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Canadians Need Better Access to Psychological Services

2012-02-06T09:48:00.000-08:00

OTTAWA, February 6, 2012 /Canada NewsWire/ - Today in honour of Psychology Month, the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), the Mood Disorders Society of Canada (MDSC) and the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) joined forces to highlight the need to enhance access to mental health services in Canada.

Mental disorders are a leading cause of disability in Canada and represent a significant burden on the economy. It estimated to cost the Canadian economy $51-billion annually. Psychologists are the largest group of regulated and specialized mental health care providers in Canada. Yet Canadians, in particular those in lower and middle income levels, face significant barriers when it comes to accessing psychological services due to their cost.

"The services of psychologists are not funded by provincial health insurance plans which make them inaccessible to Canadians with modest incomes or no insurance" said Peter Coleridge, National Chief Executive Officer, of the CMHA. This is in spite of the fact that some of the most effective treatments for common mental disorders - depression and anxiety - are psychological ones like cognitive behaviour therapy".

The U.K. has invested 400 million pounds over four years to make psychological therapies more accessible, and Australia has also enhanced access to psychologists through its publicly funded health insurance plans" adds Coleridge. "Canada must do the same."

"It is vitally important that we look to the needs of the community when it comes to mental disorders and health promotion and that we respond to those in ways that are effective" said Dave Gallson, Associate National Executive Director of MDSC. "Our research has found that the lack of insured services prevents a majority of individuals with mental illnesses from seeking the support they need."

Next week the Government of Manitoba is hosting a mental health summit with a focus on children and youth. Seventy percent of adults living with a mental disorders experience the causes or onset of their disorders before age 18. Early intervention can make a dramatic difference in the course of a disorder and, ultimately in a person's life.

"Psychological services are proven effective in helping Canadians to manage and overcome psychological problems and disorders," added Dr Karen Cohen, Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Psychological Association. "Canada's private health care insurance plans and publicly funded programs don't do enough to ensure Canadians have equal and adequate access to needed psychological service. Canada's governments and employers must do more to ensure all Canadians - regardless of income - can access the psychological care they need."

Money management help from your most trusted source. You.

2012-02-02T11:17:00.000-08:00

WINNIPEG, February 1, 2012 /Canada NewsWire/ - Imagine, if given the chance, what your future self would tell you to do differently today - perhaps help you avoid blowing your savings on a winter sale, stop you from buying a new car when you really need an RRSP, or prevent you from putting money in a fraudulent investment. Too bad hindsight doesn't work that way. In response to the constant bombardment of advertisements trying to convince you to buy and spend more, The Manitoba Securities Commission (MSC) has developed Your Future Self, an interactive campaign and contest, which provides information and tips to help you plan financially for your future.

The campaign revolves around YourFutureSelf.ca, a mock email inbox with a whole lot of messages from Your Future Self. "We want people to use YourFutureSelf.ca to take ownership of their finances, make informed decisions, and do it in a fun, interactive way," says Don Murray, Chair of MSC. He believes that future financial goals are achieved by thinking about money management now, instead of putting off your decisions.

Ainsley Cunningham, Manager, Education and Communications with MSC, says the website isn't designed to give hard and fast financial rules, or to be punitive in any way for your spending habits. "YourFutureSelf.ca is designed to encourage quick lessons, provide helpful links to resources and information, and provide clarity around certain financial topics. We've even included a contest to motivate folks to answer some basic financial questions." MSC is hoping to get people's attention, get them to start thinking about what their future self would say to the decisions they make today, and recognize the importance of looking at their finances.

To see the campaign in action and learn more about money management, check out YourFutureSelf.ca

About The Manitoba Securities Commission

The Manitoba Securities Commission is a special operating agency of the Government of Manitoba that protects and informs investors through educational programming and promotes fair and efficient capital markets throughout the province.

World Cancer Day marked with new Canadian survey results showing increase in colon cancer screening

2012-02-02T07:51:00.000-08:00

More Canadians are getting checked, but many still confused about when to do it

TORONTO, February 2, 2012 /Canada NewsWire/ - New survey results released to mark World Cancer Day 2012 (February 4th) suggest that awareness initiatives to promote colon cancer screening are working. Half (50 per cent) of Canadians age 50 to 74 polled have been screened for colon cancer, showing a Canada-wide increase when compared to similar data captured in 2009. However more than half (53 per cent) of those polled incorrectly believe that people should only get checked after experiencing symptoms. An estimated 22,200 Canadians were diagnosed with colon cancer in 2011 and 8,900 people died of it.

"Colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in Canada, but it is also highly treatable if detected early through screening," says the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, federal Minster of Health. "This trend towards improved colon cancer screening is therefore extremely encouraging, and exemplifies why our government funded the implementation of a national cancer strategy through the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer. More than ever cancer care organizations, healthcare providers and other stakeholders from across the country are working together on shared goals for the benefit of more Canadians."

Commissioned by the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer and its National Colorectal Cancer Screening Network, the Colon Cancer Screening in Canada survey polled 4,050 Canadians aged 45 to 74 years old on their understanding and attitudes towards getting checked for colon cancer. Conducted by Ipsos Reid, the survey builds on results from a related survey conducted in 2009. The survey is part of the nationwide 'Colonversation' campaign, which launched in 2010 and features colonversation.ca, an online resource to help all Canadians learn more about the importance of colon cancer screening.

"Screening programs are now in place across the country and great work is being done to encourage Canadians to talk with their family, friends and health care providers about colon cancer and the importance of screening," says Dr. Heather Bryant, Vice-President, Cancer Control, Canadian Partnership Against Cancer. "Most importantly there has been an improvement in screening rates over the last two years. But there is still much to be done. Colon cancer screening still needs to become a regular part of people's health routine for people age 50 and older."

Colon Cancer Screening in Canada Survey Highlights

The percentage of Canadians who say they have been checked for colon cancer has increased:

...Half of Canadians age 50 to 74 are up-to-date with their colon cancer screening tests (FOBT and colonoscopy), which is within the past two years for fecal (stool) tests (FOBT/FIT) and past five years for colonoscopy - 50 per cent, compared to 44 per cent in 2009.

Many Canadians are making the mistake of waiting for symptoms before getting checked:

...92 per cent of Canadians know cancer screening is a medical test to detect cancer, but more than half (53 per cent) mistakenly think initial screening should happen only after they notice symptoms.

...Men are more likely than women (58 per cent vs. 49 per cent respectively) to think that screening occurs after symptoms develop.

...At 50 per cent, self-reported screening rates for colon cancer are lower compared to those for other types of cancer:

...77 per cent of women aged 50 to 74 report having had a mammogram in the past two years.

Canadians having 'colonversations':

...The Colon Cancer Screening in Canada survey found that 39 per cent of Canadians aged 50 to 74 have discussed getting tested for colon cancer with a family member, and 30 per cent have had the same discussion with a friend.

...The survey found more Canadians are discussing colon cancer testing with a doctor - about half of Canadians aged 50 to 74 recall having the conversation with a doctor.

...When a discussion with a doctor takes place, colon cancer screening was recommended nearly nine times out of ten.

"I had never been screened for colon cancer, and didn't know anything about it until received a home screening test through Manitoba's ColonCheck screening program," says Mr. Douglas Grant of Winnipeg. "I had no symptoms or pain, but the test looked easy and I could do it at home so I thought, why not?"

The results of the home screening test showed hidden blood in the stool samples, so Mr. Grant had the follow up test, the colonoscopy. "The doctor told me they found a large polyp. If they didn't find it and remove it, it was the type of polyp that could have turned into cancer. I'm glad I did the test."

About Colon Cancer Screening

Getting checked, otherwise known as being screened, for colon cancer is an important method of disease prevention and early detection. Clearly, anyone with symptoms or signs of colorectal cancer needs to discuss the appropriate tests with their doctors. But we now know that screening - a test done when a person has no signs or symptoms of the disease - is also important to prevent deaths from colon cancer. Because colon cancer - also known as colorectal or bowel cancer - often develops from a benign or non-cancerous polyp, it can actually be prevented when these polyps are discovered early and removed.

There are a number of tests that check for colon cancer. Non-invasive stool tests, such as guaiac FOBT and Fecal Immunochemical Tests (FIT), look for blood released by fragile blood vessels in polyps.

"Screening for colorectal cancer works and people appear to know more about the availability of the at-home screening kit," says Gillian Bromfield, Director, Cancer Control Policy, Canadian Cancer Society and member of the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer's Screening Advisory Group. "The more Canadians participate in the provincial programs, the better chance we have to find and treat these cancers early, which can save lives. These survey findings are truly encouraging."

If positive, an internal examination of the colon is recommended (colonscopy). A colonoscopy is done with a thin flexible tube containing a light and a video camera that can be connected to a display monitor. Any polyps or other abnormalities can be biopsied and sent to a laboratory to determine if cancer cells are present.

Encouraging Canadians to have 'colonversations'

Colonversation.ca is a national resource for all Canadians to learn more about the importance of colon cancer screening. The site is part of a nationwide awareness program to help Canadians understand the facts about getting checked for colon cancer. It includes detailed information on risk factors, videos and written instructions about the at home colon cancer screening kits, and links to provincial screening information on screening programs. The Colonversation Campaign is an initiative of the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer's National Colorectal Cancer Screening Network.

Visit Colonversation.ca for more information about colon cancer screening and to find out more about how to get checked in your province.

About the National Colorectal Cancer Screening Network

Established by the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer in 2007, the National Colorectal Cancer Screening Network is building momentum towards a shared approach to colorectal cancer screening across the country. Programs are shared to support improved quality and consistency as each province and territory develops its own screening program, evaluation methods, quality initiatives and outreach. At present, membership includes program staff, provincial and territorial government representatives and representatives from the Canadian Cancer Society, Public Health Agency of Canada, Canadian Medical Association, Colorectal Cancer Association of Canada and Canadian Association of Gastroenterology.

About the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer

The Canadian Partnership Against Cancer is an organization funded by the federal government to accelerate action on cancer control for all Canadians. Bringing together cancer experts, government representatives, patient and survivor groups, including the Canadian Cancer Society and the Canadian Cancer Action Network to implement the first pan-Canadian cancer control strategy, the vision is to be a driving force to achieve a focused approach that will help prevent cancer, enhance the quality of life of those affected by cancer, lessen the likelihood of dying from cancer, and increase the efficiency of cancer control in Canada. For more information, visit partnershipagainstcancer.ca. The Partnership is also the driving force behind cancerview.ca, an online community linking Canadians to cancer information, services and resources.

Survey Methodology

The Colon Cancer Screening in Canada 2011 survey was conducted from September 8 to 27th, 2011 by Ipsos Reid. The study surveyed 4,050 Canadians aged 45 to 74, with 3,001 interviews conducted by telephone using random digit dialing, and 1,049 recruited via Ipsos Reid's online panel. A survey with an unweighted probability sample of this size and a 100 per cent response rate would have an estimated margin of error of +/-1.5 percentage points, 19 times out of 20, of what the results would have been had the entire population of Canadian adults 45-74 been polled. The sample was stratified by region, with quotas set by gender and age to achieve a representative sample of Canadians 45 to 74 within each province/territory. The data were weighted to ensure that the sample's regional and age/sex/education composition reflects that of the actual Canadian population according to Census data.

Canadian Government invests in personalized medicine

2012-02-01T06:04:00.000-08:00

Improving the quality of life of Canadians by developing more effective treatments

OTTAWA, January 31, 2012 /Canada NewsWire/ - The Canadian Government today announced an important investment that will help Canadians in getting more effective treatments and make the healthcare system more sustainable through personalized medicine. The announcement was made by the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health, and the Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State for Science and Technology.

"Our Government is committed to improving the quality of life of Canadians," Minister Aglukkaq said. "The potential to understand a person's genetic makeup and the specific character of their illness in order to best determine their treatment will significantly improve the quality of life for patients and their families and may show us the way to an improved health care system and even save costs in certain circumstances."

Personalized medicine offers the potential to transform the delivery of healthcare to patients. Healthcare will evolve from a reactive "one-size-fits-all" system towards a system of predictive, preventive, and precision care. Areas in which personalized approaches are particularly promising include oncology, cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, psychiatric disorders, diabetes and obesity, arthritis, pain, and Alzheimer's disease. In all of these fields, and others, a personalized molecular medicine approach is expected to lead to better health outcomes, improved treatments, and reduction in toxicity due to variable or adverse drug responses. For example, cancer patients would be screened to identify those for whom chemotherapy would be ineffective. In addition to saving on the costs of expensive drug treatments, this personalized treatment would prevent a great deal of suffering, while identifying and initiating earlier treatments that would be more effective.

"I applaud Genome Canada and the CIHR for their leadership in supporting research in personalized medicine," said Minister Goodyear. "Innovative approaches like these lead to significant health benefits, enhance our knowledge within the medical arena and can be commercialized to help so many others worldwide."

Genome Canada is leading the landmark research competition, with significant collaboration from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and the Cancer Stem Cell Consortium (CSCC). To qualify for funding, researchers must obtain matching funding that at is least equal to that provided through the competition. Matching funding is typically derived from provincial, academic, private sector or international sources.

The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) is the Government of Canada's health research investment agency. CIHR's mission is to create new scientific knowledge and to enable its translation into improved health, more effective health services and products, and a strengthened Canadian health care system. Composed of 13 Institutes, CIHR provides leadership and support to more than 14,100 health researchers and trainees across Canada. www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca

Genome Canada is a non-profit corporation employing an innovative business model based on funding and managing large-scale, multidisciplinary, internationally peer-reviewed genomics research projects in areas such as agriculture, forestry, fisheries, the environment and human health. For more information, visit www.genomecanada.ca

The Cancer Stem Cell Consortium is a not-for-profit corporation that was incorporated in 2007 to coordinate an international strategy for cancer stem cell research and related translational activities. For more information, visit www.cancerstemcellconsortium.ca

Majority of Canadians feel financially unprepared for retirement

2012-01-24T06:55:00.000-08:00

More than 1 in 3 aged 35-54 don't have an RSP;
68% of Canadians have no financial plan in place to meet retirement goals

TORONTO, January 23, 2012 /Canada NewsWire/ - A new survey from ING DIRECT reveals many Canadians are not taking the necessary steps to achieve financial peace of mind in retirement. According to the Angus Reid study commissioned by the bank, more than half of Canadians (58 per cent) don't feel financially prepared for retirement and only a third (33 per cent) actually have a plan in place to meet their retirement goals.

For 31 per cent of survey respondents, retirement is not even on their radar when thinking about personal finances. That number jumps to 39 per cent for those aged 25-34 and 56 per cent for younger Canadians aged 18-24.

Currently, a top financial priority for most Canadians is to pay off credit card debt or lines of credit (41 per cent). For respondents aged 25-34 and 35-54, with children under 18 living at home, saving for retirement falls to the bottom of the priority list (21 and 30 per cent), behind paying off their mortgage (38 and 42 per cent) and saving for their children's education (41 and 40 per cent).

"Saving for retirement can't be an afterthought," said Peter Aceto, president and CEO, ING DIRECT Canada. "Despite the amount of debt people are carrying and what we keep hearing in the news, saving is still possible. Understanding the importance of starting early, even if it means starting small, has a huge influence on the ability to meet your financial goals. Canadians should also look at the value they're getting from their existing financial products and have ongoing conversations about money with friends, family and on social networks, which can play a big role in being better informed about personal finances."

Savers are out there

The survey also found that of those who have a RSP, 21 per cent are contributing between $1001-$2500 each year, while 16 per cent are putting away between $501-$1000. Forty-three per cent plan to contribute the same in 2012 as last year while 27 per cent are planning to contribute more.

The top five financial product categories where Canadians have invested their RSPs or retirement funds include mutual funds (57 per cent), Tax Free Savings Account (30 per cent), GICs (25 per cent), savings accounts (20 per cent) and individual stocks (20 per cent).

If they had an extra $50 each month, Canadians would spend it as follows:

...33 per cent would pay off debt (mortgage, credit card, student loans etc.)
...25 per cent would put it towards a savings account (RSP, TFSA etc.)
...16 per cent would put it in an emergency fund
...15 per cent would pay bills

"What if putting $50 into a savings account each month was like a mandatory bill you had to pay? Equate it to paying a half per cent more on your mortgage, but instead you're putting that half per cent into a savings account, like an RSP, that is also giving you interest," said Aceto. "Saving $50 a month, at a 2.5% interest rate compounded over 30 years would provide more than $25,000 in savings*. If you can't find $50 to contribute, start by taking a look at the fees you pay for your financial products. In many cases, this expense can be eliminated and redirected to savings."

He added, "A saving habit takes discipline but once you start it's very easy to maintain, especially with an automatic savings plan. Our clients are always happily surprised at how much they've built in savings even with small monthly contributions. It's exciting to see your savings grow and feel in control of your financial well being."

How much will you need?

Not having enough income to sustain a good quality of life during retirement is a top concern for half of Canadians (49 per cent). While the amount of income required during retirement varies from person to person, depending on the individual's financial situation, 41 per cent of those surveyed think they will need between $1001-$2500 per month and 31 per cent say between $2501-$5000.

ING DIRECT's online Retirement Calculator is an easy-to-use resource that can help Canadians calculate how much they will need to save between now and retirement. The calculator provides an estimate based on current retirement savings, monthly contributions, age and other factors.

Additional survey findings:

General

...Of those Canadians with RSPs, 29% are currently not making any contributions towards their RSP
...For 44%, retirement plans have not been impacted by the past year's economic and/or stock market performance
...Fifty-nine per cent of respondents who have an active RSP contributed about the same amount in 2011, as they did in 2010. One in five (19%) contributed more, and one in five (22%) contributed less
...Twenty-nine per cent expect to retire between 61-65 years of age, 22% said between 55-60
...The performance of the economy and/or stock market in 2011 has delayed the expected time of retirement for 18% of Canadians

Age & Gender

...Majority of Canadian women (71%) don't have a financial plan to meet their retirement goals vs. 66% of men
...Comparing 2011 RSP contributions to 2010, Canadians aged 25-34 (25%) are much more likely to have contributed more in 2011 than Canadians aged 35-54 (16%) and those over 55 years (12%)
...One-third (35%) of Canadians over 55 don't have an RSP
...For 53% of Canadians 18-24, saving for a big purchase is their top priority, followed by paying off student loans (31%)
...A quarter of Canadians (26%) aged 35-54 with kids expect to retire later than planned
...Men (25%) are significantly more likely than women (19%) to feel financially prepared for retirement

Regional

...Fifty-eight per cent of Atlantic Canadians don't have an RSP - the highest among all regions
...Residents of Manitoba/Saskatchewan (64%) are significantly more likely to have an RSP than Canadians from other provinces
...Mutual funds are particularly popular in Ontario (63%), compared with Manitoba/Saskatchewan (48%) and Quebec (53%)
...Albertans (30%) and Ontarians (27%) are much more likely than British Columbians (19%) to intend on contributing more to their RSP in 2012 than they did in 2011
...Quebecers (48%) are much more likely than those from Alberta (37%) and Manitoba/Saskatchewan (35%) to be considering their financial well-being when thinking about retirement

ING DIRECT offers Canadians a range of retirement investment options, including RSP Mutual Funds, GICs, TFSAs and savings accounts. All new clients who open a RSP or TFSA will receive a $25 sign-up bonus (limited time offer). Visit ingdirect.ca/peaceofmind to learn more.

About ING DIRECT

ING DIRECT is Canada's leading direct bank with over 1.8 million Clients and more than $37.6 billion in total assets. ING DIRECT gives the power of saving to all Canadians by offering high-value, simple products such as high interest Savings Accounts with no fees or service charges, low rates on mortgages and a no-fee daily Chequing Account that actually pays interest. Low cost, index based mutual funds are sold through ING DIRECT Funds Limited. ING DIRECT has been operating in Canada since 1997 and paid more than $5 billion in interest to Clients. ING DIRECT is open for banking 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, at ingdirect.ca, on mobile devices at m.ingdirect.ca or by calling 1-800 ING DIRECT (1-800-464-3743).

About the Survey

From December 21-28, 2011, an online survey was conducted among a sample of 2,002 Canadian adults who are Angus Reid Forum panel members. The margin of error — which measures sampling variability — is +/- 2.19%, 19 times out of 20. The sample was balanced by age, gender and region according to the most recent census data. Discrepancies in or between totals are due to rounding.

Measha Brueggergosman Asks Canadians to Take Care of Their Hearts for the Ones They Love

2012-01-19T06:59:00.000-08:00

Internationally-acclaimed Canadian soprano shares her heart health wake-up call and helps Becel®, founding sponsor of The Heart and Stroke Foundation's The Heart Truth™ campaign, raise awareness of women's heart health

TORONTO, January 18, 2012 /Canada NewsWire/ - As mothers, wives, daughters, friends and pillars of their communities, many Canadian women are quick to put their own needs aside for the benefit of others. Whether it's caring for an aging parent, dropping everything for a sick child, or inspiring those around them to be and do their best, women are no strangers to self-sacrifice. Yet while their hearts are in the right place, their heart health may not be - and as a result, one in three Canadian women die each year from heart disease and stroke.

That's why Becel®, the founding sponsor of The Heart and Stroke Foundation's The Heart Truth™ campaign, has partnered with award-winning Canadian opera singer Measha Brueggergosman to spread a potentially lifesaving message to help empower Canadian women to protect their heart health. Measha underwent emergency open-heart surgery in 2009 after a near brush with death due to a dissected aorta.

"Even though I spent a lot of time in my 20s trying to get and stay 'healthy' by losing weight, I completely neglected factors like blood pressure and high cholesterol. As a result, I ended up in a scary emergency situation and now need to keep a close eye on my heart health for the rest of my life," said Brueggergosman. "So many women don't realize that if they don't look after their own hearts first, they might not be there to take care of the people they love. I hope my story reminds Canadian women to protect and cherish their heart health."

The facts are heartbreaking but true: heart disease and stroke is the #1 killer of women in Canada - and in 2008 alone, there were seven times more deaths among Canadian women from heart disease and stroke than from breast cancer.

Know Your Number, Know Your Risk

A survey conducted by Becel® found that almost 70 per cent of Canadians - about 20 million people - don't know their own cholesterol number. Yet it's estimated that as many as 10 million Canadian adults have a cholesterol level that is higher than the recommended target.

"Knowing their cholesterol number is one easy step that all Canadians can take to help reduce their risk of heart disease and stroke, since high blood cholesterol is a key risk factor for the disease," said Maria Ricupero, registered dietitian. "In fact, women can proactively reduce their risk for heart disease and stroke by as much as 80 per cent by making lifestyle changes and taking action to improve their health."

To help address this issue, Becel®, in its role as founding sponsor of the Heart and Stroke Foundation's The Heart Truth™ campaign, is offering free cholesterol screening tests at eight malls and in more than 200 stores across the country during the month of February. Visit www.becel.ca for more information about testing locations and to learn more about heart healthy living, or speak with a doctor about getting a cholesterol test.

Get pro.activ about Heart Health

Brueggergosman's family has also seen its share of heart issues. In fact, her father had to undergo a quadruple bypass a few years ago, and there is a history of heart problems and diabetes in her family. Her mother, Ann Gosman, is also now acutely aware of how lifestyle choices can impact heart health.

"My family has seen so much heartache - literally - over the past few years, and I can truly say from experience that the time is now for a wake-up call for Canadian women to start taking care of their heart health," said Gosman. "I want women to know that they should feel empowered when it comes to their heart health, because it is possible to help control this disease. Proper diet and exercise are priorities in my life, and I make sure to get my cholesterol checked on a regular basis."

Diet plays a critical role in heart health, and a healthy diet low in saturated and trans fats may reduce the risk of heart disease. Eating foods with plant sterols can also help significantly reduce cholesterol levels.

"Plant sterols can help lower blood cholesterol by partially blocking cholesterol absorption into the bloodstream," said Ricupero. "They're found naturally in vegetables, fruits and nuts, but it's challenging to get the amount recommended to lower cholesterol from these foods alone - so that's why foods with plant sterols can help."

One serving (two teaspoons) of Becel® pro.activ® calorie-reduced margarine with plant sterols provides 40 per cent of the daily amount of plant sterols shown to help lower cholesterol in adults.

For more information, visit www.becel.ca.

About The Heart Truth™ campaign

The Heart and Stroke Foundation's The Heart Truth campaign is calling on women to put their own health first, make heart healthy lifestyle changes, recognize heart attack and stroke symptoms and seek prompt treatment. Heart disease and stroke is the # 1 killer of women in Canada, but most don't know it. Heart disease is not a "man's disease": women are more likely than men to die of a heart attack or stroke. But by taking care of themselves and making incremental heart healthy lifestyle changes, women can add more years to their life and more life to their years. In fact, women can reduce their risk of heart disease and stroke by as much as 80 per cent by making lifestyle changes. The Red Dress is the official symbol of The Heart Truth campaign. It represents women's courage, passion and their power for change as they share the truth with others and raise awareness about the importance of heart health. To find out more, visit www.thehearttruth.ca.

About Becel®

Becel® has always believed in the importance of caring for your heart. It's why Becel® margarine was created, and why the brand remains dedicated to educating Canadians about the importance of heart healthy living. Through its development of educational resources to help Canadians manage their heart health, its founding sponsorship of The Heart and Stroke Foundation's The Heart Truth™ campaign, and in the development of products such as Becel® pro.activ® calorie-reduced margarine with plant sterols, the first food with plant sterols in Canada, Becel® maintains its commitment to heart health innovation and education. For more information, visit www.becel.ca.

About Unilever

Unilever is one of the world's leading suppliers of fast moving consumer goods with strong operations in more than 100 countries and sales in 180. With products that are used over two billion times a day around the world, we work to create a better future every day and help people feel good, look good and get more out of life with brands and services that are good for them and good for others. In Canada the portfolio includes brand icons such as: Axe, Becel, Ben & Jerry's, Bertolli, Breyers, Degree, Dove personal care products, Good Humor, Hellmann's, Klondike, Knorr, Lipton, Nexxus, Noxzema, Popsicle, Q-Tips, Ragu, Skippy, St. Ives, TIGI, TRESemmé, and Vaseline. All of the preceding brand names are registered trademarks of the Unilever Group of Companies. Unilever Canada employs more than 1,600 people generating approximately $1.4 billion in sales in 2011. For more information, please visit www.unilever.ca.

Premiers Announce Health Care Innovation Working Group

2012-01-17T11:34:00.000-08:00

VICTORIA, British Columbia, January 17, 2012 /Canada NewsWire/ - Premiers announced that Prince Edward Island Premier Robert Ghiz and Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall will co-chair a Health Care Innovation Working Group composed of all provincial and territorial health ministers. While acknowledging that Canada's provinces and territories are pursuing innovation in their own jurisdictions, Premiers recognize that more can be done together.

Premiers are committed to the proposition that ongoing collaboration and cooperation is essential to providing Canadians with access to the best health care in the world. The purpose of this provincial and territorial initiative is to drive a collaborative process for transformation and innovation to help ensure the sustainable delivery of health care services. This focus on innovation will also seek to enhance provincial/territorial capacity to better meet new challenges in our health care systems, including the needs of seniors, patients with chronic diseases and Northern populations.

The Health Care Innovation Working Group will provide its first report at the July 2012 Council of the Federation annual meeting in Halifax.

"This is a bold move with real timelines," said Premier Christy Clark, chair of this week's Council of the Federation meeting. "The message we want to send is that we are working together to innovate and provide better care for seniors and all Canadians."

"This crucial work will be done under the leadership of Premiers working with health care providers", Premier Robert Ghiz said, "They are the untapped strength of the system."

"This year marks the 50th anniversary of Medicare" noted Premier Brad Wall. " Premiers want to create a new approach that provides better quality care while being sustainable."

In consultation with health care providers, over the next six months the working group will focus on:

...Scope of practice: examining the scope of practice of health care providers and teams in order to better meet patient and population needs in a safe, competent and cost effective manner

...Human resources management: address health human resource challenges and explore more coordinated management to address competition across health systems.

...Clinical practice guidelines: accelerating the development and adoption of best clinical and surgical practice guidelines so that all Canadians benefit from up-to-date practices.

It is expected that the chairs and provincial/territorial health ministers will meet at least two times prior to reporting progress in July.

Butt out for good, with help from your pharmacist

2012-01-16T06:42:00.000-08:00

Many Ontario pharmacists now certified to provide smoking cessation counseling

TORONTO, January 14, 2012 /Canada NewsWire/ - As National Non-Smoking Week kicks off tomorrow, the Ontario Pharmacists' Association (OPA) is reminding Ontarians that pharmacists now have an expanded role in helping patients quit smoking.

Eligible patients seeking smoking cessation counseling can now receive this service free-of-charge at many Ontario pharmacies, thanks to a decision made last fall by the Ontario government and based on the recommendations of the Expanding Professional Pharmacy Services Working Group (EPPS).

"The government's decision recognizes pharmacists' medication management expertise and their accessibility, and reinforces the vital role they can play in helping patients manage their health through important steps such as quitting smoking," said Darryl Moore, Chair, Ontario Pharmacists' Association. "This is something the Association has been advocating for over the last several years."

Since smoking is the country's leading preventable cause of death, and more than 45,000 Canadians die from tobacco-related causes each year, "smoking cessation is the most powerful and cost-effective intervention pharmacists can provide," Moore said.

Smoking cessation services are available to all Ontario Drug Benefit recipients free of charge. Based on the needs of the patient, services can include a readiness assessment, a consultation meeting and a series of follow-up sessions over a one-year period. Pharmacists can schedule appointments that fit the needs of their patients and will guide them through the process, which can include developing a personalized quit plan, recommendations for over-the-counter medications or a referral to a physician for a prescription medication if required, practical counseling on issues such as identifying smoking triggers and how to manage cravings, and regular check-ins to discuss issues such as adherence, effectiveness and any side effects.

Since September, more than 1,700 Ontario pharmacists have registered for OPA's smoking-cessation education program, and stop-smoking support is being provided to patients across the province.

Tobacco has an impact on medication effectiveness

"Of all healthcare professionals, pharmacists have the greatest number of touch points with patients and caregivers. We answer questions, conduct MedsCheck appointments and dispense and counsel on prescription and over-the-counter medications," said Moore. "This gives us countless opportunities to speak with patients about smoking cessation. And as experts in medication management, we are trained to talk to patients about smoking so that we can properly monitor drug therapy and make adjustments as needed."

While many patients are aware of the long-term health impacts of smoking, many do not realize that smoking also affects the effectiveness of medications. Tobacco affects how the body absorbs, uses, and eliminates certain medications such as insulin, blood thinners or antidepressants. When patients start or stop smoking, medications may need to be adjusted. Pharmacists who provide smoking cessation services can follow up with their patients regularly to determine how they are progressing, provide advice and encouragement, and determine whether any adjustments need to be made.

About Ontario Pharmacists' Association

The Ontario Pharmacists' Association is the professional association that represents the views and interests of more than 12,500 pharmacists and pharmacists-in-training across the province. The Association works to inspire excellence in the profession and practice of pharmacy, and to promote wellness for patients. For more information, visit www.opatoday.com

The Federal Role in the Future of Health & Health Care in Canada

2012-01-14T06:27:00.000-08:00

OTTAWA, January 12, 2012 /Canada NewsWire/ - For Canada to rank among countries with the healthiest populations, we need a broadly shared vision of health and health care, sustained leadership by the federal government, as well as action and accountability on the parts of provincial and territorial governments, health care providers and the public.

This is the main conclusion of the report on the role of the federal government in health and health care that was commissioned by the Health Action Lobby (HEAL) - a coalition representing 34 national health organizations. HEAL is releasing the report in advance of this month's meeting of the Council of the Federation at which Canada's premiers will discuss the future of health and health care.

"This report is an important contribution to understanding the intersection of health policy issues and the potential role of the federal government" said Mr. Glenn Brimacombe, Co-Chair HEAL, and President & CEO of the Association of Canadian Academic Healthcare Organizations, "We welcome the report and HEAL looks forward to discussing its implications in the New Year".

The HEAL report "Functional Federalism and the Future of Medicare in Canada", authored by Mr. Bill Tholl and Mr. Guy Bujold, contains 15 key findings informed by a series of interviews with senior thought leaders in the health system, an on-line survey of members from HEAL and the Canadian Health Leadership Network, and a five-country international literature review (see Appendix A). It identifies a number of specific health policy issues which require effective federal and provincial and territorial government leadership. These include: chronic disease management, home care & long-term care, access and wait times, and mental health.

The report addresses a number of important overarching questions including, what is the appropriate role for the federal government as it relates to health in light of Canada's decentralized health system? What is the best way to manage the interdependence and independence of Canada's jurisdictions when it comes to reform of health care delivery? How accountabilities and authorities for health and health care renewal need to be aligned in the future?

"The future of health and health care is certainly one of, and many would say the most important public policy issue facing federal, provincial and territorial governments. This report is intended to advance the necessary thinking and discussions to address the health challenges we are facing as a nation, and to inform the design and implementation of policies and programs that best meet the evolving health and health care needs of Canadians", said Dr. Karen Cohen Co-Chair HEAL, and CEO of the Canadian Psychological Association.

The full report is available at www.healthactionlobby.ca.

Study finds that treatment of depression can increase work productivity

2012-01-12T05:31:00.000-08:00

TORONTO, January 11, 2012 /Canada NewsWire/ - A new study from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) has found that employees with depression who receive treatment while still working are significantly more likely to be highly productive than those who do not. This is the first study of its kind to look into a possible correlation between treatment and productivity.

The study is particularly significant at a time when the Canadian economy continues to face uncertainty. Mental illness costs the Canadian economy an estimated $51 billion annually, with a third of that attributed to productivity losses.

Published in the current issue of the Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, the study examined data from a large-scale community survey of employed and recently employed people in Alberta.

People who experienced a depressive episode were significantly less likely to be highly productive, the study showed.

"We expected this, as past research has found that depression has adverse effects on comprehension, social participation, and day-to-day-functioning," said Dr. Carolyn Dewa, Head of CAMH's Centre for Research on Employment and Workplace Health and lead author.

"What's exciting is we found that treatment for depression improves work productivity. People who had experienced a moderate depressive episode and received treatment were 2.5 times more likely to be highly productive compared with those who had no treatment," she says. "Likewise, people who experienced severe depression were seven times more likely to be high-performing than those who had no treatment."

Of the 3000 workers looked at in the sample, 8.5 per cent experienced a depressive episode, representing 255 workers.
Though the results showed the effectiveness of treatment on work and performance, the data also showed a troubling trend. "We found that among all study participants who had been diagnosed with a severe depressive episode, 57 per cent did not receive treatment; 40 per cent of those who experienced a moderate depressive episode did not receive treatment," said Dr. Dewa. "When we look at the success of workers in the sample who received treatment while still in the workplace, it really speaks to the importance of prevention and the need for employers to facilitate treatment and support. If people are able to receive treatment early, disability leave, which costs companies $18,000 per leave, may be avoided."

"Stigma and discrimination have often affected people's willingness to access services, as has the lack of knowledge around supports available in the workplace," added Dr. Dewa. "It is crucial that employers offer mental health interventions to their employees and support them in engaging in treatment, as well as continuing to support them as they transition back into the workplace."

The data for this analysis was collected by the Institute for Health Economics, Alberta.

The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) is Canada's largest mental health and addiction teaching hospital, as well as one of the world's leading research centres in the area of addiction and mental health. CAMH combines clinical care, research, education, policy development and health promotion to help transform the lives of people affected by mental health and addiction issues.

CAMH is fully affiliated with the University of Toronto, and is a Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization Collaborating Centre.

Baycrest and ZoomerMedia Limited Launch Strategic Co-Branding and Content Partnership

2012-01-11T07:33:00.000-08:00

Partnership will offer a clinically-validated cognitive screening test for the "worried well" to do at home

Debuts special section about brain health on 50Plus.com

TORONTO, January 10, 2012 /Canada NewsWire/ - Baycrest and ZoomerMedia Limited have formed a new strategic co-branding and content partnership to inform and educate the public about the latest science on aging well, including brain health. Baycrest, a global leader in developing and providing innovations in aging and brain health, lost no time in tapping into ZoomerMedia's ability to reach Canada's "Zoomer" (45-plus) population. At the 2011 Zoomer Show last October, the partnership unveiled a prototype online self-assessment tool that enables aging adults to assess their thinking skills from the comfort and privacy of their home computer. The ultimate aim of the tool will be to indicate whether the individual is experiencing normal age-related cognitive problems or those possibly indicative of a more severe impairment, such as Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), that requires a visit to their doctor.

Adults experiencing memory problems often delay going to their family doctor because they are unsure whether they have a problem worth investigating. Even a couple of years' delay can waste precious time in catching a brain disease, such as Alzheimer's, at its earliest stage when treatments are most effective.

At the Zoomer Show, Baycrest surveyed consumer interest in the prototype online cognitive screening test. Results confirmed that a majority of people had known a friend or family member with dementia, were very concerned about their own risk of dementia, and would use a confidential online test that could indicate whether they should follow up with their doctor for a medical assessment of their cognitive health.

The cognitive screening tool is scheduled for a market launch in June and will be the first product available from Cogniciti Inc., a for-profit company created by Baycrest and MaRS, Canada's premier innovation centre. The self-administered assessment tool is informed by Baycrest's world-class cognitive science and will test the same areas of cognition, such as memory, attention and problem-solving skills, which a clinician would do with a patient. ZoomerMedia will play an important role in the promotion and distribution of the online test to Canada's 14.5 million Zoomers.

Last November, Baycrest and ZoomerMedia launched a second initiative - "Inside the Lab" - on ZoomerMedia's largest website, 50Plus.com. By drawing on Baycrest's robust library of expert articles on brain health, the latest research breakthroughs, and helpful clinical advice, the new section provides readers with all they need to know about the journey of aging and the best ways to ensure long-term wellness.

The opening lineup of articles includes: "How to get a whole brain workout", "Debunking brain myths: Does size matter?" and "Smart strategies to remember passwords and PINs". New articles will be added on a weekly basis.

"Both Baycrest and ZoomerMedia are committed to improving the health, well-being and autonomy of individuals as they age," said Moses Znaimer, Founder and CEO of ZoomerMedia Limited and President of CARP, the 350,000-member national non-profit organization committed to protecting the interests of Canadians as they age. "Our partnership is a union of two complementary organizations: one, a world-renowned expert in transforming the journey of aging, and the other, a leader in communicating up-to-the-minute information on that subject to the people who are keenest to know it."

"Baycrest is a world-class innovator and a trusted source of information on aging and brain health," said Anthony Melman, Chair of Baycrest's Board of Directors. "Partnering with ZoomerMedia gives Baycrest the opportunity to share knowledge with the influential, powerful and educated 45plus Zoomer population who want the very best information on strategies to improve their journey of aging."

About Baycrest

Baycrest is a global leader in developing and providing innovations in aging and brain health. Headquartered on a 22-acre campus in Toronto and fully affiliated with the University of Toronto, Baycrest provides care to more than 2,500 frail and active seniors every day in outpatient and inpatient programs and residential settings. Baycrest's Centre for Memory and Neurotherapeutics offers clinical and educational programs for memory, dementia and related disorders.

About ZoomerMedia Limited

ZoomerMedia is a multimedia company that serves the 45plus "Zoomer" demographic through television, radio, magazine, internet and trade shows. ZoomerMedia's television properties include; Vision TV, Canada's only multi-faith specialty television service; ONE: the Body, Mind, Spirit and Love Channel, offering programs on exercise, meditation, yoga, natural health and living a planet-friendly lifestyle; Joytv 10 in Vancouver and Joytv 11 in Winnipeg, two over the air conventional stations, available over the air and on cable in their respective markets. ZoomerMedia's radio properties include CFMZ-FM Toronto - The New Classical 96.3FM, CFMX-FM Cobourg - The New Classical 103.1FM, Canada's only commercial classical music radio stations serving the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and eastern Ontario, and CFZM-AM 740 Toronto - The New AM740 Zoomer Radio, the last music service left on the AM dial in the GTA. ZoomerMedia also publishes Zoomer Magazine, the largest paid circulation magazine in Canada for the mature market. ZoomerMedia is Canada's leading provider of online content targeting the 45plus age group through many properties, the key one being 50Plus.com. ZoomerMedia also has a trade show division that conducts the "Zoomer Show", consumer shows directed to the 45plus age group and ideaCity, an annual Canadian conference also known as 'Canada's Premiere Meeting of the Minds'.

Pharmacists regarded as most trusted profession for a second year running!

2012-01-07T06:22:00.000-08:00

VANCOUVER, January 4, 2012 /Canada NewsWire/ - Pharmacists have once again claimed top place in a poll of the most trusted professions in Canada. According to the Ipsos Reid poll, eight in ten (78 per cent) Canadians say they trust pharmacists, scoring them a 5, 6, or 7 on a trust scale of 1 to 7.

"We already know how many people rely on their community pharmacist," said CEO of BC Pharmacy Association, Marnie Mitchell. "This poll confirms that patients trust their pharmacist to provide the expert advice and guidance needed to help them manage their health."

The poll, which was conducted for the first time in 2010, tested a total of 26 professions. In both years, pharmacists placed at the top of the list. In the latest poll, they are followed by doctors (75 per cent ), Canadian soldiers (74 per cent ), airline pilots (73 per cent ) and teachers (65 per cent ).

"Recent years have seen pharmacy evolve in a way that has had a real impact on patients," added Mitchell.

"From providing advice on managing medications, to giving flu shots and renewing prescriptions, patients are finding that their pharmacist plays a crucial role in their health and the health of their family. This is one of the reasons why pharmacists continue to be the most trusted profession."

BC Pharmacy Association is a not-for-profit, professional association which represents more than 2,600 pharmacists and 800 pharmacies throughout British Columbia.

The Ipsos Reid poll was conducted between December 14 and 19, 2011, on behalf of Postmedia News and Global Television. For more information visit www.ipsos.ca

Canadian Cancer Society's Top 10 Breakthroughs of 2011

2012-01-04T06:14:00.001-08:00

Society funded teams are changing the landscape of cancer research

TORONTO, January 3, 2012 /Canada NewsWire/ - The Canadian Cancer Society is proud to announce its top 10 breakthroughs of 2011. This list of accomplishments showcases how researchers funded by the Society continue to lead the way in advances that will reduce the number of Canadians diagnosed with and dying from cancer, and improve the quality of life for people living with and beyond cancer. Due to progress in cancer research, over 60 per cent of Canadians diagnosed with cancer will survive, compared with only 25 per cent when the Society began funding research in the 1940s.

"2011 has been a very exciting year for cancer research," said Sarah Bouma, Senior Manager, Research, Canadian Cancer Society, Ontario Division. "Society funded researchers have made tremendous gains, particularly in clinical trials. Research advances in Ontario and across the country are impacting the lives of people living with cancer, their families and caregivers."

Story highlights include:

...A landmark clinical trial of a new way to prevent breast cancer.

...A Toronto protocol that gives 100% survival for families with a specific hereditary cancer.

...The discovery of a human blood stem cell that could end the search for bone marrow.

...A new imaging method that could detect lung cancer with more accuracy.

...A clinical trial that has found that men with prostate cancer can take a drug 'holiday'.

...The development of tumour-killing nanoparticles.

The top 10 breakthroughs are available at http://files.newswire.ca/1012/top10breakthroughs.pdf.

In addition to the top 10 breakthroughs, seven scientists funded by the Society received major national awards recognizing their research achievements. Of those seven, three researchers were elected by their peers to the Royal Society of Canada, one of the highest honours a scholar can receive in the arts, humanities and sciences in this country.

"We have made great progress, but there's much more to be done," added Bouma. "Each day with the help of our donors, we are fighting cancer from all angles including prevention, earlier detection, improved treatments and quality of life."

The Canadian Cancer Society is a national community-based organization of volunteers whose mission is the eradication of cancer and the enhancement of the quality of life of people living with cancer. When you want to know more about cancer, visit our website www.cancer.ca or call our toll-free, bilingual Cancer Information Service at 1-888-939-3333.

It's common for Canadians to hold on to unwanted holiday gifts for up to five years

2011-12-24T06:17:00.000-08:00

Canadians may hold on to more than five million unwanted gifts this year

TORONTO, December 23, 2011 /Canada NewsWire/ - New research reveals that, based on past behaviour, 75 per cent of Canadians may hold on to their unwanted holiday gifts this season - considered a burden by most - even though they are comfortable with the idea of re-gifting. In fact, compared with last year, more Canadians think re-gifting is acceptable (55 per cent versus 47 per cent) once the presents are unwrapped.

So what's causing Canadians to hold on? According to the annual research commissioned by Canada's largest online classifieds site, Kijiji.ca, nearly half of Canadians continue to hold on to unwanted holiday gifts out of guilt and shame. In fact, a comparison with 2010 data reveals that one third of Canadians feel guilty about not keeping an unwanted gift and slightly less (two-in-10) would be ashamed to admit to the gift giver that they gave away or sold their present.

"Canadians continue to let their emotions get in the way," said Allyson Smith, a comedian and Kijiji Canada's gift-giving therapist. "We're too concerned about the gift giver's feelings. Our research shows many of us will go to extreme lengths to pretend we like a gift by displaying it every time the gift giver is present, sending a photo of the gift being used to the gift giver, and even buying a similar item for the gift giver to show our appreciation."

Most commonly, Canadians hold on to unwanted gifts for up to five years before getting rid of them. However, Canadians are quick to admit that if the gift giver never found out, they'd ideally exchange the item, re-gift or re-sell it, or give it to charity. Only eight per cent of Canadians would still store the item but never use it.

"It's a fact that the overwhelming majority of Canadians have never been caught giving away an unwanted holiday gift," added Smith. "At the end of the day, not using the unwanted gift is simply worse than giving it away or selling it."

With more than 60 per cent of Canadians indicating that they could use some extra cash after the holidays to pay off their debts, there's even less reason to hold on. Selling the unwanted gift also means the gift giver's money doesn't go to waste, according to nearly 6-in-10 Canadians.

The survey revealed some other interesting information about holiday gifting:

...The most common characteristics of a bad holiday gift are based on the recipient's personal taste. Some of the most common items include clothing, like a sweater in the wrong size, and home accessories, including a toaster and a vase, that can easily be sold for cash.

...Nearly two-in-10 Canadians have considered giving an unwanted gift back to the gift giver.

...The majority of Canadians (56 per cent) say that unwanted holiday gifts become a burden after the holidays are over.

...When it comes to immediate family, in-laws tend to be the worst gift givers.

When it comes time to let go of unwanted holiday gifts, Canadians should visit www.kijiji.ca to get started.

Methodology

These are some of the findings of an Ipsos Reid poll conducted between December 20 and 21 on behalf of Kijiji. For this survey, a sample of 1,007 adults from Ipsos' Canadian online panel was interviewed online. Weighting was then employed to balance demographics and ensure that the sample's composition reflects that of the adult population according to Census data and to provide results intended to approximate the sample universe. A survey with an unweighted probability sample of this size and a 100% response rate would have an estimated margin of error of +/- 3.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20, of what the results would have been had the entire population of adults in Canada been polled.

About Kijiji Canada

Kijiji, which means "village" in Swahili, is the number one classifieds site in Canada, connecting ten-million buyers and sellers each month. Kijiji.ca offers Canadians a free, easy, and local way to buy, sell, and trade goods and services in their community. With local sites for more than 100 cities and towns across the country, Kijiji makes it easy for Canadians to find exactly what they're looking for in their own community. Kijiji Canada is part of the eBay Classifieds Group, the global leader in online classifieds with a global presence in more than 20 countries and 1,000 cities.

Government of Canada Adds 41 Hazardous Substances to Emergency Regulations

2011-12-22T06:47:00.000-08:00

OTTAWA, December 21, 2011 /Canada NewsWire/ - Canada's Environment Minister, the Honourable Peter Kent, today announced the addition of 41 unique substances to the Environmental Emergency Regulations. The substances include styrene, an explosive chemical used to make polystyrene plastic containers, and ammonium nitrate, a fertilizer.

"The Government of Canada continues to meet its commitment to protect Canadians and safeguard our environment," said Minister Kent. "These amendments to the Environmental Emergency Regulations will further protect Canadians where it matters most: at work, in their homes and in their communities."

Thirty-three substances in use in Canadian commerce, in several physical states, and some substances classed in their different forms are now added to the Environmental Emergency Regulations, for a total of 41 unique listed additions.

Facilities that handle these 41 listed substances at or above regulated quantities are required to develop environmental emergency (E2) plans, if they are not already in place.

E2 plans require that individuals and industrial facilities using or storing regulated hazardous substances listed in the regulations have plans for and can manage the consequences of an unintended release of the substance into the environment.

The amendments include an exemption that reduces administrative burdens for some facilities in the propane gas sector. Facilities with propane in storage containers are excluded from the E2 regulations if their storage containers of less than 10 tonnes are located at least 360 metres from their property boundaries.

Other uses of propane are already controlled under the existing Environmental Emergency Regulations.

The complete list of substance and details of the amendments to the Environmental Emergency Regulations can be found here.

Health & Safety Watch - Button batteries pose a serious hazard to children and the elderly

2011-12-20T08:31:00.000-08:00

Severe injury can occur within 2 hours of ingestion

December 19, 2011 - Health & Safety Watch - Button batteries pose a serious hazard to children and the elderly - Should be treated as an emergency

Health Canada and other health authorities report that cases of people swallowing button batteries reported to manufacturers and health officials that result in serious internal injury and death are on the rise. These small disc-shaped button batteries store lots of energy in a tiny space. They are commonly found in a wide range of products around the home that children have access to, such as remote controls, musical greeting cards, watches, calculators, flashing jewellery and shoes, key fobs, books, and other small electronic devices.

The size, shape and energy storage properties of button batteries make them hazardous if swallowed. A swallowed button battery can block an airway or can cause serious internal chemical burns in the oesophagus in as little as two hours. The 20 to 25 mm diameter lithium button batteries result in the most serious injuries, especially where young children are involved. In cases of swallowing, the batteries were found loose on the floor by young children, in garbage bins, or on countertops, taken directly from a package, or removed from household products. Even adults, particularly seniors, have unintentionally confused button batteries with pills or food and been injured.

Children who swallow "button" batteries, commonly found in toys and consumer products around the home, can suffer internal injuries within two hours of ingesting one, according to a recent U.S. study.

A review of button battery safety by the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority summarizes the risks and provides parents and caregivers with advice on what to do if a child swallows a battery or places one in the ear or nose, and how to best protect children from small batteries. Highlights of the WRHA article and the original US study are provided here.

A U.S. study reported that in the past 18 years there have been over 8,500 cases reported to the American Battery Ingestion Hotline, with 73 cases of serious injuries from battery ingestion and 13 deaths. Sixty-two percent of these cases occurred in children who were younger than 6 years of age. Injuries (e.g., severe burns, esophageal stenosis, bilateral vocal cord paralysis) occurred as soon as 2 hours after ingestion. The study also found that at least 27% of serious outcomes and 54% of fatal cases were initially misdiagnosed, usually because of nonspecific presentation.

[Foreign body lodged in oesophagus] Injuries typically occur when a battery becomes stuck in a child's oesophagus. Once lodged, the battery can create an electrical current that burns the surrounding tissue. Children have also put small batteries in their noses and ears. This can also cause a burn and so they need to have the battery removed immediately. Button batteries that are not removed and remain in the oesophagus can cause burns and even perforation of tissues, causing life-threatening and sometimes fatal injuries. Depending on where the battery is lodged, it may be removed either using a scope or surgery.

"Our advice is to go immediately to go to Emergency and have an X-ray taken. If the battery is in the oesophagus, it needs to be removed as soon as possible," says Dr. Lynne Warda, a medical consultant with Impact, the Winnipeg Health Region's Injury Prevention Program.

Button batteries do not all pose equal risk. The smaller batteries may be ingested and passed without a person knowing it. It's the bigger ones that are more likely to become lodged and cause permanent tissue damage - or even death.

Parents are encouraged to look for toys that help protect children from batteries by having a compartment for the battery that may only be accessed with a tool or screwdriver. But button batteries are everywhere. A glance around your house will show the common ways they may be found, in household products like remote controls, garage door openers, cameras, calculators, key chains, jewellery with flashing lights and even greeting cards. And they're much easier to access in these types of products.

With the elderly, poor vision may contribute to mistaking the button batteries for other objects - a hearing aid, medication or food, for example. A surprising 15% of people who ingested a button battery mistook it for a pill, according to a US study. There are accidental reasons adults may ingest button batteries - using your mouth to hold a battery, putting the battery in a glass that you drink out of before properly disposing of it and drinking from the glass to name a few. Store button batteries away from food and medicine. Take care when changing the button batteries in a product that they do not get mixed in with any pills, medicine or food. Realize that to anyone with poor eyesight, button batteries look just like pills or candy.

...read more story at Health and Safety Watch

Vision loss the most feared complication of diabetes, patient poll reveals

2011-12-19T06:30:00.000-08:00

About 70,000 Canadians affected by vision loss resulting from diabetic macular edema

DORVAL, Quebec, December 19, 2011 /Canada NewsWire Telbec/ - A new poll of persons with diabetes across Canada shows that vision loss is the most feared complication of the disease.

The poll found that almost half (46%) of persons with prediabetes or diabetes feared vision loss the most as a complication of their disease. This was more than twice as many (21%) who said they feared losing limbs and three times as high as the 15% who said they most feared cardiovascular complications.

Most Canadians, 84%, are aware that vision loss can be a complication of diabetes. The poll also found that 78% of Canadians consider themselves very or somewhat familiar with the disease and 70% say they either have or know someone with prediabetes or diabetes. Four in 10 Canadians (40%) say they are very or moderately concerned they will develop diabetes, but this ranges from three in 10 (30%) in British Columbia to nearly half (49%) in Quebec. Ontario is close to the national average at 39%.

Vision loss is an important complication of diabetes because of the impact of the disease on the small blood vessels at the back of the eye. Longtime, elevated blood sugar levels can result in fluid leaking from these vessels in the macula at the back of the eye which is responsible for central vision. The fluid causes swelling, referred to as diabetic macular edema (DME) which can result in steadily deteriorating vision over time. It is estimated that vision loss resulting from DME affects approximately 70,000 Canadians, making it one of the major causes of adult-onset vision loss.

"Ophthalmologists previously used laser to treat DME to reduce the vision loss," said Dr. David Wong, a retina specialist at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto. "The newer treatment that's been approved by Health Canada is different from the older treatment in that it is a needle injected into the eye and it is effective in stabilizing and improving vision in diabetic macular edema."

A patient who has recently received the new treatment for vision loss from DME is Kashiram Joshi, who lives in the Toronto region. Diagnosed with diabetes in 1994, several years ago he started having troubles with blurry vision, which continued even after cataract surgery, until he received the new treatment.

"I noticed an improvement after the first injection, and it's kept on getting better," he said. "I had given up reading, except for short times with a magnifying glass. Now my eyesight is almost 20/20 and I read and do everything else without a problem. The difference is like night and day."

The key to preventing such vision loss in diabetes is getting an early diagnosis of the disease and ensuring treatment brings blood sugar levels under control, added Dr. Wong.

"Patients with diabetes or at risk of getting diabetes should control their blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol and live an active normal healthy lifestyle to reduce the risk of diabetic complications."

About diabetic macular edema

Diabetes prevalence in Canada is growing at epidemic levels. Currently, one in four Canadians have diabetes or prediabetes and if trends continue this will rise to one in three by 2020.

DME is a common complication of diabetic retinopathy, which is caused by damage to the blood vessels of the retina and is the leading cause of vision loss in working-aged adults in the developed world. In people with diabetes, elevated blood sugar levels can lead to problems with the blood circulatory system. These problems can result in symptoms in various areas of the body, such as extremities, but also including the small blood vessels in the retina of the eye. These vessels then leak, which causes swelling (edema) of the macula, the centre of the retina responsible for sharp and straight ahead vision. Therefore, DME can lead to significant visual impairment.

The first symptoms of DME are most often "floaters" or spots in the line of vision, then blurry vision. DME usually progresses slowly with worsening symptoms and is a lifelong condition. DME with visual impairment affects 2.6% of diabetics in Canada.

The Vision Critical / Angus Reid Forum poll

From Nov. 15 to 16, 2011, an online survey was conducted among 2,215 randomly selected Canadian adults, including 168 individuals with diabetes or prediabetes, who are Angus Reid Forum panelists. The margin of error for the whole sample, which measures sampling variability, is +/- 2.08% 19 times out of 20. The results were statistically weighted according to the most current education, age, gender and region census data to ensure a sample representative of the entire adult population of Canada.

Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc.

Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc., a leader in the healthcare field, is committed to the discovery, development and marketing of innovative products to improve the well-being of all Canadians. In 2010, the company invested close to $100 million in research and development in Canada. Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc. employs more than 600 people in Canada. It was named for the seventh time as one of the "50 Best Employers in Canada" for 2011. For further information, please consult www.novartis.ca.

Disclaimer
The foregoing release contains forward-looking statements that can be identified by terminology such as "can," "commitment," "potentially," "ongoing," "will," or similar expressions, or by express or implied discussions regarding potential approvals to sell Lucentis* in additional markets or regarding potential future revenues from Lucentis* You should not place undue reliance on these statements. Such forward-looking statements reflect the current views of management regarding future events, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results with Lucentis* to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. There can be no guarantee that Lucentis* will be approved for sale in any additional markets. Nor can there be any guarantee that Lucentis* will achieve any particular levels of revenue in the future. In particular, management's expectations regarding Lucentis* could be affected by, among other things, unexpected regulatory actions or delays or government regulation generally; unexpected clinical trial results, including unexpected new clinical data and unexpected additional analysis of existing clinical data; competition in general; government, industry and general public pricing pressures; the company's ability to obtain or maintain patent or other proprietary intellectual property protection; the impact that the foregoing factors could have on the values attributed to the Novartis Group's assets and liabilities as recorded in the Group's consolidated balance sheet, and other risks and factors referred to in Novartis AG's current Form 20-F on file with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. Novartis is providing the information in this press release as of this date and does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this press release as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Are you protected?

2011-12-12T12:55:00.000-08:00

New survey shows that adult Canadians are unaware of how vaccines can help protect against serious diseases

TORONTO, December 12, 2011 /Canada NewsWire/ - A new survey conducted by Angus Reid Public Opinion, a division of Vision Critical, reveals that adult vaccinations are not on the radar of most Canadians and that many Canadians are unaware that some serious diseases can be prevented through routine adult vaccinations. Despite the benefits of vaccines for the good of society, only about half of those surveyed (55%) feel that it is critical to keep up-to-date with their vaccinations and even less (46%) feel vaccines are as important as diet and exercise in maintaining their overall health.1

"Parents are advised of the benefits of vaccinations for their children, but adults don't generally think about vaccines for themselves," says Dr. Vivien Brown, family physician from the University of Toronto. "Adults, especially individuals over 65, or those who have underlying medical conditions, should consider vaccinations as an important component of their overall health management, alongside diet and exercise."

According to the Canada-wide survey, very few (16%) of Canadians aged 45 to 74 feel that they know a lot about adult vaccination and only two-in-five (41%) report ever speaking with a doctor about them. Even more astonishing is that when asked about pneumococcal disease, almost half of Canadians surveyed don't know what adult vaccines they need to protect themselves against this disease, despite how serious it is.2

"I am 65 and I have had pneumococcal pneumonia several times," says Deborah Douglas, patient from Toronto, Ontario. "Two winters ago I was deathly ill and was hospitalized for weeks with pneumonia. This was the first time I had heard of this disease - I had no idea I was at risk because of age and my diagnosed weak immune system. I was not aware there were adult vaccines options to help protect me."

The most common form of pneumococcal disease in adults is pneumonia. In Canada, pneumonia and influenza were the eighth leading cause of death in 2006, according to Statistics Canada. Not surprising, only 55 per cent of Canadians surveyed knew that pneumococcal disease is a serious illness that can cause hospitalization and death, 67 per cent5 reported that they had not been or were unsure if they had been vaccinated against pneumococcal disease, and 29 per cent reported that they had never heard of the disease. Lack of familiarity with the vaccine (49%) is the most commonly reported reason for not getting vaccinated among those who have not been vaccinated against pneumococcal disease.6 The seasonal flu and H1N1 vaccines do not protect Canadians against pneumococcal disease. Confusion is common since it is not always clear what these vaccines protect you against.

Being able to diagnose and treat pneumococcal disease quickly will help reduce the severity, duration and potential long-term complications. The signs and symptoms of pneumococcal disease vary depending on severity and can include; fever, shaking, chills, headache, productive cough, muscle pain and weakness.7

"Although pneumococcal disease can affect people at any age, older adults and children have a higher risk of contracting the disease than others," says Dr. Brown. "If you are 65 years of age or older, or have underlying medical conditions, such as a suppressed immune system due to treatment or illness, chronic heart, liver or kidney disease, or diabetes, speak to your doctor about pneumococcal disease vaccination and other adult vaccines that are right for you."

While vaccines are an important element that works with your immune system to help ensure serious diseases are prevented; many people are not aware that childhood immunization does not provide lifelong immunity against some diseases, such as pneumococcal disease (pneumonia, meningitis, sepsis, bacteraemia).

Vaccination can help prevent pneumococcal disease; however, it is also important to live a healthy lifestyle, especially as you get older. Below are some tips that can help you live life to its fullest:

...Eat well.
...Be active and include others in your activities.
...Get enough sleep.
...Don't forget to take your medication(s) regularly.
...Talk to your doctor on a regular basis and don't skip your check-ups.
...Talk to your loved ones or caregiver about how you're feeling. It's important to let others know if you aren't feeling well. They can help determine if you need to seek medical advice.

Alzheimer Society Of Ontario Welcomes Proposed Caregiver Leave Legislation

2011-12-10T06:13:00.000-08:00

Number of family caregivers to increase with dementia prevalence

TORONTO, December 8, 2011 /Canada NewsWire/ - The Alzheimer Society of Ontario applauds the Ontario Government's introduction of legislation to create a Family Caregiver Leave as announced today by Minister of Labour Linda Jeffrey and Minister of Health and Long-term Care Deb Matthews.

"Today's legislation, if passed, would be a welcome solution for many caregivers and families living with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias," says David Harvey, Chief Public Policy and Program Initiatives Officer at the Alzheimer Society of Ontario.

Ontarians with dementia will require more and complex care as the number of cases increase by 40 per cent in the next 10 years. The responsibility of care falls largely on the shoulders of family members who will provide 144 million hours of unpaid care per year by 2020. Many caregivers are forced to give up their jobs to care for someone full time at home or develop health issues as a result of the pressures of caregiving.

"The Alzheimer Society has been working diligently with all political parties on behalf of caregiver rights," adds Harvey. "Today's announcement is a positive step towards strengthening caregiver support but other measures such as flexible respite and non-refundable tax credits would further ease the burden."

In a 2009 caregiver poll conducted by the Alzheimer Society, 62 per cent of respondents said direct payments and tax credits would best help reduce some of the financial burden and other challenges they face in their role.

Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia. It is fatal brain disorder that impairs memory, language and day-to-day function. As the disease progresses, the person diagnosed will require 24-hour care.

While dementia is not a natural part of aging, age remains the biggest risk factor. After 65, the risk doubles every five years. According to Statistics Canada, 9.6 million Canadians will be at least 65 by 2029.

The Alzheimer Society of Ontario is the province's leading care and research charity committed to helping people with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. With a network of 38 local Societies, it offers Help for Today through programs and services and Hope for Tomorrow…® by funding research to find the cause and the cure.

First Ever Blood Glucose Meter to Help Patients Identify Blood Glucose Patterns On-Screen

2011-12-07T07:11:00.000-08:00

Now Available in Canada:

BURNABY, British Columbia, December 6, 2011 /Canada NewsWire/ - Research indicates that the majority of patients on insulin self-report not achieving glycemic control. While regular self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) is an integral part of diabetes management, obtaining a single reading helps people using insulin make adjustments in the moment and does not help them identify trouble spots over time. Pattern management is a key practice that helps people living with diabetes - especially those taking insulin - identify these trouble spots, interpret, and act on high and low blood glucose patterns to make more informed adjustments and achieve better control. Canadians living with diabetes can now feel empowered to easily spot high and low blood glucose patterns with the new OneTouch® Verio™IQ System, now available in Canada. This features the first meter ever with PatternAlert™ Technology that looks for patterns of highs and lows and provides alerts right on screen, when it finds them.

The OneTouch® Verio™IQ System includes the Test Smart® Pattern Guide, a quick reference tool to help people living with diabetes interpret and resolve high and low patterns.

"Patterns in blood glucose control can be identified when three or more tests are done at the same time of day over several days. It is particularly important to address blood glucose patterns that are above or below target as these patterns identify areas of concern that need to be addressed," says Lori Berard, RN, CDE, Winnipeg Regional Health Authority, Health Science Centre Winnipeg, Diabetes Research Group. "The new OneTouch® Verio™IQ System now affords people living with diabetes - especially those taking insulin - the ability to easily identify their blood glucose patterns and will also provide guidance on what actions can be taken to enhance their glucose control."

The new OneTouch® Verio™IQ System works exclusively with OneTouch® Verio Gold Test Strips with SmartScan™ Technology. The meter also features a colour LCD screen with large, easy to read numbers and strip port light and automatic backlight for testing in the dark.

People living with diabetes can find out more about the new OneTouch® Verio™IQ System by talking to their pharmacist or healthcare professional and by visiting www.OneTouch.ca.

About LifeScan Canada Ltd.

LifeScan, the manufacturer of OneTouch® blood glucose monitoring products, is dedicated to creating a world without limits for people with diabetes. For information about diabetes care and OneTouch® products and services, visit www.OneTouch.ca.

Canadians want strategic approach based on common principles to improve health care

2011-12-03T05:57:00.000-08:00

OTTAWA, December 1, 2011 /Canada NewsWire/ - The results of a new public opinion poll conducted for the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) show overwhelming support (85%) for inclusion of the principles developed by the Canadians Nurses Association (CNA) and the CMA in discussions around a new agreement between federal and provincial/territorial governments on health care.

The CMA and the CNA together have defined a set of principles to guide health care transformation in Canada (www.cma.ca/advocacy/hctprinciples). To date, over 60 organizations have endorsed the principles, the goal of which is to guide the discussions that will lead up to a new health care accord between federal, provincial and territorial governments. The principles outline direction for the creation of a high quality, patient-centred health care system that is universal, equitable and sustainable.

"Governments have begun negotiations in advance of the looming end of the 2004 health accord and Canadians clearly support using the CMA/CNA principles to guide those discussions," said Dr. John Haggie, CMA President.

Further poll results show that over three-quarters (76%) of Canadians identify improving health care as the number one priority for the federal government, ahead of issues such as reducing the national debt and deficit (62%) and reducing taxes (45%). Among other findings, a strong majority (77%) of Canadians supported the creation of a national aging strategy to address the needs of our aging population through increased support for home care and long-term care services.

"We know that 80% of the disease burden in Canada right now is chronic disease management and right now our acute services-focused health care system can't adequately meet those needs because it was not designed to do provide that sort of care," said Dr. Haggie. "Transforming health care is about doing things better - better for patients; better for quality; better for the sustainability of our system."

The Ekos Research Associates survey findings are the result of a nationally representative telephone survey of 1,001 Canadians 18 years of age and older. The margin of error for a sample of this size is +/- 3.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.

The Canadian Medical Association (CMA) is the national voice of Canadian physicians. Founded in 1867, CMA's mission is to serve and unite the physicians of Canada and be the national advocate, in partnership with the people of Canada, for the highest standards of health and health care. The CMA is a voluntary professional organization representing over 76,000 of Canada's physicians and comprising 12 provincial and territorial medical associations and 51 national medical organizations.

The baby boom effect: caring for Canada's aging population

2011-12-01T14:01:00.000-08:00

New report examines how seniors use the health system and where improvements can be made

OTTAWA, December 1, 2011 /Canada NewsWire/ - As the baby boom generation begins to turn 65 this year, the aging of Canada's population will accelerate. As a result, the health care system will need to adapt to meet the future needs of a growing senior population, according to a new report released today by the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI). Health Care in Canada, 2011: A Focus on Seniors and Aging shows that, while Canada's seniors (age 65 and older) are living longer and are healthier than ever, they are frequent users of the health system, costing more than any other segment of the population. Representing just 14% of the population, seniors use 40% of hospital services in Canada and account for about 45% of all provincial and territorial government health spending.

"Although the impact of population aging on health costs has remained relatively stable over time, health care planners and providers are rightfully looking at ways to meet the needs of a growing senior population," says John Wright, CIHI's President and CEO. "The number of Canadians age 65 and older is expected to nearly double to 25% of the population by 2036. Understanding where gaps exist and where efforts can be concentrated will help ensure that the system remains strong and efficient for Canadians of all ages."

CIHI's report identifies opportunities for the health system to meet these changing needs, including improved integration across the health care continuum, an increased focus on prevention and more efficient adoption and use of new technologies.

Improved integration across the health care continuum

Canada's seniors often require care from different providers across various settings, including a family doctor's office, a specialty clinic, a home care service, a pharmacy, a hospital and/or a long-term care facility. However, the study identifies gaps in the continuity of seniors' care.

As with Canadians of all ages, seniors who become acutely ill may require care in hospital, where they could encounter issues related to patient flow and appropriateness of care. Seniors who arrive at the hospital may first make contact with the emergency department, where they are likely to stay longer than non-senior adults do. CIHI's report shows that seniors spend more time in emergency departments than their younger counterparts before being admitted to hospital (3.7 hours compared with 2.7 hours in 2009-2010).

Also related to patient flow for hospitalized patients is alternate level of care (ALC) stays. Patients are considered ALC patients when they have completed the acute care phase of their treatment but remain in an acute care bed. Seniors account for 85% of all ALC patients—approximately 85,000 cases a year. CIHI data shows that nearly half of all senior ALC patients (47%) were waiting to be moved to a long-term care facility.

"Our health system can no longer afford to operate in silos. Ensuring continuity of care across the continuum will not only lead to a more efficient use of resources, it can potentially lead to better care and in turn better quality of life," explains health policy researcher Marcus Hollander. "This is particularly important in the senior population, because they receive care from many different care providers in various settings."

The study also highlights the fact that improved integration can help promote safe and appropriate drug use in seniors. Many Canadian seniors take several prescription drugs, and the number of seniors taking multiple drugs is on the rise. In 2009, almost two out of three (63%) Canadians age 65 and older took 5 or more prescription drugs from different drug classes, with close to one-quarter (23%) taking 10 or more—up from 59% and 20%, respectively, in 2002.

It is not only the number of different medications, but also the specific medications seniors are taking that present challenges. CIHI data shows that, in 2009, 1 out of 10 Canadian seniors was taking a drug from the Beers list, an internationally recognized list of prescription drugs identified as potentially inappropriate for use by seniors. The use of these drugs has declined over the past decade. Seniors also take more over-the-counter medications and vitamins or other supplements than any other age group, possibly adding to the risks associated with multiple medications.

"As medications may be prescribed by different health care providers, without an accurate account of current treatments, seniors can be at increased risk of potential interactions or adverse events," explains Dr. Pamela Jarrett, a geriatrician in New Brunswick. "While all health care providers do their best to ensure seniors are not taking medications that may negatively interact with each other, regular medication reviews with their family doctors or pharmacists can help reduce the risk of medication interactions."

John Wright explains:

"Team-based approaches to delivering primary care may help ensure seniors are receiving appropriate care. Physicians and pharmacists working together in the same practice can lead to increased communication on prescribing and lower the risk of a senior experiencing adverse drug interactions or side effects."

An increased focus on prevention

Multiple chronic conditions—more than age—are associated with high use of the health care system. As the risk of developing chronic conditions increases with age (76% of seniors reported at least 1 of 11 major chronic conditions in 2008), prevention plays a key role in healthy aging, both to manage existing chronic conditions and to delay or prevent the onset of new ones.

Research shows that good primary health care in the community can help patients with chronic conditions—such as asthma, congestive heart failure or diabetes—avoid costly hospital admissions. The report estimates that 1 out of every 11 emergency department visits by seniors is for a chronic condition that can potentially be managed in the community. Of these seniors, nearly half (47%) are hospitalized.

Many health professionals may have a role in supporting and promoting prevention strategies. Family physicians often act as an initial contact, and although 95% of Canadian seniors have access to a family physician, some reported challenges accessing primary care. In 2009, less than half could get same- or next-day appointments, and more than one-third (34%) reported waiting six or more days for an appointment. This could result in potentially avoidable visits to emergency departments or walk-in clinics for care.

Seniors also visit other primary health care providers—such as psychiatrists, social workers and dentists—less often than younger adults, potentially reducing the amount of preventive care received. In 2008-2009, nearly half (44%) of Canada's seniors had not had a dental check-up in the previous year. Studies have shown that poor oral care can contribute to poor health in older age, affecting nutrition, body weight and the progression of many diseases.

Preventing falls is another important strategy to keep seniors healthy. Falls are the leading cause of injury hospitalization among seniors, accounting for 9% of all emergency department visits and almost 80,000 hospital admissions in 2009-2010. The study highlights an opportunity to prevent falls in several settings across the continuum of care. About 1 out of 14 (7%) seniors hospitalized in complex continuing care beds fell within a month of assessment, compared with about 1 out of 8 (12%) in residential care facilities. More than one-quarter (28%) of seniors receiving home care services experience a fall within 90 days of assessment.

Efficient use of new health technologies

The use of new health innovations and technologies can help ensure that seniors are receiving appropriate care. For example, widespread adoption of electronic health records could facilitate physician decision-making by ensuring access to complete information on patients' medical conditions and medications.

The vast majority (93%) of Canadian seniors live at home—and technological advances can allow them to stay at home for longer. For example, for seniors receiving home care services, a medication monitoring system equipped with a sensor-trigger system allows family members to monitor which medications were taken when from anywhere in the world.

"We know that the growing proportion of seniors in Canada's population is going to impact the health care system," says Jean-Marie Berthelot, CIHI's Vice President of Programs. "Collecting more comparable data, on a variety of settings across the care continuum, can help policy-makers identify and understand key issues across sectors of care and ultimately better plan and prepare for the future."

The report is available on their website at www.cihi.ca.

Blowing the lid off your winter emergency kit

2011-11-30T08:22:00.000-08:00

24 HOUR CHALLENGE VIDEO SERIES

TORONTO, November 29, 2011 /Canada NewsWire/ - There are lots of winter driving tips out there and lists of what every Canadian should pack in his or her vehicle. But here is the ultimate Canadian winter question: If you were stuck in your vehicle this winter, is your emergency kit going to work and will it really save you?

Young Drivers of Canada Instructor Rachel Hesson-Bolton was stuck in her vehicle on a cold winter's night. This is the scenario we all hope we will never get into. When you're freezing cold and it's dark, that's not the time you want to be reading instructions. The 24 Hour Challenge Video Series shows Rachel testing the items in her kit with mixed results. Great you have water in your kit, but it's -16°C and your water is frozen. How should you pack your water? Should you leave the mitts out of your kit and just depend on hand warmers? We'll cover that. What is the #1 tool Rachel found you must have in your emergency kit?

When the 24 hours is all said and done, Rachel gives us 15 episodes on the real goods of what should go in the emergency kit and why. And it will all fit in your vehicle. Promise.

Young Drivers of Canada talks about the importance of being prepared for winter driving. Now we put our emergency kit to the ultimate test and we want to share our results with you.

There are 15 episodes in the 24 HOUR CHALLENGE video series. Watch. Learn. Laugh. Prepare.

The full video series will launch December 1st in honour of Safe Driving Week on the Young Drivers of Canada website www.yd.com

Public transit ridership shows impressive increase in first half of 2011: CUTA

2011-11-29T10:51:00.000-08:00

TORONTO, November 29, 2011 /Canada NewsWire/ - Canadian public transit ridership statistics for the first six months of 2011 show an increase of 4.93% as compared to the same January to June period in the previous year, according to the Canadian Urban Transit Association.

"This ridership growth is impressive and shows a strong demand for service," says CUTA President and CEO Michael Roschlau. "Improvements to increase the capacity and the quality of service are having a notable impact."

This rise in Canadian transit ridership represents an addition of just over 45 million new trips taken by Canadians on public transit in the six month period, a trend that builds on the growth of previous decades.

"Canadians are benefitting from service improvements as a result of increased investment, and are choosing transit more often," says CUTA Chair John King. "It demonstrates clearly that an increasing number of Canadians want to use transit as their preferred travel choice, but only with a steady continuation of transit investment will future ridership demands be met."

CUTA is the national association representing public transit systems, suppliers to the industry, government agencies, individuals and related organizations in Canada.

For association information, visit: www.cutaactu.ca

$18 Million Gift from Peter and Melanie Munk Builds On Past Support at Peter Munk Cardiac Centre

2011-11-24T07:19:00.000-08:00

Lead gift launches $100 million campaign in support of cardiac care

TORONTO, November 24, 2011 /Canada NewsWire/ - Dr. Robert Bell, President and CEO of University Health Network (UHN), announced today that the Peter and Melanie Munk Charitable Foundation is donating $18 million to the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre at UHN. This new gift brings the total investment by Peter and Melanie Munk in UHN to $65 million.

"Peter and Melanie's new gift builds on their tremendous support over the 18 years they have been involved in creating a world-class cardiac centre," said Dr. Robert Bell. "Their generosity will continue to transform the standard of cardiac care in Canada, North America and around the world. At the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre, heart surgeons, vascular surgeons, radiologists and cardiologists all work and train together on an integrated team - something that is setting the standard for the care of heart patients."

The gift will support innovation, recruitment and retention of top cardiac talent by leveraging the incredible patient care and research discoveries already taking place. It will help recruit, retain and train top minds in cardiovascular medicine, surgery and imaging from around the globe.

The gift will also provide training in this new approach to cardiac care which breaks down the traditional barriers amongst the various specialties and creates the environment necessary for collaborative care.

"Given the outstanding success achieved and compassionate care delivered, it didn't take much more than a heart beat for Melanie and me to support the Cardiac Centre again," said Peter Munk. "This facility - and more importantly the excellence and innovation of its caring professionals - has put Canada's cardiac care on the world map."

The Peter and Melanie Munk Charitable Foundation's latest gift also serves to launch a $100-million fundraising campaign at the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre called Building the Future - from the heart. A primary focus of the campaign is building and sustaining the Centre's greatest strength - people. This exceptional team of specialists and medical staff is responsible for the emergence of extraordinary medical discoveries and the development of innovative treatments for heart diseases and disorders. More information is available at www.inaheartbeat.ca.

Dr. Barry Rubin, Medical Director of the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre, believes the potential for the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre is unlimited.

"This campaign will help the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre to move cardiovascular care in innovative new directions and to deliver the best patient outcomes in the world," says Dr. Rubin. "With the help of our donors, the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre will lead the way in new frontiers of cardiovascular patient care, and will also lead the way in the dissemination of this knowledge worldwide."

According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, over 1.3 million Canadians are living with some form of cardiovascular disease. Over 40,000 people die annually from sudden cardiac deaths and arrhythmias. Nine in 10 Canadians (90%) have at least one risk factor for heart disease or stroke (smoking, alcohol, physical inactivity, obesity, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, diabetes).

Peter Munk Cardiac Centre

The Peter Munk Cardiac Centre is the premier cardiac centre in Canada. Since it opened in 1997, the Centre has saved and improved the lives of cardiac and vascular patients from around the world. Each year, approximately 37,000 patients receive innovative and compassionate care from multidisciplinary teams in the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre, and the Centre trains more cardiologists, cardiovascular surgeons and vascular surgeons than any other hospital in Canada. The Centre is based at the Toronto General Hospital and the Toronto Western Hospital - members of University Health Network.
www.petermunkcardiaccentre.ca

University Health Network

University Health Network consists of Toronto General, Toronto Western, Princess Margaret Hospitals, and Toronto Rehabilitation Institute. The scope of research and complexity of cases at University Health Network has made it a national and international source for discovery, education and patient care. It has the largest hospital-based research program in Canada, with major research in cardiology, transplantation, neurosciences, oncology, surgical innovation, infectious diseases, genomic medicine and rehabilitation medicine. University Health Network is a research hospital affiliated with the University of Toronto.
www.uhn.ca

Toronto General & Western Hospital Foundation

Toronto General & Western Hospital Foundation raises funds for research, education and the enhancement of patient care at Toronto General Hospital and Toronto Western Hospital as well as their respective research arms, Toronto General Research Institute and Toronto Western Research Institute.
www.tgwhf.ca

Occupational therapists launch new guidelines to help stop elder abuse before it starts

2011-11-23T12:24:00.000-08:00

OTTAWA, November 23, 2011 /Canada NewsWire/ - The Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT) is pleased to have officially launched "Strategies for occupational therapists to address elder abuse/mistreatment, " a resource tool developed for occupational therapists that will build health human resource capacity to address and manage elder abuse.

The project was made possible through funding from Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC), who recognized the vital role occupational therapists play in managing elder abuse.

"Occupational therapists are in a unique position to detect and manage elder abuse due to the strong working relationship they develop with an older adult through having an intimate knowledge of their daily life and routines," said Rosemary Lester, Chair of the Elder Abuse Committee of Newfoundland and Labrador and External Member of the CAOT Board of Directors. "This tool will support this relationship and be an important resource in the ongoing effort to combat elder abuse."

The resource tool provides a set of guidelines that strive to assist occupational therapists across Canada in understanding what to look for (indicators), first steps to follow when suspecting abuse (e.g. What do I ask? Look for?), and strategies for discussing the situation with the older adult.

The Minister of State for Seniors, the Honourable Alice Wong attended the event in support of the new documents and the positive impact occupational therapists have on managing and working to prevent elder abuse.

"Our government is committed to support the well-being of seniors," said Minister Wong. "Elder abuse should be everyone's concern and that is why our government is ensuring that Canadians are aware of the issue and can take the necessary preventative action or seek support."

This year the Government of Canada awarded nearly $567,000 to the National Initiative for the Care of the Elderly, to develop tools to measure elder abuse, which could support the development of strategies for prevention, detection and treatment. This initiative in addition to the release of the guidelines provides an optimistic future for seniors.

Strategies for occupational therapists to address elder abuse/mistreatment is available for download off the CAOT website by all practicing occupational therapists across Canada. www.caot.ca/elderabuse

Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists
Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists - Strategies for Dealing with Elder Abuse

The Benefits of Hiring Mature Workers

2011-11-22T10:33:00.000-08:00

Randstad Canada discusses the benefits of attracting, retaining and engaging mature workers.

TORONTO, November 22, 2011 /Canada NewsWire Telbec/ - Let's face facts: Many employers often hold the misconception that mature workers are too expensive, difficult to train, quick to retire, or prone to become ineffective as they age. And although workers over the age of 50 might not be as experienced with the latest apps as their younger colleagues, Randstad Canada says job applications from older candidates are worth considering.

Leandra Harris, Senior Executive Vice President of HR for Randstad Canada says companies need to ignore the stereotypes and consider the many benefits of hiring mature workers.

"Negative stereotypes about older workers remain deeply entrenched. These stereotypes include unwarranted assumptions that older workers are more costly, harder to train, less adaptable, less motivated, less flexible, more resistant to change and less energetic than younger employees," she said. "It's time to look beyond these negative age-based stereotypes."

According to Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, 10.9% of those aged 65 years or older had jobs in 2010. These "silver collar" employees are expected to continue to work either for their own enjoyment (the social interaction and stimulation of the workplace) or for economic reasons (they haven't saved enough for retirement and need to work).

Harris believes it's important for businesses to recognize the need to tap into this demographic to secure the supply of workers, especially during an expected worker shortage.

"Older workers are a resource we cannot afford to waste. Projected tight labor markets require us to better use our experienced mature workers. Many older workers have the skills companies are seeking. They are armed with experience, a strong work ethic and they can typically relate well with customers and identify their needs. They are also loyal and less likely to hop around from job to job," she says.

"Employers need to keep in mind that since many seniors won't have to work, they will be picky about where they choose to work," she says.

According to the results of a recent ICMA International survey sponsored by Randstad Canada, older generations say they are attracted to companies that are financially stable and indicate that the importance of comfort and strong values increases as they get older.

According to Harris,

"Companies would be well advised to seriously think about their future employment needs in order to be better positioned to seek out, hire and retain quality workers, including mature workers, who will help them compete in tomorrow's workplace."

About Randstad Canada: Randstad Canada is the Canadian leader for staffing, recruitment and HR Services. As the only fully integrated staffing company in the country, we understand the recruitment needs and demands of employers and job seekers across all levels and industries. Through our insightful knowledge of local markets, employment trends and global network of recruitment experts, we are shaping the Canadian world of work. Visit randstad.ca

"I'll be home for Christmas"… sort of

2011-11-17T05:38:00.000-08:00

"Video chat bridges the distance (CNW Group/Intel)"

Technology bridges the distance this holiday season

TORONTO, November 17, 2011 /Canada NewsWire/ - While we think of holidays as a time to be with friends and family, the majority of Canadians aren't able to spend time with all those they love. According to a new survey commissioned by Intel Canada, nearly three quarters of Canadians (74 per cent) have family and friends that they want to see over the holidays but can't. The two biggest barriers keeping Canadians away from those they love are distance (cited by 80 per cent of those surveyed) and financial constraints (cited by 53 per cent).

However, Canadians are definitely staying connected. They are sharing holiday cheer across great distances with the help of their computers. Canadians are connecting with video chat, such as Skype, email and social media. Thirty-three per cent of Canadians say the next best thing to sharing the holidays with someone in person is connecting with them using video chat; 23 per cent of Canadians say they are now using more video chat compared to 2009.

Not just for the young, people of all ages are turning to computers to connect with family in meaningful ways. Only 17 per cent of Canadians consider technology to be an impersonal way to connect with family and friends. This can explain why the traditional means of connecting are declining with Canadians foregoing greeting cards. Only six per cent of respondents use letters and cards as their primary way to connect with family and friends over the holidays and 41 per cent send less letters and cards than they did in 2009.

"It's not a surprise that Canadians are embracing technology as a meaningful way to connect with family and friends over the holidays," says Elaine Mah, Canadian country manager, Intel Corporation. "Technology has come such a long way and tools like video chat make you feel like you're right there in person."

Thirty-six per cent of Canadians said they face no barriers to using technology to connect with family and friends. However, 34 per cent complain that the person they wish to connect with doesn't have the right technology on their end. Having the right technology can be the key to creating lasting holiday memories.

Mah explains that computers with 2nd Generation Intel® Core™ technology give people the flexibility to connect and share in ways that are personal and visual. Sharing holiday memories with family and friends is made easier with Intel® Wireless Display 2.0 (WiDi) technology allowing users to wirelessly stream content from the laptop to the TV. It's an exciting new viewing experience, ideal for everyday use and when sharing video chats, movies and photos with holiday guests. When making holiday videos to share with family and friends, Intel® Quick Sync Video takes the wait out of editing and sharing videos with astonishing performance that once took hours now is completed in minutes.

Become a fan of Intel Canada on Facebook: www.facebook.com/IntelCanada

Follow Intel Canada on Twitter: www.twitter.com/IntelCanada

About Intel

Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) is a world leader in computing innovation. The company designs and builds the essential technologies that serve as the foundation for the world's computing devices. Additional information about Intel is available at newsroom.intel.com and blogs.intel.com.

About the survey

From November 7th to November 8th, 2011 an online survey was conducted among 1,017 randomly selected Canadian adults who are Angus Reid Forum panelists. The margin of error—which measures sampling variability—is +/- 3.1%, 19 times out of 20. The results have been statistically weighted according to the most current education, age, gender and region Census data to ensure a sample representative of the entire adult population of Canada. Discrepancies in or between totals are due to rounding.

Intel and the Intel logo are trademarks of Intel Corporation in the United States and other countries.

New poll reveals striking consistency between the values of newcomers and those of native-born Canadians on key immigration issues

2011-11-16T10:11:00.000-08:00

Culture over cash—Public says adopting Canadian values should be a higher priority for immigrants than achieving financial self-sufficiency: Trudeau Foundation Poll

MONTREAL, November 16, 2011 /Canada NewsWire/ - Canadians almost unanimously expect new immigrants who want to live in Canada to adopt Canadian values, but are much more forgiving about how long it might take to become economically self-sufficient, according to a new survey commissioned by the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation in collaboration with Dalhousie University. Interestingly, newcomers themselves feel the same way, and their opinions on other key immigration issues also closely align to those of native-born Canadians. The poll results are being released at a conference on immigration being held by the Foundation in Halifax, November 17-19.

"Canada was built on immigration. It defines our history, which is why it is critical to pause and take a closer look at how it could - and should - shape Canada's future," said Dr. Pierre-Gerlier Forest, President of the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation. "The Trudeau Foundation Conference, underpinned by this type of research, creates an informed arena for some of the world's leading experts to advance our understanding of vital public issues such as immigration."

When asked by the poll what immigrants should be expected to do as a condition of being accepted into the country, 97 percent of Canadians stressed the adoption of the Canadian values of gender equality and the tolerance of others. Ninety-six percent of immigrants surveyed agreed with this sentiment. In contrast, fewer than six-in-ten (59%) believed that newcomers should become economically self-sufficient within their first year, with 60 percent of immigrants saying the same.

The poll comes at a time when the federal government has proposed to initiate a national reflection about Canada's immigration policy. The poll's findings about Canadians' opinion on immigration could help redefine the current policy.

For example, about half (51%) of Canadians surveyed feel that Canada should place higher priority on accepting applicants who qualify for immigration based on education and employability. Forty-two percent of respondents say that immigrants in this category should be given the same priority as they receive now, and just four percent say they should be given lower priority.

In contrast, over a third (35%) of those surveyed for the Trudeau Foundation say that those who have family members living in Canada should be given higher priority, and 55 percent say that they should be given the same priority as they receive now. Just eight percent suggest that they should receive lower priority.

Similarly, public opinion about easing obstacles for temporary foreign workers is decidedly mixed: three in ten (33%) say that they approve of the decision to accept an increasing number of foreign workers, compared with one-third (35%) who disapprove and a comparable portion (32%) who have no clear opinion.

While newcomers have historically settled in major urban centres such as Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal, creating popular enclaves known as Chinatown and Little India, three quarters (74%) of Canadians believe immigrants should be more evenly distributed across the country. Seventy-two percent of immigrants share this view, the poll reveals.

In general, the poll demonstrates that Canadians are much more likely to be positive than negative about the overall impact of Canada's longstanding tradition of accepting newcomers. By a three-to-one margin, the public says that immigration is making Canada a better place (47%) rather than a worse place (16%); the remainder says that it makes no difference (29%) or is unable to offer a definitive response (8%). Similarly, the Canadian public is more likely than not to believe that immigrants are fitting into their new community in terms of finding jobs (58%), participating in civic institutions like voting (57%), and adopting Canadian values (55%), although sizable minorities disagree.

The Trudeau Foundation Conference - The Making of Citizens: Beyond the Canadian Consensus on Immigration—takes place in Halifax, NS, on November 17-19, 2011. The conference features keynote speeches and panel discussions with renowned specialists on critical issues related to immigration. Topics include immigration policy, multiculturalism, integration, economic impact, social and cultural implications and the environmental impact of immigration.

About the Foundation

A Canadian institution with a national purpose, the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation is an independent and non-partisan charity. It was established in 2001 as a living memorial to the former Prime Minister by his family, friends, and colleagues. In 2002, the Government of Canada endowed the Foundation with a donation of $125 million following a unanimous vote in the House of Commons. In addition, the Foundation benefits from private sector donations in support of specific initiatives. Through its Scholarship, Fellowship, Mentorship and Public Interaction programs, the Foundation supports outstanding individuals who make meaningful contributions to critical public issues. More at www.trudeaufoundation.ca

About the research

The results are based on a telephone survey conducted by the Environics Research Group with a representative sample of 2,000 Canadians 18 years and older between October 11 and 22, 2011. The sample was stratified by province and community size to ensure adequate coverage of jurisdictions for analysis purposes. A sample of this size produces a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 2.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20. The margin of error is greater for results for regional and socio-demographic subgroups of the total sample.

The survey questions were designed by Environics senior researchers in conjunction with representatives from the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation and Dalhousie University.

Ontario Optometrists Help People with Diabetes See into the Future

2011-11-12T07:07:00.001-08:00

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario, November 9, 2011 /Canada NewsWire/ - November is Diabetes Awareness Month and the Ontario Association of Optometrists (OAO) is reminding the public about the importance of routine eye exams—especially for those living with diabetes.

Approximately 1.2 million Ontarians have diabetes and as many as 200,000 people are unaware they have it. In fact, according to the Canadian Diabetes Association by 2020 1 in 3 Canadians will have diabetes, putting them at an increased risk for serious health complications such as eye disease and potential blindness. Eye disease can be managed and often prevented by visiting an eye care professional every year.

"Diabetes is the leading cause of preventable blindness among adults," said Dr. Anju Clement, optometrist and member of the OAO. "Patients with eye disease may not notice any changes in their vision, especially during the early treatable stages of the disease. That's why visiting an optometrist is essential for early detection and timely treatment."

Statistics show that only about 50 per cent of people living with type 1 and type 2 diabetes had their eyes checked in the last year, even though annual eye examinations are covered by the Ontario Health Insurance Plan. Those most likely not to have had an eye exam in the past year were people aged 20 to 64 and those living in urban areas.

Under the Ontario Diabetes Strategy, the OAO is partnering with the Ministry of Health and the Diabetes Regional Control Centres to ensure that people with diabetes have necessary tests for optimal diabetes management, including a comprehensive eye exam.

While people with diabetes are more likely to develop eye problems such as cataracts and glaucoma, they are also more susceptible to retinal complications that can threaten vision.

By dilating the eye, optometrists can detect diabetic retinopathy, a damaging eye condition that causes the blood vessels at the back of the eye to leak or swell. If left untreated, it can result in loss of vision or blindness. Comprehensive eye examinations provided by optometrists are insured by the Ontario government every year for people of all ages with diabetes, and a referral is not required.

Patients with diabetes who are able to maintain appropriate blood sugar levels have fewer eye problems than those with poor control. Research has proven that good control can slow the onset of eye complications, such as diabetic retinopathy. Diet and exercise also play important roles in the overall health of those with diabetes. But the best way to catch early eye problems is to visit an optometrist or ophthalmologist every year.

Dr. Clement adds that other health issues may be discovered during an eye exam. "A dilated eye exam is the only time blood vessels can be seen in their natural state. Sometimes, this allows us to uncover signs that may save someone's life."

To learn more about comprehensive eye examinations or to find an optometrist, please visit the OAO website at www.optom.on.ca or call 1-800-540-3837.

For over 100 years, the OAO has been the voluntary professional organization representing optometrists in Ontario in matters of advocacy, community and education. The OAO represents over 1,500 optometrists who practise in over 200 towns and cities across Ontario and are the main providers of primary eye care in Ontario.

Canada's Environment Minister Declares Polar Bear Species of Concern

2011-11-11T13:39:00.000-08:00

OTTAWA, November 10, 2011 /Canada NewsWire/ - Canada's Environment Minister, the Honourable Peter Kent, has declared the polar bear as a species of special concern under the Species at Risk Act.

"Canada is home to two-thirds of the world's polar bear population and we have a unique conservation responsibility to effectively care for them," said Minister Kent. "Our Government is demonstrating leadership in protecting this iconic species. Listing the polar bear under the Species at Risk Act represents an important contribution to protecting our environment and the animals that live in it."

As a result of the listing, a management plan must be prepared within three years. It should be noted that the plan will not result in prohibitions. The ultimate aim of the plan will be to alleviate human threats in order to remove the polar bear from the Species at Risk list.

This management plan will build on the National Polar Bear Conservation Strategy. In a recent meeting held in Iqaluit in October, Canada—in cooperation with the United States, Russia, Norway, and Greenland—presented our National Polar Bear Conservation Strategy. This Strategy will act as the cornerstone of the management plan. It aims to illustrate, strengthen and formalize Canada's existing polar bear conservation measures.

"At Environment Canada, our business is protecting the environment," said Minister Kent. "We collaborate with our partners at home and abroad to realize concrete progress on initiatives that will protect the health of our people, our species and our planet. By listing the polar bear as a species of concern, we are doing just that."

Environment Canada held extensive consultations with provincial and territorial governments, regional wildlife management boards, Aboriginal peoples and other stakeholders. The vast majority supported the listing. It can be found in the Canada Gazette Part II here.

World Diabetes Day 2011 Celebrating the 90th Anniversary of Insulin!

2011-11-10T13:07:00.000-08:00

C.H. Best and F.G. Banting in 1924 - photo credit: Wikipedia

World Diabetes Day (WDD) is an official United Nations World Health Day, annually celebrated on November 14. This date marks the birthday of Canadian Sir Frederick Banting, who, along with Charles Best, is credited with the discovery of insulin in 1921 at the University of Toronto.

Together, JDRF and the Canadian Diabetes Association are celebrating WDD with the theme of recognizing the 90th anniversary of the discovery of insulin. Since this innovation, Canadian researchers have been world-renowned for their leadership to cure, treat and prevent diabetes. This year, we honour Canadian Diabetes Champions like researchers Banting and Best.

Starting November 1st, you're invited to join the circle of WDD celebration. You can showcase how you are a Canadian Diabetes Champions in the fight against diabetes by sharing your story on www.worlddiabetes.ca. Show us on our map of Canada where youre celebrating, and take our survey to win 1 of 5 blue Apple iPod Shuffles. Share your share blue photos and comments on the WDD Canada Facebook page.

While research breakthroughs continue toward curing this disease, its important to take action and learn as much as possible about diabetes know the signs, symptoms and risk factors so you can control and make informed decisions about your health.

The 2011 WDD celebration is made possible through the generous support of WDD Founding Sponsor, Novo Nordisk, and Silver Sponsor, Eli Lilly Canada.

Did you know?

...type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which a persons pancreas stops producing insulin, a hormone that enables people to get energy from food.

...type 1 diabetes affects approximately 300,000 Canadians.

...Canada has the sixth highest incidence1 rate of type 1 diabetes in children 14 years of age or younger in the world.

...Living with type 1 diabetes requires approximately 1,460 needles a year (based on four injections per day) and 2,190 finger pokes a year to test blood sugar levels.

...Diabetes is one of the costliest chronic diseases. People with diabetes incur medical costs that are two to three times higher than those without diabetes. A person with diabetes can face direct costs for medication and supplies ranging from $1,000 to $15,000 a year.

...By 2020, it's estimated that diabetes will cost the Canadian healthcare system $16.9 billion a year.

...285 million people worldwide are currently living with diabetes. With a further 7 million people developing diabetes each year, this number is expected to hit 438 million by 2030.

How Canadians can retire wealthy—no matter WHAT their current situation

2011-11-08T09:01:00.000-08:00

MoneySense book offers smart, practical advice to get Canadians of all ages on track for a prosperous retirement

TORONTO, November 8, 2011 /Canada NewsWire/ - Yes, you can have the retirement of your dreams—even if, right now, you're not where you think you should be financially.

Retire Wealthy: A Financial Plan for Canadians of All Ages provides a lively and easy-to-follow roadmap that shows you what you need to do to secure your future. Bursting with proven and practical retirement advice delivered in a friendly, straightforward manner, the 200-page volume comes from the trusted experts from MoneySense magazine—Canada's most-read personal finance magazine.
Retire Wealthy: A Financial Plan for Canadians of All Ages is organized by life stage and includes real-life stories from Canadians—including overwhelmed thirty-somethings and late-blooming boomers—who got their finances in order using these proven financial strategies.

Highlights from Retire Wealthy: A Financial Plan for Canadians of All Ages:

Your 20s: Building Potential

• Starting to save • Buying a vehicle • To rent or own? • Being credit-card smart

Your 30s: Under Pressure

Saving for your child's education • Embracing good debt • Can you afford to stay home with the kids? • Why it's OK not to contribute to your RRSP now

Your 40s: Catching Up

• Bouncing back from divorce • Investing in rental property • How you can take a year off work • A 10-minute guide to your pension • Crunching the numbers: calculating how much you will you need to retire

Your 50s: Suddenly Super Saving

Playing catch-up • Three traps to avoid (investments gone bad; interest rate nightmare; health-care scare) • Getting out of the rat race

Your 60s: Sweet Freedom

How far can you stretch your retirement savings? • Working in your 60s • Retire in luxury on $2,000 per month

Your 70s: A simpler life

Withdrawing from your RRSP •The up side of retirement homes • Plan your legacy

PLUS:

Six Steps to a Wealthy Retirement

How long will you live? Could the market crash again? If you're confused about how much you need to save, follow these six simple steps to a comfortable retirement. And don't worry: You don't need a million dollars.

Self-test: Are you on track?

Find out how your net worth compares to people just like you.

Retire Wealthy: A Financial Plan for Canadians of All Ages ($19.95) is available now at Chapters, Shoppers Drug Mart, Loblaws, London Drugs, Walmart Canada, Presse Commerce, BC Ferries, Hudson News, Paradis and at bookstores and newsstands across Canada.

About MoneySense:

MoneySense, Canada's personal finance and lifestyle magazine, was named Magazine of the Year by the National Magazine Awards in 2011. Packed with smart features, practical advice and easy-to-follow financial tips on everything from home improvement to mutual funds, MoneySense attracts Canadians nationwide on the lookout for new ways to save, invest and spend. MoneySense.ca is Canada's best all-around personal finance website.

Web-based service accelerates access to information and decreases health care costs

2011-11-07T13:34:00.000-08:00

McKesson Canada brings RelayHealth to Canada: new web-based service will transform the way health care providers and patients collaborate and exchange information

TORONTO, November 7, 2011 /Canada NewsWire Telbec/ - Today at the Ontario Hospital Association's HealthAchieve 2011 Conference, McKesson Canada announced the launch of RelayHealth, a new web-based service that provides complete and secure information flow between patients and all of their health care providers coast to coast. Focused on the patient point of care, RelayHealth will accelerate information exchange, facilitate collaboration between health care providers, advance patient quality of care, and reduce overall health care costs.

"We live in a world where information can be shared openly and securely, regardless of location. When it comes to health care, a patient's quality of care can be jeopardized if their physician or specialist cannot access the most current and accurate information," says Dale Weil, Senior Vice President, Integrated Healthcare Solutions and Pharmaceutical Solutions, McKesson Canada. "By enabling information exchange among practitioners, laboratories and specialists, RelayHealth reduces duplication, provides faster diagnosis, decreases wait times and ensures that patient data is accessible anywhere, at any time. RelayHealth takes a patient-centred approach and puts the focus where it is needed - on the patient."

As noted by both Canada Health InfoWay and the Canadian Medical Association (CMA), Canada lags in the adoption of technology in health care. In its report "Healthcare Transformation in Canada", the CMA noted that health care information technology (HIT) must shift from multi-billion dollar investments at the hospital level to a renewed emphasis at the patient level (family physician consults) where the majority of Canadian patients interact with the health care delivery system. The report states that existing top-down investments have not yet resulted in significant benefits to providers or patients, due to the fact that all jurisdictions have focused their investment on large-scale HIT systems and architecture, with very little investment being made at the points of care where the actual benefits of HIT will be realized.

"RelayHealth promises to quickly automate and connect all ambulatory points of care to support clinicians, providing timely clinical value to patients and providers," says Diane Salois-Swallow, CIO at York Central Hospital, Southlake Regional Health Centre/ Stevenson Memorial Hospital within the Central Local Health Integration Network. "This service puts patients in the centre of care, with the potential of them becoming more self-sufficient and being able to make more informed decisions about their health and those of their family members."

RelayHealth is intended to be made available at no cost to patients through their health care systems and providers. It provides patients with the tools they need to better manage their own health and that of their dependents. All they need is a computer, Internet access and a password. It allows physicians and other health care providers, as well as patients to: share lab and diagnostic test results; make physician referral requests; book appointments; make prescription and refill requests; and reduce duplicate testing and medical errors.

"This innovative service truly fosters proactive collaboration between the different medical providers allowing patients to have one touch-point for all of their health needs," says Joseph Galli, Director and Co-founder of the Canadian Loeys-Dietz Syndrome Foundation in Montreal, Quebec. "RelayHealth will help health organizations, governments and institutions to improve patient health outcomes, integrate health information, and deliver accessibility and cost efficiencies."

"RelayHealth can send and receive information by integrating with current provincial systems and databases which reduces complexity," adds Dale Weil of McKesson Canada. "The advantage of using this service is that it achieves savings in the shorter term for the health care system and it will help increase patient satisfaction. Also, because RelayHealth is delivered as a service, it accelerates implementation at a lower cost than other major health information technologies and it requires less maintenance. It is a convenient service that provides the same view, same patient information across the entire health network."

Founded more than 100 years ago, McKesson Canada is dedicated to delivering vital medications, supplies and information technologies that enable the health care industry to provide patients better, safer care. Our solutions empower pharmacies, manufacturers, hospitals and other health care institutions by enabling them to get closer to 12 million patients they serve every single day, while contributing to the quality and safety of care in Canada. For more information on RelayHealth, visit www.relayhealth.ca.

Health spending in Canada to reach $200 billion in 2011

2011-11-04T07:22:00.000-07:00

Compensation of health professionals, evolution in the use of services important cost drivers of past decade

OTTAWA, November 3, 2011 /Canada NewsWire/ - Total spending on health care in Canada is expected to grow by more than $7 billion this year to reach a forecast $200.5 billion in 2011. This amounts to roughly $5,800 per Canadian, about $150 more per person than last year, according to a new report released today by the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI).

National Health Expenditure Trends, 1975 to 2011, one of two CIHI reports released today, shows that growth in health care spending is slowing down. Spending is expected to increase by 4.0% in 2011 over last year—the lowest annual growth rate seen in the last 15 years. In contrast, average annual growth in health care spending between 1998 and 2008 was 7.4%.

While health care spending continues to rise faster than inflation and population growth, it is expected to grow more slowly than the overall economy this year. Spending on health care is forecast to reach 11.6% of Canada's gross domestic product (GDP) in 2011, a slight decrease from the historic peak of 11.9% in 2009 and 2010.

"Like in many other countries in the developed world, health care in Canada has seen a period of tremendous growth and major reinvestments in the new millennium," explains CIHI's President and CEO, John Wright. "While the pace of that growth appears to be slowing down, it's important to understand how we reached the $200-billion mark this year. In light of global economic uncertainty and efforts here at home to address government deficits, it's important to examine what's been driving health care costs in order to better plan for the future of the health system."

Main factors that drove health expenditures since 1998

CIHI is also releasing another major study today, called Health Care Cost Drivers: The Facts. The report examines the key factors that contributed to the $200-billion milestone. It focuses on public-sector health care spending between 1998 and 2008—a boom period when annual health expenditure in Canada more than doubled—and identifies issues to monitor in the future.

The study shows that in Canada, as in many countries in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), there was a tendency to spend more on health care during a period of economic growth and higher income. From a fiscal policy perspective, the period from 1998 to 2008 saw a reduction in the interest that governments in Canada had to pay on outstanding debt, which allowed them to divert resources to overall program spending and tax reduction. The major cost drivers of public-sector health care spending in the past decade were compensation of health care providers, increased use of services and an evolution in the types of services provided and used.

Compensation of health professionals a major cost driver

CIHI's data shows that compensation paid to health care providers has been one of the most significant cost drivers of public-sector health care spending. Hospitals represent the largest category of public-sector spending (37%), and compensation represents about 60% of total hospital budgets. Between 1999 and 2008, the number of hospital workers grew by 21%, while their compensation increased faster than that of workers in the general labour market. The hourly paid hospital employees wage index from Statistics Canada increased by an average of 3.3% per year, compared with an average annual wage increase of 2.7% in the general economy.

After hospitals, physicians represent the second-largest category of public-sector health care spending (20% in 2011). Between 1998 and 2008, physician expenditures increased on average by 6.8% a year. CIHI data shows that the price of doctors' services was the most important cost driver of spending in this category, with compensation for doctors' services growing by 3.6% a year—faster than that for other health workers and the labour market in general. However, physician compensation grew more slowly than the prices of other public goods and services from 1975 until 1998.

"Over the last decade, a host of factors may have contributed to the compensation hike for physicians and other health professionals," explains Wright. "For example, increased competition between provinces to recruit and retain health providers, tighter credentialing of health professionals and stronger bargaining positions due to increased government revenues may have all played a role."

With the number of practising doctors on the rise in Canada, CIHI data shows that spending on physicians is expected to be one of the fastest-growing categories of health expenditure in Canada in 2011, outpacing growth in spending on drugs and hospitals for the fifth year in a row.

Increased use of services and evolving types of services used

Over the past decade, population growth contributed about 1% annually to health care costs. Beyond the demographic factors, the data shows that Canadians are using more health care in some areas. For example, the volume of drugs sold in Canada contributed an average increase in spending of 6.2% a year between 1998 and 2007, even after accounting for population growth and aging. Overall drug spending grew by an average of 10.1% per year during this period. This makes increased utilization the single largest cost driver of drug spending over the past decade. The increased volume was driven largely by use of anti-hypertensive, cholesterol-lowering and gastrointestinal drugs.

Canadians are also seeing their doctors more often and getting more medical procedures. Over the past decade, use of physician services grew by 1.5% annually per Canadian, after adjusting for population aging. The 10-year period also saw a significant increase in the number of Canadians receiving priority-area procedures, such as hip and knee replacements; diagnostic imaging exams, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) scans; and cataract surgery procedures.

A change in the types of health services used by Canadians—such as the emergence of new drugs and new diagnostic and surgical tools—has also contributed to the growth in health costs. For example, changes in the types of drugs used were an important driver of drug spending, particularly during the last five years. New cancer drugs and immunosuppressants were two of the fastest-growing drug classes during this period. Investments in technologies, such as diagnostic imaging equipment, also grew significantly over this period. Between 1997 and 2010, the number of CT scanners operating in Canada nearly doubled (from 245 to 484), while the number of MRI machines increased more than fivefold (from 55 to 281).

Aging population a modest health care cost driver

CIHI also analyzed the extent to which the aging population is driving costs.

The report demonstrates that population aging is a cost driver of modest importance relative to other drivers, accounting for less than 1% of average annual growth in health care spending (0.8% per year) from 1998 to 2008.

"There is no doubt that as we grow older, we often need more health services and that this costs the health system more money. However, while the Canadian population is aging, it is aging slowly as a whole," says Jean-Marie Berthelot, Vice President of Programs at CIHI. "Over the past decade, the proportion of health dollars spent on seniors by provincial and territorial governments has remained relatively stable at 44%. This tells us that spending on seniors is not growing faster than spending for the population at large."

CIHI data shows, however, that the impact of aging on health care spending varies considerably by province. It is more significant in the Atlantic provinces and Quebec, for example, than in Ontario and the west.

Health care spending not growing as share of provincial and territorial government budgets

Since health care delivery is a provincial/territorial responsibility in Canada, the vast majority of public-sector health dollars are spent by provincial and territorial governments. In 2010, the latest year of available data, health care is estimated to account for about 38% of provincial/territorial government spending. However, this proportion varies among provinces, from 30.4% in Quebec and 33.9% in Newfoundland and Labrador to 44.5% in Manitoba and 47.2% in Nova Scotia.

"Our study identifies several areas to monitor for the future in terms of health care spending," says Berthelot. "For example, increases in the number of health professionals, changes in their scope of practice and the introduction of new technologies—such as new cancer biologic drugs—may all continue to have a significant impact on what we collectively pay for health care. Canadian governments, and society as a whole, will need to balance the health needs of the population against overall costs to ensure Canadians have an efficient, effective and sustainable system."

About National Health Expenditure Trends, 1975 to 2011

This annual report provides an overview of health care spending trends from 1975 to 2009, as well as forecasts for 2010 and 2011. The report draws upon data compiled from CIHI's National Health Expenditure (NHEX) Database, Canada's most comprehensive source of information on health care spending. Where appropriate, the report provides data in both current and constant dollars. Current dollars measure actual expenditure in a given year. Constant dollars remove the effects of inflation to measure expenditure based on price levels prevailing in a base year (in this case, 1997). Real growth rates measure annual changes of data reported in these constant dollars.

About Health Care Cost Drivers: The Facts.

This supplement to CIHI's annual NHEX report analyzes the areas that drove health care spending in the public sector during the major growth period of the last decade (1998 to 2008), as well as issues to watch in the future. Public-sector spending represents 70% of the total health bill, a proportion that has remained relatively stable since 1997. The report examines factors within the three major categories of public health expenditure—hospitals, physicians and drugs—as well as those affecting health care spending overall.

The reports are available on their website at www.cihi.ca

Bill Gates Calls on G20 Leaders Not to Turn Their Backs on the World's Poor

2011-11-03T13:29:00.000-07:00

Report Highlights Role of Innovation in Expanding Development Resources for the Future

CANNES, France, November 3, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In a report about financing for development delivered today at the G20 Summit, Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, urged leaders to commit to increasing the pool of resources dedicated to development or risk causing irreparable damage to the livelihoods of millions of the poorest people. Underlying these recommendations is the idea that innovation can multiply the impact of the resources devoted to development.

Gates' report, "Innovation with Impact: Financing 21st Century Development," was presented to heads of State and Governments in Cannes, France, at the request of G20 chairman French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

"Leadership from the G20 is critically important, especially in these tough economic times. We must build on the unprecedented progress in health and development achieved in the last decade," Gates said. "We must spur on even greater progress in the coming decades to improve the lives of the world's poorest."

In his report, Gates stresses the need for rich countries to continue their generosity and meet their foreign aid commitments - which are generally between one and two percent of government's budgets - while ensuring that aid is spent effectively in areas such as health and agriculture.

"If the countries that have made promises stick to them, it will generate an additional $80 billion annually starting in 2015," Gates said. "Well-designed aid reduces poverty right now and accelerates poor countries' progress toward the moment when they no longer need it."

Beyond rich countries' responsibility, Gates says rapidly emerging economies represented in the G20 also play a growing role in driving progress in development. In his report, he proposes ideas for enabling speedier transfer of the innovations these countries are pioneering - particularly in the areas of health and agriculture, such as vaccines and seeds - to transform the lives of poor people in Africa and beyond.

"In the last decade, countries like China, Brazil, Mexico, Indonesia and Turkey have seen growth rates rise and poverty rates fall sharply. They are great examples of what we can do and achieve," Gates said.

He notes that these countries, which have recent experiences in reducing poverty and enormous technical capacity, bring unique insights and skills to create breakthrough tools for development

"I am particularly excited about the possibility of 'triangular partnerships' among rapidly growing countries, traditional donors, and poor countries, because they exploit the comparative advantages of many different countries," Gates says in his report.

Within the last week, the Gates Foundation announced two partnerships: one with Brazil to share expertise on agriculture, family health and vaccines with African countries, and another with the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology and Chinese companies to support innovative research and development and manufacturing of new products for global health and agriculture.

Gates' report also points to a partnership between Brazil, Japan and Mozambique that aims to help Mozambique adapt soybeans, rice and other crops to Mozambique's savanna, which has a climate and soils similar to Brazil's "Cerrado". Japan is helping Mozambique upgrade its infrastructure.

Gates stresses that growth had been very strong in a number of poor countries including in Sub-Saharan Africa.

"Ultimately, developing countries' domestic resources will be the largest source of funds for development," according to Gates, who recommends measures the G20 could take to help poor countries' maximize their own resources to reduce poverty.

Ideas include directing foreign aid at helping developing countries better collect tax revenue, which could raise approximately $20 billion a year at today's GDP, and increasing transparency requirements for mining and oil companies. Gates calls on poor countries to focus resources on priorities which directly benefit poor people, like health and agriculture, and urged African leaders to meet the targets they had set in the Abuja Declaration to devote at least 15 percent of their budgets to improving health, and in the Maputo Declaration, which calls for devoting 10 percent of budgets on agriculture.

The report to G20 leaders also calls for adopting innovative ways to mobilize private sector finance and encourage private sector growth as a way to raise funds for development. Recommendations include making sovereign wealth funds available for infrastructure investments in poor countries, continuing to lower transaction costs of remittances by diaspora communities, and using pull mechanisms in agriculture to encourage innovation in agricultural technologies.

Gates also uses the report to identify new streams of funding, by directing a percentage of funds from a Financial Transaction Tax, Solidarity Tobacco Contribution, and an aviation and bunker fuel tax, to fund development and climate change.

"With its diversity and dynamism, the G20 is the key body that can bring these resources, innovative ideas and leadership together for greater impact in a new world of development," Gates said. "If the G20 takes up this challenge, I'm optimistic we can get through this economic crisis and save millions of lives and lift millions more out of poverty."

To access the full report, go to: www.thegatesnotes.com/G20

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Guided by the belief that every life has equal value, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation works to help all people lead healthy, productive lives. In developing countries, it focuses on improving people's health and giving them the chance to lift themselves out of hunger and extreme poverty. In the United States, it seeks to ensure that all people--especially those with the fewest resources--have access to the opportunities they need to succeed in school and life. Based in Seattle, Washington, the foundation is led by CEO Jeff Raikes and Co-chair William H. Gates Sr., under the direction of Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett.
For further information: CONTACT: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, +1-206-709-3400, media@gatesfoundation.org Web Site: www.gatesfoundation.org

Canada's Sandwich Generation making many sacrifices to support both children and aging parents

2011-10-31T12:38:00.000-07:00

Credit Canada and Capital One Canada offer insights about financial literacy in conjunction with 5th annual Credit Education Week

TORONTO, October 31, 2011 /Canada NewsWire/ - Canadians who are part of a growing Sandwich Generation are being required to make more sacrifices in order to financially support both their children and aging parents. A new survey by Credit Canada and Capital One Canada for Credit Education Week found that a surprising 4 in 10 Canadians (39%) in the Sandwich Generation are concerned they might not be able to pay for their children's education because they need to financially support their parents. To deal with these potential monetary shortfalls, 40% of these Canadians expressed concern that they will have to borrow money from family and friends.

For those Canadians already financially supporting their children and parents, 25% believe their children have been negatively impacted because of the additional money and time provided to an aging parent that would otherwise go to their kids.

"What's most concerning is the amount of expenses that this group of Canadians is being forced to take on at a time when they should be saving for retirement," said Laurie Campbell, Executive Director, Credit Canada. "Our latest survey also found that two- thirds of Canadians in the Sandwich Generation have become burdened with additional financial problems as they deal with the reality of these heightened responsibilities. The end result is that more than half of these people (55%) now expect to retire later than expected so they can play financial catch up."

The survey asked Canadians about the types of sacrifices they have been forced to make in order to support both their dependent children and aging parents:

...30% are taking less vacations

...43% are eating out less

...36% have had to dip into their savings

...37% needed to work more hours

...38% have had to cut back on lifestyle costs (entertainment, social activities, etc.)

"It's important for Canadians to have a long-term view of their financial obligations to themselves and their families, so that they can make smart choices about their spending and saving," said Rob Livingston, President, Capital One Canada. "We believe all Canadians should have a thorough understanding of the tools and resources available to them to make these important financial decisions, which is why we support financial education initiatives."

In 2007, Credit Canada and Capital One Canada teamed up to create the first Credit Education Week Canada, with the objective to raise public awareness and educate Canadians about the many issues and challenges they face managing their finances, spending and savings. Now in its fifth year, Credit Education Week will be looking at the Sandwich Generation and the unique financial pressures they face. From November 14-18, over one hundred events and financial literacy workshops at YMCAs and community centres right across the country will occur under the Credit Education Week banner thanks to the support and funding of all sponsors.

Credit Canada and Capital One Canada provide the following tips for the Sandwich Generation

...Talk to someone - visit your local credit counseling agency or a financial advisor to find out your options

...Save for a rainy day - Life takes unexpected twists, so putting aside some emergency savings could keep you out of trouble

...Stay within your budget - Avoid dipping into your savings because you never know when a family member might need a helping hand

...Plan early - Start saving for retirement as soon as you can, and if you have kids, start an RESP for them when they're young

...Teach your kids - Encourage your kids to get part-times jobs to help pay for their education. They'll learn about savings, budgeting and the value of hard work

...Educate yourself - There are government and community programs available to help you and your family with your new financial responsibilities

About the survey

In September 2011, Credit Canada and Capital One Canada commissioned a survey of 830 Canadians in the Sandwich Generation to gain insight into their financial challenges and situations. The survey respondents were equally distributed across the 4 major regions of Canada (West, Ontario, Quebec and East) and the margin of error is +/- 3.4%, 19 times out of 20.

About Credit Canada

Credit Canada is a non-profit charitable service that has assisted thousands of people with credit counseling and debt management programs since 1966. Credit Canada is a member of the Ontario Association of Credit Counseling Services and a Charter Member of Canadian Association of Credit Counseling Services.

About Capital One

With offices in Toronto and Montreal, Capital One has offered Canadian consumers a range of competitive MasterCard credit cards since 1996, when the company first introduced the Platinum MasterCard in Canada. Capital One Canada is a division of Capital One Bank, a subsidiary of Capital One Financial Corporation of McLean, Virginia (NYSE: COF).

Tax Rules Prevent Many Canadians from Saving Enough for Retirement: C.D. Howe Institute

2011-10-27T09:48:00.000-07:00

TORONTO, October 27, 2011 /Canada NewsWire/ - Federal tax rules are preventing many Canadians - especially in the private sector - from saving enough for retirement, according to a report released today by the C.D. Howe Institute. Workers relying on RRSPs cannot accumulate even half the retirement wealth of career members of defined-benefit (DB) pension plans, says the report, "Legal for Life: Why Canadians Need a Lifetime Retirement Saving Limit," by James Pierlot with Faisal Siddiqi.

"Solving this 'have' and 'have-not' divide in the pension outlook for Canadians is becoming urgent," says Pierlot.

More than 12 million Canadian workers do not participate in a DB pension plan. Many of these workers need to save for retirement, and must do so in RRSPs and defined-contribution (DC) pension plans. The authors demonstrate that tax rules prevent these workers from saving enough, even as career members of DB plans accumulate retirement savings worth as much as 60% of their total career incomes.

This indicates a serious problem of inequity, the prospect of low living standards for future retirees and an increasing burden on income-support programs funded from general tax revenue, says the report. Those at particular risk of not having enough DC/RRSP contribution room include new Canadians, self-employed workers, and those who have incurred investment losses, experienced periods of unemployment or made RRSP withdrawals before retirement.

The authors find that Canadian workers with career membership in generous DB plans can and do accumulate good pensions with values ranging from $550,000, for a worker with a career-end salary of $50,000, to $2.1 million with a career-end salary of $150,000. With RRSP savings included, their accumulations of retirement wealth are even greater. The study also finds that workers with similar career earnings who save in DC plans and RRSPs are prevented from accumulating even half of these amounts.

Major reform is needed, so that all workers for whom the "tax-assisted" retirement saving system is intended can save enough for their retirements, according to the report. To make this a reality, the authors propose that Canada's annual, income-based tax limits on retirement saving be discarded and replaced with a uniform, inflation-indexed lifetime accumulation limit of $2 million - the value of pensions now accumulated by high-income workers with career membership in generous DB pension plans, especially in the public sector.

For the report go to: http://www.cdhowe.org/pdf/commentary_336.pdf

Canada Ready to Accept Pan American Games Flag

2011-10-26T15:40:00.000-07:00

Dignitaries Descend on Guadalajara for Handover Ceremony

GUADALAJARA, October 26, 2011 /Canada NewsWire/ - The Toronto 2015 Pan/Parapan Games Organizing Committee (TO2015), backed by a strong and unified team of representatives from all levels of government, is ready to show the Americas that Canada is preparing an exciting welcome for the largest multi-sport event ever held in the country.

Dignitaries attending the Handover Ceremony include: His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, The Honourable Bal Gosal, Minister of State (Sport), the Honourable Charles Sousa, Ontario's Minister responsible for the Pan/Parapan Am Games, His Worship Mayor Rob Ford and Chief William K. Montour, Elected Chief, Six Nations of the Grand River Territory.

As the 2011 Pan American Games continue with sport competitions in Guadalajara, TO2015 and its government partners are in Mexico to take part in their official role in the Closing Ceremony in the Omnilife Stadium on October 30.

"The handover component of the Closing Ceremony marks a key milestone on the road to the Toronto 2015 Games," said Ian Troop, TO2015 Chief Executive Officer. "With the unified support of our government partners, accepting the Pan Am flag officially means we're next!"

Along with participation from Mexican and Canadian dignitaries, specific protocol involving the Pan American Sports Organization (PASO) flag is strictly followed in the Handover Ceremony.

"Having representatives of all our government partners at the ceremony provides a strong signal to everyone in the Americas that Toronto, our venue municipalities, the Province of Ontario and Canada are all working together to make sure that a warm welcome and top-notch experience awaits all Games participants in 2015," added Troop.

"Ontario is proud to be the next host region of the Pan/Parapan Am Games," said Sousa. "We are well on the way to hosting an event in Ontario that will welcome more than 10,000 athletes and officials, draw more than 250,000 visitors, create 15,000 jobs, trigger infrastructure development and showcase our province on an international stage."

"Toronto is proud to be hosting the Pan/Parapan American Games in 2015," said City of Toronto's Mayor Rob Ford. "The Games will be great for the city. They will generate investment in our sporting infrastructure, create a positive economic impact and showcase Toronto to hundreds of thousands of visitors. I look forward to representing Toronto in Guadalajara and to being part of the official handover celebrations with our other government partners."

"As a proud supporter of the 2015 Pan and Parapan American Games, our Government will continue to work with our partners to create a remarkable sport experience for athletes and fans," said the Honourable Bal Gosal, Minister of State (Sport). "We recognize that hosting these Games in Toronto will create opportunities for economic, cultural and community development. We look forward to working together to proudly welcome the Americas to Toronto in 2015."

Near the midway point of the two-hour Closing Ceremony that will celebrate the excitement and achievements of the Guadalajara 2011 Games, the protocol-driven flag handover segment will take place.

Following the declaration of Toronto as the next Host City of the Games, an eight-minute creative presentation will give the nearly 50,000 spectators in the Stadium, and those watching the broadcast throughout the Americas, a taste of what's to come in Toronto in less than four years.

"Every minute counts as we showcase the creative blend of culture and athletics that makes Toronto a unique region of the world," said Troop. "With a French-Canadian flair, a tribute to our Aboriginal history and a celebration of Latin American and Caribbean music, the invitation is clear: Toronto is the place to be in 2015."

The Closing Ceremony for the Pan Am Games will air Sunday, October 30 beginning at 8:00 pm (Eastern Time) on cbcsports.ca.

About the Toronto 2015 Pan/Parapan American Games

The Pan American Games are one of the world's largest international multi-sport events, held every four years for athletes of the 41 member nations of the Pan American Sports Organization (PASO). The Games comprise all Olympic Summer Games sports, as well as traditional Pan American sports. The Toronto 2015 Pan/Parapan American Games will draw 10,000 athletes and officials and feature 48 sports in 17 municipalities across the Greater Golden Horseshoe area. The Toronto 2015 Pan American Games will take place July 10-26 and the Parapan American Games August 7-14.

For more information about the Games, please visit toronto2015.org.

Quality of life for women an issue

2011-10-25T06:13:00.000-07:00

Canadian researchers find that in some matters of the heart, women do not fare as well as men

VANCOUVER, October 25, 2011 /Canada NewsWire/ - A Heart and Stroke Foundation study has found that women under age 55 fare worse than their male counterparts following a heart attack - and their health status declines more than that of their male counterparts after one month.

The AMI55 study found that women between the ages of 20 and 55 had significantly worse physical limitations, more recurrences of chest pain, and worse quality of life than men one month after a heart attack - and, compared to their baseline scores, declined in the areas of physical limitations and recurrences of chest pain. Among men, only physical limitations worsened from baseline to one month.

"While the high prevalence of traditional cardiac risk factors like diabetes, smoking, and high blood pressure contribute, they do not fully explain the poorer outcome in women," says Dr. Karin Humphries, Heart and Stroke Foundation Professor in Women's Cardiovascular Health at UBC. "This is why our study focuses on exploring non-traditional risk factors such as depression, anxiety, and social support."

Dr. Humphries attributes the slower recovery of women in part to prevalent social and cultural standards that typically place women in this age group in the role of primary caregiver.

"These women are likely not getting the support they need to recover from a heart attack," she says. "Women are less likely to attend cardiac rehabilitation than their male counterparts even when they are referred. We need to help women overcome their barriers to this essential part of their recovery."

Explanations for the difference in outcomes, she says, may be that women are presenting to hospital later, are less likely to believe they're having a heart attack, are more likely to put off seeking treatment and often ignore or under-report their symptoms. Additionally, they are less aggressively investigated for heart disease.

She adds that outcomes in younger women could likely be improved by increased awareness of risk factors and of heart attack symptoms.

The study looked at 286 patients 55 years of age or younger, including 75 females, from five B.C. hospitals. Researchers collected baseline data when patients arrived following a heart attack, and followed up on demographic, clinical, and psychosocial characteristics at one, six, and 12 months.

In B.C. alone, more than 1,000 adults under age 55 are admitted to hospital each year following a heart attack. Of these, 25 per cent are women.

"Our findings show that there is still a lot of room for improvement," says co-researcher Mona Izadnegahdar, a PhD candidate in epidemiology at the UBC School of Population and Public Health. "We can improve these odds by increasing awareness of warning signs and symptoms of heart attack, recognizing and managing cardiac risk factors, as well as knowing about and accessing cardiac resources such as rehabilitation programs."

The researchers also found in the same group of patients that, while chest pain was the most common heart attack symptom in both men and women, the women suffered a higher severity of chest pain. They also had a wider range of other pain symptoms than men, including neck and throat pain, and left arm and shoulder pain.

"This research is consistent with other studies suggesting that women suffer worse quality of life with a diagnosis of heart disease," says Heart and Stroke Foundation spokesperson Dr. Beth Abramson. "Heart disease is a leading cause of death of women in Canada. Being aware of the warning signs and acting on them quickly can save lives and improve health outcomes."

She says that women and their family members should talk to their doctors, be aware of any symptoms, and understand that heart attacks can happen to them too.

Dr. Abramson encourages women to find out how they can protect their heart health through the Foundation's The Heart Truth™ campaign (thehearttruth.ca), which educates women about identifying their risks and warning signs of heart disease and stroke, and shows them how to make lifestyle changes and take action to reduce their risk by as much as 80 per cent.

The warning signs of a heart attack - for women and men - are:

...Chest discomfort (uncomfortable chest pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain, burning or heaviness)

...Discomfort in other areas of the upper body (neck, jaw, shoulder, arms, back)

...Shortness of breath

...Sweating

...Nausea

...Light-headedness

If you are experiencing any of these signs, call 9-1-1 or your local emergency number immediately.

The study was presented at the Canadian Cardiovascular Congress 2011, co-hosted by the Heart and Stroke Foundation and the Canadian Cardiovascular Society.

Simple lifestyle changes can add a decade or more healthy years to the average lifespan of Canadians, says international expert

2011-10-21T05:37:00.000-07:00

Sharpened focus on prevention strategies would save billions of dollars in health costs

VANCOUVER, October 21, 2011 /Canada NewsWire/ - Health prevention strategies to help Canadians achieve their optimal health potential could add a decade or more of healthy years to the average lifespan and save the economy billions of dollars as a result of reduced cardiovascular disease, says noted cardiologist Dr. Clyde Yancy.

Dr. Yancy, who will deliver the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada Lecture at the opening ceremonies of the Canadian Cardiovascular Congress in Vancouver this Sunday, will tell delegates that people who follow seven simple steps to a healthy life can expect to live an additional 40 to 50 years after the age of 50.

"Achieving these seven simple lifestyle factors gives people a 90 per cent chance of living to the age of 90 or 100, free of not only heart disease and stroke but from a number of other chronic illnesses including cancer," says Dr. Yancy, a professor of medicine and chief of cardiology at the Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine. He is also the past-president of the American Heart Association.

"By following these steps, we can compress life-threatening disease into the final stages of life and maintain quality of life for the longest possible time." He predicts that, if we act now, we can reverse the tide by 2020.

According to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, every year in Canada about 250,000 potential years of life are lost due to heart disease and stroke, which are two of the three leading causes of death in Canada.

Canadians can achieve optimal health, says Dr. Yancy, by following these steps:

1. GET ACTIVE: Inactivity can shave almost four years off a person's expected lifespan. People who are physically inactive are twice as likely to be at risk for heart disease or stroke.

2. KNOW AND CONTROL CHOLESTEROL LEVELS: Almost 40 per cent of Canadian adults have high blood cholesterol, which can lead to the build up of fatty deposits in your arteries - increasing your risk for heart disease and stroke.

3. FOLLOW A HEALTHY DIET: Healthy eating is one of the most important things you can do to improve your health - yet about half of Canadians don't meet the healthy eating recommendations.

4. KNOW AND CONTROL BLOOD PRESSURE: High blood pressure - often called a 'silent killer' because it has no warning signs or symptoms - affects one in five Canadians. By knowing and controlling your blood pressure, you can cut your risk of stroke by up to 40 per cent and the risk of heart attack by up to 25 per cent.

5. ACHIEVE AND MAINTAIN A HEALTHY WEIGHT: Almost 60 per cent of Canadian adults are either overweight or obese - major risk factors for heart disease and stroke. Being obese can reduce your life span by almost four years.

6. MANAGE DIABETES: By 2016 an estimated 2.4 million Canadians will live with diabetes. Diabetes increases the risk of high blood pressure, atherosclerosis (narrowing of the arteries), coronary artery disease, and stroke, particularly if your blood sugar levels are poorly controlled.

7. BE TOBACCO FREE: More than 37,000 Canadians die prematurely each year due to tobacco use, and thousands of non-smokers die each year from exposure to second-hand smoke. As soon as you become smoke-free, your risk of heart disease and stroke begins to decrease. After 15 years, your risk will be nearly that of a non-smoker.

A call for focused prevention strategies

While this goal of optimal health has been achieved by fewer than 10 per cent of the population, "it demonstrates the striking potential that prevention has if it is broadly embraced," says Dr. Yancy. "We know how to prevent heart disease and stroke - we now need to build the tools to empower our citizens to manage their risk and prevent heart disease."

Dr. Yancy calls on governments to invest in steady and focused prevention strategies. He says that necessary initiatives include a change in current sodium policies, continued progress in tobacco control initiatives, increased green space, and health education.

"Healthy living is key to preventing heart disease and stroke," says Bobbe Wood, president of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada. "The Foundation is committed to raising awareness about heart health and to promoting public policies that facilitate healthy lifestyles and communities."

She says that the Foundation will continue to build on partnerships and policies that have led to a significant reduction of trans fats in the Canadian food supply; stronger tobacco control initiatives; healthy community design; and a continued reduction in the amount of salt in our food products, which has been achieved in part through Health Check™, the Foundation's flagship food information program.

Dr. Yancy adds that improved access to health care that focuses on prevention and control of important risk factors including high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes is also key.

Raising the alarm over looming costs of treating heart disease

Dr. Yancy will also raise the alarm over the looming cost of treating heart disease now and in the future.

With predictions that the direct medical cost of treating heart disease in the U.S. alone could climb to $818 billion in 2030, he says there is a health and economic imperative for governments and societies around the world to embrace prevention strategies.

Heart disease and stroke cost the Canadian economy more than $20.9 billion every year in physician services, hospital costs, lost wages and decreased productivity.

"The opportunity for prevention is not an unrealistic expectation," says Dr. Yancy. "Over the past 40 years the rates of heart disease and stroke have steadily declined."

The rate has declined in Canada by 70 per cent since the mid-1950s. In the last decade alone, the rate has declined by 25 per cent.

Unfortunately, says Dr. Yancy, these benefits may be short-lived if the burden of risk, specifically obesity and diabetes, continues to grow, especially in children. "We need to act now."

Canadians can take a personalized My Heart&Stroke Risk Assessment™ to find out how their age, family history, and medical conditions affect their heart health at heartandstroke.ca/risk.

Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada Lecturer Dr. Clyde Yancy will deliver the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada Lecture at the opening ceremonies of the Canadian Cardiovascular Congress (CCC) in Vancouver this Sunday.

Co-hosted by the Canadian Cardiovascular Society and the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, CCC is Canada's largest scientific conference, attracting close to 4,000 heart-health professionals from across the country.

Attendees representing 20 different organizations, including surgeons, pediatric specialists, cardiologists, nurses, rehab professionals, and others learn about the latest science and cutting-edge research, and take it back to their patients. The Congress runs until October 26.

Statements and conclusions of study authors are solely those of the study authors and do not necessarily reflect Foundation or CCS policy or position. The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada and the Canadian Cardiovascular Society make no representation or warranty as to their accuracy or reliability.

The Heart and Stroke Foundation ( heartandstroke.ca), a volunteer-based health charity, leads in eliminating heart disease and stroke and reducing their impact through the advancement of research and its application, the promotion of healthy living, and advocacy.

Study Finds Link Between Colon Cancer, Bacteria

2011-10-20T08:21:00.000-07:00

The Poopy Lab does have a distinctive smell, but you get used to it, say these U of G researchers - photo credit: the Portico

GUELPH, Ontario October 20, 2011 - University of Guelph - News Release

A research team including University of Guelph scientists has found for the first time that a specific gut microbe is connected to colorectal cancer.

The finding may help researchers design a simpler screening tool for diagnosing tumours and, ultimately, find a more effective way to prevent one of the most deadly kinds of cancer, said U of G Prof. Emma Allen-Vercoe, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology.

Two research teams published papers online this week in Genome Research that identify a link between Fusobacterium nucleatum and colon cancer. This particular microbe is found more often in colon cancer tissue than in normal tissue, said Allen-Vercoe.

She co-authored one of those papers along with PhD student Jaclyn Strauss and researchers at Simon Fraser University in British Columbia and the B.C. Cancer Agency. The team was led by B.C. scientist Robert Holt.

“I think this is really exciting,” said Allen-Vercoe. “If we can show that Fusobacterium is involved directly or indirectly, I think there’s a lot of potential to develop interventions such as a vaccine to reduce colonization by this bacterium.”

She cautioned that any vaccine or other treatment may be years or decades away. Scientists still don’t know whether the microbe actually causes the disease or is only associated with it.

But they hope doctors might be able to use the microbe to screen for colon cancer, perhaps by testing blood or stool samples instead of subjecting many people to complicated and invasive colonoscopies.

In 2011, an estimated 22,200 Canadians will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer and 8,900 will die of it, according to Canadian Cancer Society statistics. It’s the second leading cause of cancer death among men and women combined.

F. nucleatum is a known pathogen, but it is rare and had not been associated earlier with cancer, said Holt.

In her Guelph microbiology lab, Allen-Vercoe cultured a strain of the bacterium from colon tumour biopsy samples. Her collaborators subsequently determined the strain’s genetic sequence.

Earlier, her U of G team found evidence that patients with inflammatory bowel disease have more F. nucleatum – and more virulent strains -- in their gut than people without the ailment.

Allen-Vercoe is one of only a few Canadian researchers on an international project cataloguing the genomes of all microbes found on or in the human body.

10 Myths and Facts About Water...We all need water to live, but how much do we really know about it?

2011-10-17T08:37:00.000-07:00

From the truth about drinking eight glasses of water per day to refilling plastic bottles, here's what you should know about water benefits.

from Everyday Health.com
By Wyatt Myers
Medically reviewed by Niya Jones MD, MPH

For something so seemingly simple and essential as drinking water, plenty of myths and misconceptions exist about possible water benefits and harms.

Learn how to separate the myths from the facts about drinking water.

1. Everyone needs to drink eight glasses of water a day.

Myth. Though water is the easiest and most economical fluid to keep you hydrated, the latest Institute of Medicine recommendation is that women should strive for about two liters or eight glasses a day and men should aim for three liters or 12 glasses a day of any fluid, not just water. “No one can figure out where this ‘eight glasses of water’ came from, but I believe it came from the old RDA [recommended daily allowance] for water that matched water requirements to calorie requirements,” notes Georgia Chavent, MS, RD, director of the Nutrition and Dietetics Program at the University of New Haven in West Haven, Conn. “The new requirement from the Institute of Medicine is much more generous and includes recommendations for total beverage consumption, not just water.”

2. Drinking water flushes toxins from your body.

Fact. Though water doesn’t necessarily neutralize toxins, the kidneys do use water to get rid of certain waste products. If you don’t drink enough water, your kidneys don’t have the amount of fluid they need to do their job properly. “If the body does not have sufficient water, then metabolic wastes will not be removed as efficiently as they should,” explains Amy Hess-Fischl, RD, CDE, of the University of Chicago Kovler Diabetes Center. “In essence, the body would be holding in toxins instead of expelling them, as is required for proper health.”

3. Bottled water can cause tooth decay.

Myth. Bottled water in and of itself doesn’t cause the teeth to decay, but it usually doesn’t contain any fluoride, which is added to tap water to help prevent tooth decay. “Fluoride is an important element in the mineralization of bone and teeth,” says Constance Brown-Riggs, RD, CDE, author of The African American Guide To Living Well With Diabetes and a nutritionist and certified diabetes educator in New York City. “With the increased consumption of bottled water, which is not fluoridated, there has been an increase in dental cavities.”

4. Drinking water can help keep your skin moist.

Myth. While it used to be believed that staying properly hydrated led to youthful, vibrant skin, the reality is that the amount of water you drink probably has very little to do with what your skin looks like. “Unless the individual is severely dehydrated, drinking large quantities of water will not prevent dry skin,” Hess-Fischl says. “Basically, the moisture level of skin is not determined by internal factors. Instead, external factors such as skin cleansing, the environment, the number of oil glands, and the functioning of these oil-producing glands determine how dry the skin is or will become. The water that is consumed internally will not reach the epidermis [the top layer of the skin].”

5. Drinking water helps you lose weight.

Fact. Drinking water won’t specifically trigger weight loss, but it can aid in the process. Water replaces other calorie-laden beverages in the diet, causing you to reduce your overall number of calories. Plus, it can make you feel fuller, so you may eat less at each meal. Water, particularly cold water, may even play a role in increasing your metabolism. “A new study seems to indicate that drinking water actually speeds up weight loss,” says Tanya Zuckerbrot, MS, RD, owner of Tanya Zuckerbrot Nutrition, LLC, in New York City. “Researchers in Germany found that subjects of the study increased their metabolic rates [or the rate at which calories are burned] by 30 percent after drinking approximately 17 ounces of water.”

Continue reading page 2 of this article.

Learn more in the Everyday Health Diet and Nutrition Center.

New survey reveals inflammatory arthritis affects quality of life

2011-10-16T06:21:00.000-07:00

Half of respondents say they are unable to work full-time and nearly 75% say inflammatory arthritis affects daily activities

MONTREAL, October 12, 2011 /Canada NewsWire/ - A new survey of 3,000 Canadians living with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), and ankylosing spondylitis (AS) reveals that Canadians feel that their inflammatory arthritis interferes with their overall happiness, and prevents them from enjoying many of their favourite activities.

The survey was conducted by Abbott to reveal the extent to which inflammatory arthritis affects the daily lives of people who live with these diseases. Arthritis and other rheumatic conditions currently affect nearly 4.5 million Canadians, with arthritis being among the top three most common chronic diseases in Canada.*

The economic burden of arthritis in Canada is estimated at $4.4 billion annually**. Among the survey respondents, 34% said that they have been living with their chronic illness for 20 or more years. Respondents indicated that their illness has affected their productivity level at work and home, with 48% stating that it prevents them from working full-time hours.

Donald Karp, who was diagnosed in his twenties with AS, understands what it means to lose the ability to live a normal life:

"You never know when your mobility will be affected. At 23 years old I was diagnosed and eventually had to quit my job at an oil and gas company due to the pain. I thought that my life was changed forever. But since I started treatment a few years ago, I feel that I have been given my life back - I am living pain free and I'm working full-time again. But even more amazingly, I've been able to get back into snowboarding, which I love, and I'm even able to compete nationally. That's a huge change from not being able to stand up if I sneezed, because of the pain in my back.

"I would encourage anyone living with inflammatory arthritis to not just accept living with pain but to work with their doctor to get a proper diagnosis and to find a treatment that works for them. In my case, diagnosis took a few years and then a few years more to find the treatment that worked for me. So don't give up," adds Karp.

The study revealed some interesting facts about living with inflammatory arthritis:

...73% said their chronic illness affected their day to day activities at home or at work

...42% of participants thought their chronic illness interfered with their hobbies or recreational activities

...67% of participants said they haven't been able to enjoy all the activities they used to do prior to the occurrence of their symptoms

...Women had a more negative outlook on their overall health than men with 42% of women stating they thought they were in good health compared to 44% of men

...48% said their chronic illness prevents them from working full-time hours

"When most people think of arthritis, it is osteoarthritis that comes to mind. It is critically important to shed light on inflammatory arthritis and the dramatic effect it has on people's lives," says Dr. Carter Thorne, rheumatologist in Newmarket. "Inflammatory arthritis can strike at any age - most people don't realize that even children as young as 18 months can be hit with arthritis. People with these conditions often wait a significant period of time before they are diagnosed, and many come to just accept that pain and restricted activity are a part of their lives. But with the advances we have made in treatment in the past decade, that doesn't need to be the case. We now have the ability to help people with inflammatory arthritis get back to living life and being productive."

"Patients often don't know where to turn for information about living with inflammatory arthritis," says Kathy Drouin, a registered nurse at the Ottawa Hospital Arthritis Centre. "These are illnesses that don't just affect your joints; they affect your whole life. This disease affects your happiness and your relationships with friends and family. To cope with such an illness, I recommend that patients talk with their healthcare providers and visit support websites such as myhealthmyfuture.ca, which was designed specifically for people living with inflammatory disease. It provides unbiased information, resources and support for patients as well as for their family and friends. Many people are afraid of what their life is going to be like now that they have been diagnosed with inflammatory arthritis. Hearing from someone like Donald who has been through a similar journey and is so optimistic can really help."

About the survey

From May 27 to June 30, 2011, an online survey was conducted among Canadian adults living with rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis who are Angus Reid Forum panel members and ICOM. The margin of error on the full base — which measures sampling variability — is +/- 2.62%. Discrepancies in or between totals are due to rounding.

About Abbott

Abbott is a global, broad-based health care company devoted to the discovery, development, manufacture and marketing of pharmaceuticals and medical products, including nutritionals, devices and diagnostics. The company employs nearly 90,000 people and markets its products in more than 130 countries.

Abbott has been operating in Canada since 1931 and its Canadian operations are headquartered in Montreal, Quebec. Abbott Canada employs more than 2,000 people. Visit www.abbott.com, www.abbott.ca for more information.

*Life with Arthritis in Canada - A personal and public health challenge by Public Health Agency of Canada release in 2010.

**The Burden of Arthritis in Canada
http://www.uhn.ca/donate/aarc/site/aa_diseases/aa_facts.asp

Inspirational Lifelong Learning Quotes

2011-10-15T07:05:00.000-07:00

Join the Impowerage Facebook Page to keep up-to-date with the latest articles, contests and discussions. For every new fan we'll donate $1 to the CNIB to fund the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of eye disease affecting older adults up to $5000.

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University of Guelph Launches BetterPlanet Project Speaker Series

2011-10-14T13:00:00.000-07:00

GUELPH, Ontario, October 12, 2011 - University of Guelph Campus Bulletin

A new speaker series at the University of Guelph will highlight the many ways that faculty, staff and students make a difference here and around the world.

The series, which begins Oct. 19, complements the University’s BetterPlanet Project, a capital campaign to help improve the quality of food, environment, health and communities locally and globally.

The U of G community inspired the campaign, said Chuck Cunningham, assistant vice-president (communications and public affairs).

“Our faculty, staff, students and alumni are making it a better planet every day through teaching, research, and community outreach and engagement,” he said.

“For decades, they’ve crossed borders as researchers, teachers and volunteers, worked locally and nationally to make a difference, and sought to change science and society with their ideas. The BetterPlanet Project is our way of showing that to the world.”

The series gives U of G community members a new way to share their efforts, knowledge and experience, Cunningham said.

Lectures will be free and open to the U of G community and general public. Talks will be recorded for podcast. All talks will be held from noon to 1 p.m. in the University Centre, Room 103. Seating will be on a first-come, first-served basis.

The first speaker will be U of G English professor Dionne Brand, a renowned poet and author. On Oct. 19, she will discuss how poems and novels promise a better world. Brand is Toronto’s poet laureate. She has won the Griffin Poetry Prize, the Governor General’s Award for Poetry, the Trillium Prize for Literature, the Pat Lowther Award for Poetry, the Harbourfront Festival Prize and the Toronto Book Award. Her writing has been translated into Italian and French, and is published in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Italy and Germany.

On Nov. 22, faculty and staff will discuss their experiences with Leave for Change.

President Alastair Summerlee will speak Jan. 19, 2012, on his work with African relief projects.

Introduction to the BetterPlanet Project by Alastair Summerlee, President of the University of Guelph http://thebetterplanetproject.ca

Sandwich Generation healthier, wealthier but worried

2011-10-08T07:14:00.000-07:00

Relying heavily on public care for parents and concerned about impact on their own lives

TORONTO, October 5, 2011 /Canada NewsWire Telbec/ - Canadian parents who also provide support to their own parents are in better physical, psychological and financial health than the average Canadian. But these members of the "Sandwich Generation" are also concerned about the impact that the eldercare is having on many aspects of their lives, according to the most recent health survey conducted by Desjardins Financial Security (DFS).

The majority of the survey respondents feel their physical, mental and financial health is excellent, very good or good. Within this same group, the demographic who live with children and provide daily assistance to their parents rated themselves even higher:

...92 percent said their physical health was excellent, very good or good compared to 83.8 percent in Canada;

...94.2 percent said their psychological health was excellent, very good or good compared to 88.7 percent;

...70.2 percent said their personal financial security was excellent, very good or good compared to 57.2 percent overall.

"The Sandwich Generation seems ready to deal with the challenges of supporting both parents and children simultaneously," says Nathalie Tremblay, health products manager at Desjardins Financial Security. "But they know that this is going to affect their lives in many different ways."

The survey results indicate that people who provide daily support to their parents totally or somewhat agree that this assistance impacts:

...Their mental health (67.3 percent)

...The well-being of their family (62.4 percent)

...Their physical health (60.1 percent)

...Their professional life (58.2 percent)

Sandwich Generation plan to rely heavily on health care system

Another survey conducted by DFS this spring indicated that 58.4 percent of Canadians identified government-funded home care as one of the three most important resources to help them assist their parents in their daily activities.

"This is an alarming statistic," says Bart Mindszenthy, co-author of the best seller Parenting Your Parents and expert in elderly family caregiving. "It's my feeling that the health care system simply can't effectively cope with the number of people requiring care as our population ages."

This reliance on the health care system is even more pronounced among Canadians already trying to balance the needs of children and elderly parents in the more recent health survey. While 59.1 percent of Canadians were confident that their parents would have easy access to publicly-funded home care in the case of a critical illness, that figure rose to 68.2 for those living with children and also providing daily support to their parents.

Creating a plan

The survey also found that only 18.9 percent of respondents have worked with their parents to develop a plan for ongoing care. Although many of the Sandwich Generation clearly understand the need for a plan, 52.6 percent of people who live with children and provide daily assistance to parents don't have one in place.

"This result is not surprising—it's a difficult conversation to have," says Tremblay. "Nonetheless, it's a reality that we do need to face, however difficult. A little planning can dramatically change the conditions in which our parents live."

Mindszenthy agrees.

"We can't assume that publicly-funded health care will have the resources needed to keep aging loved ones safe and comfortable. In fact, we must plan for how we're going to actively support the needs of our parents as they age."

About the Survey

SOM Surveys, Opinion Polls and Marketing conducted this Web survey on behalf of Desjardins Financial Security from August 10 to 23, 2011. In total, 3,120 questionnaires were completed with a sample of Canadian Web panellists aged 18 to 64 years old. The data was weighted to reflect the distribution of the Canadian population aged 18 to 64 years old in terms of gender and mother tongue distributions in 14 regions (Atlantic Provinces, Montreal CMA and elsewhere in Quebec, Toronto CMA and elsewhere in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Calgary CMA and elsewhere in Alberta, Vancouver CMA and elsewhere in British Columbia). The data was also weighted to reflect the population distributions in terms of the joint age-gender distribution and the proportion of adults who live alone in Quebec, Ontario and elsewhere in Canada.

About Desjardins Financial Security

Desjardins Financial Security, a subsidiary of Desjardins Group, the leading cooperative financial group in Canada, specializes in providing life insurance, health insurance and retirement savings products to individuals and groups. Every day over five million Canadians rely on DFS to ensure their financial security. DFS employs over 4,000 people and administers 27.4 billion in assets from offices in several cities across the country including Vancouver, Calgary, Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Quebec City, Lévis, Halifax and St. John's. For more information, visit the website at www.desjardinsfinancialsecurity.com.

CIBC Poll: Ontarians dream of retiring debt free at age 63

2011-10-06T07:17:00.000-07:00

Ontario residents envision saving enough money to choose their retirement date, however national results indicate that optimism fades as retirement approaches

TORONTO, October 6, 2011 /Canada NewsWire/ - Ontarians anticipate saving enough to retire at age 63, and most see themselves entering retirement without debt according to a new CIBC (TSX: CM ) (NYSE: CM) poll conducted by Harris/Decima. However, national results show that as Canadians draw closer to retirement they become less optimistic about reaching their savings goals and see it as more likely they'll carry at least some debt into retirement.

Findings of the poll include:

...On average, Ontario respondents believe they will retire at age 63.

...When asked why they would ultimately retire, the most popular answer among Ontario residents was that they will have saved enough money to choose to retire (35 per cent)

...Only 21 per cent of Ontarians believe they will carry some debt into retirement. Nationally, 22 per cent of Canadians believe they will carry debt into retirement. However past CIBC research shows that among retired Canadians, 54 per cent hold some form of debt

"Our CIBC Poll shows that Ontarians set out with a vision of building up their savings and eliminating debt to retire at a time of their choosing, but with each passing year we see that Canadians feel less optimistic about their plans," said Christina Kramer, Executive Vice-President, Retail Distribution and Channel Strategy, CIBC. "These findings demonstrate the importance of having a plan in place and making progress towards your goals every year, to give you the flexibility to make choices about when and how you retire."

Nationally, a key finding of the poll is that as Canadians near retirement, their optimism in reaching their savings goals for retirement drops:

For example, 43 per cent of Canadians aged 25-34 feel they will be able to choose to retire based on the savings they will accumulate over their working life

However, for those at the leading edge of the baby boom (aged 55-64) that number drops to just 21 per cent

"As Canadians get closer to retirement, many are finding they have not achieved the retirement savings goals they set for themselves, which could lead to Canadians either working longer than they anticipated, or making adjustments to their retirement such as reducing expenses to stretch their income further," added Ms. Kramer.

Canadians also see their debt being repaid by the time they retire, but as retirement draws closer this also is viewed as less likely:

For example, only 15 per cent of those in the 25-34 age group believe they'll carry any debt into retirement

That number doubles to 31 per cent for those 55-64 years of age.

Past CIBC polls show that Ontarians believe they will be debt free by age 54, but many don't reach this target. As debt is carried closer to Ontarians' target retirement age of 63 outlined in this poll, it can restrict the cash flow available for savings and may lead to Ontario residents missing the savings goals they have set for themselves.

"Your finances are all connected, meaning the more effective you are at debt management, the more funds you have available to accelerate savings for retirement," commented Ms. Kramer. "Sitting down with an advisor to map out a strategy that addresses both your savings and debt management plans is an integral step to achieving your long term savings goals and enjoying the retirement you want."

Each week, Harris/Decima interviews just over 1000 Canadians through teleVox, the company's national telephone omnibus survey. These data were gathered in a sample of 1,116 employed Canadians and 683 retired Canadians between September 8th and 19th, 2011, among which a total of 341 employed Ontarians were surveyed. A sample of this size has a margin of error of +/-2.9%, 3.7%, and 5.3% respectively, 19 times out of 20.

CIBC is a leading North American financial institution with nearly 11 million personal banking and business clients. CIBC offers a full range of products and services through its comprehensive electronic banking network, branches and offices across Canada, and has offices in the United States and around the world. For information about CIBC visit their corporate website at www.cibc.com.

Three years later, majority of Canadians still unclear about TFSAs

2011-10-03T07:56:00.000-07:00

photo credit: brian.chvia Flickr

Almost one in five Canadians say they don't understand the benefits of the TFSA
Canadians 55+ are the biggest users and contributors to the category

TORONTO, October 3, 2011 /Canada NewsWire/ - It's been almost three years since the Federal Government introduced Tax-Free Savings Accounts (TFSAs), but a new survey from ING DIRECT reveals the majority of Canadians are still unclear about them. Those surveyed indicated they have a vague idea (37%) or don't understand how the TFSA works (14%), while 13% of Canadians said they don't know what a TFSA is.

A similar survey conducted in 2008 found 39% of Canadians had a vague idea about the TFSA, suggesting awareness hasn't increased that much in the last three years.

"The Tax-Free Savings Account is the most important savings vehicle we've been given since the RRSP was introduced in the 1950s, so it's discouraging that Canadians still aren't fully aware of it," said Peter Aceto, President and CEO of ING DIRECT Canada. "Also, less than half of Canadians say they have a TFSA, meaning the majority of us still aren't taking advantage of saving tax-free."

Who's using the TFSA?

...Of the 41% of Canadians who have a TFSA, 46% earn $100K+ per year, versus 34% who earn less than $50K.

...Of the Canadians who have a TFSA, those aged 35-54 are least represented at 36% versus older (48%) and younger (40%) age brackets.

...Older Canadians (55+) indicated they fully understand what a TFSA is, versus 28% of those 18-34 years and 31% of those 35-54 years.

...56% of those aged 35-55+ indicated they use their TFSA for retirement savings versus 11% of those aged 18-34.

...Those aged 55+ have used more than half the contribution room available ($8,395) whereas those aged 18-34 have used less than a third of the contribution available ($4,538).

Canadians see the TFSA as long-term investment, but treat it as a regular savings account

Seventy per cent of Canadians said they felt the TFSA was a long-term savings vehicle, however only 24% of respondents indicated they use the TFSA primarily for retirement savings. Almost half of Canadians (48%) say their TFSA is just another way of saving money, while 10% use their TFSAs as an emergency fund.

The survey also revealed that more Canadians are dipping into their TFSAs, with 31% of respondents admitting they've made a withdrawal from their account since they started saving, up from 20% last year. Those who withdrew funds said they needed the money for an emergency (54%), they used their TFSA to save for a goal and achieved it (17%) or they use their TFSA as a regular savings account (17%).

When asked what they would like the annual maximum TFSA contribution amount to be if they could choose to change it, a surprising number of Canadians (51%) indicated they would opt to increase the limit, with the largest percentage of respondents (19%) preferring to have $7,501 - $10,000 in annual contribution room. Despite wanting the option to increase their annual limits, only one in 10 Canadians has contributed close to the maximum contribution limit ($14,001 - $15,000). A quarter of Canadians have contributed less than half of their available TFSA contribution room.

"Canadians should really think of the TFSA as another vehicle through which they can build their investment portfolio," said Aceto. "As the contribution room grows each year, so do the benefits. Contributing early means you're taking advantage of both compound and tax-free interest."

ING DIRECT is Canada's leading direct bank with over 1.7 million Clients and more than $37.6 billion in total assets. ING DIRECT gives the power of saving to all Canadians by offering high-value, simple products such as high interest savings accounts with no fees or service charges, low rates on mortgages and a no-fee daily chequing account that actually pays interest. Low cost, index based mutual funds are sold through ING DIRECT Funds Limited. ING DIRECT has been operating in Canada since 1997 and paid more than $5 billion in interest to Clients. ING DIRECT is open for banking 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, at ingdirect.ca, on mobile devices at m.ingdirect.ca or by calling 1-800 ING DIRECT (1-800-464-3743).

About the Survey

From September 20 - September 21, an online survey was conducted among 1668 randomly selected Canadian adults who are Angus Reid Forum panelists. The margin of error—which measures sampling variability—is +/- 3.1%, 19 times out of 20. The results have been statistically weighted according to the most current education, age, gender and region Census data to ensure a sample representative of the entire adult population of Canada. Discrepancies in or between totals are due to rounding.

Patient-Centered Care the Defining Feature of the Patient's Medical Home

2011-09-22T08:01:00.000-07:00

CFPC releases vision for the future of family practice in Canada: The Patient's Medical Home

OTTAWA, September 21, 2011 /Canada NewsWire/ - The College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) today released "A Vision for Canada: Family Practice: The Patient's Medical Home" that provides goals and recommendations for timely access to medical and health care services for all Canadians through their family practice settings.

"Canadians want timely access to health care, and better coordinated care for all their health care needs," said Dr. Robert Boulay, President of the CFPC. "They want a personal family doctor to provide and coordinate their care. Most people without a family doctor want one, and those with family physicians want timely access to appointments. Patients also want better access to appointments and coordination of information related to care they need throughout the rest of the health care community - be it consultations with other specialists, hospital and emergency department care, long term care, pharmacies, labs, diagnostic imaging, physiotherapy and other treatment centers or services needed in their own homes. The vision of the 'Patient's Medical Home' aims to meet the needs of Canadians for a family practice which will serve as the hub, or home base to provide or arrange and coordinate the range of medical and health care services needed by its patients."

"In keeping with the history of the specialty of family medicine, Patients' Medical Homes are patient-centred, focused on meeting the health and wellness needs of each person and providing enhanced opportunities for participation of patients in both their own care as well as the decisions related to the delivery of services in the practice," said Dr. Calvin Gutkin, CFPC Executive Director and CEO. "With a team of health professionals, nurses and others working together - physically or virtually - with the patient's family physician, Canadians will benefit from timely access to comprehensive, continuing, coordinated care centered on their needs. The CFPC vision is that every person in Canada - whether they live in a rural, suburban or urban community, will have the opportunity to be part of a family practice that serves as their personal medical home."

"It is good news, " said CFPC President Elect Dr. Sandy Buchman "that over the past few years several family practice models incorporating the patient's medical home elements have begun to emerge in different parts of Canada with encouraging early results related to both patient and provider satisfaction. To make this work however will require ongoing system supports, including funding to support the transition from paper records to electronic medical records. The federal-provincial -territorial health accord that ends in 2014 must not only be extended for at least another decade, it must also maintain and augment its commitment to primary care and family practice which are essential to the health outcomes of our population."

The College of Family Physicians of Canada is the voice of family medicine in Canada. Representing over 26,000 family physician members across the country, it is the professional organization responsible for establishing standards for the training, certification and lifelong education of family physicians and for advocating on behalf of the specialty of family medicine, family physicians and their patients. The CFPC accredits postgraduate family medicine training in Canada's 17 medical schools.

Info online at Patient's Medical Home

Speak Your Mind about the 2011 Ontario Provincial Election

2011-09-22T07:07:00.000-07:00

New online forum for news, discussion and debate
launches for the Fall election

TORONTO, September 19, 2011 /Canada NewsWire/ - With the launch of Speak Your Mind, Ontarians now have an interactive platform that allows them to get informed and join the discussion around the important issues driving the 2011 Ontario provincial election. Speak Your Mind brings together news and opinions from community bloggers from each electoral district, insights from expert commentators, and readers' opinions. This content will be supplemented by editorial coverage from the Toronto Star newsroom.

"Speak Your Mind, convened by the Toronto Star, is for people with varying levels of political awareness and who want to be better informed about their election choices," says Kenyon Wallace, a journalist with the Toronto Star and host of the Speak Your Mind Twitter chats and videos. "This site is for everyone from first time voters who need an understanding of our political system, parties and candidates, to the politically savvy who want a forum to express their opinions. We also hope to reengage lapsed voters and to encourage young voters to become more involved in the election."

At Speak Your Mind visitors will find:

...Coverage from each electoral district by over 200 community correspondents
...Election coverage from Toronto Star journalists
...Expert opinions
...Snapshots of each party, their leaders and their campaign promises
...A candidate leaderboard based on media sentiment
...The Star's "Smell Test", an investigation and verification of the claims made by leaders and candidates
...Polls, discussions, trending topics and more

"People can read or watch the news each day, but Speak Your Mind is interactive, using social media tools, and provides a way for people to get involved in the news as it is happening," says Wallace. "It gives everyone a voice to have their concerns and opinions heard."

About Speak Your Mind ( http://speakyourmind.thestar.com, Facebook, Twitter)

Speak Your Mind is an online forum for commentary, discussion and debate convened by the Toronto Star.

About the Toronto Star and thestar.com

The Toronto Star, founded in 1892, is read in print and online (thestar.com) by 3.0 million readers. The Toronto Star is a division of Star Media Group, which includes Toronto.com, Torstar Syndication Services, The Grid, Sway and The Canadian Immigrant. Star Media Group also includes the jointly owned Metro free daily newspapers in Toronto, Ottawa, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Halifax, Winnipeg and London, Ont., and the Chinese language newspaper Sing Tao. Star Media Group is a division of Toronto Star Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary of Torstar Corporation.

Canada's first social network and online resource for families and friends of people with diabetes

2011-09-20T07:11:00.000-07:00

Announcing Diabetes Care Community.ca:

TORONTO, September 20, 2011 /Canada NewsWire/ - More than 20 people every hour of every day receive the often-shocking news: "you have diabetes". For both patients and families alike, it's a diagnosis that can lead to confusion, fear, and so many questions. How will they manage their own care? How can they ensure a healthier future?

There are so many diabetes-related websites and social media conversations, it can be difficult to find answers amid all the rumours and opinion. But now, a unique online community will enable Canadians to share their experiences with each other and gain valuable insight and practical tips from health care professionals.

Diabetes Care Community, Canada's first social network and resource for families of those living with someone with diabetes, is launching on September 15th, 2011. Diabetes affects lives, not only of the more than three million Canadians living with this condition, but also of the estimated three million more family and friends who play a key role as their caregivers. Now they have an online community to help them support and motivate their loved ones to better manage their condition.

"Diabetes Care Community has been created to connect Canadians with high quality information and expert advice from leaders in the field of diabetes", says Shelley Diamond, Pharmacist and President of the Diabetes Care Community Inc., "as well as to provide an area where members can connect to exchange experiences and support one another. There are a few diabetes social network sites in the U.S., but this is the first in Canada. The difference is that Diabetes Care Community uses Canadian reference values and refers to Canadian diabetes products which the user will be able to identify with."

Diabetes Care Community is guided by a six member advisory board [profiles attached]. Says board member Gail MacNeill, Manager, Leadership Sinai Centre for Diabetes in Toronto, "Online social networking provides people living with chronic diseases and their supporters a wonderful opportunity to share experiences and provides support to one another, yet the quality of the information in some of these digital arenas may not be credible. We will ensure that Diabetes Care Community provides our audience with reliable and trustworthy information through our expert bloggers as well as leadership from the advisory board, while providing people an area to connect through a separate channel within the site."

Site content include blogs from six leading health care professionals - two physicians, a nurse, a dietitian, a pharmacist and a social worker - writing about healthy eating, physical activity, emotional support, medication, 'Staying on Track' and 'What's New'.

The Diabetes Care Community focus is on families of people living with diabetes, yet it will appeal to all people involved in diabetes care - people with diabetes, their support network, and health care providers. The website also features a comprehensive list of available Canadian diabetes products through the Canadian Diabetes Product Directory.

If you are interested in learning more about this exciting new health care resource visit www.diabetescarecommunity.ca

DIABETES CARE COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD

Ian Blumer

Ian Blumer is a diabetes specialist in Toronto, Canada. Dr. Blumer is a member of the executive of the Canadian Diabetes Association. He is the recipient of the Canadian Diabetes Association Special Dedication Award. He is a director of the Charles H Best Diabetes Centre and has a teaching appointment with the University of Toronto. He is the author or co-author of 8 books including Diabetes for Canadians for Dummies, Diabetes Cookbook for Canadians for Dummies, Celiac Disease for Dummies, and has recently published his first novel. His books have been translated into French and Chinese. Dr. Blumer's web site is www.ourdiabetes.com.

Alice Cheng

Dr. Cheng is a member of the Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism at Credit Valley Hospital in Mississauga and St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto and is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Toronto. She completed medical school, internal medicine and Endocrinology training at the University of Toronto and has completed the Master Teacher Program offered through the Department of Medicine. She has served on the Expert Committee for the 2003 Canadian Diabetes Association clinical practice guidelines and the Steering and Expert Committees for the 2008 revision, along with the Dissemination & Implementation committee. She is serving as Chair for the 2013 CDA clinical practice guidelines. In addition to guideline development, Dr. Cheng has co-written several textbook chapters on dyslipidemia, diabetes and other endocrine topics and is actively involved in continuing medical education.

Shelley Diamond

Shelley Diamond graduated from the Faculty of Pharmacy at the University of Toronto. Following graduation she pursued a pharmacy residency at The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto where she worked as a clinical pharmacist for 10 years in general pediatric medicine and subsequently started the Drug Use Evaluation Program at the hospital. Since 1995, Shelley began her own independent pharmacy consulting company where she has consulted to Shoppers Drug Mart, Loblaw Corporations Limited and several other pharmaceutical companies. Shelley's work has involved developing and marketing patient and pharmacist education programs in the areas of children's health, asthma and diabetes and she has published articles in this area as well.

Joanne Lewis

Joanne Lewis is a Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Educator, working as Outreach Facilitator with the Toronto Central Diabetes RCC. Her responsibilities include coordination of diabetes services in the Toronto area. Joanne has previously worked with collaborative and multidisciplinary diabetes education teams in both community and hospital settings. Her focus for the past 17 years has been in diabetes self-management education. Joanne has developed and facilitated education programs for health professionals at The Michener Institute and is a faculty member of the Ontario Pharmacists Association in their Nutrition, Cardiovascular and Diabetes programs. She has served as an advisor and reviewer for several organizations, including the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario and the Canadian Journal of Diabetes. Joanne has presented at national and international diabetes conferences and workshops.

Gail MacNeill

Gail is a clinical nurse specialist and the manager of the Leadership Sinai Center for Diabetes at Mt. Sinai Hospital, Toronto. She has over 20 years experience in diabetes self-management education and treatment working in hospital, clinic, community and corporate settings. As a Certified Diabetes Educator, Gail has been a passionate advocate for the highest quality education to be available to all. She is the co-recipient of the Bayer Award for Educational Innovation due to her shared research and program entitled "Support the Supporters" and in 2008 Gail was honoured with the Educator of the year award by the Canadian Diabetes Association. Her volunteer work includes being chairperson of the Toronto Chapter of the Diabetes Educator Section and co-chair of the Scarborough chapter of the CDA. Gail is a clinical associate at the University of Toronto.

Gwen Morgan

Gwen Morgan is a Social Worker with over 20 years experience working with people with diabetes, and other chronic illness, in hospital care settings. Gwen specialized in running workshops on stress management and positive coping with diabetes. Along with Gail MacNeill, she received the Bayer Award for the 'Support the Supporters Program'. This was a program that uniquely focused on the families and friends of people who have diabetes, and how they could best support the person with diabetes, while at the same time meeting their own needs for emotional support. Gwen has extensive training in solution-focused, motivational and mindfulness therapies. She teaches mindfulness meditation and facilitates the 8-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction groups for people living with pain, chronic illness and diabetes.

Sustainability conference wraps up with a commitment to bring about change

2011-09-19T09:24:00.000-07:00

GUELPH, Ontario, September 19, 2011 /Canada NewsWire/ - The second edition of a conference that brought 165 Canadian students together with sustainability experts from business, non-governmental organizations and academia, wrapped up today with a commitment from participants to use their knowledge, skills and passion to build a more sustainable world. IMPACT! Youth Conference for Sustainability Leadership was a unique four-day event held in Guelph, Ontario, where students formulated ideas for more sustainable practices geared to ten systems including energy, water, food and transportation.

To help students make an impact in their communities and on their campuses, Kathy Bardswick, President and CEO of The Co-operators announced a further $75,000 for The Co-operators Foundation - IMPACT! Fund. This fund has already given $88,685 to support sustainability projects undertaken by alumni of the inaugural conference, held in 2009. The new funding will be available to support both 2009 and 2011 conference alumni.

At the beginning of the conference, it was also announced that IMPACT! alumni will fill 4 of twelve internship positions at the David Suzuki Foundation that are being sponsored by The Co-operators over the next four years.

"The 2009 conference showed us just how driven, committed and innovative these young people are when it comes to sustainability," Bardswick said. "And the new crop of participants this year was equally impressive. We're excited to be able to bring them together, to further their skills and knowledge, and to provide financial support to help them achieve their goals."

More than 850 students applied to the program. Participants were chosen from a variety of fields of study, perspectives and geography to ensure a diverse and multi-disciplinary approach. Prior to coming together at the host University of Guelph, each student completed approximately twenty-five hours of study.

The conference included two inspirational keynote addresses. David Suzuki, award-winning scientist, environmentalist and broadcaster, and co-founder of the David Suzuki Foundation, set the tone by outlining the challenges the younger generation faces in addressing ecological challenges. Jonathan Glencross, an alumnus of the 2009 conference, showed students they can make a difference at their schools and in their communities. His initiative, the Sustainable McGill Project, had the mission of integrating sustainability into the culture, curriculum and operations of the university. The project, which received funding from the IMPACT! Fund, was very successful and led to the creation of McGill's Office for Sustainability, and a Rethink Your Curriculum student engagement initiative.

Other speakers included experts in community engagement, networking and activism, poverty, ethics, business, government and the media relations, innovation and leadership, and people management. More information can be found at www.impactyouthsustainability.ca.

IMPACT! The Co-operators Youth Program for Sustainability Leadership is a partnership with the David Suzuki Foundation, The Natural Step Canada, the University of Guelph, the University of Saskatchewan Centre for the Study of Co-operatives, Wilfrid Laurier University, Lambton College, Conseil de la coopération de l'Ontario, AIESEC, and the Network for Business Sustainability.

President of Czech Republic to Give Inaugural Economics Lecture

2011-09-16T06:26:00.000-07:00

photo credit: Michael Thurm via Flickr

GUELPH, Ontario September 15, 2011 - University of Guelph News Release

A new annual visiting lecture series on international economics has been created by the University of Guelph’s Department of Economics and Finance with support from the College of Management and Economics. The series is intended to stimulate discussion among faculty, students, international economic leaders and the general public on global research and policy issues.

The inaugural Distinguished Visiting Lecture will be delivered by Vaclav Klaus, president of the Czech Republic, Sept. 22 at 2 p.m. in the Arboretum Centre. Klaus’s lecture, titled “The Serious Challenges Faced by the European Union,” will be followed by a question-and-answer session.

The talk is free and open to the University community and general public; as space is limited, people are asked to RSVP online.

“We are honoured that Dr. Klaus has taken time out of his busy schedule to come to Guelph,” said Prof. John Livernois, chair of the Department of Economics and Finance. “As a professional economist and one of the longest-serving heads of state in Europe, he is in a unique position to give us insights into what lies ahead for the world economy.”

Livernois added that it’s important for universities to promote discussions and debate about key global issues. “This new lecture series will support critical thinking in all disciplines and encourage people to ponder their own ideas and beliefs as well as those of others. Having a prominent world figure as the inaugural lecturer is a dynamic way to start.”

Klaus is known for forthright views and a willingness to challenge conventional wisdom. Born in Prague in 1941, he studied economics in Prague, Italy and the United States, and completed a PhD at the Czech Academy of Sciences in 1968.

From 1970 to 1989, he worked as an economist at the Czechoslovak Central Bank and the Czech Academy of Sciences. In 1989, he served as finance minister in the revolutionary government of Vaclav Havel, leading the transition of the Czech economy from state-run central planning to a free-market system.

He co-founded the Civic Democratic Party in 1991 and was elected prime minister a year later. He was elected president of the Czech Republic in 2003 and was re-elected in 2008. In 2009, he served as president of the European Union.

Among numerous international awards, Klaus has received honorary doctorates from 35 universities in Europe, the United States, Canada and elsewhere. He has written 20 books on economics and politics.

Baycrest leads Canada in patient safety and quality care, experts confirm

2011-09-15T08:24:00.000-07:00

photo credit: molsonblog via Flickr

TORONTO, September 14, 2011 /Canada NewsWire/ -Baycrest has been ranked in the top eight per cent of all Canadian health-care organizations in delivering excellence in care, patient safety and corporate operations by Accreditation Canada, the nation's leading independent surveyor of health-care organizations.

Following a recent and intensive on-site review, where surveyors spent three days examining all aspects of Baycrest's care and operations, the organization not only received Accreditation Canada's highest honour - Full Accreditation - it fulfilled 100 per cent of the required organizational practices.

In addition, Baycrest met an exceptional 99.6 per cent of the 1,400 designated accreditation standards set out by the surveyors- a tremendous achievement, not only in the field of aging, but in the entire Canadian health-care sector.

"Accreditation Canada applies rigour to its review process to ensure organizations are meeting the standards required by Canadians," said Wendy Nicklin, president and CEO of Accreditation Canada. "The success with accreditation at Baycrest shows the remarkable commitment of the leadership and staff to ongoing quality improvement on behalf of the people it serves and the lives it touches."

In addition to this top Canadian ranking, three of Baycrest's innovative programs and services were singled out by Accreditation Canada as "leading" for the country and setting the bar for excellence in a specific health-care field, and contributing to the overall betterment of health care in Canada. They are:

...Baycrest's unique caregiver services, which include a range of evidence-based programs that educate, counsel and connect family caregivers. Research shows that family members provide 80 per cent of care to seniors in the community, but too often are ill-equipped to effectively attend the needs of aging relatives living at home.

...The innovative Acute Care Transition Unit, which provides round-the-clock specialized care to seniors with sub-acute or chronic conditions, reducing emergency room and acute care hospital admissions and providing better access to treatment for seniors. Since 2009, the program has diverted 1,239 emergency room visits and has saved the Ontario health-care system an estimated $9.3 million.

...A specific practice on the Acute Care Transition Unit that reduces the transmission of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection, a common and potentially serious infection often acquired in hospitals. Baycrest's leading infectious disease practices have reduced the transmission of MRSA by 89 per cent over the course of a six-month study on the unit.

"Our Accreditation results clearly show that Baycrest's dedication to performance excellence is unrelenting," says Dr. Bill Reichman, president and CEO of Baycrest. "We lead Canada in the provision of high quality care, service and the development of highly specialized, innovative programs focused on aging."

In addition to now being one of Canada's top rated health-care organizations, providing leading practice and a comprehensive system of care for aging patients, Baycrest is also home to the Rotman Research Institute (RRI). The RRI is ranked by an international panel of scientists as the best in the world for its cognitive neuroscience efforts in memory and aging.

"The Rotman Research Institute has firmly established itself as the leading research institution in the field of memory and aging," said Robert T. Knight, chair of the external review panel and director of the Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California-Berkeley. "The scientists at the Rotman are very highly regarded and the senior scientists are among the most distinguished in the world."

Baycrest's Centre for Education and Knowledge Exchange in Aging is home to the greatest number of trainees of any leading institution focused on aging and offers a wide-range of provincial, national and international educational programs for students, staff, clients, families and caregivers, and the general public.

According to Dr. Reichman, this combination of world-class care, research and education makes Baycrest unique not just in Canada but around the world.

In the Accreditation report, the surveyors specifically highlighted:

...Baycrest's strength as an academic and research-focused organization;

...Its commitment to quality and safety;

...Its new strategic plan which gives a clear direction for the future of the organization;

...Its commitment to hearing the voices of those it serves;

...Its physical environment;

...Its communication with stakeholders;

...Its community partners who are consistently positive about their relationship with Baycrest;

...Its heritage, which is very important within the organization;

...Its diverse workforce.

Headquartered on a 22-acre campus in Toronto, Ontario and fully affiliated with the University of Toronto, Baycrest is the global leader in developing and providing innovations in aging and brain health.

Ontario's health depends on Better Care Faster

2011-09-14T08:48:00.000-07:00

TORONTO, September 14, 2011 /Canada NewsWire/ - Better Care Faster, a public awareness campaign launched today by a coalition of concerned health care professionals, patient and advocacy groups, health charities and research-based pharmaceutical companies, calls on all Ontarians to work together to develop solutions aimed at improving Ontario's health care system.

"The population of Ontario is rapidly growing, and the health care needs of our aging citizens are putting an increased demand on our system resources. While we have made significant progress to improve many aspects of our health care system, there remains much more to be done," said Dr. Stewart Kennedy, President of the Ontario Medical Association. "Now is the time to come together to develop collaborative solutions for the continued improvement of our health care system."

As Ontario's population continues to grow and age, Ontario's health care system faces enormous demands for care that will burden the system beyond its current capacity. Ontario's population will grow by almost 35 per cent by 2036,1 and in 10 years almost one in five Ontarians will be over 65, an increase of over 37 per cent since 2005.2 Furthermore, almost 80 per cent of Ontarians over 45 currently have a chronic condition3. The incidence of conditions such as cancer, diabetes, lung disease and dementia will continue to rise as the population ages, putting greater pressure on health care resources.

"As the incidence of chronic disease continues to rise, ensuring Ontarians have timely access to the right care at the right time becomes increasingly important," said Russell Williams, President of Canada's Research-Based Pharmaceutical Companies (Rx&D). "One element of this campaign is working together to ensure that innovative medicines are made available to people of Ontario who need them most."

The Better Care Faster campaign is a starting point—a place to begin working together to find and implement solutions for our health care system to be ready for the needs of Ontario's growing and aging population in the future. These will include solutions that put innovation to work faster, prevent and manage chronic disease, ensure that patients have access to the medicines they need to manage their health and well-being, and ensure that Ontarians get released from hospital and into the right level of care in their communities sooner.

"Over the past several years we've seen many solutions implemented to address the health needs of Ontarians. However, new information and technology is ever evolving, and so must our efforts to improve the health care system," said George Habib, President and CEO, Ontario Lung Association. "This is why the dialogue sparked by Better Care Faster is so important- to raise pressing health care issues and provide a place to share ideas and information. We welcome all concerned individuals and organizations to join us in developing solutions."

The campaign is brought to the Ontario public by a partnership of concerned organizations including: Arthritis Society, Asthma Society of Canada, CARP, Canadian Organization for Rare Disorders, Canada's Research-Based Pharmaceutical Companies (Rx&D), Institute for Optimizing Health Outcomes, Ontario College of Family Physicians, Ontario Lung Association, Ontario Medical Association, Ontario Pharmacists' Association and Nurse Practitioners' Association of Ontario.

Join the conversation. Visit bettercarefaster.ca to share your concerns, have your voice heard and discuss solutions for the improvement of our health care system.

Online Party of Canada - A Call for Action

2011-09-13T06:36:00.000-07:00

TORONTO, September 13, 2011 /Canada NewsWire/ - Canadians are quite literate politically and eager to express their opinions whenever they have a chance, in scientific or ad-hoc polls. Many newspapers, TV stations ask their audience to vote or comment on various topics. But what happens with the results? Sadly, the polls get archived and their results largely dismissed by our politicians.

Online Party of Canada (OPC) proposes a political system based on voting on issues instead of parties or individuals, voters can express their opinions and educate themselves on each issue that never expire, suggest new issues, vote and have their vote counted. This is the foundation of a new, truly democratic political system designed to empower the people by legally forcing the elected officials to respect voters' will.

Canada's current political system is broken, and here's why. As of May this year, we have a 'majority' Conservative government that was elected by only 24% of voters. The Government stance on many major issues is opposite to what the voters want and goes unchallenged despite public outcry and opinion polls. The government moved to eliminate political subsidies leaving the rich donors to decide who's in power. Many journalists haven't heard of Elections Canada's shady Advisory Committee of 19 political parties where one party can veto any improvements of the electoral process. The current political system has brought us election irregularities, the 'Americanization' of our military, outrageous spending, enormous national debt, unemployment, grave social problems and many other issues. With the opposition parties in total disarray and a surprisingly tame National media, Canadians have never been so misrepresented.

Let's change this political system we all loathe! OPC's 'Call for Action' invites all politically-inclined Canadians, regardless their political stripe to read, comment, vote on hundreds of issues posted on our website and share the issues via Social Networks. We have opened hundreds of new positions at Federal and Local levels in all Electoral Districts; sign-up to become an OPC Candidate or Local Party Officer!

48% of Canadians adults could have difficulty reading this sentence

2011-09-10T07:58:00.000-07:00

Limited literacy impacts the lives of an estimated 12-million Canadians

MONTREAL, September 8, 2011 /Canada NewsWire Telbec/ - Four out of 10 adult Canadians, aged 16 to 65 or about 12 million Canadians, struggle with limited literacy. Poor literacy skills can lead to a lifetime of economic, social and health insecurities for individuals and their children.

Today is International Literacy Day. The Montreal Children's Hospital along with The Centre for Literacy are highlighting the continuing challenge of literacy in Canada and the link between limited literacy and poor health.

As well, with the help of Canadian Space Agency Astronaut Robert Thirsk, the hospital and The Centre are also paying tribute to iconic Canadian writer and literacy advocate Roch Carrier, author of The Hockey Sweater, by naming the hospital's reading corner in Mr. Carrier's honour.

Literacy and health

Studies show 60 percent of the Canadian population struggles with literacy in the context of health. That is, they cannot identify, understand, interpret, create, communicate, compute and use printed and written materials to manage their own health care or that of their children. In Quebec, the statistics are even higher. People with poor literacy have trouble finding and understanding health and safety information, are more likely to develop chronic illnesses such as diabetes and asthma and are less likely to receive regular health services.

Daily reading has been identified as the single most important factor in improving health literacy.

"It is important that health care professionals address literacy in their practice given that parents take advice from health care professionals seriously," says Jan Lariviere, MCH nurse and literacy advocate. "The Children's along with The Centre for Literacy are working to promote literacy and engage families in reading through Lire/Imagine/Read, a program that helps health care providers integrate literacy into pediatric practice."

Lire/Imagine/Read gives a book to children aged 0 to 5 years old in their mother tongue at select clinics. Parents are given a bookmark and information on the importance of reading for child development. They are encouraged to visit local libraries and or bookstores to continue the habit of reading to their children. The program has volunteers reading to children in waiting areas.

"Even if parents are unable to read well, we encourage them to go through a book with their young child and make up a story to match the pictures. This simple gesture will help lead their child to read and appreciate books," says Linda Shohet, Executive Director of The Centre for Literacy.

Honouring Roch Carrier

To mark International Literacy Day, The Montreal Children's Hospital and The Centre for Literacy are joined by Canadian Space Agency Astronaut Robert Thirsk to dedicate the hospital's reading corner in honour of Roch Carrier.

The Roch Carrier Coin de lecture/ Reading Corner is located on 2B, the hospital's clinic area where over 125,000 children per year come for their doctor's appointments.

"We are delighted to rename our little reading corner after Roch Carrier," says Ms. Lariviere. "Mr. Carrier is an international advocate for literacy and has been a friend and supporter of Lire/Imagine/Read. He has read to children in the hospital and spoken with health professionals about the importance of reading and literacy to health and wellness."

Astronaut Robert Thirsk adds a wider perspective to the dedication. During his 2009 six-month expedition aboard the International Space Station (ISS) Dr. Thirsk brought along a copy of Roch Carrier's book The Hockey Sweater. Dr. Thirsk said he chose the book because it is a family favourite and he believes that reading is an important educational foundation.

During a recent interview, Dr. Thirsk said bringing The Hockey Sweater into space was a no brainer. He fell in love with the story as an adolescent, and introduced it to his three children when they were old enough.

Reading is an important part of his family's, and of his everyday life as well, Thirsk said.

"Astronaut training is a little like drinking from a fire hose," he said, meaning there is a lot of information to take in over a short period of time. "We can't do our job if we don't have reading skills," he said.

Background on Dr. Robert Thirsk from the Canadian Space Agency:

In 2009, Robert Thirsk became the first Canadian astronaut to fly a long-duration expedition aboard the International Space Station (ISS). He and two crewmates launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on May 27 aboard a Russian Soyuz spacecraft. When their Soyuz vehicle docked with the nearly complete Station two days later, the ISS became home for the first time to a permanent crew of six.

As members of the ISS Expedition 20/21 crew, Bob and his five international crewmates performed an unprecedented amount of multidisciplinary research, complex robotic operations, and maintenance and repair work of Station systems and payloads. Following the undocking of his Soyuz spacecraft from the Station and landing back in Kazakhstan on December 1, Robert Thirsk had lived and worked in space for another 188 days during this second voyage to space.

Robert Thirsk is a strong promoter of a Canadian economy based upon exploration and innovation. He encourages young Canadians to build their dreams upon a solid educational foundation and advanced skills.

About Mr. Carrier:

Roch Carrier is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, an Officer of the Order of Canada, and a recipient of the Stephen Leacock Medal. He holds honorary doctorates from the Université de Moncton in New Brunswick, York University in Toronto, Memorial University of Newfoundland, the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, Ontario, and Bowling Green University in Ohio.

From 1994 to 1997, Mr. Carrier was director of the Canada Council for the Arts, after which he turned his focus to travel, studying and writing. In 1999, he became Canada's fourth National Librarian, a position he held until 2004. He has been honorary chair of the National Adult Literacy Database (NALD) since 2005.

Several novels written by Mr. Carrier are considered classics and are taught in schools and universities around the world, in both French and English. Some have been translated into foreign languages. He has also written plays that have been produced both in Canada and abroad.

About The Centre for Literacy

The Centre is a Montreal-based research, resource and professional development organization and a national centre of expertise on all aspects of adult literacy and essential skills. The Centre has done pioneering work in health literacy research and action, much of it in collaboration with the McGill University Health Centre. The work includes patient information navigation kits for breast and prostate cancers. The Centre is a partner with The Montreal Children's Hospital on Lire/Imagine/Read.

Researchers Discover Cellular Process that Clears Cholesterol and Could Reverse Major Cause of Heart Attack

2011-09-10T07:47:00.000-07:00

OTTAWA, September 8, 2011 /Canada NewsWire/ - Researchers at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute (UOHI) have discovered that an ancient pathway called autophagy also mobilizes and exports cholesterol from cells.

A team led by Yves Marcel, PhD, Director of the HDL Biology Laboratory, UOHI, has shown that autophagy, a pathway preserved during evolution, functions to engulf and digest cholesterol accumulated in artery walls. This process facilitates the removal of cholesterol and may provide an entirely new target to reverse atherosclerosis, the main cause of heart attack and stroke.

Cholesterol accumulates in the walls of arteries leading to atherosclerosis, also known as narrowing of arteries and which causes blockages and reduces blood flow to the heart. This often culminates in heart attacks and strokes.

The autophagy pathway, which means self-digestion, developed early in single-cell organisms to allow the clearance of accumulated dysfunctional molecules. "The finding that autophagy also functions to digest and liberate cholesterol from cells and the fact that we know this pathway is regulated offers hope for the development of new drugs that could activate export of cholesterol from the walls of arteries," said Marcel.

"There is an urgent need to understand how cholesterol accumulation in arteries can be reversed," said researcher Mireille Ouimet, who was a major contributor to the study.

Details of the research were published online earlier this summer in the journal Cell Metabolism (Cell Metab. 2011: 13(6):655-67) and illustrate how cholesterol buildup itself triggers autophagy, facilitating the release of cholesterol for transport back to the liver for elimination from the body. It is possible that some patients with CAD have an impaired ability to clear arterial cholesterol by the autophagy pathway, said Marcel.

Marcel's work lends a greater understanding to the underlying biochemical complexities involving cholesterol. Cholesterol is important to cell structure. Problems arise when too much cholesterol is deposited inside the walls of the coronary artery - the origins of coronary artery disease (CAD). Researchers now are investigating how this process is involved in the development of atherosclerosis, a step that could help experts in cardiovascular medicine understand and find a new way to halt the progression of heart disease.

Marcel's research career has focused on lipoproteins - the biochemical mechanism to transport cholesterol and fats through the body. In 1997, he received the highest medal of honour by the Royal Society of Canada for his contribution to medical science including research related to pathways for polyunsaturated fatty acids. This was the McLaughlin Medal, considered one of the country's most prestigious tributes for research excellence.

About UOHI

The University of Ottawa Heart Institute is Canada's largest and foremost cardiovascular health centre dedicated to understanding, treating and preventing heart disease. We deliver high-tech care with a personal touch, shape the way cardiovascular medicine is practiced, and revolutionize cardiac treatment and understanding. We build knowledge through research and translate discoveries into advanced care. We serve the local, national and international community, and are pioneering a new era in heart health. For more information, visit www.ottawaheart.ca

Connect with the stars at CBC's new entertainment portal, CBC Live

2011-09-07T06:27:00.000-07:00

TORONTO, September 6, 2011 /Canada NewsWire/ - CBC has launched Canada's newest online entertainment destination: CBC Live ( cbc.ca/live). From film and fashion to people and parties, CBC Live brings the stars to life like never before, connecting Canadians with high-profile personalities and happenings.

"At CBC, we're focused on celebrating the very best in Canadian talent," said Kirstine Stewart, Executive Vice-President, English Services. "CBC Live is a great way for Canadians to connect to the entertainment scene in our country online - easy access for the entertainment lover anywhere in Canada."

Launching just in time for the star-studded September season, CBC Live will have a place of prominence at fall events from the Gemini Awards and the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) to the CCMA Awards and the national Culture Days celebrations. And of course, CBC Live will be the go-to site for the inside scoop on the hottest fall television programming, film premieres and music events. The site has already attracting exciting content, including an exclusive interview with international superstar Russell Crowe.

On September 7, as a kick-off to CBC Live, the site will play host to groundbreaking online companion programming for the 26th Annual Gemini Awards. The live stream features digital host Tom Green, in the "Tom Green Room" beginning at 7 p.m. ET at cbc.ca/live and will be available On Demand as a digital companion to the 8 p.m. (8:30 NT) television broadcast.

Then, as Canada turns its eyes to TIFF, CBC Live and the stars of CBC will literally roll out the red carpet across Toronto. From September 8 to 18, fans will have the chance to walk CBC Live red carpets like a star - all captured by the CBC Live paparazzi. And surprise appearances by CBC stars will bring the celebrity spirit of CBC Live to life.

Off the streets, Canadians can stay connected with CBC Live anytime and anywhere they are online - whether by following @CBCLive on Twitter, by ??liking" the Facebook page at facebook.com/cbclive or by bookmarking the website itself at cbc.ca/live.

About CBC/Radio-Canada

CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada's national public broadcaster and one of its largest cultural institutions. The Corporation is a leader in reaching Canadians on new platforms and delivers a comprehensive range of radio, television, Internet, and satellite-based services. Deeply rooted in the regions, CBC/Radio-Canada is the only domestic broadcaster to offer diverse regional and cultural perspectives in English, French and eight Aboriginal languages, plus seven languages for international audiences. In 2011, CBC/Radio-Canada is celebrating 75 years of serving Canadians and being at the centre of the democratic, social and cultural life of Canada.

Animated Short Film from Chipotle & Willie Nelson Highlights Sustainable Farms (Video)

2011-09-02T10:23:00.000-07:00

Image: Screenshot from video below

from TreeHugger.com
by Chris Tackett, Little Rock, Arkansas

I like Chipotle. And, yes, I know it isn't the healthiest option, at least not the way that I order my burrito, but I think they do a much better job than most other corporate chain restaurants when it comes to where they source their ingredients.

A new ad (video below) for their Food With Integrity campaign aims to show how one farmer tries industrial meat production before returning to more sustainable methods.

Here's the description of the video from Chipotle's YouTube page:

Coldplay's haunting classic 'The Scientist' is performed by country music legend Willie Nelson for the soundtrack of the short film entitled, "Back to the Start." The film, by film-maker Johnny Kelly, depicts the life of a farmer as he slowly turns his family farm into an industrial animal factory before seeing the errors of his ways and opting for a more sustainable future. Both the film and the soundtrack were commissioned by Chipotle to emphasize the importance of developing a sustainable food system.

We will always continue to encourage people to eat less meat and learn to cook at home, but that doesn't mean we aren't happy to see a company as big as Chipotle taking steps to move away from supporting industrial meat production. Now if only all the rest would follow their lead...

Visit TreeHugger to see what's new. 30+ fresh, green stories every day!

Improving Canada's Food Regulatory System will Boost Innovation and Economic Growth

2011-09-01T08:29:00.001-07:00

OTTAWA, September 1, 2011 /Canada NewsWire/ - Canada's system of food policies, laws and regulations is generally working well to protect the health and well-being of Canadians. But well-intentioned regulations have not yet produced an effective system that boosts innovation and stimulates economic growth.

The food sector is one of the most highly controlled sectors of the economy, and the sheer number of government policies, laws and regulations (PLRs) has grown steadily over the years. The Conference Board of Canada's second foundational report for the Centre for Food in Canada, Governing Food: Policies, Laws, and Regulations for Food in Canada, concludes that policy-makers and regulators do their best to balance the competing demands of industry, multiple governments and consumers, but are hamstrung by an overloaded system. The system needs to be modernized; the current architecture has been developed by continual add-ons and consequently is burdensome and confusing.

"There is no quick fix to Canada's system for governing food. The problem is not so much in the actions being taken today, but rather the cumulative weight of existing PLRs and the motivations for them," said Michael Bloom, Vice-President, Organizational Effectiveness and Learning. "Not only are parts of the current PLR system out-of date, multiple levels of government are involved, that sometimes act at cross-purposes to one another. The system can be described as suffering from 'scope creep'."

The Conference Board outlines five key attributes for optimal PLR systems. Optimal systems are:

...Proportionate—they align the regulatory burden with the severity of risk.

...Responsive—they adapt easily to new circumstances, such as food industry innovation.

...Efficient—they achieve regulatory outcomes at low cost.

...Effective— they achieve their regulatory objectives.

...Transparent—they can be understood by all stakeholders.

The PLR system attempts to address a wide variety of public interests, including safety, the environment, health, and economic sustainability. But the more goals it takes on, the more costly and slow moving it becomes—in turn, undermining its overall cost-effectiveness and stifling industry innovation. There are few self-rationalizing mechanisms that allow the system to respond to new demands without adding to the regulatory burden.

The report reviews the Canadian approach to food regulation based on a study of six issues: food additives, genetically modified foods, health benefit claims, country-of-origin labelling, inspection, and international trade.

In the areas of genetically modified foods, country-of-origin labelling, and food additives, the Canadian approach balances regulatory needs with industry sensitivities. However, the approach to health benefit claims, inspection, and international trade is not as effective, creating barriers to innovation in this sector.

Canada's inspection system - which has benefited from the consolidation of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency - is shared among three levels of government and also depends on the quality management processes of food producers throughout the supply chain. A prerequisite to reform is for the food industry and regulators to create more trusting and cooperative relationships - based on their mutual interest in safe food. On the issue of international trade, Canada is in the early stages of liberalizing its agricultural trade. The extent to which further reform is achieved will depend largely on changes to PLRs.

This report points out specific areas where the PLR system could more effectively meet the needs of the agriculture and agri-food sector, as well as government and consumers. A good starting point would be to revise and modernize the Food and Drugs Act, first enacted in 1920. The Growing Forward initiative and the federal Cabinet Directive on Streamlining Regulation are steps in the right direction that should, if properly implemented, go some way toward limiting regulatory overkill.

The modernization of PLRs is likely to be a key element in the Canadian Food Strategy, to be produced in 2013 by the Centre for Food in Canada. The Centre for Food in Canada is a multi-year Conference Board of Canada initiative supported by approximately 25 companies and organizations that have invested in the project.

House Calls Coming Back To Ontario

2011-08-29T13:14:00.000-07:00

Medical Visits Mean The Care Comes To You

TORONTO, August 28, 2011 /Canada NewsWire/ - Ontarians will be able to count on house calls from their family doctors and nurses under a new Ontario Liberal plan, London North Centre Liberal Candidate Deb Matthews announced today.

"House calls are coming back to Ontario so anyone who has difficulty getting to appointments will be cared for right in their homes," said Matthews, who is also Minister of Health and Long-Term Care in Dalton McGuinty's Liberal government. "It makes it easier for them to stay comfortably where they want to be."

Matthews announced the proposed new program at the home of Barbara Burns, 83, whose mobility challenges make it difficult for her to travel to visit a family doctor. The proposed new program means that Mrs. Burns and any Ontarian who can't get to the doctor due to mobility issues or severe illness, will receive convenient, at-home treatment.

The program will offer services ranging from a health professional's visit (such as a doctor, nurse or occupational therapist), to phone and online consultations — all making access to health care easier, and more cost effective. Long-term care costs $150 per day per patient — and it grows to $1,000 per day in a hospital. Helping patients requiring complex care stay in their own homes while providing the treatment they need costs a fraction as much.

"This program is the next step forward, making it easier for doctors to provide this service, and easier for seniors to stay in their own homes," said Dr. Mark Nowaczynski, leader of a not-for-profit service called House Calls.

Dalton McGuinty's Liberal government and Ontario doctors and nurses worked together to make enhanced services possible for health professionals and patients. Only Ontario Liberals have a plan for moving Ontario forward, including improved health care for everyone.

HOUSE CALLS FOR ONTARIANS

Ontario Liberals have been working hard to enhance health care and make life easier for seniors and anyone who needs additional care.

We're redesigning the primary care system and home care system. In particular, we're going to make sure that those who can't get to the doctor due to mobility issues or severe illness have the care brought to them via telemedicine, phone consults or house calls.

This will improve care and reduce hospitalization rates and pressure on long-term care, reaching seniors as well as any complex patient who needs enhanced services.

Our plan builds on our success in health care — more doctors, new hospitals, lower wait times, family health teams and community health clinics. We're moving forward together, building a better Ontario for our children and grandchildren.

FULL RANGE OF CARE RIGHT IN YOUR HOME

House calls are coming back to Ontario — we're ensuring that anyone who has difficulty leaving their homes to get to an appointment can get the full range of medical help they need, where they are most comfortable.

The program will provide a range of services such as:

...Regular, scheduled doctors' house calls

...Regular, scheduled home visits by nurses

...Enhanced provincewide telehealth home care — patients can call or go online and talk directly with a nurse practitioner or a doctor to get help.

House calls and enhanced services will also save our health care system money. Today, it costs about $150 per day for Long-Term Care and $1,000 per day in a hospital. Helping more patients stay in their own homes while providing them with the care they need costs a fraction as much.

IMPROVEMENTS IN HEALTH CARE MAKE HOME CARE POSSIBLE

Thanks to Ontario Liberals, nearly all Ontarians — and especially those with chronic conditions — now have access to a family doctor.

But there's more to do.

We'll make sure that patients have access to an entire care team responsive to their needs, if necessary, right at home. We'll do this through Ontario's Family Health Team doctors and nurses.

The Ontario Liberal government has devoted resources to health care and focused on a strategy that's delivering results.
Since 2003 we have 2,900 more doctors in Ontario, and we reached agreements with the Ontario Medical Association that provide incentives to make house calls

We opened 200 Family Health Teams and 25 nurse practitioner clinics — many of these practices are already offering easier ways for patients to connect with their care team such as email or phone consultations

Since 2003, more than 1.3 million Ontarians have family doctors who didn't have one before

By 2013 Ontario will have doubled the number of doctors coming out of medical school and into practice compared with 2003 — that means more doctors are available to make house calls

Wait times are down and we have built 18 hospitals — better for those who do need additional medical attention

MedsCheck at Home is a medication review program available now for patients who aren't able to get to their local pharmacy in person.

Only Ontario Liberals have the plan to move our province forward together.

Canadians Spending Too Much Time, Money Commuting

2011-08-24T06:30:00.000-07:00

Workopolis encourages Canadians to show support for a National Work From Home Day

TORONTO, August 24, 2011 /Canada NewsWire/ - Labour Day is less than two weeks away, and for Canadian workers, back to school and the return to 'regular' work means more cars on the road and more people commuting. According to a recent survey by Workopolis, the average Canadian worker is spending 42 minutes commuting to and from work from each day and $269 each month on associated costs working away from the home, with the largest cost being transportation at $146 per month. That's the equivalent of 182 hours each year and a cost of more than $3,000.

"We spend a lot of time and money getting to and from work each day - not to mention the environmental strain and stress that comes with commuting," said Kelly Dixon, President of Workopolis. "Today, working from home is a viable option for many. We need to continue to promote the benefits of telecommuting and encourage more flexible working arrangements for Canadian workers."

Just Getting to Work Can be Hard Work

Part of getting back into the daily routine of commuting can mean expecting public transit delays, busier stations and, of course, more traffic jams - all contributors of stress to the Canadian worker.

More common modes of commuting include:

...Two-thirds (69%) of workers commute by car on their own;

...One-in-five (19%) take public transit;

...One-in-ten (10%) carpool;

...12% walk ; and

...4% ride a bicycle

Commuting: By the Numbers

The latest Statistics Canada Census from 2006 reveals there are over 18 million people (over the age of 15) who are currently employed in Canada. More than two-thirds (69 per cent) of Canadians polled said they commute by car on their own. That would equate to a savings of nearly $120 million for Canadian workers and more than 60 Kg of CO2 emissions if these workers were given the option to work from home for just one day a year.

Not surprising, the longest average commuters reside in provinces with Canada's most urban cities. Those in British Columbia and Ontario lead the way with an average commute time of 48 minutes each, while Atlantic Canadians and Quebecers spend the least amount of time commuting (31 and 34 minutes respectively).

Today, only four in ten (38 per cent) of Canadian workers work from home a few days per month even though many companies have the capability through emerging and secure technologies and practices to offer this as an option to their employees. Offering the option of working from home can also help to position a company as an employer of choice. In fact, seven in ten (68 per cent) of respondents indicated they have turned down a job prospect just to avoid a long commute.

"Grappling with gridlock is a terrible way to begin or wrap up any work day," said Dixon. "Offering Canadian workers the option to work from their own homes, even if it's just one day a year, would do wonders for our collective rush hour mentality."

"Found" Time

By working from home, Canadians are able to spend the time they would normally be commuting on doing the things they want such as spending time with family and friends. This is another one of the reasons that Workopolis is championing a National Work From Home Day with the goal of one day being recognized by the federal government.

The top five ways Canadians would prefer to spend their extra time are:

...Completing chores or housework - 83% (even higher for women at 86%)

...Spending time with family or friends - 79%

...Engaging in other recreational, hobby or leisure activities - 76%

...Preparing more nutritious meals - 74%

...Get more sleep - 71%

Interestingly, six in ten (58 per cent) said they would spend the extra time working more hours. This number is even higher for those Canadians who are already working from home some of the time (73 per cent).

To show support for a National Work From Home Day Canadians are encouraged to join the 77,000 people who have pledged their support on Facebook at www.facebook.com/workopolis. You can also join the conversation on Twitter by following @workopolis and using the hashtag #WFHD.

About the Research

The Environics Research Group study results were collected through a custom, online survey between April 5-13th, 2011. This included a sample size of 1001 Canadian workers. The Environics Research National Omnibus Survey was conducted between April 12-17th, 2011. This included a sample of 1000 Canadians 18 years and over. The margin of error for a sample of this size is +/- 3.10%, 19 times out of 20.

About Workopolis

Workopolis is Canada's leading careers and employment website, connecting the country's largest pool of candidates and employers online. Workopolis' fully-bilingual suite of services allows recruiters to post jobs, search resumes and manage their hiring needs. Candidates can post their resumes, search and apply for jobs and manage their careers online.

Canadian owned and operated, Workopolis has grown to 200 staff members across Canada since 2000. Workopolis is in an equal partnership with Toronto Star Newspapers Ltd. and Square Victoria Digital Properties Inc, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Power Corporation of Canada.

Workopolis was chosen as the first organization to be given the Best Emerging Organization distinction as part of Canada's 10 Most Admired Corporate Cultures program and was a recipient of the 2010 50 Most Engaged Workplaces award.

More Bike News: David Suzuki on Bike Lanes, The Guardian On Toronto's War on Bikes

2011-08-12T06:28:00.000-07:00

Image credit Environment North

from TreeHugger.com
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto

David Suzuki weighs in on bike lanes in Huffington Post Canada:

Most arguments against bike lanes are absurd. Consider this: We have wide roads everywhere to accommodate cars, most of which carry only one person. On either side of many of those roads, we have pedestrian sidewalks. In most large urban areas, we also have bus lanes and transit systems such as subways and rapid transit. When cyclists ride on roads, drivers often get annoyed. If they ride on sidewalks, pedestrians rightly get angry

.

But he notes that the backlash against bikes is subsiding as people learn about their value.

As oil becomes scarce and pollution and climate change increase, people are finally realizing that transporting a 90-kilogram person in two tonnes of metal just isn't sustainable, especially in urban areas.

Not in Toronto, they aren't. The war on the bike there has become so noisy that the Guardian in the UK has picked up the story. From the Bike Blog:

[Mayor] Ford has done his best to halt the "war on cars" and keep bike-riding "pinkos" on our toes. Last month, the city council approved the removal of bike lanes on a major thoroughfare in downtown Toronto, but not until a separated lane is installed on a smaller, parallel street. Councillor Denzil Minnan-Wong, who chairs the committee that recommended scrapping the Jarvis Street bike lanes, said: "The cars are going to move faster and I think that's a proper investment."

Minnan-Wong's statement strikingly reveals the city's inadequate support for cycling initiatives. In light of obvious environmental issues and Toronto's severe traffic congestion, why would the city approve policies that encourage its citizens to rely increasingly on cars? Could the city's marginalising of cyclists account for an increasing number who break the rules (by riding on the pavement, using their phones while cycling, not signalling their left-hand turns, etc)? This approach should not only be seen as misguided, but dangerous.

More in the Guardian

... read more story at TreeHugger.com

HomEquity Bank Survey Reveals Majority of Canadians Intend to Stay in Their Home After Retirement

2011-08-11T06:25:00.000-07:00

photo credit: fadedgenes via Flickr

TORONTO, August 10, 2011 /Canada NewsWire/ - HomEquity Bank, provider of CHIP Home Income Plan, Canada's leading reverse mortgage solution, today announced the findings of a national Ipsos Reid survey regarding Canadian's sentiments towards retirement and their financial stability. The survey, polling 1,054 Canadians aged 45 to 60, concluded that 61 per cent of retired Canadians intend to stay in their current home as long as possible after retirement. The figure was substantially higher (78%) for respondents that were already retired.

The survey also found that the average Canadian is eager to retire by the age of 61, but nearly half (48 per cent) do not feel as though they are financially prepared for a satisfactory retirement. Of the 61 per cent of overall respondents (retired and still working) who indicated they would like to keep their current homes throughout their retirement, 36 per cent indicated they would consider leveraging their home equity to make it possible.

Debt is a major factor affecting the financial stability and retirement plans of Canadians; 45 per cent of retired respondents carried debt into their retirement. Among this group, 28 per cent of respondents cited a mortgage as their primary source of debt, while 23 per cent had a line of credit and 16 per cent had high-interest credit cards as their main source of debt.

Similarly, roughly half (49 per cent) of respondents who have not yet retired expect to carry debt into their retirement, including a mortgage (19 per cent), line of credit (19 per cent) and credit card debt (24 per cent).

"There is an obvious disconnect between the ideal retirement goals of Canadian seniors and their current financial position," said Greg Bandler, Senior Vice President, HomEquity Bank. "Debt may be a major factor affecting retirement plans, but responsibly leveraging home equity can allow Canadian seniors to improve cash flow and eliminate high-interest debt, while maintaining ownership of their family home. In this way, homeowners can turn their home into a liquid asset that contributes to their financial plan."

Regionally speaking, of all respondents both currently retired and not yet retired, Atlantic Canadians (76 per cent) are the most likely to want to stay in their home during retirement, followed by those living in Saskatchewan and Manitoba (73 per cent), Ontario (62 per cent), Alberta (61 per cent), Quebec (56 per cent) and British Columbia (50 per cent).

In June, HomEquity Bank lowered the eligibility age of its flagship product, CHIP Home Income Plan, from 60 to 55. By lowering the eligibility age to 55, HomEquity Bank is positioned to help Canadian seniors better coordinate their retirement plans by making it possible to access equity in their homes to enjoy retirement on their terms.

Now in its 25th year of business operations, HomEquity Bank is the only national provider of reverse mortgages in Canada. Reverse mortgages are offered to Canadian homeowners under the CHIP Home Income Plan label and have no income, credit or health qualifications. Unlike traditional loans, borrowers don't have to service the interest or repay the principal for as long as they own their home and are living in it.

About HomEquity Bank

HomEquity Bank is a Schedule I Canadian Bank and a wholly-owned subsidiary of HOMEQ Corporation (HOMEQ). HOMEQ's shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol HEQ.

HOMEQ's wholly owned subsidiary HomEquity Bank is the only national provider of reverse mortgages to homeowners aged 55 and over, Canada's fastest growing demographic segment. HomEquity Bank originates and administers Canada's largest portfolio of reverse mortgages under the CHIP Home Income Plan brand. As of March 31, 2011, the mortgage portfolio comprised approximately 8,000 reverse mortgages with an accrued value of $1.1 billion, secured by residential properties across Canada worth approximately $2.8 billion. HomEquity Bank has been the main underwriter of reverse mortgages in Canada since its predecessor, Canadian Home Income Plan, pioneered the concept in 1986.

For more information about HomEquity Bank, please visit www.homequitybank.ca. Additional information on HOMEQ Corporation, including annual and quarterly reports can be viewed at www.homeq.ca.

It's Time to Make Cycling Safer: Ontario's Doctors

2011-08-10T07:24:00.000-07:00

TORONTO, August 10, 2011 /Canada NewsWire/ - The most recent report on cycling injuries revealed that in 2009, there were 26,000 emergency department visits and over 1,300 hospitalizations in Ontario. With increasing interest in cycling across the province, Ontario's doctors are urging the provincial government to make cyclists' safety a priority.

"Two-thirds of Canadians are inactive, putting them at greater risk of chronic disease. Cycling is a great a way to stay fit and a way for people of all ages to add essential physical activity to their daily lives and improve their health." - Stewart Kennedy, MD, President of the Ontario Medical Association

Dr. Stewart Kennedy, President of the Ontario Medical Association, released a comprehensive and in-depth report, "Enhancing Cycling Safety in Ontario," before he cycled through downtown Toronto to raise money for the Heart and Stroke Foundation's Big Bike event. The report included a number of recommendations aimed at increasing cyclists' safety. Among the recommendations, Ontario's doctors are calling for:

...The provincial government to develop policy and programs, including funding, to facilitate safe cycling, and for municipal governments to redouble their efforts to build much-needed cycling infrastructure;

...Connected networks of roads with paved shoulders in rural settings, to allow for the much needed separation between cyclists and fast-travelling vehicles on rural roads;

...The Ontario Drivers' Manual to be revised to include a comprehensive section on vehicle-bicycle interaction, and furthermore that the Ontario's Drive Test include this in the examination of new drivers;

...Ongoing delivery of bicycle safety education for young children through such programs as Can-Bike, and that such training be mandatory for all Ontario primary school students;

...Education material for both drivers and cyclists that emphasizes intersection-specific dangers.

A safer environment for cycling is crucial to creating a healthier population. Ontario's doctors want to make sure that Ontarians feel safe when riding their bicycles.

For the complete list of recommendations from "Enhancing Cycling Safety in Ontario" please visit www.oma.org

"The debate about bicycle infrastructure is so often politically driven, but should really be about the health of the population and safety of those who choose to cycle. Ontario's doctors are committed to working with the province and municipalities to create a safer Ontario for our cyclists." Stewart Kennedy, MD, President of the Ontario Medical Association

Quick Facts:

...Annually more than 2,000 cyclists are injured in vehicle-bicycle collisions alone;

...68 per cent of car-bike collisions happen at intersections and these most frequently involve children riding off of the sidewalk;

...In the past five years cycling fatalities from these collisions have averaged 20 per year.

The RecycleYourElectronics.ca Tour is Coming to You!

2011-08-08T13:52:00.000-07:00

Mobile electronics recycling centre continues its journey across Ontario this Fall, inviting Ontarians to "drive up, drop off, do good"

TORONTO, Aug. 8, 2011 /Canada NewsWire/ - More Ontario communities are about to get a visit from the RecycleYourElectronics.ca tour and their chance to rid themselves of unwanted electronics. On the heels of a successful summer-long tour through northern Ontario that stopped in dozens of communities from Sault Ste. Marie to Sioux Lookout, the tour will now swing through Southern Ontario. Tour stops will provide a convenient drop-off point for residents and businesses to safely recycle old, used and unwanted televisions, computers and dozens of other items free of charge, while also offering games, giveaways and a chance to learn more about responsible electronics recycling.

This tour is run by Ontario Electronic Stewardship (OES), which is tasked with diverting electronic waste from landfill to ensure hazardous components like batteries, leaded glass, and mercury-containing bulbs are safely and responsibly recycled while valuable components like metal, glass and plastic are reclaimed and used to make everything from water pipes to coins.

OES has partnered with Live Nation to bring the RecycleYourElectronics.ca tour to festivals, fairs, concerts and sporting events throughout the summer and fall across the province, offering visitors the opportunity to learn more about the program while disposing of handheld devices, such as cameras and cell phones, for free.

"We believe that the work OES does in promoting safe and responsible recycling of electronics is part of building a sustainable future for all of us here in the province. We're happy to be part of their initiative to help educate and inform Ontarians about how to recycle their electronics," said Paul Corcoran, Executive Vice-President, Venues, Live Nation.

The RecycleYourElectronics.ca team will be cheering on the Toronto FC at every home game and offering fans a drop-off point to dispose of unwanted cell phones, cameras and other small electronic items, while also offering games, giveaways and a chance to learn more about responsible electronics recycling. "We're proud to work with Ontario Electronic Stewardship to help promote safe and responsible recycling of electronics as part of our commitment to sustainability as an organization. We look forward to a successful partnership and encourage Toronto FC fans to learn more and join us in doing our part to keep used and unwanted electronics out of Ontario landfills," Paul Beirne, Sr. director of business operations, Toronto FC.

The next stop on the RecycleYourElectronics.ca tour takes place Friday, September 2 - Monday September 5 at the Perth Fall Fair. Residents and businesses are welcome to stop by any time from 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM and bring their electronics for recycling. The mobile electronics recycling centre will also be in dozens of additional communities in the coming months, including:

• Owen Sound • Port Hope • Glencoe • Metcalfe • Moore/Brigden • Walkerton • Toronto

"Together with our service providers and Ontario residents and businesses, we have diverted more than 50,000 tonnes of waste electronics from landfill to date," said Carol Hochu, executive director, OES. "Last year, our mobile tour collected over 350 tonnes of e-waste, and is on the road in the far North and rural South this year to raise awareness, generate enthusiasm and motivate people to action across Ontario."

The OES program now accepts more than 44 types of electronic items, including:

Amplifiers • Audio and video players & recorders • Cameras • Cell phones • Computers (desktop & laptop) and peripherals • Copiers • Digital cameras • Fax machines • Monitors • Pagers and PDAs • Printers • Radios • Receivers • Scanners • Speakers • Telephones and answering machines • Tuners • Turntables • Televisions • Video projectors

To keep track of the tour as it unfolds, and for locations, event details, photos, blog posts and more, please visit: www.recycleyourelectronics.ca/tour

About Ontario Electronic Stewardship

Ontario Electronic Stewardship (OES) is a not-for-profit industry organization that oversees the responsible recycling of end-of-life electronics through hundreds of approved and affiliated collection sites across the province. The program began operations in 2009, and was developed with Waste Diversion Ontario on behalf of the Ontario government in compliance to the Waste Diversion Act.

Learn more:

www.recycleyourelectronics.ca
www.ontarioelectronicstewardship.ca

Follow us on Twitter:
@ecycleOntario

"From the Ground Up: Civic Engagement in Our Times" Couchiching Institute on Public Affairs celebrates 80th Annual Conference

2011-08-04T05:39:00.000-07:00

Stephane Dion awarded this year's Public Policy Award for Leadership

Addresses the role of the individual and organizations in shaping civic life and public policy.

ORILLIA, Ontario, August 3, 2011 /Canada NewsWire/ - China is shutting down online and media debate on its high speed train crash, Syrians demand change, US partisanship threatens to derail economic recovery and the citizens in Canada's largest city are finding their voice in the face of service cuts. The ways individuals and organizations influence and shape civic life and public policy dominate the agenda at the 80th annual conference of the Couchiching Institute on Public Affairs (CIPA), August 4-7, 2011.

This year's line-up includes such Canadian and international luminaries as Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi, Nathalie Des Rosiers, General Counsel, Canadian Civil Liberties Association, the Hon. Jim Prentice, P.C., Q.C., Senior Executive Vice President and Vice Chairman, CIBC, Ovide Mercredi, Former National Chief Assembly of First Nations, Jay Naidoo, former South African Minister of State in Nelson Mandela's government, and Mona Eltahawy, award winning Egyptian columnist.

"The diverse ways in which individuals and organizations engage in community issues and social change at the local, national and international levels and the ways in which these forms of engagement are changing are at the core of this year's Couchiching Conference." said Gwen Burrows, President, Couchiching Institute on Public Affairs.

CIPA is pleased to announce this year's recipient of The Couchiching Award for Public Policy Leadership to Stephane Dion, P.C., M.P. The award was established to honour the accomplishments of a Canadian who has demonstrated leadership in public policy and recognizes the actions taken by an individual to create policy that has had a proven positive impact on Canada or a community within Canada, often in the face of public opposition.

The Couchiching Institute on Public Affairs is Canada's oldest public affairs forum and is a crucible of provocative questions, creative ideas and divergent discussions that are the product of the collective contributions of all who attend. For more information, please visit http://www.couch.ca.

Stephen Hawking Centre Grand Opening at Perimeter Institute in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

2011-07-29T07:01:00.000-07:00

Image credit: Wikipedia

WATERLOO, Ontario, July 28, 2011 /Canada NewsWire/ - This September 16 to 18, the all new Stephen Hawking Centre at Perimeter Institute launches with three days of exciting events.

The state-of-the-art facility will help advance scientific progress by providing the ultimate environment for physicists to interact and conceive, visualize, and understand the nature of physical reality, from the subatomic world to the entire universe.

With an innovative and interactive design, the Stephen Hawking Centre doubles the size of the initial research complex and will accommodate up to 250 physicists and research trainees, making Canada's Perimeter Institute the largest facility of its kind in the world devoted to research, training and outreach in theoretical physics.

So how do you design a collaborative environment from the ground up to facilitate scientific research and discovery? Why is Perimeter's expansion the first entire centre Stephen Hawking has ever lent his name to? What exactly is theoretical physics and why is just one major discovery - such as those due to Newton, Maxwell and Einstein - literally capable of changing the world and making possible the new technologies that will transform our future?

About the Grand Opening

The all new research complex - and the mysteries and wonders of our universe - can be explored from September 16 to 18 through a series of special events, self-guided tours of the 55,000 square foot expansion, interactive exhibits, PI Public Lectures and many opportunities to chat with Perimeter's international scientists.

The activities are made possible by BMO Financial Group, presenting media partner TVO, and Perimeter Institute's public-private partnership including the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario.

About Perimeter Institute

Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics (PI) is an independent, non-profit, scientific research organization working to advance our understanding of physical laws and develop new ideas about the very essence of space, time, matter and information. Located in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, PI also provides a wide array of research training and educational outreach activities to nurture scientific talent and share the importance of discovery and innovation among students, teachers and the general public. In partnership with the Governments of Ontario and Canada, PI is a successful example of public-private collaboration in scientific research, training and outreach. Visit www.perimeterinstitute.ca for more information.