Participaction says it's running out of money WebPosted Sat Nov 25 2000
TORONTO - A federal agency assigned to get Canadians into shape is being phased out after 30 years.

Participaction says it hasn't been getting enough money from the federal government for years and only has enough to keep going for another month.
Participaction is a national, not-for-profit health promotion company. When it was established in 1971, it made a splash with the announcement that a 60-year-old Swede was in better shape than a 30-year-old Canadian.

Members of Participaction's board of directors say the program's demise couldn't come at a worse time.

"Inactivity levels are at their highest. Obesity levels are at their highest and the potential impact of Participaction is arguably at its highest," says board member Marcel Tremblay.

Tremblay says the organization asked for $2.5 million from Health Canada and was turned down.

"Health Canada says 'well look, things are worse than it was 30 years ago and it continues to get worse despite (Participaction's) efforts'. But I think that's a very myopic assessment of (Participaction's) contribution," says Tremblay.