Speech from the throne marks a new chapter for injury prevention in Canada

TORONTO, October 16, 2013 – Today’s Speech from the Throne marked a new chapter for injury prevention in Canada, Parachute said today.

As part of its commitment to safeguard and protect Canadian families, the government said it will “collaborate with injury prevention organizations, to reduce the injury rate in Canada.”

“Parachute congratulates the Government of Canada for recognizing the importance of injury prevention to Canadian families and we look forward to collaborating with the government and other stakeholders on these initiatives,” said Parachute President and CEO Louise Logan.

Preventable injury is the leading cause of death for Canadians aged 44 years and under and today’s inclusion in the Speech from the Throne brings much needed focus to this important health issue.

In addition to the emotional toll that it takes on many individuals and families, preventable injury costs the Canadian economy $20 billion annually. Investment in injury prevention will enable Parachute to develop solutions that will save lives, with human, social and economically beneficial outcomes.

Most “accidents” are not accidents at all, but are predictable and preventable. Relatively modest investments in injury prevention can significantly reduce the impact on society.

Addressing preventable injuries will have a positive impact on our public health care system by providing long-term cost savings, and will provide Canadians with the tools to be productive participants in our economy, workforce and communities from youth through to retirement.

Parachute is a national, charitable organization dedicated to preventing injuries and saving lives. Parachute officially came into being in July 2012 and unites the former organizations of Safe Communities Canada, Safe Kids Canada, SMARTRISK and ThinkFirst Canada into one leader in injury prevention. Parachute’s injury prevention solutions, knowledge mobilization, public policy, and social awareness efforts are designed to help Canadians reduce their risks of injury while achieving Parachute’s vision of an injury-free Canada where Canadians enjoy long lives lived to the fullest. For more information, visit www.parachutecanada.org. See us on Twitter, or join us on Facebook.

For media assistance, contact:

Karen Fricker, Parachute 647-776-5117, 416-618-3142, kfricker@parachutecanada.org

Kathy Blair, 647-776-5125, kblair@parachutecanada.org