01202022 January 20 2022

CHAPLEAU EXPRESS

Local News Weekly

Talk about good coffee!

Miss Muggins Coffee and Fresh Donuts

Delivered Free to Every Household PIZZA HUT & KFC Stop in and see our new menu.

You may be surprised!

705-864-0911

Vol. 26, Issue 19, January 20, 2022

Ontario Cuts Electricity Rates to Help Workers, Families and Small Businesses Off-peak rates provide immediate savings as Ontarians spend more time at home while public health measures are in place

T

he Ontario government is providing 21 days of electricity-rate relief to support families and workers spending more time at home, as well as small businesses, consistent with the length of time the province is in modified Step Two public health measures. As of 12:01 AM today electricity prices are lowered to the off-peak rate of 8.2 cents per kilowatt-hour -less than half the on-peak rate -- 24 hours per day.

“Effective today, families and small businesses will benefit from 21 days of electricity rate relief as our government implements the off-peak rate,” said Todd Smith, Minister of Energy. “The off-peak rate, which is less than half the on-peak rate, will provide immediate savings as Ontarians spend more time at home and work together to slow the spread of the Omicron variant.”

Electricity customers won’t have to do anything to benefit from the rate cut, it will be applied automatically to both Time-of-Use and Tiered rate plans on the bills of residential customers, small businesses and farms who pay regulated rates set by the Ontario Energy Board (OEB).

Implementation of the off-peak rate builds on existing programs introduced by government to reduce electricity prices including the Ontario Electricity Rebate (OER), which provides a 17 per cent rebate on the subtotal of the electricity bill of eligible customers including households, small businesses and farms. Eligible customers will continue to benefit from the OER while off-peak pricing is in place.

“ We e x t e n d o u r t h a n k s t o L o c a l Distribution Companies, as well as the Ontario Energy Board who have worked quickly to ensure the off-peak rate is applied automatically to bills, providing a seamless experience for both Time-of-Use and Tiered customers, ” said Minister Smith.

The government has temporarily moved the province back into Step Two of its Roadmap to Reopen, with modifications that take into account the province’s successful vaccination efforts. These time-limited measures will help blunt transmission and prevent hospitals from becoming overwhelmed as the province continues to accelerate its booster dose rollout.

They will be in place at least until January 26, 2022, subject to trends in public health and health system indicators.

Ontario and Québec launch a new joint call for Francophone projects The Cooperation and Exchange Agreement with Respect to the Francophonie promotes collaboration between the two governments and provides financial support to initiatives developed jointly by organizations from both provinces

T

he Ontario and Québec governments continue to demonstrate their commitment under the Cooperation and Exchange Agreement with Respect to the Francophonie by joining forces to support projects and initiatives which will promote growth for the Canadian Francophonie. The application period opens today, January 19, and closes on February 16, 2022. Selected initiatives must be impleLong Term mented between April 1, Forecast Thursday 2022 and March 31, High -22 2023.

Low -27 Under this interprovincial agreement, Friday High -11 both governments are Low -12 together investing up to

$500,000 to support projects developed jointly by Francophone organizations in Ontario and Québec that contribute to life in French in Canada. The joint selection committee will consider projects from all sectors, but priority will be given to initiatives related to economic development, culture, education, and tourism.

“Thanks to this important cooperation agreement, the Ontario and Québec governments reaffirm their determination to work together to strengthen the economic and cultural ties they share for the greater benefit of the Francophones in both provinces,” said Caroline Mulroney, Ontario's Minister of Francophone Affairs. “The 2021 call for projects was a great success and we look forward to building on this momentum to support the implementation of new projects that

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Saturday High -9 Low -25 Sunday High -20 Low -24 Monday High -17 Low -30 Tuesday High -25 Low -28

will promote synergies and closer ties between our two Francophonies.”

“The excellent collaboration between our two governments demonstrates that the Francophonie is an invaluable asset,” said Sonia LeBel, Québec's Minister Responsible for Canadian Relations and the Canadian Francophonie. “By acting together to promote a strong, united and committed Francophonie, we are also developing partnerships in many areas.

These partnerships have concrete and positive benefits for Francophones, support the vitality of the French language and contribute to closer ties between Québec and Ontario.”

Quick Facts Applications must be submitted through Cont’d on P.2

Next publication of the Chapleau Express will be on January 6th, 2022

MISSION MOTORS

of WAWA

61 Mission Road, Wawa, ON, P0S 1K0 Phone (705) 856-2394

Call Alain at Mission Motors

CHAPLEAU EXPRESS, January 20, 2022- Page 2

Annualized base funding approved Christine Elliot, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health has approved annualized base funding up to $300,000 starting in the 2022 calendar year to support non ambulance transportation for medically stable patients.

The Patient Transfer Service is a partnership between the Manitoulin Health Centre, Espanola Regional Hospital & Health Centre, and the Manitoulin-Sudbury District

Services Board. This partnership started with a pilot program approved by the Northeast LHIN in March 2013.

Over the years the partnership has grown stronger and in 2021 the partners signed a threeyear partnership agreement to fund the Patient Transfer Service without any direct government funding. The new partnership agreement also provided for a Personal Support Worker and Patient Transfer Attendant in each vehicle and the use of threey e a r- o l d d e c o m m i s s i o n e d ambulances instead of the eightyear-old vehicles that were being used since 2013.

Although the annualized base funding does not cover the

Register for Kindergarten at Algoma District School Board! ins tration Beg is g e R e n li n O , 2022 January 12

sb.on.ca Visit www.ad 7111 945or call 705-

costs for this service, it will go a long way to one day having permanent funding for the Patient Transfer Service. " This is great news for hospital patients who need to travel to Sudbury for diagnostic testing" Nicole Haley, CEO for the Espanola Regional Hospital. "Having a reliable patient transfer service for medically stable patients is critical for Manitoulin Island" Timothy Vine and Paula Fields, Interim Co-CEO Manitoulin Health Centre. "Having a fully functioning Patient Transfer Service is vital for the LaCloche/Manitoulin area as it ensures our Paramedics are available to respond to 911 calls and save a life" Fern Dominelli, C A O Manitoulin-Sudbury DSB.

Ontario and Québec launch a new joint call for Francophone projects Cont’d from P.1 the Government of Québec website (available in French only). The application period is from January 19 to February 16, 2022. Projects must be implemented between April 1, 2022 and March 31, 2023.

Franco-Ontarian and Québec organizations must partner to develop an eligible project and create a profile in the partner registry on the Government of Québec website (available in French only).

The Québec portion of the funding is administered through the government of Québec’s Programme d'appui à la francophonie canadienne (available in French only).

As announced in the 2021 Budget, Ontario is investing $250,000 annually over three years to support interprovincial projects as part of the Ontario-Québec Cooperation and Exchange Agreement with Respect to the Francophonie.

The joint selection committee composed of representatives from Ontario and Québec will assess the applications and make recommendations to determine which projects will be supported by both provinces equally.

19 projects were jointly funded through the previous call for submissions, which was held between June 9 and July 16, 2021.

UCFO Boutique n in Children bor

may register

2018

for JK

n in 2017 Children bor

for SK r e t is g e r y a m

www.adsb.on.ca

The “featured articles” for the UCFO boutique for the month of January are blankets. The blankets are made for single, double, queen, and king size beds. I have even seen blankets for doll beds.

One of the best-selling blankets is the “traditional catalogne”. To weave a catalogne, they collect old clothes, sheets, curtains, shirts, etc. and cut with scissors or with a cutting machine, strips of about 1/2 inch into a long ribbon and then these are woven. Our ancestors let nothing go to waste. It was what we now call today "practicing the 3 Rs": reduce, reuse and recycle. The recovery of fabric to make blankets crosses many generations and keeps warm... it's a beautiful heritage!

The other very popular ones are woolen or cotton ones. Weavers like to add patterns in their weaving. It's amazing what can be done with four pedals!!

We encourage you to follow us on our Facebook page is: L'Union culturelle des Franco-Ontariennes, local de Chapleau.

CHAPLEAU EXPRESS, January 20, 2022- Page 3

Chapleau Moments

Bishop Tom Corston makes historic trip down Highway 101 to conduct Christmas services in 2010 at Churches in Foleyet and Chapleau

Rt Rev Thomas A. Corston, who most of us from Chapleau by commonly referred to simply as "Tom", spent a "little different Christmas" shortly after he became the ninth Anglican Bishop of Moosonee, in 2010.

So much has been written since Bishop Tom died on January 7, 2022,that I decided to share an anecdote that Tom provided me some time ago.

At Christmas time in 2010, Tom left Timmins on an historic trip down Highway 101 to preside at services at St. John's In Foleyet, and at St. John's in Chapleau.

Writing in his blog in January 2011, he shared the story. I stumbled across his blog while doing some research, contacted Tom, the son of Frances (Jardine) and the late Henry Corston, who were our next door neighbours, and asked if I could quote from it. He gave me permission.

His little different Christmas started out a bit badly when shortly after leaving Timmins, he realized he had forgotten his wallet so had to return to the Synod office for it.

Having left early, he had time but on the drive to Foleyet, "I encountered some light freezing rain but made the trip in good time.

"The rain created some beautiful Christmas card scenes on the surrounding trees."

The church was filled for the four p.m service. St. John's in Foleyet.

It had had been his first parish 35 years ago, in 1975. so "it was great to see some old friends in the congregation, now with grandchildren. We even had an organist so we enjoyed singing the carols and ended the celebration with everyone holding a candle and singing 'Silent Night'" Tom had been ordained a Deacon at St. John's Church, Chapleau,

by Rt Rev James Watton then the Bishop of Moosonee in 1974, and to the priesthood a year later.

Leaving Foleyet he wrote, "I was worried for the drive to Chapleau as it was now dark. The highway was good though and I encountered no more freezing rain.

Just outside town I encountered fog and as I entered town with the shops now closed and literally no one present on the main street, it was a surreal experience driving in the heavy fog.

Certainly not what one would expect on Christmas Eve in a

Michael J. Morris

northern community."

He noted that Chapleau was his home community and the large St. John's Church had struggled in recent years to keep its doors open. As an aside, St. John's was sold in 2016 to Jason Rioux. Also for those who may not know, Tom attended Chapleau Public and Chapleau High Schools and was active in St. John's.

Sadly, St, John's, founded in 1885, was deconsecrated in 2021.

"What a wonderful experience it was that the old church was filled by the time the celebration began," he wrote.

"The full church unnerved the Layreader somewhat as she confessed her

nervousness. I assured her that I was far more nervous than she because I recognized so many friends of my youth who came out to meet me, with grandchildren in tow.

"Christmas at home was a wonderful celebration, even with the canned music!!"

"I had not been in my home church for Christmas since 1974 and it was good to see family and friends come out to renew old acquaintances."

His son Andrew met him in Chapleau and they spent Christmas Eve at his sister Margaret's home on Borden Lake.

On the drive to Sudbury the next morning Tom related that he enjoyed "travelling through some beautiful bush, coloured with God's frosty paint brush."

As I read Tom's blog, my mind wandered back to 1885, and the first Church of England (Anglican) service held at Christmas time in Chapleau.

It was conducted by Rev Gowan Gillmor, best known as 'The Tramp' who travelled the CPR line in Northern Ontario, as the "railway missionary."

The service was likely conducted in a boxcar which was the first station.

Rev. Gillmor was known to walk the CPR line, and at times pushed a handcar from place to place.

Rev. Gillmor was also in Chapleau to assist with the planning of the building of a church, which was officially opened on the site of the old tennis court on July 1, 1886.

The first service in the present St. John's was held on March 29, 1908 when it was dedicated by Bishop George Holmes.

Cont’d on P.7

CHAPLEAU EXPRESS, January 20, 2022- Page 4

5 tips to get back on track for people with diabetes (NC) The COVID-19 pandemic has caused major disruptions to mental health, physical activity, and sedentary behaviour for people worldwide. So it’s no surprise that Canadians living with type 2 diabetes have also found it challenging to maintain healthy eating habits and exercise routines during the pandemic. As a result, some have struggled with their diabetes

management, with four in 10 reporting blood glucose levels more frequently out of their target range.

The great news is that healthy living is a lifelong process so it’s never too late to get back on track.

Here are five tips for people with type 2 diabetes: Start small by setting goals that are realistic and attainable. For example, get outside daily for a brisk 15minute walk to get your heart rate up and help w a r d o f f seasonal blues.

Adjust your mindset. Rather than ‘restricting’ your diet, think about how you can add healthy to your meals.

Find a friend to stay motivated. It’s easier to stick to healthy lifestyle changes when you have someone doing it with you.

Make a plan and stick to it. Schedule your physical activity and plan some healthy meals for the week in advance.

Stay in touch with your healthcare team.

For Canadians living with type 2 diabetes, death from heart disease at an earlier age is a serious risk. Speak with your doctor about type 2 diabetes treatments that may also help protect your heart.

Find more resources at myheart matters.ca.

Deadlines on Wednesdays at 3 p.m.

Un cerveau en santé : des conseils pour les personnes âgées (EN) La pratique de saines habitudes peut aider à vivre mieux. Non seulement ces habitudes contribuent à une bonne santé générale, mais elles ont aussi l’avantage de réduire le risque de développer une démence.

Personne n’est à l’abri de la démence. Il n’y a actuellement aucun remède et certains facteurs de risque comme la génétique ne peuvent pas être corrigés. Heureusement, il est possible de prendre diverses mesures tout au long de sa vie pour réduire le risque de développer la maladie. Voici quelques idées pour vous aider : 1. Soyez actif • Pratiquez les activités que vous avez toujours voulu faire – que ce soit la raquette, la randonnée pédestre ou la danse traditionnelle.

• Variez votre routine de mise en forme pour éviter l’ennui.

• Allez prendre l’air à l’extérieur.

2. Socialisez • Appelez de vieux amis pour rattraper le temps perdu.

• Faites-vous de nouveaux amis en participant à une activité de groupe, même si c’est de façon virtuelle.

3. Ayez une alimentation équilibrée • Planifiez vos repas à l’avance afin d’avoir tous les ingrédients sous la main.

• Utilisez des légumes surgelés; ils sont pratiques et souvent moins dispendieux que les légumes frais, et ils sont parfaits pour les soupes et les sautés.

• Essayez une nouvelle recette chaque semaine et dressez une liste de vos recettes santé favorites.

4. Stimulez votre cerveau • Apprenez à jouer d’un nouvel instrument de musique ou étudiez une nouvelle langue.

• Exécutez une tâche ou une activité que vous faites habituellement, mais d’une nouvelle façon : allez marcher dans un nouveau quartier ou dans un parc que vous ne connaissiez pas.

Vous trouverez plus d’informations à canada.ca/demence.

CHAPLEAU EXPRESS, January 20, 2022- Page 5

CENTRE CULTUREL

LOUIS-HÉMON

Avez-vous vu Val ?

Bonjour gens de Chapleau, Je ne sais pas si vous vous souvenez de moi. Je me nomme Festi, je suis la petite mascotte (en peluche) la feuille d'érable orange qui avait visité votre belle communauté pendant le festival de la nature de 2001 à 2006. J'ai une grosse faveur à vous demander… Vous voyez, je suis à la recherche de Val, l'autre mascotte en peluche, la feuille verte. Pour une raison ou une autre, je n'ai pas revu Val depuis le dernier festival en 2006.

Vous n'êtes peut-être pas au courant, mais je suis en exposition dans un des « show case » du Centre culturel Louis-Hémon avec plusieurs livres, photos et autres souvenirs et le temps est terriblement long… Je suis ici jours et nuits, semaines après semaines, un mois à la fois en m'ennuyant de mon amie Val. C'est ici que vous pouvez m'aider, du moins je l'espère ! Je suis à sa recherche, elle est petite, elle est verte, elle a la forme d'une feuille de bouleau et elle est en peluche. Si vous l'avez dans vos boîtes de souvenirs des activités du passé, quelque part, dans votre grenier ou dans votre cave et que vous pensez être capable d'en faire un don au Centre culturel Louis-Hémon, j'aimerais bien l'avoir à mes côtés dans le « show case ». Cela m'apporterait beaucoup de bonheur de l'avoir à mes côtés, de nouveau après toutes ces années !!! J'ajoute ma photo pour vous rafraîchir les idées et j'ai une image de Val aussi. Je comprends bien que cela fait déjà plus de 16 ans, mais je souhaite tout le sirop d'érable au monde que quelqu'un quelque part puisse nous réunir enfin après tant d'années.

Votre aide est grandement appréciée !

Merci avec beaucoup de festivités !

Festi Votre mascotte de feuille d'érable, en peluche, du Festival de la Nature à Chapleau

UCFO Les « articles vedettes » de la boutique « doigts de fée » des dames de l'ucfo pour le mois de janvier sont les couvertures. Les couvertures sont faites pour des lits simples, doubles, grands (queen) et très grands (king). J'ai même déjà vu des couvertures pour des lits d e p o u p é e .

Une des couvertures la plus vendue est la « catalogne traditionnelle ». Pour tisser la catalogne, l'on récupère de vieux vêtements, draps, rideaux, chemises, etc. Et l'on taille au ciseau ou avec une machine à cet effet, des bandes d'environ 1/2 pouces pour en faire un long ruban.

Ensuite, ces banderoles sont tissées. Il faut dire que nos ancêtres ne laissaient rien se

perdre. C'était ce qu'on appelle aujourd'hui "pratiquer les 3 « r »: réduire, réutiliser et recycler. La récupération de tissu pour réaliser une couverture qui traverse les générations, qui tient au chaud et qui est belle…c'est tout un héritage!

Les autres très populaires sont celles en laine ou celle en coton. Les tisserandes aiment ajouter des patrons dans leur tissage. C'est incroyable ce qui peut être fait avec quatre pédales!!

Nous vous encourageons de nous suivre sur notre page facebook est : l'union culturelle des francoontariennes, local de chapleau.

CHAPLEAU EXPRESS, January 20, 2022- Page 6

Last weeks solutions MOMENTS IN TIME On Feb. 4, 2004, a Harvard sophomore named Mark Zuckerberg launches The Facebook, a social media website he had built in order to connect Harvard students with one another. The previous year, he had created FaceMash, a website where students could vote on which of two randomly selected Harvard women was more attractive, quickly running afoul of both the administration and several women's groups.

CHAPLEAU EXPRESS, January 20, 2022- Page 7

Northern Lights Ford Sales Andrew G. McKenzie Travis Gendron

ALLEMANO, FITZGERALD PASCUZZI & BERLINGIERI Barristers and Solicitors

Highway 17 North P.O. Box 1033 Wawa, ON. P0S 1K0 Business 705-856-2775 Fax 705-856-4862 tgendron@northernlightsford.ca sales@northernlightsford.ca

BERRY’S FREIGHT SERVICES TIMMINS - CHAPLEAU - TIMMINS Monday to Friday: 1 lb. to 10,000 lbs

MICHAEL C. ALLEMANO, B.A., L.L.B.

Monday to Friday

Certified by the Law Society as a Specialist in Real Estate Law P.O. Box 10, P.O. Box 1700, 369 Queen St. E. Suite 103 37 Broadway Avenue, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario Wawa, Ontario P6A 1Z4 P0S 1K0 Phone (705) 942-0142 Phone (705) 856-4970 Fax (705) 942-7188 Fax (705) 856-2713

FOR QUALITY SERVICES AT

INEXPENSIVE PRICES GIVE US A CALL AT 1-705-264-4334 1-705-363-7804

Chapleau Moments Local MARKETPLACE Cont’d from P.3 I also recalled reading about the travels by canoe and dog team of Rev. John Sanders (Saunders), who conducted a service at Chapleau on the banks of the river in 1882. I don't know if Rev. Sanders ever visited Chapleau in the Winter, but like Bishop Tom, I am sure he enjoyed travelling through the "beautiful bush..." of Northern Ontario. Rev. Sanders may have been the first Indigenous (Ojibway) priest in the Church of England (Anglican) in Canada.

As an aside Tom was a member of Chapleau Cree First Nation.

Tom made it home safely to Sudbury where he was greeted by wife Ruth, son Stephen, mother Frances, and other family members.

He retired as Bishop of Moosonee on December 31, 2013, and became Assisting Bishop, as well as interim part time Rector of the Church of the Epiphany in Sudbury, where he

previously served as Rector.

Bishop Tom let me share parts of his "little different Christmas." It also let me do what I really enjoy -- mixing metaphors with my references to Rev. Gillmor and Rev. Sanders!..

My email is mikejmorris41@outlook.com Rest in peace my friend and neighbour.

Pimii Kamik Gas Bar & Gift Shop Located on the Chapleau Cree First Nation

will be from 7 a.m. - 9 p.m., 7 days a week Drop by and check out our line of Authentic Native Crafts, Unique Gift Ideas, Jewellery, and Gift Certificates TOO!

...

We also carry road trip snacks, which includes Subs, Chips, Pop, plus a whole lot more.

Your Propane Refilling Station

705-864-0781

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS (A.A).Open discussion meeting every Monday evening. Brunswick House First Nation Band office lounge 7pm. Narcotics Anonymous(N.A) every Tuesday same place same time.

NNADAP Worker @ 864-0174 info.

CHADWIC HOME, FAMILY RESOURCE CENTRE. Offers shelter, emotional support, and information for women and their children who are in crisis situations. We have a Toll Free Crisis Line which is staffed 24 hours a day. We can arrange for free transportation to the Centre for women who live in the Algoma/Chapleau area. We also offer support to women who live in the communities of Chapleau, White River, Dubreuilville, and Hornepayne through our Outreach Program. Our Outreach Worker travels to those communities to meet with women who need emotional support as well as information about their rights and options. If you need to speak with the Outreach Worker when she is in your community, you can call the Centre at any time to set up an appointment. You do not need to be a resident of the Centre in order to use our services. If you need someone to talk to or if you just need someone to listen, call our Toll Free Crisis line at 1800-461-2242 or you can drop in at the Centre. We are here for you.

DEADLINES ON WEDNESDAYS AT 3:00 P.M. New at the Library Library Hours Monday 1-5 pm Tuesday & Wednesday 1-7 pm Thursday & Friday 1-5 pm Website : www.chapleau.ca Follow us on facebook for more info!

8mm & Super 8 mm FILM

SLIDES

PHOTOS

NEGATIVES

SCANNING

705-864-4376

CHAPLEAU EXPRESS, January 20, 2022- Page 8 and we have a small Family Health Team. We have no specialists. Our nearest larger centres are 300 kilometres away to the west (Thunder Bay) and 400 kilometres away to the east (Sault Ste. Marie). Many of our patients cannot easily travel because of poverty, lack of vehicle access, illness, age and the challenges of a twisty, craggy highway that's a menace in the winter.”

Dr. Newbery explains that their health team consults with specialists on the phone and follow up their recommendations with patients Well, here we are in 2022. At this point locally as best they can. However, “this work – last year, many of us were really hoping that by the kind of comprehensive communitythis time, we'd be leaps and bounds ahead of responsive care that has supported the health of where we are today. We are still struggling with a rural systems in northern Ontario for years – is in pandemic that has affected just about every jeopardy. Today in Northern Ontario, according aspect of our lives. And you know what, that's a to community-level recruiter information, we good thing that we did have that hope. Hope is need more than 300 physicians. Of those, we one of the primary nutrients we need to continue need 97 rural generalist family physicians in our living and facing life's challenges. Noble Prizesmall communities. There is an increase in need winning physicist Albert Einstein's genius was by 10 physicians since December 2020, not limited to just science. In many ways, he was mirroring a trend for family physicians across the a brilliant philosopher too. Einstein once said, North.”

“Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for The described realities are the same all tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop across the North. questioning.”

Here in Algoma-Manitoulin, my team The people of Ontario are not just sitting and I have been working diligently on a string of back and taking it on the chin from COVID-19s Delta and Omicron variants. We are fighting such issues stretching from Manitouwadge, back in every way we can. Not only are we along the North Shore and over to Manitoulin determined to make it through this epidemic, but Island. Right now, there is a severe shortage in we are also taking advantage of this catastrophe the Thessalon–Bruce Mines community, where to examine some of our failing policies, practices they narrowly averted having to close the and systems. We are determined to pinpoint hospital over the Christmas break. Some weaknesses so that we can make improvements communities and doctors have been working for that will make life better for everyone in days to several years now, trying to recruit new doctors to replace those who have been wanting to retire for come. some time. Across the region, I hear from health Given that we are experiencing a public team managers with numerous doctors who are health and medical crisis, it is natural that we approaching an age when they want to slow down focus heavily on our healthcare system. progressively. Doctors hope to pass off their However, some of the weaknesses may have until caseloads and share their skills, knowledge and now barely shown up on the radar at the experience with younger physicians looking to provincial scale. But now, they are presenting as set up practice and establish roots. glaring problems that we should have addressed According to the Ontario Medical long ago but failed to do so. Therefore, we must seize this opportunity to address these issues Association (OMA), “Northern Ontario makes up almost 90 percent of Ontario's landmass but while they are exposed and readily studied. contains only six percent of its population. The One of the mainstays of Canadian OMA has long recognized that Northern healthcare is that all people should have access to Ontarians do not have equitable access to the care universal, free healthcare no matter where they they need and deserve within their own live. Yet, for decades, Northern Ontarians have communities. But let's be clear on what equitable maintained that we do not have access to medical access to care means. It means that Northern services that are equitable with those available in Ontarians should have the right to access the other regions of the province. same care and medical services that every patient I recently came across an outstanding in this province has. To read the article, search article by Dr. Sarah Newbery in the January 6th, online 'Perscription for Ontario: Doctors 5-Point 2022 edition of Healthydebate.ca. Newbery is a Plan for Better Health Care. family physician who has served communities in The OMA states that the doctor and the Marathon area for twenty-five years. The healthcare professional shortage in Northern circumstances she describes will resonate with Ontario is very real. Added to these shortages are many northerners. Dr. Newbery writes: serious challenges such as proximity to service “In our community of Marathon, there is availability, deteriorating or lack of necessary funding for six rural general family physicians infrastructure, travel costs and weather

conditions. In total, these realities combined lead Northern Ontarians down a path to social, cultural, economic and health crises.

The OMA is proposing five priorities to focus upon to improve healthcare across Ontario: · Reduce wait times and the backlog of services · Expand mental health and addiction services in the community · Improve home care and other community care · Strengthen public health and pandemic preparedness · Give every patient a team of healthcare providers and link them digitally Ontario's health care services are now stretched beyond their limits. Caregivers and health professionals are working harder than ever. Yet after the drastic cuts of the Conservative years and 15 years of neglect, frozen budgets and cuts under the Liberals, health care in Ontario is falling short of what families need. Waits are long. There's a hallway medicine crisis.

Andrea Horwath and the NDP believe that delivering quality public health care is the most important thing our government does. It's time to start moving forward again, so Ontarians can expect more from the health services we've built together.

We don't have to settle for that anymore.

The time has come for Ontario to tackle these issues once and for all.

I wholeheartedly agree with Dr. Newbery's conclusion to her article when she states, “We have the solutions in Ontario. We need the will.”

As always, please feel free to contact my office about these issues or any other provincial matters. You can reach my constituency office by email at mmantha-co@ndp.on.ca or phone at 705-461-9710 or Toll-free at 1-800-831-1899.

Vehicle Decals Safety Signage Posters 705-864-4376 jnsigns@gmail.com