News @ a glance

Fitness failure: Canada's children got a “D” for the second year running on the annual report card on physical activity from Active Health Kids Canada. The charitable advocacy group is calling for more information about the importance of: unstructured physical activity and play time; cutting back on TV and computer time; and, establishing quality health and phys-ed classes. Chair, Dr. Mark Tremblay says parents and caregivers can set a good example by being active themselves, but only 36% do so.

Record spending: The estimated total health spending among Canada's provinces and territories for 2006–07 is expected to reach $84.7 billion, a $5.7 billion or 6.4% increase from the year before. If current rates continue, health spending is expected to exceed $100 billion next year. Ontario had the biggest outlay — $35.4 billion.

CMAJ Interim report: The CMAJ Governance Review Panel released an Interim Progress Report on May 23 highlighting progress to date. The 6-member panel, led by Montréal lawyer, Richard Pound and CMAJ Ombudsman Dr. John Dossetor, has met 3 times, received 109 submissions and solicited feedback from 111 medical, editorial, publishing and educational organizations. The Panel has also commissioned a research report from Prof. Gilles Paquet on editorial governance structures at other leading journals. Paquet is a senior research fellow at the Centre on Governance at the University of Ottawa. The panel was created earlier this year to recommend a new governance plan for CMAJ and its publisher, CMA Media Inc. Its report is due July 14.

Food fight: The US and European Union have decided not to impose new regulations on the food industry to fight obesity. “The government can't tell someone what to eat,” Deputy US Health Secretary Alex Azar told Reuters. Both the US and EU have asked companies, health experts and consumer groups to find other ways to combat obesity. The soft drinks industry on both sides of the Atlantic has agreed to a voluntary ban on ads aimed at children. — Compiled by Barbara Sibbald, CMAJ