Fitness Industry Canada: What’s Next?
By: David Hardy
Over the past year, Fitness Industry Council of Canada (FIC) has been most recognized for its tax credit postcard campaign. But with favorable possibilities of the Adult Fitness Tax Credit becoming a budget item or an election promise, we are taking strides to broaden our focus to include other issues important to the growth of the industry.
We’re turning our attention to legislation and how it affects our industry on both a provincial and national level. As I’ve mentioned many times before, it was important for us to build positive relationships with government officials during good times, so government is comfortable turning to us when they require an industry perspective or at times when our industry may be negatively impacted.
For those of you who attended FIC’s inaugural Fitness Day on the Hill, you understand how important it is for club owners and operators to foster relationships with local politicians so industry will be consulted when changes to legislation are made.
With the launch of our new website (www.ficdn.ca), we will be working diligently to build our Provincial Councils in a move to encourage industry representatives to become more politically active. The site will provide online forums for club owners and operators to share information and discuss issues important to the Canadian Fitness Industry.
At the upcoming IHRSA Canadian Forum (March 30, 2007 4:30pm), we will provide club owners and operators a general feel for the political climate in Canada by providing an overview of current legislation, including those current trouble areas and those areas in which we anticipate change to legislation in the coming years.
We will focus on softening Consumer Protection Legislation, informing club owners of Good Samaritan Legislation as it relates to the trend to introduce Automatic External Defibrillators (AED’s) into fitness facilities and how legislative issues affect private business owners.
Our work as an industry association has really barely begun. There is so much we as an industry can and must do. If the Adult Fitness Tax Credit campaign is any indication of what we as an industry are capable of when we work together, our potential to change the way Canadians access fitness is unstoppable.
Update: The Adult Fitness Tax Credit Campaign
During the hearings for the Children’s Fitness Tax Credit, we successfully lobbied for the inclusion of youth fitness facility memberships, which came into effect January 1, 2007. We’re now in a better position to work toward lobbying for the expansion of that program to include an Adult Fitness Tax Credit for eligible adult physical activity and sport. This is no longer just about gym memberships: this is about getting Canadians active. We want to see a credit for someone who has a gym membership just as much as we want to see a credit for someone who pays fees to participate on an adult volleyball or hockey team.
Over the coming months, we will work to partner with over 95 national sporting and physical activity associations across Canada, as I believe it is important we closely align ourselves with those associations who may also benefit from the passing of an Adult Fitness Tax Credit. In an effort to promote physical activity as a solution to Canada’s growing obesity and inactivity related healthcare costs, this collective effort will ensure the Adult Fitness Tax Credit will stay top of mind for key decision makers.
According to Sussex Strategy Group – FIC’s government relations firm – top federal politicians are “well aware of this campaign.” At the very most, we are hoping our issue will be a budget item. At the very least, we are confident it will be a platform issue should the government go to election. Either way, we are working to make certain our issue stays on the government’s radar.
To support the ongoing Adult Fitness Tax Credit campaign, I encourage you to visit www.AdultFitnessTaxCredit.ca. If you haven’t already done so, please send an electronic postcard. Visit the “Exercise Your Rights” link to send a personalized letter. Together, we can make the Adult Fitness Tax Credit a reality.
For more information on FIC’s and its political agenda, please visit www.ficdn.ca.
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