Pain is the primary reason people go to a hospital’s emergency room (ER), yet addressing this pain is far down the list of priorities in the ER setting, which infuriates patients and creates a hostile hospital environment for medical practitioners and patients alike.I talked with 15 local residents, randomly selected at the local Tim Hortons, and every single one of them told me that they or a loved one or a friend had visited the ER at the new Humber River Regional Hospital in the past year with acute pain. While each patient had different conditions and symptoms, they were all outraged that not only was their pain dismissed or ignored by medical professionals, but also that they were often left for hours in isolated rooms, in agony, without any idea when, or if, someone would help them. More than one patient left after waiting for more than 4 hours and went to a different hospital to seek help for their agonizing pain.Studies have shown that reduction of pain levels directly translates into patient satisfaction of ER visits. Prompt pain management also improves mood, decreases length of hospital stay, and even decreases mortality rates! With Ontario facing worsening patient satisfaction in overcrowded ERs, why is pain management so far down the list of priorities during ER visits? While pain management does present challenges, medical practitioners in ER departments are all trained in proper treatment practices and guidelines. Something as simple as administering a standard dose of an over-the-counter painkiller may make the difference between incredible suffering and being able to tolerate the already frustrating wait times. It is understandable that triage in the ER must focus on those with the most severe medical trauma, which doesn’t always match the pain people feel. Nevertheless, all patients should be receive rapid pain management during the triage process, not hours later when a doctor finally gets to them (https://www.omicsgroup.org/journals/acute-pain-management-in-the-emergency-department-emphasis-on-nsaids-2165-7548.1000171.php?aid=22063). As the Institute for Safe Medication Practices Canada has argued, “controlling pain early in the presentation of a patient’s illness or soon after an injury is an important duty of healthcare practitioners”. To that effect, all hospitals should “develop and sustain comprehensive pain management systems and protocols” in their emergency rooms. Such a simple thing will go a long way to improving the experiences of patients visiting Ontario’s hospitals. That’s truly “patient care reinvented”.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2966563/https://www.intechopen.com/books/pain-management/acute-pain-management-in-the-emergency-departmenthttps://www.yorkregion.com/news-story/6972498-patients-still-waiting-too-long-to-see-er-doctors-health-quality-ontario
Government fails to bring auto insurance prices down
Insurance rates in Downsview are the highest in all of Ontario. The government has allowed insurance companies to charge more depending on the location of the driver which has hurt communities like ours. In general Ontario has the highest insurance rates within Canada, giving our area one of the highest in all of Canada.The Ontario Liberals promised to keep insurance rates under control, time and time again, but have failed this promise. They have significantly missed their goal of cutting rates by 15 per cent by August 2015 and continue to get further and further away from that goal. After Premier Kathleen Wynne was unable to meet her promise she referred to the 15 per cent goal as a “stretch goal”, we cannot trust this government to follow through with their promises.In April a report by Ontario's auto insurance advisor said that Ontario had the most expensive auto insurance premiums in Canada even though we have one of the lowest rates of accidents and fatalities. The average insurance premium in Ontario is $1,458 which is over 50 per cent higher than the average of all other Canadian jurisdictions.We need a fairer system that charges people the same amount for the same type of vehicle wherever you live in Ontario. It is not fair that one of the least fortunate areas pays the most for car insurance, while also driving less expensive cars. The car insurance companies have been making significant profits because they benefit from an unfair system that the government has set up, in 2015 there were profits of almost $2 billion dollars in Canada.How does an auto insurance company determine your individual rate?Auto insurance companies employ specialized statisticians called actuaries who assess the level of risk of each new prospective client. Risk means the likelihood that a client will file a claim and the presumed amount of a claim. The higher the expected risk, the higher the premium. The best client is the individual that pays and pays but never files a claim.What factors are used to determine your rate?Actuaries use a number of factors to determine your level of risk including:· the age and type of car you drive· the level of coverage and amount of your deductible· your driving record (including prior claims and traffic offences)· the number of kilometres you drive· demographic information such as your age, gender and marital status· where you liveWho regulates auto insurance companies?The activities of auto insurance companies are regulated by the Financial Services Commission of Ontario or FSCO, an arm's length agency of Ontario's Ministry of Finance. Auto insurance companies are expected to abide by the rules of the Auto Insurance Act 1990. When calculating and raising rates, insurers provide detailed information to FSCO for approval.The Ontario Liberals have allowed a system that benefits their rich friends in the insurance companies and from much wealthier areas of the province. I want to put a stop to this practice and create a better system that will make insurance rates cheaper
$15 and Fairness Town Hall at the Jane Street Hub
The room at the Jane Street Hub was crowded with people coming to hear about the Campaign for “$15 and Fairness”. $15? That’s the Ontario minimum wage the campaign is fighting for. Fairness? That’s all about the improved working conditions the Campaign wants to see brought in through changes to Ontario’s workplace legislation.It’s obvious that for millions of us the workplace has been changing for the worse. It’s become harder and harder to get jobs that pay a living wage, that provide dependable employment, benefits such as sick pay and decent schedules. This is a fundamental source of the struggle so many have to get by at the same time that we see those at the top of the scale becoming better and better off. The Campaign has been fighting to address these problems.Deena Ladd, Coordinator of the Worker’s Action Centre which played a central role in the Campaign, remarked on how awareness of and support for the Campaign’s demands had grown. Leaks in the press indicated that the government was likely to support a $15 minimum wage and some of the other demands of the Campaign. Deena emphasized the important role that strong organizing had played in helping to build the public pressure needed to bring this about.Patty Coates Secretary-Treasurer of the Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) spoke about “Make it Fair” the parallel campaign of organized labour. That campaign has emphasized the importance of making it easier for workers to unionize.Malka Paracha is a food service supervisor at York University and a member of UNITE HERE Local 75. She described a long, difficult, but inspiring struggle at the University that ultimately succeeded in obtaining a breakthrough contract.Fatima Mussa is a Project Coordinator at Access Alliance Multicultural Health and Community Services at Jane Street and Woolner . She described why Access Alliance became actively involved in the 15 and Fairness Campaign. It’s simple: low wages and stressful working conditions are a central cause of poor health.Laurie Simpson, is the chair of the Weston Chapter ACORN. She spoke of her organization’s strong support of the Campaign’s objectives and activities.The Ontario government is committed to making changes to workplace legislation. It established a Changing Workplaces Committee to make recommendations to it. The Committee had made its recommendations the day before the meeting.Deena Ladd summarized those recommendations. She pointed to some that were positive, some that were negative and some that were missing.Access Alliance and co-EMCEE and local activist Chiara Padovani had an appointment to see York South-Weston MPP Laura Albanese the next day. The attendees made suggestions about what they should tell her the government should do with the Committee’s recommendations.The attendees were treated to moving spoken word and musical performances by MC Mohammad Ali and local resident Zoey Amour. They also heard a closing deeply stirring performance of a piece composed by co-EMCEE Donna Michelle St. Bernard which you can find on Youtube.On May 30 the Ontario government announced Bill 148, a package of proposed reforms to workplace legislation. The Bill does not contain all of the changes the Campaign wanted. But if brought into law it means a huge step for workers in Downsview and right across Ontario. Here are some of the changes: a $15 minimum wage within 18 months, measures to make it easier to join a union, equal pay for part-time, casual, temporary and contract workers and fairer scheduling. Let’s work to make sure the Bill passed. The lesson? Organizing for change can succeed!
Liberals Abandon Electoral Reform
Early in February, the newly-appointed Minister of Democratic Institutions, Karina Gould, announced that she was informed by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that “Changing the electoral system will not be in your mandate”. This move surprised many, as one of the key campaign promises by the PM was that 2015 “will be the last federal election conducted under the First-Past-The-Post voting system”. By one count, Justin Trudeau personally voiced this promise over 1800 times during the campaign. Many were angry at the announcement, with hundreds showing up to a protest in Toronto alone and NDP democratic reform critic Nathan Cullen calling it, “One of the most cynical displays of self-serving politics.”Perhaps the move should not have been a surprise. In January, Mr. Trudeau suggested that Canadians were less interested in electoral reform because they were now under a Liberal government that they liked. How the Prime Minister was able to determine Canadians’ interest in electoral reformm was not mentioned. The Special Committee on Electoral Reform (ERRE) –a diverse body of elected officials commissioned by the government to study the issue – finished six months of consultations with experts and the public in a series of town halls across the country, and came back to the government with a recommendation: a referendum on whether or not to move to some form of proportional representation. The government rejected this recommendation, claiming that there was no clear consensus on what Canadians wanted, that a referendum would be too divisive, and that extremist parties would proliferate under a proportional representation system. The fact that 88% of testimony to the ERRE was in favour of proportional representation and that Canadians could have made their wishes clear in a referendum, was apparently not taken into account by the Prime Minister. (Along with the fact that fringe parties could be kept out by a minimum vote threshold).Cynics have suggested that the reason for the rejection was that the committee did not recommend the Liberal Party’s preferred system of ranked ballots. This system would have led to the centrist Liberals being the second-choice for many on the right and left and guaranteed the formation of successive Liberal governments. Whether or not this was the case cannot be determined from outside the party’s inner circle.One direct product of this broken promise will be an increase in general voter dissatisfaction. When combined with other broken Liberal promises: the approval of the Trans-Mountain pipeline, no free, prior, and informed consent from communities affected by pipeline construction, and a refusal to ratify the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples – distrust of the government and in politics increases. This may have led to the results from a recent poll where only 43% of Canadians said that their government could be trusted.Most people are familiar with self-interested leaders strengthening their position at the expense of their organization. By acting in their own self-interest, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the Liberals may well have damaged democracy in Canada.
French Presidential Election
By: Renaud Durand The 2017 French presidential election started today, Sunday, April 23 and continues on May 7th. It aims at electing the president of the French Republic for a five-year term, the eleventh presidential election of the Fifth Republic and, also the tenth in the direct universal suffrage.This election will indicate the successor of the president of the Republic taking out François Hollande for the benefit of 11 potential candidates.The candidates and campaigns are different in comparison to previous presidential election. In this election there is a degree of unpredictability and a lot of talk about a certain reorganization of the French political scene.This change is the fruit of the personal weakening of the former two leaders of the parties who were majority, Nicolas Sarkozy and François Hollande with the political balance unflattering.Indeed, 89 % of the respondents think that the politicians do not worry enough about "what people like us think", and 70 % think that democracy does not work well.The various political campaigns have gained a lot of media attention. There has been heated debates on television and presumed favouritism, cheating and corruption among republicans François Fillon and Marine Le Pen, representative of National Front, the radical right.Polls show a certain fragility in voting intentions for candidates of the Socialist Party and the Republican Party, the two big parties of government. The people of France have embodied new currents such as the centrist representative, Emmanuel Macron, or the socialist, Jean-Luc Mélenchon.Many contrasting opinions such as: leaving the European Union, the lapse of nationality, universal income and more are subjects represented by the contrasting opinions of each candidate.People’s indecisions reflect this pluralistic France today, in its opinions, in its origins, which should meet and accept to establish a better prospect. If the victory of President Trump in the United States and that of Brexit in the United Kingdom were unexpected, then we must consider the complexity of the situation in France, and realize we might need to expect that something similar might happen in the French country.
Keep Our Power Rally and March
On April 8th Keep Hydro Public is joining Libby Keenan and many other residents from across the Province to demand for: Affordable, Accountable, and Publicly owned electricity!Our ask is simple: No more rebates. STOP THE SALE OF HYDRO ONE!The Ontario Liberal Government sold about 30% of Hydro One without a mandate. Just last week the Liberal MPPs also voted to continue the sale of Hydro One shares. Privatization of public utility has been disastrous for the Province. Private Power costs more than Public Power. Let’s unite and tell the Liberal Government: we want to Keep Our Power, We want to Keep Hydro Public.WHEN: Saturday April 8 @ 1:00 p.m. WHERE: Assemble at Hydro One Headquarters (483 Bay St) between 11am to 1pm, then march to Queen’s Park at 1:00pm.
If you need further information please contact Doly Begum at doly@keephydropublic.ca or 647-998-3659 (cell).
Vigilance and enhanced police presence vital to protect Jewish and all targeted institutions, says Councillor James Pasternak
*Media Release provided by Councillor James Pasternak's office.*In light of recent threats to Jewish institutions in Toronto and beyond, Toronto City Councillor James Pasternak, Ward 10, York Centre, is calling for greater vigilance and resources from Toronto Police Service and enhanced investigative and preventative work by the RCMP and other security agencies.“Threats against our valued institutions such as community centres and schools are a gross violation of our ability to go about our daily lives in safety, freedom and live as Jews in Toronto. It is vital that all sectors of society condemn these cowardly harassments and threats. We are calling on Toronto Police Service and our federal and provincial law enforcement agencies to investigate the perpetrators and bring them to justice,” says Councillor James Pasternak.“Moreover, as a preventative measure, it is necessary to increase patrols, security and surveillance around targeted institutions to send a strong signal that we will take all measures necessary to protect freedom of religion, our personal safety and the social cohesion that Toronto is known for worldwide.”
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Councillor James Pasternak416-392-1371 | councillor_pasternak@toronto.cawww.jamespasternak.ca
Media Release: Councillor Pasternak Strongly Opposes the Decision to Close the Urgent Care Centre at the Branson Ambulatory Care Centre
March 2, 2017Media Release: Councillor Pasternak Strongly Opposes the Decision to Close the Urgent Care Centre at the Branson Ambulatory Care Centre Toronto City Councillor James Pasternak, Ward 10, York Centre, strongly objects to the decision to close the Urgent Care Centre at the Branson Ambulatory Care Centre, 555 Finch Avenue West, in June 2017."It is extremely disappointing that the decision was made to close the Urgent Care Centre in June. This facility is an incredibly valuable resource for the local community that enables residents to receive care for urgent illnesses and injuries that are not life threatening. I am calling on the Premier and Minister of Health and Long Term Care to reconsider this decision," said Councillor Pasternak.The Branson Ambulatory Care Centre is one of North York General Hospital's three sites. In addition to the Urgent Care Centre, Branson also provides vital services for prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment planning, mental health, medical imaging, cataract surgery and diabetes education programs. In 2015-16, the outpatient volume at the Branson Site was 68,693 with 21,858 visits to the Urgent Care Centre.North York General has determined that it will not be renewing its lease at the Branson Ambulatory Care Centre in 2019 as the Advent Corporation has extensive redevelopment plans for the site that will include a seniors’ living and care community."I would be of great benefit to the community for the Urgent Care Centre to remain open until the end of the facility's lease in 2019. We will work with any medical facility to activate this site and ensure its long-term sustainability," said Councillor Pasternak.- End -Councillor James Pasternak416-392-1371 | councillor_pasternak@toronto.cawww.jamespasternak.ca
As hydro bills continue to climb, families in North York are suffering
Ontario NDP Leader Andrea Horwath met with numerous residents of 2901 Jane St. in North York to discuss the impact of skyrocketing hydro rates on their families. “Hydro rates are out of control in this province because of bad decisions made by the Liberal government to privatize more and more of our electricity system,” said Horwath. “Instead of looking after her friends on Bay Street, the Premier should take real steps to help families throughout the GTA by making hydro affordable.” Residents of 2901 Jane St. told the NDP Leader about the challenges they are facing as retired people living on a fixed income. Even after switching to equal billing and receiving small rebates through the Ontario Electricity Support Program residents are still struggling, some going so far as to not cook or use electricity at all between 7am to 7pm. The residents of 2901 Jane St. are not unique in their struggles. Hydro bills have been skyrocketing out of control for many Ontarians all across the province. “I hear stories like these regularly from people I visit,” said Horwath. “Hydro rates are too high, they have been for a long time and Kathleen Wynne isn’t doing much about it. In fact, she is making it worse by continuing to sell-off Hydro One which will drive rates even further up.” The NDP Leader urged the Liberal government to do the right thing and cancel her plan to sell-off Hydro One because it will only make electricity more expensive for families, businesses and community organizations in Ontario.
Canada’s Role in Response to the Muslim Ban
Inaugurated less than two weeks ago, actions taken by newly elected US President, Donald Trump, has left many disturbed. People are unsure about their future, their safety and their families.On Friday, January 27th Trump signed an executive order blocking citizens from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen for 90 days. This order also suspends all refugees from seeking asylum in the United States for 120 days and barred Syrian refugees indeterminately, resulting in 100-200 people being detained at American airports -separated from their families and loved ones and being ‘sent home.’Many protests took place around the world and at airports in response to what is known as the #MuslimBan. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and other activist groups filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of two detainees being held at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York.New York Federal Judge, Ann M. Donnelly, blocked part of the ban over the weekend, stopping the government from deporting those who had already arrived in the United States.On Sunday morning, the Department of Homeland Security issued a statement in compliance with court orders and Trump’s executive order leaving many in disarray. Hate only ensues hate and barring innocent people and those seeking safety in the name of terrorism only perpetrates a divide – bringing us back to the Cold War.Is Canada truly the peaceful neighbour?Often Canada is represented as the friendlier neighbour to the North. Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau takes selfies and pictures with pandas, so in comparison to the US, we are depicted as peaceful and welcoming.Contrary to Trump’s election promises, Trudeau promised for more Syrian refugees to be granted asylum in Canada. Trudeau promised to take 25 000 Syrian refugees by the end of 2015 during his campaign. However, he constantly pushed back the date of his promise and many refugees still face a backlog in their applications being processed. Thousands of Syrian refugees were privately sponsored. By the end of 2016, the Liberal Government went back on their promise in capping the number of privately sponsored Syrian refugees to 1000 in 2017.Trudeau started a #WelcomeToCanada hashtag in response to Trump’s executive order, with an old picture of himself with a young refugee. Again, Canada is portrayed as the friendlier neighbour, but political leadership needs to go beyond selfies and empty promises.• Syrian Refugees’ basic needs are not being met often ending up with frost-bites and little-to-no supports for settlement• PM Trudeau sold $15-billion of armoured vehicles to Saudi Arabia reminding of us of the US’ militant role in the Middle East• PM Trudeau has been inconsistent on the Temporary Foreign Worker program• Pulling on the heartstrings of Canadians, PM Trudeau focuses on Syrian refugees but not African asylum-seekers or others around the worldSadly, Canada is not immune to hate and Islamophobia. A horrific terrorist attack at a Quebec City mosque overnight left 6 people dead and 8 injured last night. People may feel like their hands are tied and they are unsure about what they can do. Here are some ways you can take action:1. Email your local MP to request the Emergency Debate that NDP MPP Jenny Kwan has called for http://www.ndp.ca/news/ndp-calls-emergency-debate-address-trump-immigration-ban2. Share this information:If anyone knows a Syrian, Iranian, Iraqi, Somali, Sudanese, or Yemeni green card holder who is stuck outside the US with tickets to return to IAD (Dulles Airport)--please contact Simon Sandoval-Moshenberg. He is the Director of the Immigrant Advocacy Program at the Legal Aid Center in Washington, DC.simon@justice4all.org703-778-34503. Call, email, visit or reach out to a friend or family member who is affected by Islamophobia to let them know you are here4. Say no to Islamophobia by joining a peaceful protest or a vigil in your neighbourhood https://www.facebook.com/events/407436779648169/5. Sign the Broadbent Institute Petition so that Canada can act now:http://www.broadbentinstitute.ca/travel_ban_petitionCheck out these articles for details:• https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2016/12/24/ottawas-new-cap-on-refugee-applications-upsets-sponsors.html• http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/canada-must-stick-to-its-word-on-saudi-arms-deal-trudeau-says/article29981571/• https://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2016/08/24/trudeau-liberals-tiptoe-into-temporary-foreign-workers-minefield-walkom.html• http://time.com/4031569/migrant-crisis-europe-african-refugees/