Alberta’s Premier, Ed Stelmach, is looking for a new sport policy designed to improve health conditions and reverse the obesity trends even if his cabinet is cutting the budget for these areas by almost 40%. This means that the new budget will provide $29 million instead of $48 million. Many sports groups have warned about the negative influence of this decision on Albertans’ health, and government data reveal 33 % of people in this province are overweight.

Reuters reports that Tourism Minister Cindy Ady said the new policy will identify some less expensive outdoor recreation options for this area instead of more expensive indoor facilities.

David Swann, the liberal leader, considers a new recreation and active living plan is essential, believing government has an important role to play not only in providing direction but also in offering incentives to improving community health.

Another possibility is to include fitness tax credits, but David Swann stresses that this can not replace a reasonable budget, and instead attacks the new strategy of dropping the program.

Swann said that it is not possible to make short term cuts in order to improve the long term outcomes.

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