Deputy Minister of Health Canada
From: DM_HC_SM_SC [mailto:DM_HC_SM_SC@hc-sc.gc.ca]
Sent: November 10, 2017 12:26 PM
To: Cris Rowan <crowan@zonein.ca>
Subject: In response to your correspondence addressed to the Deputy Minister of Health Canada
Dear Ms. Rowan:
Please find attached a response on behalf of Mr. Simon Kennedy, Deputy Minister of Health Canada, to your correspondence of September 12, 2017.
(See attached file: 17-075522-135 Signed.pdf)
Yours sincerely,
Executive Correspondence Division
Communications and Public Affairs Branch
Health Canada
Reply to Simon Kennedy by Cris Rowan
From: Cris Rowan
Sent: November 10, 2017 2:21 PM
To: ‘DM_HC_SM_SC’ <DM_HC_SM_SC@hc-sc.gc.ca>
Subject: RE: In response to your correspondence addressed to the Deputy Minister of Health Canada
Hello Mr. Kennedy,
Thank you for your response indicating that Health Canada is adopting a “wait and see” approach to preliminary NTP findings implicating cancer from wireless radiation in male rats and mice. I understand that the NTP final data is to be released early 2018, so I appreciate your approach.
Other considerations regarding screen overuse by children and youth is subsequent evidence of a child health crisis, indicating that the ways in which we are educating and raising children with technology are not sustainable.
Escalating incidence of poor child physical and mental health in Canada has now reached epidemic proportions. One in three children enter school developmentally vulnerable, one in four are obese or overweight one in five have a diagnosed mental illness , and one in ten are addicted to technology . 73% of children are sleep deprived (National Sleep Foundation 2016) negatively impacting on mental, physical, social and academic performance. Autism is now 1 in 65 and adhd 1 in 5 for males (CDC 2016). Cancer incidence in teens has risen 25% over the past 38 years . What all these health issues have in common is they are caused by technology overuse , threatening the very sustainability of Canadian life and economy.
In my workshops I teach health and education professionals to help parents manage balance between technology and healthy activity as a first step toward creating sustainable futures for all children. Families, schools and whole communities can work together to increase participation in healthy activity thereby reducing use of technology, to ensure child health and wellness. I’m presently contracting with First Nations Education Steering Committee providing Tech Talks for students, parents and teachers throughout BC.
Love to work together on this important initiative someday. Let me know if you’re interested.
Cris Rowan, BScOT, BScBi, SIPT
CEO Sunshine Coast Occupational Therapy Inc. and Zone’in Programs Inc.