Pedestrian Charter (Motion #19-06)

Moved by Duhamel, Gamble. Approved on March 16, 2006, by the Sudbury & District Board of Health.

Motion

WHEREAS physical activity helps reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, certain forms of cancer, and osteoporosis, and helps promote a healthy weight; and

WHEREAS 26% of Sudbury residents are considered physically active; and

WHEREAS walking is a basic human need, a method of active transportation, and a beneficial way to be physically active; and

WHEREAS the 2004 Chief Medical Officer of Health Report, Healthy Weights, Healthy Lives and the February 2005 Canadian Institute for Health Information Report: “Improving the Health of Canadians:  Promoting Healthy Weights”, both recommend the creation of local environments that promote healthy weights such as reducing barriers to physical activity and providing safe walking routes; and

WHEREAS the Greater Sudbury Healthy Community Strategy identifies active living and healthy lifestyle as the first Strategic Priority and identifies the creation of a pedestrian friendly city as a key approach; and

WHEREAS the Greater Sudbury Community Physical Activity Action Plan 2005-2010 recognizes the need to remove and reduce barriers to physical activity by improving infrastructure in order to support pedestrians; and

WHEREAS a Pedestrian Charter is a document that would serve as a reminder to community decision-makers and community members of the health, economic and environmental benefits of walking; and

WHEREAS the World Health Organization identifies that physical inactivity is not merely about individual behaviour, and recommends that local governments and municipalities act by developing local legislation and policy to support physical activity;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Sudbury & District Board of Health endorse the Pedestrian Charter of the Sudbury Heart Health Coalition; and

FURTHER THAT the Sudbury & District Board of Health urges all municipal councils within the Sudbury & District Health Unit catchment area to officially endorse the pedestrian charter and undertake supportive actions; and

FURTHERMORE THAT the Sudbury & District Board of Health requests the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) to encourage all municipalities in the province to adopt similar charters; and

FURTHERMORE THAT copies of this letter be forwarded to the Sudbury and Manitoulin Districts Heart Health Management Group, Ontario Heart Health Program – Taking Action for Healthy Living, Federation of Northern Municipalities, Ministry of Health Promotion, Ministry of Health and Long Term Care, Chief Medical Officer of Health, Association of Local Public Health Agencies, Ontario Public Health Association and all Ontario Boards of Health.

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This item was last modified on June 12, 2015