Thanks to the Sudbury Board of Health for supporting my bill to ban food ads to children under 13.
I was pleased to see that on Nov. 24, the Sudbury and District Board of Health voted to endorse Bill S-228, which I introduced in the Senate as one step towards reducing the rising rates of childhood obesity in Canada. This legislation prohibits the marketing of food and beverages to children under 13.
Fully one third of Canadians kids are overweight or obese, and the problem is growing steadily worse. It is a problem that, if left unchecked, threatens our health-care system and the ability of the next generation of Canadians to live full, healthy lives.
Despite this, Canadian children are being bombarded every day with advertising for food and beverages. Sugary drinks, fatty chips, cereals festooned with marshmallows — all of these products are advertised to kids at an early age.
I believe that government shouldn’t unnecessarily interfere with our lives. It is up to parents to do the parenting. But we need to support parents in being able to do the right thing. Food and beverage companies will still be able to market their products — this legislation will simply prohibit them from bypassing parents and marketing directly to vulnerable children.
I appreciate the leadership of Dr. Penny Sutcliffe, the Sudbury and District Health Unit’s medical officer of health on this issue.
To keep updated on the progress this legislation, I encourage you to visit my website at nancygreeneraine.ca, follow me on Twitter @SenNGreeneRaine or view my Facebook page at @SenatorGreeneRaine.
Senator Nancy Greene Raine