Abortion Bus Ad Debate Misses the Real Issue

You know an issue's contentious if a link on the Guelph sub-Reddit gets nearly 40 replies. Now don't get me wrong, I love the Guelph Reddit, but it ain't exactly the most happening place on the interwebs. In this case, the topic in question is part of a bigger conversation that has even made it to the local TV news, a question as to whether or not Guelph Right for Life should be allowed to advertise on city buses.

Given the fact that I've been in Guelph for almost 18 years, and cannot remember a time when the picture of a fetus and the phrase "This is a child. Not a choice." didn't occasionally pop up on the back of a bus, I have to wonder what the urgent urgency of getting rid of them now is. Also, I have to wonder why Guelphites advocating for a woman's right to choose keep missing the point? They're so wrapped up in the messaging that they seem to have forgotten that unless its an emergency or classified as live-saving surgery, your average woman can't get a legal abortion inside the boundaries of the Royal City.

Local PCs Bringing Special Guest Elliott

Barely a month since Kathleen Wynne took over at the Premier's office many have thought that an election taking place in the immediate future was off the table. Or is it.

Call it good outreach, call it anticipation for an election call, call it a good time at Delainey's, but the local Progress Conservative riding association will be hosting health critic Christine Elliott on Friday over the lunch hour, according to a press release sent out by riding association president Greg Schirk.

Read the full press release below to learn more.

Guelph Politicast #5 - Liz Sandals

It's almost fitting that the chips fell this way, talking to all her competitors for the seat of Guelph's MPP before talking to our current representative Liz Sandals, who's hoping to get elected for a third time on October 6th. Sandals has come under attack from many of her opponents for unavailable and unattached to the city, bringing edicts from Queen's Park to Guelph rather than talking Guelph concerns to Queen's Park as it were. I asked Sandals about it in the interview and she hit back at that one pretty hard.

Other areas touched upon include Sandals' pet issue education, as well as the environment and her own political future. It was an interesting discussion, and I even got a chance to ask Sandals to describe a day in the life. I don't know if this might get people to see the bigger picture of how jammed an MPP's schedule can be, but like the man said, I report, you decide. 

On a side note, this is the last podcast I have scheduled. I'm going to do what I can to see if I can do a proper sit down with Philip Bender and Julian Ichim, and I'll keep you posted if that materializes. In the meantime, enjoy Politicast #5.

Resolutions and Depositions Over Health Unit

From the City today comes word of more court action, this time against the Board of Health to prevent them from moving forward with the construction of a new headquarters for the Health Unit, the funding for which would be entirely on the back of the City of Guelph. Typically, the province is responsible for 75 per cent of the costs incurred by the Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Health Unit (reducing the City's share of the cost from $10 million to $2.5 million), but for some strange the province has refused to spend new money on infrastructure, leaving Guelph (and Orangeville) in a precarious position. Here's the press release:

GUELPH, ON, March 8, 2011 – The City of Guelph has started a court action requesting an injunction to stop the Board of Health from incurring costs related to the acquisition or construction of capital facilities or from entering into agreements to this end until the legal authority for the Board to do so is determined. The court action follows the City of Guelph's resolution to not support the Board of Health in its plans to proceed unilaterally with the construction or acquisition of a new headquarters.

The City of Guelph continues to believe the Board of Health does not have the authority to incur debt in the City's name without its consent. The cost to Guelph taxpayers, should the Board of Health proceed as planned, is $10 million. The impact on the City of Guelph's ability to fund other projects could be significant.

"Guelph City Council has agreed it will urge the Counties of Dufferin and Wellington to not support the Board of Health in proceeding with direct ownership of property," says Guelph's mayor Karen Farbridge. "We will be requesting the counties participate, along with the City, in meetings with the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care to discuss alternatives that would not jeopardize Provincial participation in funding accommodation costs or add to the City's debt."

The City has been clear about its opposition to funding $10 million in capital costs for the construction of a new building in Guelph without participation from the Province in funding a portion. The City has been working with the Board to assess other proposals since 2007.

Capital funds for new facilities were not part of Guelph's 2011 budget approved last week. The Board of Health withdrew from its scheduled opportunity to present its budget on February 15, thereby eliminating Guelph City Council's ability to ask questions and comment on the Board's capital plans.

While the City of Guelph acknowledges a new location is needed, it hopes an injunction will afford the chance to determine its legal obligations to fund these types of projects. The City is committed to exploring alternatives, and remains hopeful an alternative can be found.

Valeriote to talk hospice care

Guelph MP Frank Valeriote will be hosting a forum tomorrow in order to discuss Compassionate, Palliative and Hospice Care. "Genuine efforts must be undertaken to create a healthcare system that includes improved and meaningful compassionate and palliative care," said a notice from Valeriote's office to the press. Here's the details:

In co-operation with Hospice Wellington, we will be conducting a forum on Friday, September 17, 2010 from 9:00 am – 12:00 pm and from 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 pm at the Italian Canadian Club. These discussions will form part of a comprehensive submission to be given to the Government of Canada by the Parliamentary Committee.

Valeriote Goes Ad Hoc for Senior Care

It took a lot of effort, but I managed to surpress the urge to write "Valeriote Forms Death Panel -- I Kid" in the headline box. All joking aside though, it's nice to see that there are still people in Parliament that can get along. And despite the drastic misrepresentation of the issue by people like Sarah Palin, an aging population plus limited resources means this end of life and elderly care issues need to be looked at seriously by serious people. But let's read what the Valeriote team has to say in a press release

Frank Valeriote Announces Formation of Parliamentary Committee on Palliative and Compassionate Care

Frank Valeriote, Member of Parliament for Guelph, is pleased to announce the formation of a new, non-partisan multi-party group of MPs spanning the political spectrum aimed at promoting awareness of glaring deficiencies in Canada's palliative and compassionate care framework, fostering constructive dialogue and substantive research on an array of related subjects, and implementing policies to address this critical deficiency in the nation`s approach to long-term health.

The Parliamentary Coalition on Palliative and Compassionate Care (PCPCC) is an ad-hoc organization whose membership is open to any legislator who shares the pressing concerns of a growing number of Canadians about present levels of care available to an aging society and people with disabilities. Inspired by broad consultations undertaken in every region of Canada by Members of all parties, PCPCC will preoccupy itself with a series of distinct but symbiotic challenges including:

1) A critical nationwide shortage of expertise and material resources in the fields of palliative, hospice, and home care;
2) Suicide prevention, pain control and the implications of an ongoing mental health crisis;
3) Elder abuse and;
4) Disability issues.

The group`s founders include Joe Comartin (Windsor-Tecumseh), Frank Valeriote (Guelph), Michelle Simson (Scarborough Southwest), Harold Albrecht (Kitchener-Conestoga), Kelly Block (Saskatoon-Rosetown-Biggar).

Each of the inaugural members has committed to conducting the Coalition`s work in a spirit of cooperation and purpose, and to enhancing the profile of these serious issues within their respective national caucuses and broader constituencies. United in a belief that Canada`s elected representatives should confront such contentious issues boldly and without recourse to partisanship, the group will circulate a formal invitation soliciting the participation of any interested colleagues in the House.

“While we acknowledge that we have the best health care system in the world, with Canada’s demographics changing so rapidly the shortcomings and gaps in our health system must be urgently addressed. Too many Canadians have had experiences where family or close friends have born witness to serious shortcomings in hospice and home care, or even the occurrence of elder abuse. Our newly formed Parliamentary Committee feels compelled to add valuable momentum and ideas to find solutions. Meaningfully addressing end of life and mental health issues as well as issues effecting people with disabilities bring dignity and a sense of significance to the lives of those suffering as well as their families and care givers. It is our sincere hope that this collaborative, non-partisan group of MPs will be able to help accomplish this in Parliament."

City Groups Promote Health Equity

Part of province-wide event, Guelph will celebrate and inform along with the rest of Ontario on April 30th for Community Health Day. There press release is below with all the details.

GUELPH, ON, April 30th, 2010 – Guelph CHC Celebrates Community Health Day.

On Friday April 30th Ontario’s 74 Community Health Centres, ten Aboriginal Health Access Centres and 18 Community Family Health Teams are all celebrating Community Health Day.

Community Health Day is an opportunity for Community Health Centres, service partners and community members to rally around an issue of common concern. This year’s issue is health equity. Health equity means better health for all. To achieve better health for all, Ontario’s health providers, health agencies, Local Health Integration Networks and the provincial government must break down barriers that stand in the way of so many populations and communities enjoying good health or accessing the health services they need.

Guelph CHC will be hosting an event in celebration of Community Health Day on April 30th. The proposed agenda is outlined below.

Time: 11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Location: Guelph CHC – Main Site (176 Wyndham St. N) lower level

Falling Through the Cracks (12:30-1:30)
Guelph CHC Executive Director, Konnie Peet will present “Falling Through the Cracks”, a presentation highlighting the relationship between socio-economic status and health inequity. A question and answer period will follow.

Health Fair (11:30-12:30 & 1:30-2:30)
Representatives from various agencies will set up displays for attendees to review before and after the presentation noted above. Confirmed agencies to date include: AIDS Committee of Guelph and Wellington County, Anishnabeg Outreach, KidsAbility, Make Yourself At Home Program and Wyndham House Youth Resource Centre.

I Got Mail

I saw on the news today that local politicians were chastising their federal candidates for not focusing more on local issues in their campaigns. Well, I can't say I disagree, and I take a share of guilt on that as much as anyone. Anyway, I got this today in the old e-mail and I thought I'd post it.

TOM KING HAS A NATIONAL HOME CARE PLAN
“Helping our seniors live in dignity”

(Guelph) – The New Democrat candidate in Guelph, Tom King, announced that as a Member of Parliament, he will work with Jack Layton to build a program to assist older Canadians to live in dignity in their homes.

King blasted the Prime Minister, saying “Stephen Harper has let down our older generation, the women and men of Guelph who built this nation. Mr. Harper voted in favour of the New Democrat’s Senior’s Charter in 2006, but instead of implementing it he made $50 billion in corporate tax cuts his priority.”

The New Democrat also pointed to the difficulties experienced by family care-givers, saying “a generation of Canadians is burning out, caring for their parents as well as their kids.”

“As a basic first step, working in close collaboration with the provinces,” said King, “we’ll create a national home care program, providing 100,000 more Canadian families with access to home care.”

“Canada’s senior citizens built this country, and we are all in their debt. It’s time for a Prime Minister who will repay that debt.”

It's a big issue that's only going to get bigger as the Baby Boomers grow older, I'm glad someone's mentioned. However, on the other hand, it does seem to be further evidence that this election seems to be about everything , and nothing, at the same time.

Follow-up:

In regards to yesterday's entry about the supposed "mounting evidence" that Frank Valeriote "staged a canvas" broadcast on the CPAC program Campaign Politics and Christian Conservative's warning to "fess up" and "come clean" because "the media has been sniffing around."

Well, goof that I am, I went straight to the source. I called CPAC today and talked to Jenn Thomlinson in their media office. She says that they've received no complaint or question about the validity of the segment and thus there is currently no investigation into it. Now I know CC's "preparing his letter," so I guess time will tell.

And incidentally, and anecdotally, as I was explaining this story to my mom and my sister today, they told me that when Gloria Kovach canvased our house a few weeks ago, she knew our names thanks to a list. And where would she get such a list? My sister's a Liberal Party supporter and both my mother and me are independents. Hm. Who would have a list of potential voters and where they live? It's almost like some group, let's call them.... Elections Canada, would keep that kind of information so that they can compile some kind of series of names who are people that voted in the last election... let's call it a voter's list.

Anyway, this concludes my interest in this issue. Unless, of course, it turns out that Frank Valeriote turns out to be the kind of ineffectual super-villain, like Egg Head or King Tut from the old Batman show, that CC seems to think he is.