Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
First of all, I think I'd like to talk to the Public Health Agency of Canada. I do want to commend you for the leadership of the government, because in the last few years we have seen the children's fitness tax credit, rink funding, in the fall the framework for action to promote healthy weights, Canada's Food Guide, investment in NGOs like ParticipAction. But I can't help but think Canada is one of the wealthiest countries in the world, and I do recognize that some Canadians may have difficulty accessing healthy food. I look at the example of my own kids and how much personal choice and personal responsibility come down to it. I liked what Dr. Doig was saying, that she'd like to get rid of all these processed foods.
I'm one of those guys who actually shops, and, you know, you see five kilograms of rice is less than $10; a bag of oatmeal is $2.99; an apple is 50¢; a chocolate bar is $1. But you make these choices and the kids choose the chocolate bar. Water is free. Walking is free. I look at my own kids, who get up at 6 a.m., hop on the bus at 7:00, they're in school until about 2:30 or 3:00, they get home. Where are the opportunities for them to be active in their very busy lifestyles? Then parents come home and they throw something prepared into the oven. This is like a huge, huge issue, and I'm trying to get my head around it.
We recently heard from StatsCan that the physical activity levels, particularly for kids, are not even coming close to meeting the minimum guidelines. I was wondering, you mentioned the “Eat Well and Be Active” educational toolkit for educators. What kind of buy-in are you getting at the provincial level and the levels where educators have the kids in front of them for five or six hours a day? Are you getting a strong uptake with that?