Senator wants ban on ads aimed at kids to fight battle of the bulge
Too many Canadian kids are overweight or obese — and yet every day they are exposed to advertisements for unhealthy food and beverages.
That’s why Senator Nancy Greene Raine introduced the Child Health Protection Act in the Senate on Tuesday, September 27, 2016 — a bill that would ban the marketing of food and beverages primarily directed at children under the age of 13 years.
As a former Olympic skier and gold medallist, Senator Greene Raine understands the importance of physical fitness, eating well and living a healthy lifestyle. Her Senate bill is intended to protect children, who are particularly vulnerable to commercial marketing.
“We need to protect our children — it’s the responsible thing to do.”
“Everyone understands how impressionable children are. When food and beverage companies aim their TV and online advertising messages directly at this young audience, it makes it hard for parents to do the right thing,” said Senator Greene Raine.
Health promotion organizations commended Senator Greene Raine for taking the initiative.
“Protecting the health of our children and youth is urgent and we encourage the government to now move quickly to get regulations in place,” said Mary Lewis, the Heart and Stroke Foundation’s vice-president of advocacy and health promotion.
"Advertising targeted to children must be reglemented. It influences the nutritional preferences, knowledge, and behaviour of children," said Corinne Voyer, director of the Coalition québécoise sur la problématique du poids.
"Studies show that children prefer when wrappers have a character or a logo and will even attribute a better taste to products with them."
In March 2016, the Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology released a report on obesity in Canada with recommendations for tackling the growing public health problem.
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Senator wants ban on ads aimed at kids to fight battle of the bulge
Too many Canadian kids are overweight or obese — and yet every day they are exposed to advertisements for unhealthy food and beverages.
That’s why Senator Nancy Greene Raine introduced the Child Health Protection Act in the Senate on Tuesday, September 27, 2016 — a bill that would ban the marketing of food and beverages primarily directed at children under the age of 13 years.
As a former Olympic skier and gold medallist, Senator Greene Raine understands the importance of physical fitness, eating well and living a healthy lifestyle. Her Senate bill is intended to protect children, who are particularly vulnerable to commercial marketing.
“We need to protect our children — it’s the responsible thing to do.”
“Everyone understands how impressionable children are. When food and beverage companies aim their TV and online advertising messages directly at this young audience, it makes it hard for parents to do the right thing,” said Senator Greene Raine.
Health promotion organizations commended Senator Greene Raine for taking the initiative.
“Protecting the health of our children and youth is urgent and we encourage the government to now move quickly to get regulations in place,” said Mary Lewis, the Heart and Stroke Foundation’s vice-president of advocacy and health promotion.
"Advertising targeted to children must be reglemented. It influences the nutritional preferences, knowledge, and behaviour of children," said Corinne Voyer, director of the Coalition québécoise sur la problématique du poids.
"Studies show that children prefer when wrappers have a character or a logo and will even attribute a better taste to products with them."
In March 2016, the Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology released a report on obesity in Canada with recommendations for tackling the growing public health problem.