Preamble

Whereas the Public Health Agency of Canada stated in its 2012 report entitled Curbing Childhood Obesity: A Federal, Provincial and Territorial Framework for Action to Promote Healthy Weights that the rate of childhood obesity in Canada has been rising steadily in recent decades;

Whereas, during its 2016 study on the increasing incidence of obesity in Canada, the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology (the “Senate Committee”) heard experts testify that the number of obese children in Canada has tripled since 1980 and that Canada ranks sixth among industrialized nations in respect of its percentage of children who are obese;

Whereas overweight and obese children are at an increased risk for the premature onset of chronic conditions and illnesses such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, joint problems, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke and some cancers;

Whereas being overweight or obese also impacts the mental health and well-being of children, as well as other aspects of their lives;

Whereas being overweight or obese is difficult to reverse, and research shows overweight or obese children are more likely to continue to be overweight or obese during the rest of their childhood and in their adolescence and adulthood;

Whereas obesity also has an impact on society as a whole through increased health care spending and loss of workforce productivity;

Whereas, in its final report presented on January 25 , 2016 , the World Health Organization’s Commission on Ending Childhood Obesity found that there is unequivocal evidence that the marketing of unhealthy foods and sugar-sweetened beverages has a negative impact on childhood obesity, and recommended that any attempt to tackle childhood obesity should include a reduction in the exposure of children to marketing;

Whereas children are particularly vulnerable to marketing and its persuasive influence over their food preferences and consumption;

Whereas marketing of food and beverages to children remains widespread in Canada despite voluntary measures such as the Broadcast Code for Advertising to Children and the Canadian Children’s Food and Beverage Advertising Initiative ;

Whereas the rapidly increasing rate of childhood obesity in Canada is a matter of national concern;

Whereas the protection of vulnerable children from the manipulative influence of marketing of food and beverages is predicated on a pressing and substantial concern and calls for a federal legislative response;