Public Health Agency of Canada has launched its video series Something you ate?

OTTAWA, July 30, 2012 /Canada NewsWire/ - The Public Health Agency of Canada has launched its video series Something you ate? The four-part series explains how the Agency detects and investigates outbreaks of foodborne illness, also commonly known as food poisoning.

The first two episodes are now available.

Episode 1: Outbreak Response - The Big Picture (response summary)

Episode 2: Tracking the Source (epidemiological investigation)

The videos were developed to help Canadians understand how an investigation into outbreaks of foodborne illness unfolds. They can be viewed individually, but together they tell the full story of our outbreak response and explain how people can protect themselves against illness.

The videos will be released on the PHAC website and YouTube channel on a weekly basis. We invite you to watch and share them with your audiences through your social media networks as well as through traditional streams.

Each video will be supported by extra web material, including links to our new fact sheets on pathogens, interactive material and the Government of Canada food safety web portal.

Watch for new episodes on these dates:

August 3: Episode 3: Tales from the Lab (lab investigation)

August 10: Episode 4: Protecting Yourself (food safety tips)

The Fraser Institute: Canadians Wait Almost Twice as Long as Americans for New, Life-Saving Cancer Drugs

TORONTO, Ontario - Marketwire - July 24, 2012 - The process for reviewing and approving new cancer drugs in Canada takes almost twice as long as that in the United States and is longer than the approval times in Europe, concludes a new report from the Fraser Institute, Canada's leading public policy think-tank.

The result has Canadians waiting significantly longer for new, potentially life-saving cancer drugs.

"Cancer is the leading cause of premature death in Canada. Unfortunately, the review and approval process for new cancer-fighting medications is unnecessarily longer in Canada than other industrialized countries," said Dr. Nigel Rawson, Fraser Institute senior fellow and author of Access to New Oncology Drugs in Canada Compared with the United States and Europe.

"Why are review times longer in Canada than in the United States and Europe? This raises serious questions as to whether the drug evaluation system in this country is beneficial or detrimental to Canadians with cancer."

Access to New Oncology Drugs in Canada Compared with the United States and Europe compares the amount of time that it took to approve each of the 33 new cancer medications that received market approval in Canada, the United States, and the European Community between 2003 and 2011. In addition, the report notes whether or not these new oncology drugs were approved for public reimbursement under provincial government insurance programs.

Of the 33 oncology drugs slated for market approval between 2003 and 2011, 30 were approved in the United States, 26 in the European Community, and just 24 in Canada. With the exception of one medication, Health Canada took longer to approve every new cancer drug than the U.S. FDA, where the median review time was 182 days compared to 356 days in Canada.

Furthermore, 25 of the 30 drugs approved by the American FDA between 2003 and 2011 received an expedited review, compared with only eight of the 24 drugs approved by Health Canada that received a priority review.

"Even then, expedited products in the United States had a median review time of six months, whereas Canadian priority review took close to a year," Rawson said.

"Making matters worse is that once a drug has finally been approved by Health Canada, patients more often than not discover that the medication is not covered under their public drug plan."

By the end of March 2012, only three of the 24 drugs approved in Canada since 2003 were covered to some degree by government insurance in all 10 provinces, while seven others had government-subsidized access in some provinces. Most importantly, almost 60 per cent were not covered under public drug plans in any province.

In order to ensure that Canadians have timely access to new oncology drugs already approved in the United States and Europe, the report suggests that Health Canada be required to monitor approvals in those countries. If a drug is not approved in Canada within a certain period (e.g., 90 days) of the American or European approval dates then Health Canada should be required to report to Parliament on the reasons for the delay.

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The Fraser Institute is an independent Canadian public policy research and educational organization with offices in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, and Montreal and ties to a global network of 80 think-tanks. Its mission is to measure, study, and communicate the impact of competitive markets and government intervention on the welfare of individuals. To protect the Institute's independence, it does not accept grants from governments or contracts for research. Visit www.fraserinstitute.org.

Unsustainable healthcare costs can only be solved by hybrid healthcare system

photo credit: via Flickr

TORONTO, July 24, 2012 /Canada NewsWire/ - Dr. Douglas Mark, President of the Coalition of Family Physicians and Specialists of Ontario (COFPS), announced today that it is time for Ontario to look at a hybrid healthcare system to meet the needs of the Ontario public.

"It's time to make a change; it's time to allow other options in Ontario, as they do in Alberta, Quebec and B.C.".

A hybrid healthcare system would provide all medically necessary services to the public, but also allow those who wish to pay for expanded or faster services the ability to do so, thereby freeing scarce resources for others. In contrast, it is illegal in Ontario to purchase private healthcare services, even if a patient is willing to pay for it.

Ontario continues to rely on an outdated and rigid universal healthcare system that is unsustainable, explained Dr. Mark.

"The McGuinty government's simplistic solution to slash budgets without a long-term solution is both inefficient and ineffective that will only worsen our healthcare crisis."

In fact, there are a number of issues that have created the healthcare crisis in Ontario. The number of baby boomers over 65 will double in the next 25 years; by 2030, there will be 40 retirees for every 100 working person - up from 21 in 2003. This means a decrease in taxpayer dollars to fund government services, including healthcare. In addition, people over the age of 65 access the healthcare system more frequently and thereby cost five times as much compared to the rest of the population.

"Taxpayers can not keep up with the increasing expense of the healthcare system," said Dr. Mark. "The Ministry is busy convincing the public that physicians are to blame for lack of services, and for the financial woes of our healthcare system."

In addition, medical technology continues to become more innovative and thus, more expensive. Because diseases and illnesses are being diagnosed even earlier than before, there are more patients being treated. While this is good news for patients, costs must also increase to meet that need.

All of this, plus the McGuinty government's mishandling of millions of dollars through scandals such as ORNGE and e-Health, have contributed to the current healthcare crisis.

"Our current healthcare model is simply not structurally or financially equipped for long-term sustainability,"

said Dr. Mark.

A hybrid healthcare system will not need to rely on shrinking public resources as its sole source of funding. This type of hybrid system has already been adopted around the world as well as some Canadian provinces, such as Quebec, Alberta and British Columbia.

"If the McGuinty government continues along its current way of thinking, we will see more cuts to funding that will directly affect patient care," said Dr. Mark. "Waiting lists for family doctors, specialists, and treatments will increase and patients will become sicker or even die while waiting. It's time to make a change - it's time to allow other options in Ontario."

The ailing Ontario healthcare system that the McGuinty government continues to fight to protect isn't even well-ranked by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), which comprises 34 countries including most of Europe, Canada, the US and parts of Asia. In 2010, a detailed study of select healthcare systems concluded that despite spending 11 per cent of the GDP on healthcare, Canada ranked poorly on important indicators such as quality and accessibility compared to most of these countries, all of which utilize the hybrid public-private funding model. In fact, while Austria, Spain, Iceland and Sweden spent a smaller percentage of GDP on healthcare, their life expectancy is better than Canada. Furthermore, South Korea spends 40 per cent less of their total GDP on healthcare and yet have the same life expectancy as Canada. As part of 11 recommendations that were made, the OECD specifically advocated that Canada make private health insurance available to the Canadian public.

The Coalition has released the first of two bulletins to physicians today, which included a letter to distribute to their patients and to educate them on the current issues and on a feasible and sustainable solution. The second bulletin, which focuses on the hybrid healthcare system, will be released July 31st, 2012. These bulletins can be found on the cofps.ca website. Dr. Mark concluded,

"The bottom line is that the government is rationing healthcare services. Even worse, it is denying patients the right to get them any other way."

Local residents Join Starkey Hearing Foundation To Deliver the Gift of Hearing

GEORGETOWN, Ontario, July 20, 2012 /Canada NewsWire/ - Long time Georgetown residents Jason Toone and Crystal Rosa are excited to announce that they will be traveling with Starkey Hearing Foundation to China to deliver the gift of hearing. The team will give away more than 6,000 hearing aids to children and adults in need.

For 15 days, Jason and Crystal will help the Starkey Hearing Foundation team of audiologists and staff deliver the gift of hearing by fitting each of the recipients with their very own hearing device.

"We are so excited to be joining Starkey Hearing Foundation on this mission," said Jason Toone "The Foundation is bringing understanding to people around the world through hearing care. We here at Starkey Canada are honored to do our part in delivering the gift of hearing to those in need."

Starkey Hearing Foundation's China mission is just one of the many missions that are conducted throughout the year to deliver the gift of hearing around the world. As a member of President Clinton's Global Initiative, Starkey Hearing Foundation has pledged to fit one million hearing aids by the end of the decade.

For more Information about Starkey Hearing Foundation, visit www.starkeyhearingfoundation.org.

About Crystal and Jason

Jason has grown up in Georgetown and continues to live here with his wife and two daughters. Jason has been part of the hearing health field for the past 27 years. A passion for being a part of change compels Jason into participating in all aspects of the Foundations work.

Crystal and her family have been residents in Georgetown for the past 10 years. Crystal's family is very active in the community. Crystal has been part of the Hearing health field for the past 23 years. Crystal feels extremely privileged to be able to participate in such a worthy cause.

As the Director of the Starkey Hearing Foundation of Canada, Jason has had the privilege of participating alongside Crystal in several missions over the past 8 years that have taken them to El Salvador twice, Egypt, Turkey, Panama, Kingston Jamaica, Guatemala, Mexico, and Kenya. The Canadian Hearing Mission Team has successfully fit over 17,000 children and adults on these trips, bringing the gift of hearing to those who otherwise would go without.

About Starkey Hearing Foundation

Starkey Hearing Foundation is striving to foster greater understanding among individuals and communities through hearing care by focusing on awareness, education, protection and treatment, so the world may hear. Hearing loss affects one in 10 Americans, and 63 million children worldwide, yet many do not have access to the hearing devices that can help them. From 2000 to 2010, Starkey Hearing Foundation fit more than 500,000 hearing aids to people in need in the U.S. and around the world. The Foundation has grown that commitment to more than 100,000 hearing aids annually, and as a member of President Clinton's Global Initiative, it has pledged to fit 1 million hearing aids this decade. In addition to giving the gift of hearing through worldwide hearing missions, Starkey Hearing Foundation promotes hearing health awareness through the Listen Carefully initiative and provides hearing instruments to low-income Americans through the Hear Now program. For more information on Starkey Hearing Foundation, visit www.starkeyhearingfoundation.org.

The CBC should refocus its mandate on information and culture

MONTREAL, July 19, 2012 /Canada NewsWire Telbec/ - The CBC president's recent declaration that "Canadian content and culture would be the single 'biggest failed promise' of a purely free market broadcast model" represents a point of view that should guide the revision of the crown corporation's mandate. Indeed, this mandate, which has not been altered for at least two decades, needs to be updated in order to clearly reflect this mission, according to the author of a new publication by the Montreal Economic Institute (MEI). Yves Rabeau, associate professor at UQAM and the author of several articles and works on the media, points out that a public broadcaster must first and foremost concentrate on providing what is less easily available and what private competitors do not provide.

"For example, by broadcasting game shows and variety shows and by offering a free Internet music service without any Canadian content parameters, the CBC tends to reproduce the same content as its private alternatives. It is difficult to justify 1.2 billion dollars of public funding per year for these kinds of activities," observes Mr. Rabeau.

Given technological change, the multiplication of private channels and the presence of quality content on the Internet, the public broadcaster must concentrate on leading-edge information services and the cultural sphere. Since these areas of activity are less profitable, and yet obviously contribute to Canadian identity and culture according to many observers, this is where the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation can make a meaningful contribution, concludes the author.

The Viewpoint entitled The mandate of the CBC/Radio-Canada was prepared by Yves Rabeau, associate researcher at the MEI and associate professor at UQAM. It can be consulted free of charge at iedm.org.

The Montreal Economic Institute is an independent, non-partisan, not-for-profit research and educational organization. Through its publications and conferences, the MEI stimulates debate on public policies in Quebec and across Canada by proposing wealth-creating reforms based on market mechanisms.

Canadian teachers honor Heather Reisman for championing literacy in Canada

photo credit: LeStudio1.com via Flickr

HALIFAX, July 12, 2012 /Canada NewsWire/ - Heather Reisman, the founder and CEO of Indigo Books & Music, is the recipient of the 2012 Public Education Advocacy Award of the Canadian Teachers' Federation (CTF). The announcement was made today by the CTF President at the Federation's Annual General Meeting currently underway in Halifax. The CTF Public Education Advocacy Award is presented annually to groups or individuals outside the teaching profession who have made major contributions to promote and support public education in Canada.

"Heather was nominated by the CTF Executive Committee for her tireless commitment to raising awareness about the importance of literacy in young people's lives, for her significant financial contributions to support school libraries and for urging governments to reinvest in the public elementary school system," explains CTF President Paul Taillefer.

Since 2004, 130 elementary schools in Canada have been able to pay for books and literacy tools thanks to Reisman's Indigo Love of Reading Foundation, a charitable not-for-profit organization which was created to address the pressing needs by school libraries in low-income neighborhoods.

For over a decade, the CTF Public Education Advocacy Award has also been bestowed on highly respected Canadians who have championed public education through their advocacy and targeted initiatives. They include John Ralston Saul, author; Annie Kidder, People for Education, in Ontario; Association francophone des parents du Nouveau-Brunswick; Mary Gordon, founder of Roots of Empathy; Alfie Kohn, author; Eric P. Newell, prominent business leader; Gerard Kennedy, former Education Minister of Ontario; David King, former Education Minister of Alberta; and Félix St-Denis, creator of "L'écho d'un peuple", just to name a few.

An alliance of 15 Member organizations and one Affiliate Member representing nearly 200,000 teachers across the country, the Canadian Teachers' Federation (CTF) is a member of the international body of teachers, Education International (EI).

Follow CTF on Twitter @CTFPresident, @CanTeachersFed, @EnseigneCanada

University of Guelph Professor Studies Guelph's Major Public Spaces

GUELPH, Ontario July 11, 2012 - University of Guelph News Release

Learning how Guelph residents use three downtown civic spaces – St. George’s Square, the new Market Square and the new transit terminal – is the purpose of a study led by Prof. Lise Burcher, School of Environmental Design and Rural Development.

Her research will provide a database for the City of Guelph to explore changing use of public spaces, starting with St. George’s Square. City officials will begin public consultations this year on renewing that space.

She has observed activity and interviewed visitors to St. George’s Square, and is now studying Market Square.

“By observing how people use civic spaces throughout the daytime and evening hours, how they interact, and how long they stay in the space, planners and designers can direct their energies to site enhancements and adjustments that better meet the needs of citizens,” Burcher said. “This information will be invaluable in activity programming and space management that realizes the full potential of the space.”

This summer, Saeid Rostamibookani, a master’s student in landscape architecture, will help city officials collect and analyze the data.

The study design draws on Burcher’s work in Saskatoon during last month’s meeting of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. In Guelph, she will take various approaches to recording data, including collecting information during downtown special events this summer.

She documented activity in St. George’s Square before and after the relocation of buses to the transit terminal. She asked people where they had come from, what transportation they used, destination, and how long and how frequently they visited downtown. She also asked people about their impressions of safety, comfort and vitality in the space.

The researchers are now collecting and analyzing data from Market Square, and will then move to the transit terminal. Burcher said results expected by the fall will help establish a baseline for initiatives in all three civic spaces.

University of Guelph Professor Helps Launch Canadian Positive Psychology Association

GUELPH, Ontario July 03, 2012 - University of Guelph News Release - The “good life” comes to Canada with the July launch of the Canadian Positive Psychology Association (CPPA), co-founded by Jamie Gruman, a professor in the University of Guelph’s Department of Business.

By sharing knowledge and fostering collaborative studies of how humans flourish, the new group aims to improve the psychological health of Canadians.

“The CPPA is an exciting new agency for the cultivation of linkages between research and practice related to understanding and promoting happiness,” said Gruman, who studies well-being in the workplace.

This network of researchers and practitioners will provide reliable, evidence-based information about the nature of well-being and about applying positive psychology in various fields through the Internet, seminars and publications.

The “good life” has been studied since the time of Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. Positive psychology is the scientific study of personal characteristics, behaviours and relationships that enable individuals and communities to thrive. It is based upon the idea that people wish to lead meaningful and fulfilling lives, to improve themselves, and to enhance happiness at work and play, said Gruman.

The CPPA will hold an inaugural conference in Toronto July 20-21.

“This will be the first time in Canada that members of the public and students can join researchers and practitioners to learn about developments in the field of positive psychology and share their findings and best practices,” Gruman said. “We begin with a screening of Happy, the 2011 feature documentary about what really makes people happy, by director Roko Belic.”

Keynote speakers will include Adam Anderson, Canada Research Chair in Affective Neuroscience and recipient of a Templeton positive neuroscience award; and Gary Latham, Secretary of State Professor of Organizational Behaviour, Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto.

Robert Vallerand, president of the International Positive Psychology Association, will present the opening keynote address about passion in positive psychology.

“We will be offering over 50 lectures, workshops and symposia sessions, featuring leading-edge research as well as applications of positive psychology in a variety of fields, from business to education to counselling,” said Louisa Jewell, president of the CPPA board.

All aboard! VIA Rail Canada and the Institute for Canadian Citizenship collaborate to help Canada's newest citizens explore our country

photo credit: chibeba Via Flickr

New citizens to receive an exclusive VIA offer
through the ICC's Cultural Access Pass program

TORONTO, July 3, 2012 /Canada NewsWire Telbec/ - VIA Rail Canada and the Institute for Canadian Citizenship (ICC) have collaborated to provide new Canadian citizens, who are members of the ICC's Cultural Access Pass (CAP) program, with a one-time, exclusive travel offer: a 50 per cent discount on the lowest available fare, any class, one way or round trip, no blackout periods, for CAP members and up to four of their children under the age of 18.

The Cultural Access Pass program fosters inclusion, introducing our country's newest citizens to Canadian culture and experiences by providing them (and their children) a year of free access to more than 1,000 Canadian attractions from museums and historic sites to national and provincial parks (even offering access to volunteer and employment resources). With an average of almost 100 registrations per day, more than 50,000 new citizens have become Cultural Access Pass members.

"We are thrilled to join the Institute for Canadian Citizenship to bring train travel to our newest fellow Canadians," said VIA Rail President and CEO, Marc Laliberté. "Travelling by train is a truly unique experience, one that connects travellers with Canada's historical, cultural and natural beauty. We look forward to welcoming many new Canadian citizens on board as they discover all of the wonderful experiences this country has to offer."

VIA Rail's significant travel offer complements the Cultural Access Pass's ability to engage new Canadian citizens with their country by discovering many of its remarkable attractions. With services from Vancouver to Halifax, VIA Rail connects some 450 communities across the country, giving CAP members plenty of travel experiences to choose from.

photo credit: where is andrew now Via Flickr

CAP members are an engaged audience, interested in exploring their new home from coast-to-coast. In a recent ICC survey, 80 per cent expressed a desire to travel within Canada over the next year, listing their top Canadian travel destinations as Atlantic Canada, Vancouver, the Rocky Mountains, Montréal and Ottawa.

"Our relationship with VIA Rail is a dream come true to someone like me who was once a new Canadian wishing to discover a new country," said The Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson, Institute for Canadian Citizenship's Co-Founder and Co-Chair. "The opportunity it presents for our Cultural Access Pass members is truly wonderful."

Gillian Hewitt Smith, the ICC's Executive Director & CEO adds:

"Now, not only are we able to open doors to cultural attractions and parks, we can also provide new citizens with a wonderful way to travel. CAP is only possible because of organizations like VIA Rail Canada who work to meaningfully include new citizens in Canadian life."

CAP's ability to welcome and engage new citizens was recognized by the Honourable Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism as well as the Honourable Steven Fletcher, Minister of State (Transport); both announced this exciting offer during Canada Day celebrations in Canada's Capital Region and Vancouver.

With the vital support of Citizenship and Immigration Canada, the Cultural Access Pass is introduced to every new Canadian citizen at the time of their citizenship ceremony (approximately 170,000 people per year). As the diversity and value of CAP experiences increase, so too will the pace and rate of new registrations - this year alone, the ICC estimates an additional 35,000 new members!

CAP is generously supported by the Canadian Museums Association and the RBC Foundation. Details about the Cultural Access Pass program, including the list of participating attractions as well as full details about the VIA Rail Canada offer, can be found here: culturalaccesspass.ca.

About the ICC

The Institute for Canadian Citizenship is a national, non-profit organization that engages Canadians in citizenship through innovative programs, campaigns and partnerships designed to ensure new citizens are welcomed and included as equals, to create meaningful connections among all Canadian citizens, to foster a culture of active, engaged citizens and to celebrate what it means to be Canadian. Our Building Citizenship program brings together new and established Canadians at community citizenship ceremonies; our Cultural Access Pass (CAP) offers new citizens the chance to visit more than 1,000 attractions across Canada for free for a full year from the time they're sworn in; and our annual LaFontaine-Baldwin Symposium fosters a debate on the future of citizenship and Canada's civic culture. The ICC was founded and is co-chaired by the Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson and John Ralston Saul. The ICC is supported by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC). For more information, visit icc-icc.ca. You can also follow us on Twitter (@ICCICC).

About VIA Rail Canada

As Canada's national rail passenger service, VIA Rail Canada's (viarail.ca) mandate is to provide safe, efficient, environmentally sustainable passenger transportation, in the country's two official languages. Every week, VIA operates intercity, regional and transcontinental trains linking 450 communities across its 12,500-kilometre route network. Winner of the 2011 RAC Safety Award, VIA transports over four million passengers annually. Since 2007, the Government of Canada has provided VIA with nearly one billion dollars in capital investment funding. Follow the evolution of current projects at viarail.ca/transformingvia. Join the Evolution Blog at viaevolution.ca.

Follow VIA on Twitter @VIA_Rail. Visit VIA on Facebook at facebook.com/viarailcanada.

Paris Tests Out Snazzy New 'Bus Stop of the Future'

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photo credit: © RATP. The 'Station Diderot' bus stop in Paris.

from TreeHugger.com by Jennifer Hattam - Transportation / Public Transportation

Even for the biggest advocate of public transportation, waiting for the bus can be a drag. But a snazzy new bus stop being tested out in Paris promises to make that dead time productive, and even fun.

The French capital's main transit agency, RATP (Régie Autonome des Transports Parisiens), has set up what it's calling the "bus stop of the future" outside the busy Gare de Lyon train station for a five-month trial period, The Atlantic Cities reported earlier this month.

Free WiFi, A Coffee Kiosk, And Electric Bikes

Described as a "place of social innovation" by the trend blog PSFK, the "Station Diderot" transit shelter offers riders a variety of services, from a book lending library and an electric-bike rental station to phone charging outlets, free WiFi, and a snack and coffee kiosk.

photo credit: Aurel Studio. Design details of the stop include a book lending library (R).

Bar-style tables built around existing trees encourage socializing while extensive (and interactive) sources of neighborhood information help idle passengers plan out the rest of their journey. Created by urban designer Marc Aurel, the stop looks pretty sleek too.

Modular And Customizable

"It has been designed to blend into the urban environment, with a 'transport facade' and an 'urban facade' with each side catering for their respective user," writes the U.K.-based trade publication Passenger Transport. "The stop is completely modular and its size can therefore be tailored to specific locations."

It's not the first time Paris has tried to improve the experience of waiting for the bus. In December 2010, the city teamed up with IKEA to spiff up 12 heavily trafficked stops with sofas, shelves, lighting, and decoration.