The Lindsay Advocate - April 2021

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Hungry: Food Insecurity in Canada

65% 60%

of food insecure Canadian households report having job income. of Canadian households reliant on social assistance are food insecure.

Source: Food Insecurity Policy Research

Denmark gets it right on elder care

Elder care in Denmark starts with generous spending — more than 2.2 per cent of GDP. Each municipality in Denmark has senior citizen councils where the rights of the elderly are front and centre. Improvements are made every three years wherever they are needed, based on data collected. Older people stay in their homes as long as possible with regular house calls from health professionals, paid for by the state. Most aspects of elder care, such as senior centres, adapted transportation and meals-on-wheels programs are also paid for the by the state. Nursing homes are mostly public and council-run.

UPFRONT Perry departs Health Team for role with Métis Nation of Ontario

Mike Perry, long-time executive director of the Kawartha Lakes Family Health Team, will leave the organization in the coming weeks to take on a new opportunity with the Métis Nation of Ontario. The new position is as Lead — Government Law and Constitution with the Métis Nation of Ontario, said Perry. A historic 2019 agreement set a new government-togovernment relationship between Canada and the Métis Nation of Ontario. There is now recognition that Métis Nation of Ontario-recognized communities have the right of self-government. Dr. Peter Anderson, president of the Kawartha Lakes Family Health Team, wished Perry well, saying the organization is “grateful for the expertise that Mike has brought to his position” over the past 10 years. “The medical community and local health care have benefited greatly from his guidance, energy and skills. We wish him all the very best.” Perry called it a “rare honour” to be able to help improve health care in the area. “I have worked with — and learned from — so many extraordinary professionals and community members over the past decade,” Perry said. During Perry’s tenure as executive director, nurse practitioners were brought to smaller communities such as Omemee, Woodville, Bobcaygeon and Fenelon Falls, and new family doctors were also recruited to Kawartha Lakes. A health clinic was opened in Little Britain and a new team of mental-health workers was established. There was also enhanced care for transgender patients and a push for “same or next day” appointments for patients. “I am very excited about this new opportunity to serve and return to legal work and build again — especially being Métis myself,” Perry said. Perry will continue to live in Lindsay and said he will be as active as ever in the local community including volunteering to help with COVID vaccinations.

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