Barrhaven Independent December 23, 2022

MacLeod’s annual breakfast returns to support Barrhaven Food Cupbord

After a two-year COVID hiatus, Nepean MPP Lisa MacLeod once again hosted her annual Christmas breakfast in support of the Barrhaven Food Cupboard.

In the last issue of the Barrhaven Independent, the Barrhaven Food Cupboard reported that their demand was up a whopping 45 per cent over the same period of time in 2021.

MacLeod was joined by her supporters, and local philanthropic caterer Darryl

Bartraw manned the grill as this year’s breakfast was held at the new and impressive facilities of the Barrhaven Fellowship Christian Reformed Church.

“As you know each year I raise food and funds for the Barrhaven Food Cupboard and this year is no exception,” MacLeod said “Well it is an exception because since the pandemic, the higher costs of inflation and with higher growth in our community the need is

greater than ever before... a whopping 45% increase in Christmas Hampers this year compared to last and the food cupboard has only managed to raise 25% of its costs so far. That’s only $15,625 of the $62,500 needed to put food on peoples tables this Christmas.”

For more information on the Barrhaven Food Cupboard or to make a donation, visit www.barrhavenfoodcupboard.ca.

24-year-old man killed in accident at Woodroffe and Longfields

A pedestrian was killed after he was hit by a vehicle on Tues., Dec. 13.

The collision occurred at the corner of Woodroffe Ave. and Longfields Drive in

Barrhaven at approximately 7:15 a.m. Emergency workers were called to the scene, and the man was taken to the Ottawa Hospital Trauma Centre at the Civic Campus

in critical condition.

Ottawa Police Service is investigating, and they are asking for any witnesses or for anyone with dashcam footage to come forward.

A pedestrian was killed in a collision at Woodroffe and Longfields in the morning of Dec. 13. The intersection reopened in the afternoon.

Nepean MPP Lisa MacLeod was joined by her friends and supporters during her breakfast to support the Barrhaven Food Cupboard.

Ci T y o F oTTAWA P h oTo

LDHSS students help Barrhaven Manor residents ‘Light Up the Night’

It was a intergenerational celebration in Barrhaven as 120 students from Longfields-Davidson Heights Secondary School visited the residents at Barrhaven Manor on Berrigan Drive.

Inspired by the theme “Light up the night for Seniors and Friends,” the students visited Barrhaven Manor to decorate the trees on December 9 between 12.45-2.00 p.m. Barrhaven

Manor residents served hot chocolate, judge the trees, and handed out prizes for all involved.

Following the decorating, the group from LDHSS and the residents joined together to sing Christmas songs and carols.

“I love the holidays,” said one of the residents who lives at the home. “I can’t wait to see how the students decorate these trees, what a beautiful gesture on their part, to light up the night for us, their kindness has really made my day.”

“Having the students come over, decorate, and celebrate the season with us is a real treat,” said another resident at the home.

The event encourages intergenerational fun as the 120 LDHSS students spent

several weeks planning designs and decorations for 10 trees on the Barrhaven Manor property.

“These kinds of intergenerational events are inspiring to everyone involved,” said Shawna, a

team member at the residence. “Today we are making memories together. Memories of fun, of generosity and of new stories and friends. New perspectives and meeting new people help us grow and

learn – we hope others will be inspired to hold more fun events and meetings like this – they are really terrific.”

Councillor Wilson Lo was among the visitors who joined in the celebration.

A GREAT HOLIDAY SEASON

The residents at Barrhaven Manor enjoyed having visitors sing and decorate Dec. 9.

Students and staff from Longfields Davidson Heights Secondary School visited Barrhaven Manor to decorate trees and sing Dec. 9.

LCBO employee lives ‘the meaning of Christmas’ every day

There are people who take, and people who give.

And then there are people like Lynn Roy.

For the past eight years, Roy has been driven to make a difference in the lives of a group of people that others see as invisible. She sees them as special and filled with potential.

Every year, Roy takes a month away from her job at the LCBO and heads to Manila for a month. She helps run a school for some of the most underprivileged people on the planet. Every penny from every paycheck she collects at the LCBO goes toward funding the school.

Roy, who now works in

Manotick, began her LCBO career at the Barrhaven LCBO in the Riocan Mall on Strandherd Drive before she was transferred.

“We were living in the Philippines,” she said. “I was part of a group of five women who started a project. We wanted to make a difference.”

Roy accompanied the

woman to the southside dumpsite in San Pedro Laguna in Manila that was home to more than a thousand families.

“They are the poorest of the poor,” she said. “They have no water, no electricity, and no opportunity. They are the forgotten children.”

After seeing the extreme

conditions that the people in the dumpsite were living in, they decided to do something to make a difference. They decided to open a school to help children in the dumpsite and founded HALMS. The name was taken from the initials of the first names of the women – Helen, Astrid, Lynn, Maria and Sabrina. Two of the

women are from Sweden, one is from the Netherlands, and one is from Switzerland. Roy is the lone Canadian. They did some research, came up with a plan, and connected with Miriam del Rosario, founder of Birthright Educators Foundation.

HALMS

Lynn Roy, left, gives every dollar she makes from her job at the LCBO to the HALMS school in the Philippines. Roy is the only one of the five original founders who remains actively involved in the operation of the school.

HALMS continues from page 5

With charitable donations and help from friends and family, volunteers constructed the building with mostly recycled material from the local recycle depot. The modest concrete school is designed with one classroom on the ground floor and a small reading room and rest area on the second floor.

It is also used as a place of refuge for the children, if the need arises. In fact, three of the children attending HALMS had lived there for over a year.

“Night time at the dump is very dangerous,” Roy said. “It is a different world. The school is a safe haven for the students when they feel threatened or in danger.”

The school opened its doors in June, 2014, and welcomed 12 boys and girls, aged 13 to 16. For some, it was the first time they had attended school. For others, they had been away from school for over two years. The children had all been evaluated with most being graded with a kindergarten or grade one level.

The school provides children with an academic curriculum, a safe schooling environment, a healthy lifestyle that includes two meals per day, school supplies, a school uniform and shoes, transportation, cook-

ing classes, arts and craft activities, and gardening and culinary classes for the mothers.

Roy said that even turning the life of one of these children around through education would make the entire effort worthwhile.

“There was no way we could make a school big enough for all the children,” Roy said. “We had to be realistic about how many children we could help.”

The school transitioned from teenagers to younger children.

“To be in the program, they had to be attending school,” Roy said. “It was difficult with teenagers. There are other things going on in their lives, and many of them are out there trying to provide for their families. The poverty they live in is something you can’t imagine until you see it. They are scavengers – they have to do that to survive.”

The five women left the Philippines, and four of them moved on from the school. Roy, however, stayed involved in the school and took on a greater role.

“The kids are getting an education, and we are also working with the mothers,” she said. “We are teaching them about nutrition, and teaching them how to prepare food.”

Although Roy is the sole remaining founder involved in the school on a day-today basis, she does rely on the help of people whom she says are extraordinary.

“Miriam del Rosario is the Mother Teresa of the Philippines,” she said. “She is incredible. Her husband, Jun, is a pastor who also plays a key role in the school.”

Roy said it was important that they hire a teacher who understands the children. Danielle del Rosa Abrasaldo, the daughter of Miriam and Jun, is a certified teacher and delivers the academic program. Her teacher’s assistant is Helen Martinez, who also lives at the dump.

“It was important for us to have local teachers who can relate to the teachers and their families,” she said. “We wanted the kids to feel comfortable. It was important that they learn in Tagolog, not in English.”

Food classes

While the Del Rosarios are working at the school in the Philippines, Roy is busy working on things here. She is able to gather sponsorships and supplies to send to the Philippines. She has also made connections to help feed the families of students.

“We have made a connection with the Ontario

Christian Gleaners in Cambridge,” she said. “They have become a big partner and supplier for us.”

The company takes fresh vegetables that may have blemishes or imperfections.

“Even though the food is perfectly good, the blemishes on the food make them undesirable for grocery stores or restaurants,” Roy said. “The food is cleaned and then dehydrated and put in bags.”

The company will add ingredients like barley to the bags. Roy secured a donation of dehydrated food in bags that will provide between five and ten thousand meals.

“Not only do we have help coming from them, but we are also teaching women about gardening,” she said. “It is very empowering for these women to be able to grow food and then create meals to feed their families.”

While Roy is undertaking this project, she continues to work at the Manotick LCBO. Every dollar she makes goes to the school.

“I guess I work for the

school,” she says with a smile. “The school needs the financial help. A lot of people ask me about the school and how things are going when they see me. Some people in the community have taken an interest in the school.”

Roy is humble and almost embarrassed when people praise her for the work she does for the school. She sees herself as someone who is just trying to make a difference and give some kids a chance in life they would never have. Others, from her friends to her co-workers and even people

who hear her story for the first time, see her as more than that. Words like ‘angel’ and ‘saint’ are tossed around.

“I won’t be able to do this forever,” she says. “Hopefully we can get everything in place so that the school will have enough support to keep going when the day comes that I can’t do this anymore.”

There are people around the world hoping that day does not come for a long, long time.

To donate to the HALMS school, visit https://www. halms.org/donations/donation-give-2-2/ .

Children proudly hold up their certificates during their end-of-year ceremony at the HALMS school.

Lynn Roy, right, was part of the group that founded the HALMS school and took part in the ribbon cutting ceremony when the school opened in 2014.

More than 1,000 families live in the dump in Manila in conditions that are unimaginable for most people in Canada.

INDEPENDENT EDITorIal

Let’s talk turkey about avian flu

Avian flu certainly deserves more media attention. The avian flu currently impacting our poultry sector has become a real problem. Unlike previous strains, the current bird flu has spread across Canada, raising fears that it could become endemic in wild birds, no less. A nightmare.

According to the latest news, more than 60 farms are under investigation in Canada. Avian flu has infected approximately 200 farms, with over 3.6 million birds, this year alone. That’s a lot of inventory that never reached the consumer market.

Of course, retail prices have been heavily impacted by the flu for months. In the United States, for example, eggs are up by more than 40 per cent since last year, a record. Eggs in Canada have increased by about 20 per cent in some regions, the largest annual increase in 50 years.

The avian flu has also reached other continents, such as Europe and Asia. The current strain is highly pathogenic and can spread at an unmanageable rate. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency recently said it believes migratory birds are responsible for the spread of disease in Canada. If the flu is transmitted through wild birds, almost no poultry operation will be immune, and risk management will be virtually impossible. And more city dwellers have backyard chickens now, which can only increase risks.

This year, despite a more virulent strain, 275,700 birds have been infected with avian flu in the province so far. Not so bad, but still, that’s almost $20 million worth of chickens irradiated because of the flu.

But bird flu has been threatening the industry for months, and the pressure for some growers has become unbearable. There is no other remedy, no vaccine for birds. Researchers are now mobilizing to possibly develop a vaccine for birds. The risk of this epizootic virus turning into a zoonosis, a human epidemic, is still real.

No human cases of avian influenza have been detected in Canada to date. There have been some elsewhere, but not in Canada. Let’s hope that doesn’t change. It should also be noted that avian flu poses no food safety risk to consumers.

To help, we can do our part. In 2019, before there were border restrictions for poultry and eggs, about a quarter of Canadians took a day trip by car to the United States, according to our data. Among this group, one in 10 report bringing eggs or raw poultry to Canada. Huge. It is now illegal to bring poultry and eggs from the United States, so don’t be tempted to do this. These products represent a risk for our producers.

Better buy your turkey and eggs here, with peace of mind.

Dr. Sylvain Charlebois is senior director of the agri-food analytics lab and a professor in food distribution and policy at Dalhousie University. © Troy Media

BARRHAVEN

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Staff/Contributors: Ryan Birtch, Gary Coulombe, Larry Ellis, Skyler Fraser, Goldie Ghamari, Jeffrey Morris, Greg Newton, Charlie Senack, Irene Staron.

The Barrhaven Independent is published every other FRIDAY in Manotick, Ontario. Letters will be edited for length, clarity and libellous statements. Display rates are available on request. The Barrhaven Independent is not responsible for the loss of unsolicited manuscripts, photos or other material used for publication purposes.

The truth behind Pierre Poilievre’s Bentleys, houses and play money

Newspapers matter. They are the original pure source of news. Newspapers are held to standards. They can be trusted.

from the other side

The average person would assume that internet news stories have to abide by the same rules and standards. After all, people are reading many of the same news stories online that also appear in print.

For the past month, a story has appeared on the home page of the Microsoft Edge browser that breaks every rule and standard that the print media has to follow. On the home page, there are different squares which serve as teasers for stories. One teaser with the image of Carleton MP and Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre appeared. Evidently, ‘Canadians are earning millions from home thanks to Pierre Poilievre’s latest initiative.’

What on earth is this about? How can anyone from this area not click on this?

There is nothing that hints ‘scam’, other than the content of course. The story claims to be written by William Hale of Forbes.

The article begins by claiming that Poilievre is worth more than $400 million and that he has started a controversial initiative to teach Canadians to be independently wealthy from home. The story claims that Poilievre has appeared on Global Morning to talk about how he made $60.5 million last year using an automated system that invests in Bitcoin.

According to the story, “Today, I want to give back and show everyone EXACTLY how I’ve made millions of dollars over the last few months outside of my regular businesses. It’s something I’ve been doing on the side, and something anyone in the Canada can do, and it’s made enough for me to buy all my luxury cars.

“My passion will always be to help people. I stumbled upon a new system called Bit QL that’s made me more money in the last 6 months than any of my other businesses. And the best part is, this amazing opportunity just became available to regular folks in the Canada so I have to share it with everyone.

“I’ll explain what Bit QL is in just a bit. But first, to prove how amazing this system really is. Carolyn, I’m going to give you $250 to deposit and try it for yourself right now.

“Poilievre then wrote a check to Carolyn for $250, which she deposited into the system to try for herself. Within minutes, Carolyn’s jaw dropped open as she began making a real profit - on live television!”

While there is no truth or merit to anything in this scam disguised as a legitimate story, what the story has Poilievre saying next is ridiculous.

“Last month, I pulled in $619,830 simply by simply letting the software do its thing. Now I know this sounds too good to be true,

and to be honest, I wouldn’t believe it either if I heard this a year ago. But how else do you think I have so much money to throw around on new Bentleys?

“All the money I earn from my businesses goes into a trust for my kids. The money I earn from Bit QL is my play money and I use it to buy Bentleys and houses.”

For the records, some deep Barrhaven Independent investigative reporting has unearthed findings that Pierre Poilievre does not own any Bentleys and he does not have play money to buy houses with. In fact, when he was the Nepean-Carleton MP and lived in Barrhaven, he lived in a townhouse and drove a Ford Focus.

The company responsible for these fake stories is Bit QL. The Bit QL app that claims it will make you very rich, very quickly. It uses false stories on reputable websites to lure readers into whipping out their credit cards and investing an initial fee of $250.

According to an investigation by scamcryptorobots.com, “In reality the BitQL App is a part of a larger network of cloned websites which has recently emerged. In fact, it is a facsimile copy of the previous BitQT App which we have previously exposed here on our website. This fraudulent trading platform was designed with the explicit intent of deceiving and misleading potential investors by spreading lies and half-truths about how easy it is for people who join this program to become millionaires.

“In other words, the BitQL App is simply another get-rich-quick scheme which is now being heavily promoted by an affiliate network that’s closing deals behind your back with scheming offshore CFD (contract for difference) brokers. When we registered to conduct our €250 test, the broker which was allocated to us was named ‘CFD Markets’ and it has a registered business address in Sophia Bulgaria. The dots started to connect for us very quickly, when we realized that our initial deposit basically evaporated in a matter of minutes and we started receiving phone calls by the dozens.”

Poilievre is not the only celebrity used for this scam. His political nemesis, Prime Minister Just Trudeau, has also appeared in similar fake stories.

Unfortunately, there will be people out there who believe that Poilievre has a fleet of Bentleys. That could be seen as tampering with any upcoming federal election.

And how can Microsoft allow this? How are they not responsible for paid content like this appearing online? How has Forbes allowed this?

While it makes us somewhat proud that the Barrhaven Independent gives you actual news – something Microsoft does not. But why are we held accountable while they are not?

CERB repayment fiasco risks ruining a modern approach to federal transfers

When COVID-19 hit in 2020, the federal government responded by doing something it hadn’t done at scale in a long time –deliver cash transfers in entirely new ways. As the feds doled out relief funds, more government support went to businesses ($176 billion) through programs like the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) than went to individuals ($151 billion) through programs like the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB).

Now, two years after the start of the pandemic, people are still receiving letters from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) asking them to pay back the CERB they received in 2020. A new report from the Auditor General (AG) argues that the government should be going hard after people who made errors in applying or came up short in meeting the eligibility requirements – $5,000 in earnings in 2019. It estimates that $5 billion was paid to people who received advance or duplicate payments, and another $8 billion went to people who earned less than the minimum income threshold.

The CRA seems to think this money is recoverable – that low-income recipients kept it in their savings accounts in-

stead of spending it – but come on, there has to be a limit as to how long after the fact you can go after people, except in cases of outright fraud.

The same report also highlights the fact that $16 billion in Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) went to businesses that likely weren’t eligible (the largest single category the AG looked at). The report rightly bemoans the lack of data on whether companies actually used the money to retain employees and forestall layoffs.

While “wage subsidy” was in the name, there was actually no legal requirement for companies to use the money on wages. In fact, 68 publicly traded companies paid out dividends (i.e. profits) to shareholders while receiving the CEWS. A third of the 100 highest-paid CEOs in 2020 worked for companies that received the wage subsidy.

Who’s more blameworthy, some poor schmuck who lost their job and only made $4,500 in 2019 or some millionaire CEO who applied for government aid and got a bonus as a result?

Looking at how CEWS vs CERB played out isn’t just an interesting historical debate. Getting benefits directly and im-

mediately from the CRA website is the way of the future. The new Canada Housing Benefit top-up and the low-income child dental benefits are going this route. You go to the CRA website, fill in some basic details, attest that you qualify, and the money shows up in your account in a few days.

There are clear benefits to this new CERBlike approach. You get the money now and don’t have to wait for tax time. You get a cash transfer, not a “reduction in taxable income,” which is what boutique tax cuts from the 2010s provided. It’s a better and more modern way to help Canadians in difficult circumstances.

But going after lowincome Canadians for CERB payments from 2020 could well taint this approach for years to come. If you think CRA is going to come after you years from now, you may think twice about applying, even if you need dental care for your kids or you pay too much in rent.

For this new model to be successful, there must be clear rules and easily verifiable criteria for eligibility. The rental topup does have pretty clear eligibility rules. The children’s dental coverage doesn’t – which may force low-income families to

repay it years from now.

There must also be a clear statute of limitations on recourse, with exceptions for cases of fraud.

If people don’t qualify,

fine, don’t send them the money. But don’t force them to pay it back two years after they’ve already spent it.

© Troy Media

A bogus story attributed to Forbes has been occasionally popping up on Microsft Edge home pages throughout Barrhaven over the last couple of months. The story falsely claims that former Nepean-Carleton MP Pierre Poilievre has a net worth of $400 million, and buys houses and Bentleys with the ‘play money’ he is making by investing in crypto currency. When Poilievre lived in Barrhaven as the MP for NepeanCarleton, he lived in a townhouse near John McCrae Secondary School and drove a Ford Focus. For more on this, see From the Other Sided on page 6.

David Macdonald is

senior economist with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, a non-partisan research institute.

Government grants $429k for accessibility projects at RVCA properties

Baxter and Chapman Mills conservation areas are fast becoming some of Ottawa’s most inclusive natural parks thanks to more than $429,000 in recent funding from the federal government.

Nepean MP Chandra Arya announced the funding through the Canada Community Revitalization Fund on Dec. 15 at the Manotick headquarters of the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority (RVCA), which it shares with its charitable foundation, the Rideau Valley Conservation Foundation (RVCF).

Baxter Conservation Area in Kars will receive a total of $279,900 from the fund to help replace its decommissioned marshland bridge with a state-of-theart accessible span over the Baxter marsh. The funding also supports wheelchairaccessible learning platforms attached to the bridge to make the site’s outdoor education programs more inclusive.

Chapman Mills Conservation Area in Barrhaven will receive $150,000 from the same fund to replace its north-end pedestrian bridge with a safer, more accessible span.

“These projects would not have been possible without this incredible federal support,” said RVCA Chair Pieter Leenhouts. “We are excited to reopen both bridges to so we can properly welcome people of all ages and abilities to our beautiful sites.”

Work has already begun on both projects.

Nature For All

A dedicated volunteer committee has spearheaded the Nature For All project at Baxter Conservation Area, pursuing their goal to create Eastern Ontario’s most accessible nature destination.

Those efforts have included liaising and advocating within the community to increase support for the project. We thank our valued community and corporate sponsors for their support, including generous financial contributions from:

- 100 Women Who Care

- 1st Greely Cubs

- City of Ottawa (Rural Community-Building Grant)

- Fjällräven

- Fedex Canada

- Girl Gone Good

- The Gosling Foundation

Being in nature is good for body and soul, but people with disabilities are disproportionately excluded from outdoor spaces because they’re inaccessible, unsafe or both. The RVCA has worked with renowned accessibility consultant Marnie Peters to create a matrix of the world’s best outdoor accessibility solutions and apply them to infrastructure projects where possible going forward.

“Nature and wilderness should be for everybody,” said Mike Nemesvary, founder of the Nature For

All committee and longtime accessibility advocate. He has been visiting Baxter in his power wheelchair for 20 years, after a training accident in his 20s left him paralyzed on his path to becoming a world champion freestyle skier.

His motivation to transform Baxter began with “a sincere desire to share with everyone of all ages and abilities this under-utilized gem of a local park with its 80 hectares of interpretive education centre, boardwalks, trails, sandy beach, camp site, wilderness and multi-layered ecosystems - all within Ottawa’s city limits,” Nemesvary said at the funding announcement on Dec. 15.

“Every idea starts with a dream, and that dream must be manifested by bringing together the right group at the right time who share attainable objectives,” said Nemesvary. “We fundamentally knew it would be a challenge, but we ploughed

ahead methodically with our planning and research. Slowly but surely, others started to see how much more we could do.”

To learn more about the Foundation’s Nature For All and Chapman Mills projects visit www.rvcf.ca.

Nepean MP Chandra Arya, left, announced federal funding at the RVCA headquarters in Manotick on Dec. 15. Attendees included RVCA Conservation Lands Director Dan Cooper, Nature For All chair Mike Nemesvary, RVCA chair Pieter Leenhouts, Ottawa councillors Steve Desroches and Wilson Lo, RVCF Director Diane Downey, Nature For All committee members Maryanne McPhee and Wendy Eberwein, RVCA General Manager Sommer Casgrain-Robertson and RVCF chair Andrew Harkness.

Police get help from province to prevent local vehicle thefts

While vehicle theft continues to be a problem in Barrhaven and throughout suburban Ottawa, the Ottawa Police are getting some assistance from the province on the matter.

The Ontario government is providing the Ottawa Police Services with $669,447 to help fight crime, including auto theft.

The Ottawa Police Services will use the funding for Automated Licence Plate Recognition (ALPR) technology – a system that consists of cameras that automatically scan licence plates. The sys-

tem is installed in or on activeduty police cruisers and alerts officers to stolen or expired plates, or plates registered to suspended drivers. The system can also notify officers of missing and wanted persons and vehicles associated with AMBER alerts.

“The Province’s investment in new licence plate scanning technology for the Ottawa Police Services is welcomed news.” said Dr. Merrilee Fullerton, MD, MPP Kanata—Carleton. “The new technology will provide greater safety for people and it is reassuring to know it will

strengthen AMBER alerts in Ottawa. It is also great for our police to have this new scanning capability to curb the number of auto thefts in our City.”

ALPR technology is a system of cameras and supporting software that captures licence plate information and immediately compares plate numbers to a Ministry of Transportation (MTO) database with vehicle and vehicle owner information. It also has the capability of capturing vehicles of interest (e.g., amber alerts, stolen vehicles, suspended driver(s), etc.).

“I commend our government and the Ottawa Police Services on this new announcement to combat auto theft in Ottawa. This government has demonstrated that we will always support our hard working law enforcement, and will give them the tools necessary to fight crime to ensure the people of Ottawa, including my constituents in Carleton, feel safe where they work, live, and play.” Said Goldie Ghamari, MPP Carleton.

ALPR technology does not detect moving violations such as speeding, going through a red light or stop sign, and dis-

tracted driving.

In particular, thieves have been targeting sport utility vehicles made by Toyota and Honda.

The Automated Licence Plate Recognition Technology Grant is a one-time grant to help police services strengthen roadside law enforcement efforts and improve public safety across the province.

“This investment further demonstrates our government’s plan to ensure police services across Ontario have the resources and equipment they need to keep our communities safe,” said Solici-

tor General Michael Kerzner. “I am confident that this tool will be a tremendous asset to police services and help them combat incidents of auto theft and enhance public safety.”

The investment in ALPR technology supports Ontario’s recent move to eliminate licence plate renewal fees and stickers for passenger vehicles, lightduty trucks, motorcycles and mopeds by allowing licence plate information to be read automatically without requiring an officer to see a physical licence sticker to validate a vehicle.

MTO studying conceptual design of proposed Barnsdale-416 interchange

The Ministry of Transportation of Ontario (MTO) is undertaking a Preliminary Design and Class Environmental Assessment (EA) Study for the conceptual design of a new interchange around the intersection of Highway 416 and Barnsdale Road.

Morrison Hershfield Limited was retained by the MTO to complete the Preliminary Design and Class EA Study for this assignment. Reasonable alternatives to address the required improvements will be developed and evaluated leading to the selection of the Preliminary Preferred Alternative(s) and a Recommended Plan for the interchange.

This Preliminary Design and Class Environmental Assessment (EA) Study involves the conceptual design of a new interchange around the intersection of Highway 416 and Barnsdale Road in the City of Ottawa. Currently, an overpass carries traffic eastwest along Barnsdale Road, over Highway 416. The intersection’s current configuration does not allow for any entry to, or exit from, Highway 416. The proposed interchange improvements are to occur to Highway 416, which are intended to accommodate movements in all directions, and to address increased traffic demands, and operational and safety concerns. As such,

it is classified as a Group B Project under the MTO Class Environmental Assessment for Provincial Transportation Facilities (2000).

The purpose of the Class EA Study is to identify a Recommended Plan for a new interchange as part of the Ministry’s ongoing review of safety and operational needs for the provincial highway network. The proposed (new) interchange would accommodate traffic movements in all directions by providing entry and exit from both the northbound and southbound lanes of Highway 416, and is intended to address increased traffic demands, and operational and safety concerns.

The details of the proposed work will be further developed as the Preliminary Design progresses and will be presented to the general public, Indigenous Communities, provincial and other external agencies, Members of Provincial Parliament (MPPs), municipalities, emergency services providers (i.e., fire, police and ambulance), local businesses and property owners, interest groups and utility companies (collectively referred to as interested and / or affected stakeholders) at a future Public Information Centre (PIC). The first PIC was made available on April 8, 2022. Details regarding the timing of a second PIC will be

announced on a future date.

The City of Ottawa approached the Ministry with a conceptual design of an interchange at the Barnsdale Road intersection of Highway 416, which necessitated a Geometric Feasibility Study to develop and evaluate interchange alternatives based on two-dimensional geometric design elements outlined in the TAC Geometric Design Guide for Canadian Roads (June 2017) and the MTO Design Supplement for TAC Geometric Design Guide for Canadian Roads (June 2017). The Ministry will collaborate with the City of Ottawa in this Study to assess interim and ultimate design alternatives and establish the footprints for an efficient design of the interchange. The Preliminary Design Study results will inform the phasing and implementation of future Detail Design and construction work.

The Preliminary Design and Class Environmental Assessment (EA) Study will be carried out in accordance with the approved environmental planning process for Group B Projects under the MTO Class Environmental Assessment for Provincial Transportation Facilities (2000). A Transportation Environmental Study Report (TESR) will be prepared to document the development of the Preliminary Design, including the environ-

mentally significant aspects of the planning and design of the Recommended Plan.

The TESR will be prepared as part of the Preliminary Design to document the Class EA process, including but not limited to the challenge/opportunity, the project

and its purpose, the analysis/ evaluation of Preliminary Design Alternatives to address the challenge/opportunity, the existing natural, socio-economic, cultural and technical conditions within the Study Area (including any constraints), development of

the Recommended Plan including its major features, the consultation process and results, the anticipated environmental impacts, mitigation and protection measures that will be implemented, future consultation activities, and commitments to further work.

New MRI machine will help reduce Ottawa Hospital wait times

The Ontario government is improving people’s access to diagnostic imaging services and reducing wait times by investing over $1 million to support the operations of one new magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine at The Ottawa Hospital in Ottawa.

“The funding for an additional MRI machine at The Ottawa Hospital is excellent news for Ottawa patients,” says Dr. Merrilee Fullerton, MPP for Kanata Carleton and Minister for Children and Community Social Services. “This is another example of the government supporting

hospitals to increase their capacity and provide the health care services that patients require.”

This funding will provide The Ottawa Hospital with annual operational funding for one new MRI machine. For people in Ottawa, this means they will have more convenient access to diagnostic imaging.

“Our government is ensuring hospitals across the province have the funds they need to operate their new MRI machines and increase access to diagnostic imaging for people in their communities,” said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and

Minister of Health. “For some communities, this funding means they will have their first-ever MRI machine and residents will have more convenient access to care closer to home.”

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a noninvasive medical imaging technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to take detailed pictures of organs and tissues in the body. MRIs are used to diagnose many health problems, including brain injuries, heart disease and various tumours and cancers.

“This funding an-

nouncement for an additional MRI machine at the Ottawa Hospital is great news for the people of Carleton, and Ottawa,” said Goldie Ghamari, MPP for Carleton, whose riding includes Riverside South. “I’m proud to be part of a government that’s committed to investing in our public healthcare, which means increased capacity access for diagnostic imaging for my constituents.”

This funding is part of the government’s investment of over $20 million to support the operations of 27 new MRI machines in hospitals across On-

tario. With more MRI services throughout the province, patients can be diagnosed faster and if needed, begin treatment and follow-up care even sooner. It brings the total investment in operational funding for new MRI machines to $40 million, increasing the government’s 2021-22 commitment to invest $30 million by an additional $10 million to help hospitals increase MRI capacity and services. In total, the province is providing operational funding for 49 new MRI machines in 42 hospitals across the province.

As part of its Plan to

Stay Open: Health System Stability and Recovery, through the Surgical Recovery Strategy, the government is adding more than 150,000 one-time additional operating hours in 2022-23 for hospitalbased MRI and CT machines, ensuring better and more equitable access to diagnostic imaging services.

The Ontario government is investing over $300 million in 2022-23 as part of the province’s surgical recovery strategy, bringing the total investment to approximately $880 million over the last three fiscal years.

The corner of Strandherd and Greenbank is looking especially festive this holiday season. The Barrhaven BIA has put 60,000 lights on the trees in the area this year, more than in any previous year. Ch A r l I e Sen AC k phoTo S

Pharmacy industry calls better access to Paxlovid a game-changer

The Ontario government is giving people more convenient access to care by allowing pharmacists to prescribe Paxlovid, an antiviral treatment option used to reduce severe outcomes from COVID-19. All Ontarians are strongly encouraged to keep up to date with vaccinations, which remains the best way for people to stay healthy this flu and respiratory illness season and prevent unnecessary visits to the hospital.

Starting December 12, 2022, pharmacists will be able to prescribe Paxlovid to eligible individuals inperson or virtually (such as by telephone) at no cost. Eligible individuals should contact their local pharmacy to confirm if they prescribe Paxlovid and how to get a prescription for Paxlovid.

Eligibility for Paxlovid includes:

- Symptoms that are consistent with COVID-19;

- A positive lab-based PCR, rapid molecular, or rapid antigen test (including rapid tests done at home);

- The prescribing occurs within five days of symptom onset;

- The individual receiving the prescription is;

- 60 years of age or older

- 18 years of age or older and is immunocompromised

- 18 to 59 years old and at a higher risk of severe COVID-19 outcomes including having chronic medical conditions (such as diabetes, heart or lung disease) or inadequate immunity against COVID-19 (i.e., not up-to-date on vaccines).

“In addition to getting your COVID-19 booster and flu shot, Ontarians are now able to also talk to their local pharmacist about a prescription for Paxlovid,” said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “This expansion of pharmacists’ scope of practice is just one more way our government is making it easier for Ontarians to access health care right in their own communities.”

Paxlovid prescriptions also remain available through any physician or nurse practitioner in Ontario as well as clinical assessment centres across the province. Individuals with complex health conditions may need to see their primary care provider or go to a clinical assessment centre for Paxlovid, based on the clinical judgement of the pharmacist.

“Authorizing pharmacists to prescribe Paxlovid will expand access and offer increased protection to the most vulnerable and mitigate pressures on the province’s hospital capacity,” said Dr. Kieran Moore, Chief Medical Officer of Health. “I continue to strongly recommend that everyone across the province stays up to date on their vaccinations as it is the most effective way we can protect ourselves and our loved ones from the most serious effects of COVID-19.”

Carleton MPP Goldie Ghamari said the announcement is a game-changer for residents of her riding who live in rural villages and surrounding areas.

“For the residents of the Carleton riding who qualify, this announcement will make Paxlovid as a treatment for COVID possible for some who may not otherwise be able to access it,” Ghamari said. “For Paxlovid or any other treatment, time is always a factor. Sometimes for rural residents, things like getting a doctor’s appointment for a prescription or getting into the city to a clinic may not be able to happen instantly. This announcement gives

our residents more options to be treated in a timely manner.”

With COVID-19 vaccines and free flu shots available to everyone six months and older and bivalent booster doses also available to those 12 and over, Ontarians are strongly encouraged to get both their flu and COVID-19 shots as soon as possible this respiratory illness season to help restore protection that may have decreased since their last dose.

“Shoppers Drug Mart welcomes the expansion of the scope of practice for pharmacists to prescribe COVID-19 treatments like Paxlovid to patients. With over 800 locations across the province, we stand ready to support this initiative to make it easier for Ontarians to receive this treatment right in their local communities,” said Jeff Leger, President of Shoppers Drug Mart.

“We welcome the announcement from Ontario Minister of Health Sylvia Jones today that pharmacists can start prescribing Paxlovid to treat vulnerable Ontarians with COVID-19 infection. Our Rexall pharmacists are enthusiastic to

continue the important delivery of accessible health care to Ontarians during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic,” said Mona Sabharwal, Senior Vice President Pharmacy Services, Rexall.

According to the province, individuals who are part of higher risk groups and who have COVID-19 symptoms should immediately seek testing and care by contacting their health care provider, visiting a clinical assessment centre, calling Health Connect Ontario at 811 or 1-866-7970007 (toll-free TTY), or contacting a local pharmacist.

Individuals can access Ontario’s antiviral screener tool to help determine if they are at higher risk and should be assessed for treatment. A positive rapid antigen test, PCR or rapid molecular test is required as part of the assessment for antiviral treatment. Rapid antigen tests will remain available for pick up at no charge until June 30, 2023, from over 3,000 retail locations in the province. PCR tests are available at any provincial testing location to eligible groups.

“We are thrilled with the Government’s announce-

ment to expand Ontarians’ timely access to effective COVID-19 antiviral therapy by enabling pharmacists to assess for and prescribe Paxlovid to eligible patients,” said Sandra Hanna, CEO of the Neighbourhood Pharmacy Association of Canada. “This will both remove barriers to accessing care and support the overall healthcare system by preventing hospitalizations and reducing burden on other providers. The Neighbourhood Pharmacy Association of Canada has long advocated for pharmacy’s ability to safely and conveniently provide patients with access to this critical medication in their own communities. The COVID-19 pandemic has proven how pharmacies across Ontario can rapidly scale up these services, and we applaud the Ontario government’s investment in another vital tool in the public health toolbox to help Ontarians get back to a new normal.”

Clinical assessment centres continue to be available to assess patients with cough, cold, flu and COVID-19 symptoms as well as to test, prescribe and dispense antivirals for COVID-19.

Public school board dealing with problems of anti-Semitism

While the dust is just settling from the heated meetings regarding masks at schools, the Ottawa Carleton District School Board Trustee at the centre of the mask debate now finds herself in the centre of another difficult situation.

Rookie trustee Dr. Nili Kaplan-Myrth, whose first action on the job was to introduce a motion to make masks mandatory for students at schools, has now been the target of anti-Semitic behaviours.

The school board addressed the situation on their website last week.

“The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board stands

against antisemitism. We are aware of the vile, antisemitic statements and messages targeted at Trustee Nili Kaplan-Myrth. Many of these statements have included antisemitic slurs, epithets, threats of harm, aggression, and in some cases, illegal activity. This is unacceptable and inexcusable.

“Students and staff in our schools, and in the community, are experiencing a rise in antisemitic behavior. Hateful, aggressive or threatening actions or statements by any member of the OCDSB community will be investigated and disciplined. Any evidence of hate crimes will be reported to local authorities.”

The situation is, unfortunately, not the only issue of anti-Semitism that the school board is dealing with.

Earlier this month, an incident that took place at Sir Robert Borden High School in Nepean is being investigated by the Ottawa Police.

According to an Ottawa Citizen story by Joann Laucius and Peter Hum, students who had stayed after school were called into a room with a swastika on the floor, and a student made a Nazi salute gesture.

Borden Principal Matthew Gagnier sent a letter to families after the incident.

“This is a blatant act of antisemitism, which is ab-

solutely unacceptable,” said the letter. “Every student deserves the right to feel safe at school, regardless of religion/creed, race, background, ability, gender or sexual orientation.

“This incident is disturbing and comes at a time when we are seeing examples of antisemitism in our community, on social media and around the world. This affects our sense of safety. To the Sir Robert Borden community, know that we unequivocally condemn antisemitism and are here to support you.”

In an interview with the Barrhaven Independent in the fall, Rabbi Menachem Blum of the Ottawa Torah Centre

said that, sadly, incidents of anti-Semitism in Barrhaven and throughout Ottawa have been on the rise. Jewish high school students are being targeted, and it is affecting their performance in school as well as their mental health and safety.

“It’s a situation that is under the radar for many people in the community,” he said. “But it is a growing problem, and it is a real concern.”

While the aforementioned issues involve the OCDSB, the Barrhaven Independent has also been contacted about anti-Semitic concerns at Ottawa Catholic School Board schools.

One of the more unsettling incidents happened in May at St. Francis Xavier High School in Riverside South, when an anti-Israeli march by the school’s Palestinian Club closed off part of Limebank Road. Students carried banners with messages that many saw as anti-Semitic, including one accusing Jews of killing babies.

“That was very disheartening to hear about when that rally took place,” Rabbi Blum said. “I did receive a number of calls about it. I was surprised, and people who called me were surprised that something like that would happen at a Catholic school.”

Jags, Bulldogs off to quick starts in NCSSAA Sr. Boys basketball

The St. Joseph Jaguars have jumped into first place out of the gates as the NCSSAA high school senior boys basketball season is underway.

The Jags defeated Holy Trinity in Kanata 65-56 and then took care of Longfields-Davidson Heights 75-59 to sit in first place in the West 1 division. Longfields-Davidson Heights is tied for second place at 1-1. The Ravens beat Sacred Heart 61-48 to open the season.

In the West 2 Division, John McCrae sits in first place with a 2-0 record. The Bulldogs beat Notre Dame 56-48 and then beat St. Mother Teresa 52-47.

Pierre Savard won its first game in the West 4 division, beating St. Paul 74-63.

In the Jr. Boys Tier 1 West/South division, third place St. Joseph improved

its record to 5-2 with a 6638 win over St. Mother Teresa and a 65-54 win over John McCrae. The loss was the third straight for John McCrae, who are now 4-4. They also lost to St. Mother Teresa 61-59 and Notre Dame 70-61. The Bulldogs’ last win was Dec. 8 over Longfields-Davidson Heights 67-59 in overtime.

Longfields-Davidson Heights fell to Sir Robert Borden 63-55 Dec. 15.

In the Jr. Boys Tier II league, Pierre-Savard is on a role after winning three straight. They took a last minute win over South Carleton 48-47 in Richmond before posting wins over Redeemer Christian 42-22 and Pierre-de-Blois 37-29.

Jags in first In the Girls OFSAA hockey league, St. Joseph is in first place with a 2-01 record after their seasonopening three-game tournament Dec. 15.

The Jags beat Nepean 7-2 and St. Mark 3-2 before

closing out the day with a 1-1 tie against Sacred Heart.

In the girls hockey Tier I league, St. Mother Teresa is unbeaten in their first four starts.

After opening their season with a 5-0 shutout win over Osgoode, the Titans beat South Carleton 5-1, St. Francis Xavier 4-2 and John McCrae 6-4. St. Francis Xavier lost their opener to John McCrae and has posted wins over Pierre Savard and Osgoode, all by 3-2 scores.

On Dec. 15, Pierre Savard edged John McCrae 4-3.

In the girls Tier II division, Longfields Davidson Heights is 1-1-1 after three games Dec. 14. They opened the day with a 6-3 loss to Immaculata and then tied St. Matthew 2-2. They ended the day with a 4-2 win over Bell.

Savard first in curling

In the Boys OFSAA curling league, Pierre-Savard is off to a quick start. They opened the season with a lopsided 17-1 win

over Longfields Davidson Heights and then beat Woodroffe 8-6.

In the non-OFSAA boys league, St. Francis Xavier is in first place after a pair of wins. The Coyotes opened the season with a 7-4 win over Merivale and then edged St. Paul 6-5.

John McCrae opened the season with a 5-0 win over Nepean, and St. Joseph lost 14-0 to Sir Robert Borden.

In the girls OFSAA league, Longfields Davidson Heights is 0-2 after losses to St. Mark (6-3) and Nepean (5-2).

In the girls non-OFSAA league, St. Francis Xavier has a pair of lopsided wins, beating Pierre Savard 18-2 and St. Paul 14-0.

St. Joseph dropped their first game by a 5-3 score to Sir Robert Borden.

Ravens tops in VB Longfields Davidson Heights sits in first place in the NCSSAA Sr. Girls Volleyball West 2 league.

They opened the season with a 3-1 win over Maurice

Lapointe and then blanked South Carleton and All Saints by 3-0 scores.

Pierre Savard is also off to a quick start, sitting in second place with 3-0 wins over Maurice Lapointe and All Saints.

St. Joseph defeated South Carleton 3-0 and lost

to Franco-Ouest 3-0. John McCrae beat St. Mother Teresa 3-1 while suffering a 3-1 loss to West Carleton and a 3-0 loss to Redeemer Christian. Mother Teresa is still looking for its first win after losses to Redeemer, John McCrae and Paul-Desmarais.

Hawkesbury holds on top edge Raiders 3-2 in CJHL Jr. A action

By romano dI Franco nepeanraIderS com

The Nepean Raiders hosted the Hawkesbury Hawks at the Nepean Sportsplex – Steve Yzerman Arena. It was the second meeting between the two Central Junior Hockey League teams with Hawkesbury winning 7-2 in their own barn.

The Hawks entered the game on a two-game win streak while the Raiders came off a 6-3 defeat at the hands of the Robinson Division leading Smiths Falls Bears.

Dekon Randell-Snow (34, 3.36 GAA, 0.912 SV%) got the start in the Hawkesbury goal while Gage Stewart (1-9, 3.39 GAA, 0.907 SV%), was in goal for Nepean.

Hawkesbury opened the scoring with a little bit of luck after Antoine Dorion scored from behind the goal

line as he bounced the puck off Stewart and into the net. The unassisted goal put the visitors up 1-0.

Nepean got that goal back on the PowerPlay as Curtiss Sturgeon scored his third of the season on a blast from the top of the face-off circle. Jack Matsukubo and Nicholas Larkin had the helpers on the goal.

The Hawks regained the lead on a 2-on-1 when Antoine Dorion flipped the puck over a sprawling Tristan Caldwell right to Nathan Gagne who made mistake tipping the pass by Stewart.

After 20 minutes the Raiders trailed 2-1 despite outshooting the Hawks 14-10.

The second period was pretty quiet with neither team registering a goal. Hawkesbury had the only PowerPlay after Tristan Caldwell was booked for Tripping. The Raiders best chance came on

a shot by Sturgiss but he hit the post.

The second period was dead-even with both teams scoring once on 12 shots each.

The Raiders pulled the game even at 2-2 with a short-handed goal by Jacob Dupont. It came with Shane Moodie in the box for Hold-

ing. Anthony Rivard stole the puck in his own zone and skated out with Dupont with him. The 2-on-1 saw Rivard bounce the puck off Dupont’s skate right to his stick and Dupont sent it past RandellSnow.

Nathan Gagne restored the Hawks’s lead with an unassisted goal after the Raiders

made a line change that saw Gagne skate in all alone.

With time winding down things got interesting as Nepean pulled Stewart for the extra attacker and the Hawks were assessed a Boarding penalty to give the Raiders a 6-on-4 advantage. They had their chances but in the end the Hawks escaped the

Sportsplex with a 3-2 victory.

Nepean outshot Hawkesbury in every period but came up just a bit short.

Nathan Gagne (2G) was named the game’s first star.

Curtiss Sturgeon (1G) took second star honours while Antoine Dorion (1G | 1A) got the nod as the game’s third star.

Pierre-Savard’s Justin Choi (72) fires a cross court pass while being tightly guarded by South Carleton’s Cooper Ralph during their NCSSAA Junior Boys Basketball game last week.

Bell Capital Cup to return after two-year hiatus, runs Dec. 28-31

The board of directors of the Ottawa International Hockey Festival is pleased to announce that the Bell Capital Cup will return to the nation’s capital after a two-year hiatus beginning on Wednesday, Dec. 28.

Often recognized as the world’s premier U10 to U13 hockey tournament, the 22nd annual Bell Capital Cup will showcase great minor hockey action across Ottawa this holiday season, featuring teams from across North America.

Through the generosity of title sponsor Bell, all teams who registered and paid before the deadline of Wednesday, Nov. 23 were provided the opportunity, while tickets remain, to attend one of four Senators games: Tuesday, Dec. 6 vs. Los Angeles Kings; Monday, Dec. 12 vs. Anaheim Ducks; Monday, Jan. 9 vs. Nashville Predators or Wednesday, Jan. 25 vs. New York Islanders.

From house league to AAA, the Bell Capital Cup will welcome U10, U11, U12 and U13 aged hockey players from across Ontario to Ottawa to vie for the Allen J. MacDonald Memorial Trophy, which will be awarded to each division champion. The opportunity to play for the respective division titles at Canadian Tire Centre, the home of the National Hockey League’s Ottawa Senators will be an incredibly unique experience, not found at any other event.

The Bell Capital Cup’s 17 divisions will play more than 400 games on 19 ice surfaces across the city. Each division’s championship game will be played at Canadian Tire Centre over the course of two days on Dec. 30 and Dec. 31.

The Ottawa International Hockey Festival is a nonprofit organization with the mandate, as set forth by its

volunteer board of directors, to support local children’s charities and minor hockey.

The Bell Capital Cup provides young athletes with

an opportunity to compete against their peers in a highlevel environment, meet new friends and develop skills both on and off the ice in a

fun yet competitive setting. Money raised from this year’s tournament will once again support minor hockey and local charities. To date, more

than $2.68 million has been raised through Bell Capital Cup initiatives over the 21year history of the tournament.

Players battle at the Canadian Tire Centre during the 2019 Bell Capital Cup. The world’s largest youth hockey tournament returns to the area during the holidays. Paul l e roux P h oTo/Bell Ca P i Ta l Cu P