WHEREAS the provincial government has adopted the ActNow BC program and policies to promote healthier lifestyles for all residents of British Columbia; AND WHEREAS the provincial government has incorporated healthy living information on its website under the ActNow BC program for families, schools, seniors, community, and work environments stating that every move is a good move: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that UBCM lobby the provincial government for an exemption from the Harmonized Sales Tax for admissions to health and wellness facilities such as but not limited to health clubs, pools, gyms and ice arenas, as well as on the purchase of physical fitness equipment pursuant to the provincial governments promotion for healthy living styles.
Ministry of Finance British Columbians have made their decision in the HST referendum, and government has committed to make the transition back to the PST plus GST tax system as responsibly and quickly as possible. Permanent PST exemptions will return with the re-implemented PST. In addition to over 4 million for ActNow BC, the government has provided a variety of funding to support healthy lifestyles: - 68.7 million for Healthy Families BC a new strategy aimed at helping families make healthy choices including 24 million for the Prescription for Health Program which gives doctors tools to work with patients to develop a health promotion and illness prevention plan. - 50.9 million since 2005 for school and community based initiatives such as: - Action Schools BC: a program with over 1,400 registered schools which helps schools create action plans to promote healthy living for students K to 12; - School fruit and veggie program which coordinates the delivery of healthy BC produce to participating schools; - LEAP: a set of resources designed to help families and caregivers of pre-school aged children promote healthy child development through physical movement, healthy eating and early literacy; - BC Healthy Communities an initiative to directly support local communities to identify and develop comprehensive health promotion policy, resources and programs; and Active Communities a program which supported registered communities to develop and promote local physical activity programs 1.9 million up to the end of fiscal 200809; and - Grant to the Union of British Columbia Municipalities for the Community Health Promotion Fund to create community programs aligned to the ActNow BC Program 5M in 2005; - 25.5 million between 2005-2010 for the BC Healthy Living Alliance which works to advance and support health-promoting policies, environments, programs and services.