News Release Archive
JUSTICE/SPORT AND RECREATION--MINISTER BATTLES IN COURTS ----------------------------------------------------------------- Justice Minister Jay Abbass took to a different sort of court this week. Mr. Abbass, who also acts as the Minister of Sport and Recreation was on the tennis courts to promote physical activity through sport and recreation. "It's very simple," he said. "Participating in sport, whether competitively or recreationally, is very good for you. It's good for the heart, it's good for the mind." "As Minister of Sport and Recreation, it's my duty to make sure that the message gets out," Abbass said, speaking from the Cunard Nova Scotia Tennis Open in Halifax. "I thought I would lead by example." Mr. Abbass pointed out that while children only receive 2 hours of physical education per week, they watch an average of 26 hours of television. Currently, 60 per cent of Canadian youth do not meet average fitness standards. "We should be more physically active," said Mr. Abbass. "The Sport and Recreation Commission recommends that we get a minimum of 30 minutes of physical activity per day. I'll bet that would be a big help to Nova Scotia's health budget." As the Minister of Justice, Mr. Abbass is also interested in research concerning delinquent youth. "Keeping youth involved in the community through sport and recreation has been shown to reduce the levels of youth crime," Abbass said. "Sport and recreation helps build self-esteem while keeping you healthy. The fact is, fitness saves money." -30- jlw Aug. 16, 1996 4:15 p.m.