The following important message from the Alberta Centre for Active Living
concerns the Alberta government's proposed Wellness Fund.

Kathy Garnsworthy
Communications and Marketing Coordinator
Alberta Centre for Active Living
Tel.: 780 415-6248/Fax: 780 455-2092 (Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday)
Visit our redesigned web site at www.centre4activeliving.ca



WELLNESS ALBERTA ACTION ALERT

We have less than 30 days to transform disease and injury prevention in
Alberta.

The Alberta government is considering investing the proceeds from a tobacco
tax increase in a new Wellness Fund—a development triggered by an identical
recommendation in the Mazankowski report on health reform. A $1.00 per pack
increase in cigarette taxes would generate approximately $200 million
annually, effectively doubling the government’s current total commitment to
prevention and health promotion.

A large group of stakeholders, known as Wellness Alberta, is working to
ensure that the Wellness Fund becomes a reality. The government will make
its decision about the use of revenue from the tobacco tax increase in the
next few weeks. The final decision will be announced in the 2002/03
Provincial Budget released in mid-March. Time is of the essence—the present
window of opportunity will close within the next 30 days.

At this point, the way in which this funding is structured and distributed
is far less important than securing the funding itself. These important
issues can be addressed in detail after first receiving a general funding
commitment from the Alberta government.

Unfortunately, there are pressures within government to divert the new
tobacco revenue into general government coffers. The recent drop in oil and
gas royalties is forcing the government to find other revenue sources to
sustain existing programs. Fortunately, Health and Wellness Minister Gary
Mar is a strong champion of wellness initiatives.

Your help is urgently needed. No action is too big or too small—every effort
counts at this crucial stage. Here are some quick actions that you and/or
organization can take:

1.      Send a letter or e-mail message to your MLA. You can get your MLA’s
address by visiting www.assembly.ab.ca. Organizations can send merge letters
to all MLAs. Below, you will find a sample letter to an MLA.

2.      Call the Premier’s Office at 310-4455 (toll-free). Let the Premier’s
staff know that you want the government to make a substantial wellness
investment through a dedicated tobacco tax increase. Emphasize the
importance of prevention funding.

3.      Write a letter to the editor. Politicians read letters to the editor to
help gauge public opinion. In your letter, include some examples of how the
funding could be used and urge readers to contact their MLA.

4.      Get the word out. Talk to leaders in your organization or community.
Distribute this action alert to your network and members. Request a local
media interview.

Thank you for your prompt attention to this important bulletin. Let’s not
miss this rare opportunity to transform disease and injury prevention in
Alberta!

Judith Moodie
Director, Alberta Centre for Active Living


SAMPLE LETTER TO AN MLA

Dear MLA:

As an Albertan concerned about the future of health care in this province, I
am pleased to see that “staying healthy and improving the health of
Albertans” is the first action stated in the government’s response to the
Mazankowski Report. The fact that an increased tax on tobacco, itself a
health-promoting initiative, could fund these wellness initiatives  has the
potential to ensure Alberta has both the healthiest population and continues
to lead health reform in Canada.

As the provincial budget is developed over the next few weeks, please
consider the benefits your support for wellness will have for all citizens.
Increasing the tobacco tax, coupled with the dedication of this additional
tax to a Wellness Fund, will have a dual advantage. Increasing tobacco taxes
by the minimal amount of $1 per package will not only reduce the number of
young people and adults smoking, but will also net the government
approximately $200 million that could help Albertans make healthy decisions
in healthy communities.

As you know, the current health budget consumes one of every three tax
dollars. Only 3 per cent of the total health budget is spent on preventing
the diseases and injuries that demand so much from the health system.
Increased tobacco taxes directed to a Wellness Fund could increase
prevention spending to 6% or 1/16 of the health budget.

The Wellness Fund could address the underlying issues that pressure Alberta
society. For example, enhanced injury prevention, heart health, diabetes
prevention, and tobacco reducation programs and policies would all improve
the health of Albertans.

Wellness is an investment. Albertans need opportunities to improve their own
health and the health of the communities in which they live and work. The
targeted use of funds raised through tobacco taxes could be the way to
secure that future.

Please direct increased tobacco taxes to wellness for Albertans. Alberta’s
continued prosperity relies on a healthy, productive population.

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