Eyolfson working on public health, safety issues

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 29/01/2018 (2818 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Charleswood-St. James-Assiniboia-Headingley MP Dr. Doug Eyolfson has been keeping busy on Parliament Hill since his election in October 2015.

Among his recent priorities is sponsorship of Bill S-228, the Child Health Protection Act, which seeks to amend the Food and Drugs Act in an effort to fight childhood obesity by prohibiting the marketing of unhealthy food and beverages towards children.

Eyolfson said the bill was first introduced in the Senate by Senator Nancy Greene Raine and was passed. It now needs a sponsor in the House of Commons, and Eyolfson stepped forward.

“It was in my wheelhouse,” he said, referring to his previous experience as a doctor and his desire to take steps towards reducing childhood obesity and the risk of premature onset of chronic conditions such as Type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

He said the bill’s intent is to prevent manufacturers of unhealthy food and beverages from marketing these products directly to Canadian children age 12 and under. This would mean that the maker of a cereal or soft drink that’s high in sugar wouldn’t be able to buy advertising time during children’s TV programs.

However, a sponsorship like Timbits hockey could continue as the company is seen to be promoting an active lifestyle, Eyolfson said.

“We do want to promote healthy lifestyles for children.”

“This isn’t a magic bullet by any extent. We’re not directing what people buy,” he admitted, as parents’ buying decisions play a huge role in children’s eating habits.

He said that Quebec banned advertisements promoting unhealthy foods and beverages to children about 30 years ago, and children in that province have a lower rate of obesity compared to children living in other provinces.

Eyolfson said he’s waiting to hear what Canadian retailers think about Bill S-228.

The bill will be up for a second round of debate in February. It will be sent to a committee and possibly be up for a final vote before the summer.

Eyolfson is also shepherding a private member’s Bill C-373 through the House of Commons. He said it mandates the establishment of national data collection on distracted driving incidents across Canada, and is meant to complement provincial legislation governing distracted driving. It would also likely result in a national public campaign against distracted driving.

He said that Manitoba and Ontario are now the only two provinces actively collecting data on distracted driving, and Nunavut doesn’t even have legislation relating to texting and driving.

This bill will have to be sent to the Senate after it’s passed in the House of Commons, and is likely to take much longer to be enacted than Bill S-228. Eyolfson said he believes the work he’s putting in is worthwhile.

“I’ve had a lot of positive comments on it.”

Closer to home, Eyolfson said he’s met with Headingley municipal council and is helping council lobby for funding to complete the median separating the Trans-Canada Highway section passing through Headingley.

He’s pleased that federal funding was given for the Headingley splash park that was opened on July 1 and for the bridge allowing cyclist and pedestrian access across a small creek near the western end of the Headingley Grand Trunk Trail.

Eyolfson has spoken to members of the HGTT and Harte Trail Associations about options for safely connecting the two trails at their intersection with the west Perimeter Highway.

“I think it’s important,” he said, noting that there has been a lot of recent residential development in the Charleswood area close to the western end of the Harte Trail.

While no final plan has yet been approved for CentrePort Canada Way’s westward extension, Eyolfson said the extension is needed as CentrePort Canada development continues and traffic increases.

He said he’s enjoying his time serving in Parliament and feels that he can make a difference in his role.

“It’s been an amazing experience.”