Major Study Released Today!

Federal government would save $2.5 billion
with an Adult Fitness Tax Credit

The federal government would save $2.5 billion over the next 21 years by extending the benefits of the current Children's Fitness Tax Credit program to adults, Dave Hardy, President of the Fitness Industry Council of Canada (FIC) said today following the national release of an economic study on the effects of the initiative. Click here to view today's press release

"The financial incentive offered by a federal Adult Fitness Tax Credit will encourage nearly one million more Canadians to get active and healthier," said Hardy. "These healthier Canadians will need less health care and miss less work due to illness."

The economic report conducted by the Centre for Spatial Economics on behalf of Fitness Industry Canada concludes that it would take just three years for the health care cost savings resulting from a more active and healthier population to outweigh the net personal tax losses incurred by The Government of Canada. Click here to review the summary or full report.

If an Adult Fitness Tax Credit was introduced that followed the same guidelines as the existing federal Children's Fitness Tax Credit, gym memberships as well as many other organized sporting activities would be covered by the tax credit.

In a 2007 national poll conducted by Pollara Inc. on behalf of FIC, more than three in five Canadians supported the idea of expanding the popular and well received Children's Fitness Tax Credit to include all Canadians.

Tell Your Members!

FIC represents 2,000 commercial fitness clubs across Canada with over 2 million members.

Please inform your members about this new study and poll by including information in your printed or electronic member newsletters. FIC has prepared a complete resource kit including logo’s, sample articles, and links to the reports.

Watch for the next edition of Fitness Business Canada magazine for a full color poster to display in your clubs featuring the Adult Fitness Tax Credit.

We are encouraging members to go to www.AdultFitnessTaxCredit.ca to join the over 30,000 Canadians who have already sent a electronic postcard to their MP, The Minister of Finance and the Prime Minister of Canada.

Tell The Media

Please forward the Press Release to any media contacts you have and encourage them to cover the story. The more educated Canadians become about this initiative, the more likely The Government of Canada will listen and include an Adult Fitness Tax Credit in a budget or as an election promise. Encourage the media to come to your club (great photo opportunity!). If you are asked to be interviewed, please contact Brian Gilbank, FIC Association Manager for speaking notes.