Make health promotion a municipal elections issue!

On October 25, 2010 municipal elections will take place across Ontario. Health care is often one of the top issues in any provincial or federal election, but it can sometimes get lost at the local level.

There are many things your local government can do to promote a healthy community. Ask your municipal candidates to promote health in your community by:

• Creating outdoor smoke-free places in parks, playgrounds and patios.
• Giving communities the right-to-know about toxic substances being used and released where they live, work and play.
• Restricting the use of indoor tanning equipment for youth under the age of 18.
   

Get involved in your local election by asking your candidates to make commitments on these health promotion priorities. You will find information on your local municipal election on your municipality’s website or in your local news.

Contacting candidates is easy. Many candidates have websites where you can send them a quick e-mail, leave messages on their Facebook page, or send them a tweet. A good old-fashioned letter goes a long way as well. Don’t forget to get out and be active in your community by attending an all-candidates debate.