I will accept a motion to adjourn.

[An hon. member]

I so move.

[The Chair, Conservative, Mark Warawa]

The meeting is adjourned.