Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen.
My name is Natalie Macleod Schroeder. I'm an occupational therapist representing Manitoba on our association's board of directors. With me today is Elisabeth Ostiguy, director of professional affairs.
The Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists is pleased to participate in this consultation on physical activity guidelines. CAOT believes that being active is important for Canadians through all stages of life. However, the complexity of Canadians' day-to-day lives challenges the government in its attempt to promote healthier lifestyles. To encourage Canadians to be more engaged in their well-being, appropriate guidelines are needed.
Occupational therapists are health professionals who promote the therapeutic use of and participation in self-care, work, and play activities to achieve maximum health and quality of life. Occupational therapists recognize the importance of a holistic approach to well-being for a successful transition to more active living regardless of personal limitations and environmental conditions.
Active living contributes to the well-being, functional capacity, and quality of life of all Canadians. It needs to be part of everything that people do during the course of everyday life and throughout their lifetime. A focus solely on prescribed physical activity, such as 30 minutes of cardiovascular exercise, will not necessarily result in Canadians being more engaged in healthy lifestyles.
Research demonstrates that day-to-day realities influence the possibility of engagement. Canadians must address barriers to their good intentions. These challenges include finding the time, accessing the right activity, and fitting in all the demands. Better outcomes will be realized through an active living guide that provides a variety of easily identifiable approaches.
Occupational therapists believe that providing broad guidelines without addressing the challenges will not meet overall goals of attaining a healthier society. An active living guide needs to be about the total person, reflective of their realities and their stage of development.
The World Health Organization defines active living as “a way of life in which physical, social, mental, emotional, and spiritual activities are valued and are integrated into daily living”. Health flourishes when people have access to activities that hold personal meaning, are publicly valued by the society in which they live, and lead to productive and satisfying lifestyles. All Canadians must be active participants in their own well-being.
Moving beyond physical activity guidelines to an active living guide will engage Canadians in their positive health outcomes, while ensuring a greater possibility for sustainable commitments. To change Canadians' habits for the better, the government needs to create a vision of possibilities. An active living guide will provide advice on the best ways to ensure balance in life and encourage activity to enjoy a full and enjoyable life.
The guide goes beyond what kinds of activities could be considered, such as gardening, dancing, and jumping rope, to include suggestions on how to make changes and stay engaged. The following are examples of what else could be included: how to set the right goals; making involvement in an activity easier; and making the right choice of activity.
Therefore, CAOT recommends that the federal government create an active living guide, along the same lines as Canada's Food Guide. It would identify the range of activities and strategies to promote healthy living.
According to the Coalition for Active Living, the trend to physical inactivity is reaching epidemic proportions today. The coalition believes that while most Canadians recognize the benefits of physical activity to their overall well-being, they remain inactive.
A number of barriers discourage physical activity among the economically disadvantaged. These include fees for programs and facilities. As a result, they will have fewer opportunities to develop patterns of healthy living.
Programs that encourage Canadians to be active should not be a luxury that cannot be afforded. As such, CAOT recommends that the federal government increase the application of the child fitness tax credit to the economically disadvantaged to facilitate participation in active living programs.
The Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists believes in ensuring active participation in everyday living to foster health and well-being. An active living guide, supported by selected tax credits, will support the government's vision of a healthier society.
Thank you for your attention. We would be pleased to answer any questions.