Good morning, Greater Sudbury! Here are a few stories to start your day on this Tuesday morning.
Health-care inequity means Northerners die early, and it’s high time government fixes the problem, Ontario Medical Assoc. Says
The Ontario Medical Association said it recognizes that health care in Northern Ontario is lacking and the life expectancy of Northern residents is more than two years lower than the Ontario average. That's one of the key reasons why the OMA believes work is needed to provide "equitable access to health care" for Northern Ontario, which will be part of a new initiative for the OMA to improve health care across the province. OMA president Dr. Adam Kassam of Toronto was speaking from Sudbury in a Zoom conference Monday when he said "providing equitable access to health care is a unique challenge requiring unique solutions." Kassam was visiting Sudbury along with OMA CEO Allan O'Dette to meet with officials at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM) to talk about the OMA's prescription for Northern Ontario. The OMA said it is part of a larger plan, “Prescription for Ontario: Doctors' Five-Point Plan for Better Health Care”, which is to be fully outlined Tuesday in a news event at Queen's Park. "Ontario's doctors are frustrated because patients aren't able to get the care that they need when they need it. And let's be honest, that's gone on for far too long. And health care in Northern Ontario can be improved, frankly must be improved," said Kassam.
Gélinas reintroduces bill to recognize police officers who died by suicide
NDP MPP France Gélinas (Nickel Belt) has reintroduce her bill that would lead to highway memorials being erected for police officers who died by suicide as a consequence of being in the line of duty. The bill was introduced to the legislature earlier this year, but the prorogation of the legislature earlier this fall cleared all bills that had not received royal assent, hence its reintroduction now. On Oct. 15, the Ontario Provincial Police unveiled a suicide memorial for officers at its headquarters in Orillia, with a similar goal as Gélinas in mind. “The establishment of this memorial shows our province is starting to recognize the importance of police mental health and the repercussions of ignoring it,” the MPP said. “The mental health of our first responders is an issue that is growing in gravity but needs much more work.” The bill — Highway Memorials for Fallen Police Officers Amendment Act (In Memory of Officers Impacted by Traumatic Events), 2021 — would change provincial law to include police officers who died by suicide, in memorials along the King’s Highway.
Councillor highlights ‘incredible’ success of Sudbury’s community paramedicine program
Greater Sudbury’s Community Paramedicine for Long-Term Care Pilot program is fully operational, and a team of paramedics has performed 358 home visits to seniors’ homes. Of these home visits conducted since May, 83 were considered “just-in-time” cases that would have otherwise been 911 calls. In 87 per cent of these cases, the patient avoided having to visit an emergency department. These are “incredible numbers,” Ward 1 Coun. Mark Signoretti said during this week’s emergency services committee meeting, offering his “kudos” to Melissa Roney and others behind the effort. “They’re getting care right at their own place, which is remarkable.” During the meeting, Roney, deputy chief of Greater Sudbury’s paramedic services, offered the committee an update on the program, which received $6.5 million in provincial funding to operate over 3.25 years and is now at its nine-month mark. Patients include seniors who are either on the city’s long-term care waitlist or soon to be eligible for long-term care. The waitlist for long-term care is currently more than 600 people, of whom 10 per cent have been designated “priority/crisis” and are no longer able to cope at home, according to a report by Roney.
Ontario lifts capacity limits in restaurants, gyms, casinos
Ontario is lifting capacity limits today at restaurants, gyms, casinos and some other locations where proof of vaccination against COVID-19 is required. If museums and galleries, places of worship, and personal care settings choose to require proof of vaccination, they can also lift capacity limits as of today. Premier Doug Ford announced the development Friday as he unveiled plans for managing the pandemic long term. The province aims to remove all public health measures meant to slow the spread of COVID-19 by late March, including mask mandates. Proof-of-vaccination requirements will start to be lifted early next year – as long as trends don't become concerning – starting with restaurants, bars, gyms and casinos in January. Ford describes his approach to loosening restrictions as "super cautious."
Several bus routes cancelled due to exposures, bus driver shortages
Sudbury Student Services Consortium reports several exposures to COVID-19 on school buses, as well as several route cancellations due to driver shortages. The consortium said the morning elementary portion of Bus Route L314 as well as the afternoon elementary portion of bus Route L375 are cancelled due to a COVID-19 exposure and will resume on Nov. 1. The affected schools are St. Charles elementary and Chelmsford Valley District Composite School elementary. Also, the morning elementary portion of Bus Route L852 as well as the afternoon elementary portion of bus Route L122 are cancelled due to a COVID-19 exposure. The affected schools are St. Francis Catholic Elementary School, École Hélène Gravel and École St-Denis. Due to a driver shortage, the following routes are cancelled for the week of Oct. 25 — L005, L006, L012, L016, L022, L101, L114, L123, L301.
Sudbury Women’s Centre launches virtual trick-or-treat campaign
The Sudbury Women’s Centre has launched a virtual Triple Your Treat campaign with a goal of raising $3,000 for local women. Although Halloween is all about scaring people for fun, there’s nothing enjoyable about the real-life fear women face when they’ve been impacted by violence and/or difficult life circumstances, said a press release. “There is nothing scarier than the unknown,” executive director Giulia Carpenter said in a media release. “Our clients have experienced the fear of uncertainty more than ever this year, and it is our mission to give them access to the basic items, resources and tools to put an end to that uncertainty.” Online donations can be made by clicking here, and donations can make three times the impact, hence the Triple Your Treat campaign name.
Help spread kindness! Nominate someone for a Sudbury.com Act of Kindness today
Sudbury.com continues our December tradition of selecting 12 deserving people in the Nickel City to surprise with an act of kindness for the holiday season. Maybe it’s someone who had a particularly tough year; maybe it’s someone who isn’t sure how to pay for Christmas presents this year, or; maybe it’s someone who has had a tough time of late and just needs a pick-me-up. If you know a deserving family or a deserving person who could use a helping hand, or a hero who deserves to be recognized for their good works, nominate them to be an Act of of Kindness recipient by filling out the nomination for here. Sudbury.com is also looking for local businesses who may want to partner with us on an Act of Kindness. Do you have goods or services you would like to donate to brighten someone’s holiday season? Many Sudbury businesses have pitched in over the years to put a smile on someone’s face. To become an Act of Kindness community partner, fill out the form here and let us know. Together, we can brighten the day of people in our community. Remember, kindness is contagious.
Wet, chilly day for your Tuesday
Expect a cloudy, cold day for Tuesday, folks. Today’s high is just six degrees, with a 30-per-cent chance of drizzle in the morning. The wind will be from the north at 30 km/h, but gusting to 50. The UV index today is one, or low. This evening, expect cloudy periods and a low of two degrees.
