The Nishnawbe Aski Nation has a new ally on its side on the health care front.
Former Liberal Indigenous Services minister Jane Philpott has been named a special adviser in health care for NAN.
Philpott says she’s delighted to be invited to the portfolio and support the critical work of health transformation in northwestern Ontario First Nations communities.
She says amazing progress on improved health care services is already well underway in the north under the leadership of many Indigenous leaders.
Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler says “Philpott has always been a strong ally to NAN, and having an opportunity to continue to develop this relationship through Health Transformation is very exciting for us.”
Philpott resigned from cabinet over the government’s handling of the SNC-Lavalin scandal and eventually lost her Toronto-area seat in the recent federal election.
The Liberal candidate for the Kenora riding is questioning recent funding announcements made by the Doug Ford government.
Money for road upgrades in Dryden and Kenora has been promised, with the province indicating it will cover 83% of the cost of repairs, with the municipalities responsible for the remaining 17%.
Bob Nault isn’t sold on the idea.
“That looks awfully a lot like the program that we have, the Canada-Ontario Infrastructure program, where the Federal government pays 50%, the province 33% and the 17% is the municipal contribution.”
Nault says he supports the projects but stresses the Federal government hasn’t seen anything from Ontario on the funding requests.
“What we’ve seen the last number of months is the province making these kinds of announcements and then putting the proposal into the Feds asking for this to be a ‘highly recommended’ project.”
Nault says it’s “Unfortunate that it’s being put forward as if it’s just a provincial-municipal project, because I doubt very much that’s the direction that this will end up going. I want to see these projects go.”
He accuses Premier Doug Ford of playing political games.
Nault notes “Doug Ford has been hiding from Ontarians for months, finally breaking his vow of electoral silence, five days from Election Day to try and help the local Conservative candidate.”
Public elementary teachers will be taking a strike vote later this month.
Their contract expired at the end of August.
The Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario says meetings are planned with teachers starting later this month and into October.
Instructors want the province and school boards to address a number of issues including supports for students with special needs, class sizes, the protection of Full-Day Kindergarten and hiring practices.
The ETFO says it wants to reach an agreement at the bargaining table without having to take job action.
Kiiwetinoong MPP Sol Mamakwa says it’s appalling the federal government is refusing the evacuation of children, babies and elders in Neskantaga First Nation who are being exposed to contaminated water.
A state of emergency has been issued due to the failure of the communities water pumps.
Mamakwa is now asking for the Ford government to step in and take immediate action.
The NDP Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation critic says the Premier and feds shouldn’t play jurisdictional games with the health and lives of residents.
Mamakwa says access to clean drinking water is a human right and adds the current response shows the government doesn’t seem to think this fundamental right applies to First Nations people.
The Mayor of Sioux Lookout says he had solid discussions with provincial officials regarding community needs.
Doug Lawrance and his delegation were in Ottawa last week for the Association of Municipalities of Ontario Conference.
Lawrance says they had a total of eight delegations.
He says they received positive feedback from the government about additional long-term care beds for the Meno Ya Win Health Centre.
Lawrance says one meeting was with Ontario’s Attorney General regarding their continued involvement in a Community Justice Centre for Kenora, which is supposed to include a satellite site in Sioux Lookout.
The government advised Lawrance that the municipality will be involved in the new initiative.
Lawrance says they also talked about the transfer of some Crown land within Sioux Lookout to the Municipality with the Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry.
Other meetings:
Solicitor General
-Cost relief on OPP policing costs.
-Mental Health and Addictions and advocating for a Detox/Addictions Treatment Centre and extra Psychiatric services in Sioux Lookout.
Minister of Children, Community and Social Services
-Safe houses for both female and male youth.
-Post-crisis housing for women and children.
Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing
-Private, Provincial and Municipal Incentive program related to single family rental housing.
-New Emergency Shelter and Service Hub for Sioux Lookout.
Minister of Transportation
-Clarity on five year transit grant.
-Upgrades to the By-pass around Sioux Lookout and upgrades on Highway’s leading into the community.
Maxime Bernier launched the People’s Party of Canada campaign with a speech to supporters in Quebec on Sunday.
In his own riding of Beauce, Quebec, Bernier unveiled the pillars of its platform, which include “bold policies” centered around “fairness and respect.”
“This is the final sprint in a marathon that started a year ago,” he said. One year ago, Bernier left Conservative Party, which he refers to as “morally and intellectually corrupt,” to form his own party.
In his speech, he outlined his party’s position on many different issues, including climate change.
“All the other parties want to impose a carbon tax or more regulation to fight climate change. The People’s Party is the only party that will not impose any new tax or regulation,” he said.
Bernier also brought up the upcoming debate, which he has not been invited to participate in.
“We are the fasted growing political party in Canadian history. Why are other parties so afraid of us that they want to prevent me from participating in the leader’s debate?” he said.
He believes one of the reasons his counterparts won’t debate him is because he “does politics differently.”
As part of his platform, Bernier says if elected, he would reduce Canada’s presence in the United Nations “to a minimum.”
“We will help Canadians first before helping other countries. The People’s Party is the only party that will redraw (sic) from the global compact on migration and on the Paris Accord,” he said.
Bernier says he wants to put Canada first, and would also decrease foreign aid spending if elected.
Lowering taxes and protecting free speech are also key platform points for the PPC.
Bernier notes that voting numbers are down, with only one third of eligible voters showing up to the polls.
“They see the deception, and they don’t believe anything will come, any change will come, until today, because we are the only alternative.”
The PPC’s are currently running over 300 candidates in ridings across the country.
The Chief of the Assembly of First Nations is looking for some municipal support.
Perry Bellegarde addressed local leaders attending the Association of Municipalities of Ontario Conference in Ottawa by outlining a number of issues Indigenous people are seeking, including a change to the education curriculum.
He says educators should be teaching students about Indigenous and Treaty rights.
The Indian Act and Residential Schools should also be included in the education system according to Bellegarde.
Bellegarde also encouraged municipal reps to build relations with First Nations communities within their reach.
Bellegarde says a coordinated effort is needed to ensure everyone has adequate housing, education and health care services.
He notes half of Canada’s First Nations population live in urban areas.
Bellegarde is also asking for support in the implementation of the recommendations from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls National Inquiry.
The federal government is coming to the aid of Legal Aid Ontario.
It’s providing almost $26 million for clinics to handle immigration and refugee cases.
Prime Minister Trudeau says cuts by the Ford government is forcing them to step up.
“The fact that we have to be here today to recognize that yet another Conservative Government, the government of (Premier) Doug Ford, is walking away from services to the most vulnerable is really frustrating,” says Prime Minister Trudeau, “…the fact that the Government of Ontario is pulling back from it’s support of the most vulnerable means that we are stepping in with a one-year top-up to make sure that services continue for the most vulnerable.”
Trudeau says such services should be a shared responsibility.
How we treat the most vulnerable among us defines who we are. After provincial cuts to legal aid, we're stepping up to make sure people seeking asylum in Ontario have access to the legal services they need. Read more about today’s announcement: https://t.co/fW0uz80bgRpic.twitter.com/KnUE4rfdRx
The community of Dryden is divided on whether or not a two unit Crematorium should be developed behind the Dryden Community Funeral Home.
The public jammed the Best Western Plus and Council Chambers yesterday (Monday) as part of a public meeting and delegation, with both sides quite vocal on how they feel about the project.
Staff and Council are both looking a zoning by-law change.
Applicant Robert Savage says a Crematorium is needed as they currently have to travel all the way to Beasuejour, Manitoba to reach the nearest facility.
He notes that’s amounts to about 10 to 12 hours a day for his staff.
Savage adds Dryden is a community hub and they are in a perfect central location to facilitate those in the area, stressing he has the support of area municipalities.
“The families going through will be saving $500-$1,000 if I can get this done. To some people, it doesn’t mean a lot, but $1,000 to some families means a lot.”
He adds “In a case like that, I’d rather give back to a community that has supported me all these years and this a way to that.”
It was mentioned at the meeting that the City did receive a 65-signature letter of support from Ignace residents.
Savage notes the facility will also allow him to hire a couple of additional staff members, citing economic spin-off’s for the community who have to travel to Dryden for service.
In terms of the location and potentially having to find a new spot, Savage says “It would cost us less to get this done then having to go to another property which incurs more costs and you have to double up on taxes, double up on everything. So that’s why we’re looking at the Funeral Home. We have parking, I have a big lot and I want to expand in the back.”
He adds they have searched the Dryden area for other suitable locations, and are already roughly $35,000 invested in research costs at their current location.
Savage says he already has natural gas hook-up’s, which is easier and more efficient than propane, and the other site researched aren’t suitable.
While there was plenty of support for the project, including from some living in North Dryden, there was also plenty of opposition.
Nearby resident Brenda Bell spoke on behalf of a Concerned Citizens group.
Bell pointed out a petition of some 550 paper and on-line signatures.
Her main concern was related to health and the environment.
Bell says “The most dangerous cremation emission, mercury, can be burnt during the process through the deceased person’s silver teeth fillings, a popular choice among the baby boomer generation.”
“There are 47 identified potential toxins that would be released into the airways.”
Bell notes “The Ministry of Environment guidelines currently allow for 2.5-micrograms of mercury to be released per day as an expectable limit. If mercury doesn’t break down, that’s another 2.5 the following day and the following day, 365 days a year. The World Health Organization says safe levels of mercury exposure have never been established.”
A report from Environmental Consultants, Cambrian, states that they tested all worst-case scenarios for the crematorium if all of the safety systems failed and emissions were “basically zero.” Mercury was measured at only 2% of the Ministry of Environment’s allowable limit of 2.5-micrograms per day, falling under the expected “no adverse effect” category.
It also pointed to no environmental impacts and no emission concerns.
Bell points out the agency was hired to produce a favourable report for the project.
“Even if they’re within the parameters, every business has a margin of error. There are always incidents, no matter what. There are always malfunctions. But with the proximity to the homes in the area, it will be too late at that points.”
Bell also addressed the location of the Crematorium.
Bell stressed “We’re not against the business. We’re not against the funeral home. We’re not against the Crematorium, but we’re worried about the emissions produced and the health effects. It would be better located elsewhere. I think this will be a great business, but for the financial gain of one person, at the risk of the health of potentially thousands over time, I don’t think this is the right location.”
She notes this is northwestern Ontario and there’s plenty of available land in the area.
Bell points to the close proximity to Rotary Park, New Prospect School, a walking path, the soccer fields and skateboard park.
She adds the operations could potentially be running from 7:00am to 7:00pm, seven days away and stresses children would be exposed to the mercury.
Bell ended by saying “I can’t imagine that this Council is prepared to allow these pollutants to be discharged in this location or accept the legal or moral responsibility of risking the health of the citizens of Dryden. Our health is in your hands. Make the right decision. Please remember, good decision making today, means not having to say sorry tomorrow.”
Dryden City staff say the Dryden Funeral Home has done its due diligence to ensure all of the paperwork has been done right in its bid to develop a two unit Crematorium at the back of its property.
The facility would handle both humans remains and pets.
Officials say their plan follows all environmental and municipal rules and comply’s with all standards.
They note even if the zone bylaw change goes through, the home will still have to go through vigorous provincial environmental assessments.
Council says it needs more time to review all of the information collected and no decision is expected this month.
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