More than half of Ontarians are affected by one or more chronic conditions. That is why the Ontario Chronic Disease Prevention Alliance (OCDPA) urges all political parties to commit to making Ontario the healthiest province through a sustained, comprehensive and multi-faceted strategy that will include strategic investments, effective policies, environmental supports, and public education to effect broad societal changes in health behaviours.
 
A healthy province is one where its population is physically active; living in vibrant communities; has access to, and makes healthy food choices; has low to no tobacco use; is aware of and adheres to the low risk drinking guidelines; and has access to an integrated system of coordinated and effective promotion, prevention, early intervention, and treatment programs for mental health issues. It’s a province where everyone has equitable access to healthy options and enjoys the benefits of healthy living.
 
As the founding partner of OCDPA, OPHA is proud to share the 2014 election toolkit for all to share and use. This tookit highlights 3 key ‘asks’ in order for Ontario to be the healthiest province in Canada. We ask that all political parties to commit to health promotion efforts by implementing the following recommendations:

I.                    Commit to accelerate and deepen health promotion efforts to achieve the following targets in these key factor areas by 2018:

• More than 70 per cent of Ontarians are physically active.
• More than 50 per cent of Ontarians eat fruit and vegetables more than 5 times per day.
• Fewer than 30 per cent of Ontarians are either overweight or obese.
• Fewer than 16 per cent of Ontarians do not exceed Canada’s Low Risk Drinking Guidelines.
• Fewer than 15 per cent of Ontarians report experiencing negative mental health symptoms.
• Ontario to have the lowest smoking prevalence or smoking rate in Canada.

II.                 Embed a health impact filter across all government initiatives.
III.                Focus on reducing health inequities.

To find out more about the overview of the campaign, information you may need to join the conversation, and how to influence policy changes that will help make Ontario the healthiest province, click to go to the OCDPA’s website to download the full election toolkit.