Barrhaven Independent February 3, 2023

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Barrhaven commuters say they would rather work from home

It has been a big adjustment for local workers heading back downtown to their offices and workplaces for the first time in nearly three years.

After a couple of weeks, the overwhelming consensus seems to be that Barrhaven residents would rather be working from home, spending money at local businesses, and not sitting on a bus or in a car for hours every day.

There were many factors facing those returning to downtown workplaces. What would the roads be like to drive? What would parking be like? What would the buses be like? What should I wear? Will the internet at the office be up to date?

The return to work is a hybrid and gradual model for most. Many federal public servants are returning to a workplace

The commute on Monday, Jan. 16 was slushy, slippery and bumper-to-bumper on the 417.

that now includes shared work spaces and has them in the office two to three days per week.

The Barrhaven Independent reached out to local residents on Fa-

cebook to see what their thoughts on getting back to commuting to work. The time spent commuting was one of the main issues. And if commuters are only going in twice a

wrote Jeff Orange. “What I would spend on transportation, parking, Please note: The Ontario Community Newspapers Association provides services in English. Member newspapers published in other languages may not have access to association programs such as General Excellence Awards. Applicants and member newspapers bear OCNA’s cost to read and spot

week, should they drive and pay for parking, or should they get a bus pass?

counting cancelled routes every other bus, broken trains and detours, plus weather related slowdowns) and another two home, transfers into additional working hours,” BARRHAVEN Year 33 • issue 3 F r ee www.barrhavenindependent.ca F r idaY • F e bruarY 3 • 2023

coffee, meals out, all gets redirected locally.”

SAVE TIME. SHOP ONLINE. www.yourindependentgrocer.ca Open Sunday-Saturday 7am-9pm 3777 Strandherd Dr. Nepean 613-843-9413 Lyne and Dave

commuters continues from page 1

Orange added that government offices and buildings should not be limited to downtown Ottawa, and that businesses and restaurants in the suburbs are just as important as those in the city core.

“There’s more than just downtown businesses,” he wrote. “The government was never intended to be centrally located. It’s the reason places like Tunney’s Pasture, and Riverside offices exist. Work locations should be spread across the city from Kanata to Orleans, with flex spaces in every building, allowing staff who do need to be in an office an option to pick to work closer to home.

“Downtown businesses cannot hold government responsible for their livelihoods. No one tied them to a lifelong lease work-

ing downtown. Most are just renting space. They can easily adapt to new methods of business, relocate, and do just as well if not better. Restaurants would make more money in an area like Barrhaven or Kanata than they would downtown anyhow.”

Ray Waites, one of the strongest and most positive voices fore Barrhaven on Facebook, also implies that it is not up to the residents of Barrhaven to salvage the downtown business community. Waites runs the Barrhaven News, Safety, Events & More Facebook page.

“If they are true entrepreneurs they will reinvent themselves, move to Barrhaven,” Waites wrote. “That’s how businesses work. They aren’t a guarantee. And it’s certainly not the federal government

employees’ responsibility to float them, in my humble opinion.”

Barrhaven Facebook user Brillinta Leon says that transportation and commuting issues are not limited to federal civil servants.

“Transportation affects everyone,” she wrote. “(It doesn’t matter if) you are a Fed employee or not, we the citizens of Ottawa don’t have a reliable means of transportation here in the capital. Why (does the city have) to be focused on downtown for everything? I love the concept of live, work and enjoy our community. If you have the chance to work in the community where you live regardless of what you do, why not?”

Todd Soden wrote that having employees working from home is good

for them and good for the community.

“The fact that a lot of feds can work from should actually be beneficial to the general public,” he wrote. “Think of it. Your taxes are paying for the building these public servants work out of. If more can work from home a lot of these buildings could be repurposed for other things, like affordable housing.”

Sandra Ieradi weighed in on the topic as a commuter who has been travelling from Barrhaven to downtown throughout the pandemic.

“I’ve been working on site the whole time,” she said. “I totally support the flexibility and option for hybrid. My commute was definitely impacted. If the status quo was working why did they change it ! What about the businesses

in the suburbs that relied on all those remote workers.”

Once at the office, there are a myriad of things that will have to work themselves out. What will the longterm hybrid model look like, assuming there will be one? Workers also have to adjust to new workspace sharing arrangements.

“Those problems will work themselves out fairly quickly,” one local resident who wished to not be named told the Independent. “It was chaos when we got in the first couple days, but things will work themselves out once we get into a routine. But even though that stuff will be okay, it will still be hell getting downtown and back no matter which way we choose to commute. It makes us appreciate that

extra two or three hours in the day spent not commuting on the days we can work from home.”

Monday morning Jan. 16, heavy traffic and slick roads made for an even longer than expected commute into downtown.

The cost of commuting is also much higher than it was in 2020. For those going in on a modified schedule, it brought new questions pitting money against time.

“ (it) seems like a lot of folks justify the costs of parking/gas going in two days a weeks vs. a monthly bus pass, and majority prefer to drive in and pay for parking,” Jessica Vis commented. “Just based on cars on the road, it almost seems busier than pre-pandemic. (It) would likely change if it was mandated four-five days a week.”

MacLeod inspires in her public fight with mental health struggles

As mental health issues were in the forefront last week during Bell Let’s Talk Day, Nepean MPP Lisa MacLeod broke some of her media silence and sat down for an interview with TVO personality Steve Palkin.

MacLeod announced in 2022 that she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, and that she had been struggling with depression since 2014.

With her mental health struggles, the intensity of the campaign and the scrutiny of various groups who were protesting her and politically attacking her became too much. MacLeod said she suffered a mentalhealth crisis in May, which led her to take time off to look after her personal and

mental well-being after winning her seat in the Queen’s Park legislature for the sixth straight time.

In an October interview, Palkin asked how MacLeod was. She replied that it depended on the minute, and that she was okay, but fragile. Palkin noted fragile was a word he had never heard used to describe her.

“They’ve seen me take my knocks and get back up again,” she told Palkin.

“They see me give a feisty answer at question period or ask a frightening question. But I’m a different person than that.”

Throughout her political career, MacLeod had always had a strong relationship with the Barrhaven Independent. The first indication for this publication

that something was not entirely right with MacLeod happened on election day in 2014. MacLeod was an easy winner in what was then the riding of NepeanCarleton. The Progressive Conservative Party was not so fortunate. The Ontario Liberal Party was becoming less and less favourable to Ontario voters under the leadership of Premiers Dalton McGuinty and Kathleen Wynne. The Tories failed in that election, as they once again could not come up with a leader that the province could get behind.

MacLeod was visibly shaken as she briefly attended her victory party at the Black Dog Bistro in Manotick. She would not make eye contact with the Independent or other

media.

MacLeod said in the interview that she had been struggling with depression before that time, with the first signs happening during the parliament between 2011-14.

“The only reason I say that now is I recognize I was losing my hair and I was probably in a state of mania,” MacLeod said. “But I definitely knew between 2014 and 2016 I was dealing with depression.”

MacLeod drew praise and was even called a hero by the head of the Canadian Mental Health Association for taking her battle with mental health issues public.

“It took a tremendous amount of courage,” Camille Quenneville, CEO of CMHA Ontario said in

an interviews with the Ottawa Citizen Tuesday. “I’ve had the pleasure of speaking with Lisa in the past and I can tell you that she did a tremendous service by speaking out, which was exceptionally brave.

“She was so honest and genuine and really gracious about it. That’s going to help many people who are struggling, who are reluctant to speak out or to tell loved ones.”

In last week’s interview with Palkin, MacLeod said she wrote herself a letter to say she would not run in the Feb. 23 election.

That was nearly one year ago. She said time kept going by, and she ran again. It was not an easy campaign for her, and she was getting mental health help during

the campaign.

“You’re actually in the middle of an election campaign with your psychiatrist taking layers of you away and trying to depoliticize you as a politician,” she said.

MacLeod is still guarded and sheltered from the public and the media while she focuses on getting better. She did host a Christmas pancake breakfast for supporters in Barrhaven in early December. She was in good spirits and seemed like the old Lisa MacLeod – a big smile, a big voice, and a big hug for everyone.

“Maybe let’s not judge people,” she told Palkin. “It’s okay not to be okay, or mental health is health. That’s not a slogan for just one day a year.”

Cost of planned Barrhaven

Gasoline and eggs are not the only thing that have gone up in price over the last two years.

The cost of the new Ottawa Police Service facility has gone up by $60 million.

The new police facility will be located on Prince of Wales drive, between Carleton Lodge and Vimy Bridge. It will replace the Greenbank and Leitrim police stations. The 218,000 square foot facility will include a new 911 Communications Centre.

Ottawa Police Chief Eric Stubbs presented a report to the Ottawa Police Services Board last week.

“There are two main facilities that have reached their end of life and are identified to be returned to the City once their operations can be accommodated at other locations; this includes the Leitrim and Greenbank facilities,” the report said. “A 2020 Building Condition Audit of Greenbank identified that funding of over $9 million would be required to simply address basic

building maintenance and operating costs over a 13-year period. Leitrim will be further impacted by City road works along Bank Street and Leitrim Road as early as Q2 2023, making operational deployment from this location nearly impossible. Therefore, time is of the essence to relocate operations and dispose of this facility.”

In 2021, the Ottawa Police Services Board approved the Barrhaven facility with a price tag of $118.2 million. The plans for the station were drawn up in 2013.

During the COVID pandemic, plans for the new facility were put on hold as labour and material shortages resulted in a high cost for construction. The new cost of the police facility is $178 million.

“Since 2013, the OPS has only added our Queensview location to our facility portfolio, with an expansion to the facility in 2017,” said the report. “In 2019 our Swansea location was updated with seasonal storage.

The last significant new acquisition of space to OPS facilities occurred in 2009 when our Huntmar location in Kanata was added, meeting the needs of population growth and demands in that area.

“However, steady staff growth, demands for service, and adjustments to operations translate to capacity issues and space pressures on the existing real estate portfolio.”

The report says that the OPS will need more space for an expanding staff.

“It is expected that the City of Ottawa will grow by more than 1.4 million residents over the next 25 years, according to the City’s Official Plan. This growth directly impacts calls for service, and the OPS must keep pace. Additionally, the City and Province are poised to increase residential development to address an ongoing housing crisis. As it pertains to OPS staffing levels, the Mayor has pledged to grow the sworn complement and the OPS has developed

its own staffing plan after several years of no growth. An increase to the staffing complement is anticipated to require a minimum increase of 54,000-square-feet of facility space by 2026.

“As city growth, den-

The Ottawa Police Services Board (OPSB) approved a “facilities refresh” plan, which notably includes a new South Facility Project.

I’m thankful the need was recognised for our communities—the population of Barrhaven and Riverside South rivals that of Kingston, and growth shows no signs of slowing down.

Residents have shared

concerns including street racing, traffic violations, petty crimes, and car thefts with me that have eroded their sense of safety and security in their neighbourhoods.

Aside from improving local police presence, the facility will bring services,

like a collision reporting centre, closer to the community. The current proposal also includes the possibility of space for a community or municipal agency, opening opportunities for community partnerships.

Several well-paying jobs

sification, and demand for service increases, so does the requirement for adequate facilities to support police operations. Investment in the OPS by means of new, realigned, or expanded facilities is critical in ensuring the

infrastructure exists for police to deliver its required services in the appropriate and corresponding geographical area.” If a contact is awarded for construction in 2023, the new facility could be operational by 2026.

will be brought to the community, providing many economic benefits and opportunities for locally owned businesses.

On a larger scale, it replaces two facilities past their useful life and two facilities currently leased by the police service, meaning

money spent on untenable building maintenance and rent can be redirected to policing.

The police station is only one part of a wider solution we need to improve community safety in Barrhaven, but it is a major step towards that goal.

Ottawa Police respond to a lockdown incident at St. Mother Teresa High School in 2016.

Leak after water metre installation leaves Barrhaven basement flooded

By Barrhaven Independent Staff

It was the last thing Mike Wood expected in the dead of winter.

The basement of Wood’s home in Old Barrhaven flooded after a water metre was replaced Sat., Jan. 21. A high pressure leak coming out of one of the pipes sprayed for hours, leaving his basement covered in water.

Neptune Technology Group installed the water metre. They have been contracted by the City of Ottawa to replace more than 80,000 water metres.

“I went downstairs to get something out of the freezer Sunday at about 5 p.m., and I saw that the basement was under water,” he said. While Wood did not know exactly how long the water was running, he said the water pressure in his house remained normal during the leak. He called

the City of Ottawa emergency line.

“The basement had flooded and it took them about an hour to send someone out,” he said. “They said it was a bad install job and there was nothing he could do tonight. I was able to get a plumber to come at around 8 p.m. I shut the water off and we were without water until the next morning.”

Wood said he was concerned about the water coming through the walls and under the floor, and about the possibility of mould.

In a story by CTV Ottawa’s Dave Charbonneau, he quoted a statement sent by Ottawa Deputy City Treasurer Joseph Muhini.

“The City of Ottawa can confirm that Neptune Technology Group is working with the resident in question to rectify the situation. Work conducted by Neptune Technology Group is

warrantied. Any issues or damages associated with a meter replacement would be appropriately covered through the Neptune Technology Group.”

Neptune senior project manager of services Will Hutchings was reached for comment by Charbonneau for the same story.

“We are aware of the statement published by the homeowner; however, this matter is currently under investigation and we are not able to comment.”

Wood said it is too early to estimate the damage. He did lose some personal belongings.

“I lost some musical equipment and an amp,” said Wood, a longtime musician. “I work from home, but fortunately my office is not in the basement. We did have some old computers that we were going to donate to charity but that won’t happen now.”

The water was removed and a dehumidifier was used for a couple of days to remove the moisture from the room. The pipe leak has been fixed.

“The city and Neptune fixed the problem, and they were great,” he said. “It took a while to repair it, but Neptune was great to deal with.”

Neptune and the City of Ottawa were not the only people to show up and help Wood.

“On Sunday night, someone pulled up and got out of their vehicle, and then started walking up the driveway,” he said. “He said hi and knew who I was, but I was having a hard time seeing him and recognizing. It was our City Councillor, Dave Hill.”

Wood had met Hill when he came door knocking during the municipal election campaign.

“He showed up with rubber boots on and he came to

help out,” Wood said. “This wasn’t a politician looking for publicity or anything like that. This is a guy with a military background who

comes from a culture of helping people out when they are in need. I gained a lot of respect for him that night.”

The best resolution for 2023 is to be a friend for someone

As we usher in the New Year, the customs, and traditions that January brings start to creep back into our daily lives. We will date out cheques incorrectly; we may complain about how much weight we gained over the holidays, and we usually make resolutions that won’t be kept.

We have seen the passing of another year. There have been times when experiences and certain events brought us happi-

THis week, THIS MONTH

by Larry Ellis

ness and we have laughed. For others, there has been pain and tears, some of us have said goodbye to longtime friends or loved ones and we have cried.

If you are having trouble making resolutions for the New Year, I

have some thoughts that might help all of us be better people and might even cause some change in this mixed-up world as well. First, we can start by making a resolution to just be better friends. The only way to have a friend is to be one, and this means 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Ask yourself, “when was the last time you really went

out of your way to help a friend?” “When was the last time you spoke to or visited that elderly neighbour or the new family that just moved into your neighbourhood?” “When was the last time you just told a friend how much they mean to you?” Being a better friend won’t cost you anything, it can be done every day, and the positive effects are im-

measurable! Think of how much better this place could be if we just cared a little more and loved a little stronger each day. Don’t let a little dispute injure a great friendship.

Remember that each moment, each hour, each day is a chance along life’s journey to keep these resolutions. Remember that by changing ourselves, we can make

a change in the world around us. Remember to stand by one another during life’s peaks and valleys, offer a shoulder to lean on when life’s load becomes a burden. Remember these three “Rs”; Respect for self; Respect for others; Responsibility for your actions. Happy New Year! Happy Robbie Burns Day!

A pipe leak that went unnoticed for hours after a water metre replacement left Mike Wood with a flooded basement. (T W i T T e r phoTo/Mike Wood)

Ford needs to end the debt and inflation cycle

By Jay GoldBerG

It turns out endless spending does come with a hangover: soaring interest rates. Ontario’s finances have been awash in red ink since Jays star Vladimir Guerrero Junior was in diapers.

Former premier Dalton McGuinty took over Queen’s Park and started Ontario’s debt train in the mid-2000s. Since then, provincial debt has increased by some 171 per cent.

Each and every Ontarian now owes $32,000 in provincial debt, not to mention the tens of thousands per person racked up by Ottawa.

Canadians, and Ontarians, are now paying the price. Food bills for families rose $1,000 last year. Hundreds of thousands of Canadians are relying on food banks. And mortgage payments have spiralled by hundreds of dollars for many families as the Bank of Canada battles inflation with higher interest rates.

The Ford government, to its credit, has been honest about how rising interest rates will impact Ontario’s finances. Because the province has a whopping $475 billion of debt, a hole is blown in the province’s budget every time the Bank of Canada hikes interest rates to fight inflation.

According to the finance ministry, for every one per cent interest rate hike from the Bank of Canada, interest charges on the provincial debt will rise by about $650 million. Because the Bank of Canada has increased interest rates from 0.5 per cent to 4.25 per cent in just the last 10 months, debt interest payments this year will rise by some $2.4 billion.

Because of soaring tax revenue, the Ford government balanced Ontario’s budget last year for the first time in nearly 15 years. That’s a good thing. But Ford has already indicated he plans to take Ontario back into the red.

To do so would be extremely reckless. Ontario is poised to spend at least $14.5 billion on debt interest next year. Hardworking taxpayers can thank the careless policies adopted by Ontario’s last few governments for that high figure. But it’s only going to get worse.

Ontario is already spending more than $1 billion per month on debt interest, and interest rate hikes will worsen that figure. Costs went up by $2.4 billion thanks to 2022 interest rate hikes alone. And more could be on the horizon.

If there ever was a time for politicians to stop digging, it’s now. More taxing, borrowing and spending will only fuel the inflation fire and cause interest rates to get worse. While Ontario Premier Doug Ford didn’t start Ontario’s debt binge, he’s joined in on the action.

To stop the vicious debt and inflation cycle, the Ford government needs to keep the books balanced. Only with prudent spending can we start confronting the realities of high inflation and interest rates.

Jay Goldberg is the Ontario & Interim Atlantic Director for the Canadian Taxpayers Federation.

© Troy Media

BARRHAVEN

That’s the way, uh-huh uh-huh, I like it…

It had been a long day at our booth at the Atlanta Convention Centre. If you have ever done the trade show circuit in the U.S., chances are you have been in that room.

from the other side

This trade show, however, was special. There were some random VIPs and celebrities that stopped by to see what we do and say hi. Spike Lee hung around for a while and wanted to see samples of some of the different holographic printing technologies we used. I was trying to act nonchalant about talking to him. Inside, though, I was about as chalant as you could get. I mean, come on. It’s Spike Freaking Lee!

By the way, chalant is not a word. Urbandictionary.com says it is used by illiterate half-wits. I use it.

Spike Lee wasn’t the only famous guy to come over and say hi. Carrot Top was hanging around. “Hi, I’m Scott.” I was stunned. The king of the nerds was jacked and ripped like a pro athlete.

And then Harry came around.

I had no idea who he was. He mentioned he was in a band that was playing one of the parties later that night.

“Oh cool,” I said. “What kind of stuff do you guys play?”

“We play disco,” he said. He paused for a moment. “I’m Harry. Harry Casey. My band is KC and the Sunshine Band.”

Inside, I was chalant all over again.

The trade show wasn’t any old trade show. It was the Super Bowl Fanfest. I was working for a company called Collector’s Edge, an NFL Football trading card company. I alternated weeks between our office in Denver and our head office in Nashville. It was fun at our office, as the Nashvillebased Tennessee Titans were facing the St. Louis Rams in the Super Bowl.

With the Super Bowl in Atlanta this year, it sparked a lot of memories of that weekand-a-half I spent there 19 years ago. I can’t believe it’s been that long.

computer in the world was going to crash at midnight on January 1, 2000? The media had us all convinced that within hours of the turning over of the new millennium, we would be in the middle of a seemingly post-apocalyptic collapse of our society.

And then there were the dot-coms. The term dotcom had the same sexy power that bitcoin did last year, or that anything involving investing in weed does now.

The dot-coms dominated the marketing and the TV commercials. The commercials were humorous and edgy. The previous year, Monster.com had huge success with their ad. In 2000, every dot-com rolled the dice that a Super Bowl ad would be their ticket to success. The cost of an ad jumped to more than $2 million. Cyberian Outpost ran an ad where they shot gerbils out of a cannon. E-Trade had an ad with two guys and a dancing chimp. At the end of the commercial, the screen read, “Well, we just wasted $2 million.”

The trade show ended early on the eve of the Super Bowl. The big party we had been invited to had been cancelled due to weather. However, there was a big party in our hotel’s big ballroom. We walked in, and guess who was pumping out the music? Yes, KC and the Sunshine Band. I weaseled my way to the front. KC saw me and nodded right in the middle of ‘That’s the Way (I Like It).’

The game was one for the ages. Kurt Warner and the Rams beat Steve McNair and the Titans 23-16.

After the game, though, things went surreal. In Buckhead, an area of Atlanta north of the city, there were two men killed at a party. Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis had been arrested for a double murder.

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The first memory is the weather. There were two ice storms that hit Atlanta during that stretch. The roads were sheer ice almost the entire time we were there. We took shuttle buses from the hotel to the convention centre, and we may as well have been on bobsleds. At one point, close to 400,000 people in Atlanta were without power. Traffic was at a standstill.

The game had a lot of hype and excitement. But the game, as great as it was, was almost an insignificant distraction from Super Bowl Week.

The world was a different and changing place in January, 2000. Do you remember that time? How many of you did what we did and invested in Y2K survival kits. Do you remember the panic about how every

The incident grabbed every headline and cast a dark shadow over the game. The charges were eventually dropped against Lewis, but it remains a mystery exactly what his involvement and connection were in the incident.

And now, the Super Bowl is back in Atlanta for the first time since that crazy week. Kurt Warner is a retired Hall of Famer. Steve McNair was shot and killed in Nashville, the city that loved him, in 2009. And Ray Lewis would be the Super Bowl MVP the following year and go on to a storied career as an NFL player.

Most of the dot-coms that advertised in the 2000 “Dot-Com Bowl” went out of business within a couple years of airing their $2 million commercials.

But most importantly, Harry Casey and his band are still going strong.

That’s the way I like it!

The Editor, Last week’s editorial by Brian Griesbrecht [“Time to un-cancel diversity of opinion”] probably stands as one of the most troubling examples of extreme right-wing propaganda ever to grace the pages of the Barrhaven Independent.

Amazingly, Griesbrecht sees himself as some kind of frontline soldier in a battle to promote “diversity of viewpoint” that – in his mind – is a battle not unlike the Civil Rights movement. His concern is that he sees an intoler-

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

ance for extreme right-wing ideas that must be resisted, “because that intolerance undermines the free speech essential for democracy to survive.”

It all sounds very highminded, but in a country where your right to fly a flag that says, “F*CK TRUDEAU” is protected by the Charter of Rights, how is this a freedom of speech issue? It’s not, of course, because “freedom of speech” means that the government can’t put you in jail for what you say, which

is a longstanding right of Canadians. Griesbrecht attempts to make the completely bogus argument that the Freedom Convoy participants endured “Draconian punishment” for their “unacceptable views,” while in reality they suffered the consequences of having blocked downtown streets for weeks on end, thereby depriving their fellow Canadians of THEIR Charter rights.

Just to be clear, Griesbrecht sounds like he’s arguing for freedom of speech, but in reality he’s advocating for free-

dom from consequences. He goes on to say, “Universities that have made the quest for ‘diversity’ almost a religious calling routinely shout down or outright cancel those with viewpoints they disapprove of.” What he says is quite correct, of course, but what has that got to do with freedom of speech? It’s up to universities to decide what they’re willing to tolerate on their campuses, so unless Mr. Griesbrecht is advocating for more government intervention, then he should probably look for in-

stitutions that share his beliefs. I’m sure they’re out there!

Griesbrecht then focuses on the Extreme Right’s favourite whipping boy--the mainstream media. “Mainstream newspapers simply refuse to allow writers with a different perspective on issues such as residential schools, climate change, or COVID vaccination to air their views. No diversity there.” Well, it seems unfortunate that so many potentially-popular extreme right-wing ideas are not getting any ink because of

the recalcitrance of Canada’s newspaper editors, but in this country we don’t have a state newspaper and those editors all work for the private sector. As such, they have to be mindful of the bottom line and are decidedly reluctant to proffer anything that may cause their paper to become a laughingstock.

At the end of the day it’s the marketplace that drives those decisions, which should please every right-winger in Canada, including Brian Griesbrecht.

Andy Braid

a big supporter of Trudeau Government’s Just Transition legislation

The Editor,

The fossil fuel era is ending whether Danielle Smith likes it or not. In her recent attacks on proposed federal Just Transition legislation, the Alberta Premier acted like the world has a choice between “transition” and “don’t transition.” In

reality, our only choice is between a just transition and an unjust one.

Even in their most conservative projections, the typically pro-oil International Energy Agency (IEA) expects fossil fuel demand to peak in 2035. They’ve been clear that there

can be no new oil, gas or coal development if the world is to reach net zero by 2050. As the climate crisis gets worse, people around the world will put intense pressure on their governments to finally stop propping up Big Oil and start rapidly slashing emissions.

Viewpoints on facts can get us in trouble and cost a lot

The Editor, There is nothing wrong with a diversity of viewpoints.

I for one don’t think much of any of our federal political leaders and I think Doug Ford has done quite well: these are all valid viewpoints.

But let us not confuse the value of differing viewpoints on contestable issues with arguments about well established facts. Those who are vaccinated, for example, are far less likely to be seriously ill and hospitalized when they get

COVID. In other words, they are far less likely to cause a needless expense to our health system.

Yes, there are some risks associated with any vaccine and some people with certain medical conditions can justifiably be excused from taking it but compared to the benefits the risks are miniscule. What gives a fellow citizen the right to cause needless expenses to our health care system paid for by our taxes?

I don’t see the anti-vaxers

(or their supporters) offering to pay for these hospital expenses! Laws have been enacted that require the use of seatbelts in cars, speed limits, obeying stop signs, and yellow fever vaccination if you have entered a country where that disease is present, and you then wish to enter almost any other country in the world. These are all to protect us from ourselves and others. Is a vaccine for COVID any different?

Bob Ryerson,PhD, FASPRS

Old white male dead wrong about the civil rights battle

The Editor, Re: Time To Uncancel Diversity of Opinion.

I read this looking for some common sense, until I got to this sentence: “The fact is, the civil rights battles

over skin colour, gender, and sexual orientation rights were largely won long ago”.

This is obviously written by an old white male who feels quite good about himself and his accomplish-

The vast majority of Canadians, myself included, want our politicians to stop denying this reality and act now to make sure the transition is fair to all workers and communities. We can’t trust fossil fuel companies to do right by workers when oil goes bust for good.

Even amidst record profits, Canada’s oil and gas sector currently employs tens of thousands fewer people than it did a decade ago. While these workers get layoffs, executives and shareholders get bonuses and buybacks.

That’s why I’m glad to see

the Trudeau government finally moving forward with Just Transition legislation and I’ll be doing everything I can this year to push Parliament to deliver the boldest possible version of the bill.

Sincerely,

Sarah Ciliberto

Declaration that we live in our homes another City of Ottawa tax grab

The Editor, The City of Ottawa has found another way for a “tax grab”. They, the city councillors (for whom we made sure to take time to go out and vote for them), are asking us to prove that we are living in our home. I have proven that to them for over 50 years every time I voted, and prove

it every year when I pay my taxes.

They want us to do that “declaration” online, or on the phone to goodness knows to whom, or make an appointment with city hall to do this in person. I requested a mailin form, but ironically they “cannot do this” even though they mail out the yearly tax

demand and mailed the demand for this “declaration”. It was suggested to me that someone would even come to my home to “help” me fill it out! {$ ? cost vs $1 stamp} Imagine! What wasted time and effort AND money! Stalemate for now!

Sincerely, H. C. Noon

The Editor, Kudos to your Barrhaven Independent editorial from your last

issue. I sometimes find in my own family a reluctance to hear both sides of an issue. Congratu-

ments. Unfortunately, he’s dead wrong about civil rights battles being won long ago. And this fact only displays his own refusal to listen to diversity of opinion.

John May

lations for promoting the need for diversity of viewpoint.

Erik Norenius

‘Freedom of consequences’ is not the same as ‘freedom of speech’

Reader

Council votes to rename portion of Metcalfe St. after Mahsi Amini

Ottawa City Council has voted to rename the section of Metcalfe Street in front of the Iranian Embassy after Mahsa Amini. The approved motion also calls for plaques to be placed at the intersections along Metcalfe Street between Somerset St. West and McLaren Street. The signs will be installed for at least one year.

The motion was put forward by Councillor Theresa Kavanagh.

Amini died in custody in September after being arrested by Iran’s morality police for violating Iran’s strict dress code as it was alleged she was wearing her hijab improperly. Kavangh noted during the debate of the motion that her death sparked protests around the world in support of women’s rights in Iran. Several protests have been held across Canada, including in Ottawa.

Kavanagh said the plaque will, “in a small measure, give voice to those in Iran who cannot tell the truth for fear of their lives.”

One local politician who

has been working diligently at giving Mahsa Amini and the women of Iran a voice is Carleton MPP Goldie Ghamari, whose riding borders Barrhaven to the east, west and south and includes Riverside South, Findlay Creek and Manotick.

“I am pleased to see Ottawa City Council pass this vote,” Ghmari I would like to acknowledge and thank Bay Councillor Theresa Kavanagh, who was moved enough by a display at City Hall to bring this motion forward. This action will not go unnoticed in Iran.”

Ghamari, who was born in Iran and was just a yearold when her family left Iran to move to Canada, has been vocal at protests in Ottawa and Toronto. Her social media posts have raised awareness to women’s rights in Iran worldwide, leading to numerous radio and television interviews in Canada, the U.K. and Europe.

“The IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps) is a terrorist entity of an illegal regime that seized control of Iran in 1979. As the first Iranian-Canadian

ottawa.ca/hqcc

woman elected into Canadian politics, I believe it is my responsibility to give the protests in Ottawa, Ontario and around Canada a voice. Since the murder of Mahsa Amini, Canadians have become more aware of the horrors facing women through these protests, which continue to grow and

increase awareness among Canadians. The steps taken by Ottawa City Council are important. Of Course, the big step that we all want to see is the Canadian Government finally recognize and acknowledge that the

IRGC is a terrorist entity.”

The motion passed by City Council also calls for Mayor Mark Sutcliffe to send a letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau calling for continued and increased sanctions against the Iran-

Opportunity Board of Directors

ian government until the people of Iran have access to freedom, justice and the totality of human rights guaranteed under the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The Mississippi River Power Corporation is seeking a Director to join its board. The ideal candidate will have strong financial and business acumen and reside in the Eastern Ontario region.

For a detailed job description and copy of the complete job posting, please visit the Mississippi Mills website under Jobs at www.mississippimills.ca/en/municipal-hall/jobs.aspx

We invite qualified candidates to submit a detailed resume and cover letter in confidence to Cyndy Woods, Human Resources at cwoods@mississippimills.ca. The email subject line should include your last name and the position you’re applying for by no later than 4pm on February 10th, 2023.

We thank all applicants for their interest but advise only those applicants selected for an interview will be contacted.

Please visit https://mississippiriverpower.com to learn more about this exciting opportunity.

Ontario's early childhood educators shine a light on the path to a brighter future.

Learn more about the importance of high-quality child care.

Carleton MPP Goldie Ghamari appeared on Iran International TV based out of the UK in the fall to discuss her involvement in Canada’s protests against the Iranian regime and how they treat women.

Province’s deal reduces wait times for surgeries and procedures

People waiting for certain surgeries will no longer have to head to Gatineau or cross the bridge and go to Ogdensburg and pay out of their own pockets.

The Ontario government is making it easier and faster for people to access the publicly-funded surgeries and procedures they need by further leveraging community surgical and diagnostic centres to eliminate surgical backlogs and reduce wait times. As the government significantly expands the number of surgeries being done through community surgical and diagnostic centres, it will do so with measures in place to protect the stability of health human resources at public hospitals, including requiring new facilities to provide detailed staffing plans as

part of their application and requiring a number of physicians at these centres to have active privileges at their local hospital.

“When it comes to your health, the status quo is no longer acceptable,” said Premier Doug Ford. “Our government is taking bold action to reduce wait times for surgeries, all while ensuring Ontarians use their OHIP card to get the care they need, never their credit card.”

Community surgical and diagnostic centres have been valuable partners in responding to the pandemic and addressing the pandemic-related backlog in surgeries. Increasing community delivery of surgeries has proven to increase patient and provider satisfaction and reduces the risk of a

rescheduled appointment. Surgeries performed at these centres will be publicly-funded.

Ontario has a threestep plan that better integrates and uses these state-of-the-art facilities to speed up how quickly people are able to get surgeries and procedures using their health card. It includes tackling the existing backlog of cataract surgeries, expanding the scope of community surgical and diagnostic centres to address regional needs with a continued focus on cataracts, as well as MRI and CT imaging and colonoscopy and endoscopy procedures. The government will introduce legislation in February that will, if passed, allow existing community diagnostic centres to conduct more MRI and CT scanning

so that people can access publicly funded diagnostic services faster and closer to home.

Starting in 2024, this next step will also expand surgeries for hip and knee replacements. Legislative changes will also, if passed, strengthen oversight of community surgical settings so that patients can continue to expect to receive the world class care they know and deserve and provide the province with more flexibility to continue to expand access to more surgeries and further reduce wait times.

“Timely and convenient access to surgery and diagnostic imaging is critical to keeping people healthy,” said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health.

“This plan will boost the availability of publicly

funded health services in Ontario, ensuring that Ontarians currently waiting for specialized surgeries will have greater access to the world class care they need, where and when they need it.”

As the government shortens wait times using community surgical and diagnostic centres, Ontario Health will ensure that these centres are included in regional health system planning. Funding agreements with new community surgical and diagnostic centres will require these facilities to work with local public hospitals to ensure health system integration and linkages, including connection and reporting into the province’s wait times information system and participation in regional central intakes, where available. Community

surgical and diagnostic centres will also coordinate with local public hospitals to accept patients that are being referred, ensuring people get the surgery they need as quickly as possible.

There are currently 206,000 people estimated to be waiting for surgical procedures. For reference, last fall, there were approximately 209,000 patients waiting for a hospital operating room-based surgical procedure in Ontario, and about 200,000 before the pandemic. Further information on surgical wait times is available here.

Community surgical and diagnostic centres licensed under the Independent Health Facilities Act currently perform approximately 26,000 OHIP-insured surgeries and procedures annually.

Sledding is fun but the dangers are often overloooked

By Brian Presley

For many of us, tobogganing or sledding, is a great childhood memory. Once you were able to make it up to the top of the hill, you were ready to fly. The 10 – 20 seconds of pure speed were well worth the 10-minute march uphill and you didn’t always need a real toboggan or sled.

Some kids had a Crazy Carpet (a sheet of plastic) or a Flying Disc (a round piece of plastic) while some would fly down on a large piece of cardboard. Others would use a type of snow bicycle that had small sleds for wheels but would never really work and usually bent after the second crash. It was and is a great combination of fun, exercise and affordability. Unfortunately, it can also be deadly.

Years ago, when my kids were much younger, my wife and I would take them to a hill at a local park. They would start at the top and about halfway down it would start to curve

about ninety degrees and go straight down towards a baseball field. It was a great slide for the little kids. An adult could easily walk up the hill in no time and it wasn’t very fast, but we tried to add a sense of danger to it by calling it “Dead Man’s Curve.” Just to be safe however, one parent was at the top while the other was at the bottom of the run.

A few years later when Dead Man’s Curve was no longer a challenge, we decided to bring them to a much larger hill. This was a very large hill dedicated to sledding and it was always busy. It was so popular that the city installed lights for people to slide in the evenings.

It was a little intimidating for the kids (and us) but we agreed to take them as long as they wore their skating helmets. They complained at first but if they wanted to slide, they had to wear them. They were also told that once the ride was over, they were to immediately go to the side of the

hill to start their long walk up. Never go up the middle when sliders are coming down.

Every time we went, I noticed that the majority of kids didn’t wear a helmet which didn’t make sense since these parents would drive their kids to the hill in a vehicle made of metal and have them sit in a specially designed seat that held the kids in securely with a number of straps to keep them safe. Once they arrive at the hill however, they had no problem sending their kids flying down with a piece of plastic or inner tube with no control and with nothing to protect them should they hit one of a dozen other kids doing the same thing and all at 15 – 30 miles per hour!

Thousands of kids are injured every year and some fatally. Many of these injuries could be minimized or avoided with the use of a helmet. Kids wear them when they go biking, skating and skiing so why not sledding? Everyone should wear one but especially those 14 years of age and

under.

If the kids don’t like the idea, have them decorate them. They can also wear their winter hat over them. If they’re young and still don’t want to wear a helmet, keep them at home and

show them online videos of kids getting hurt sledding. There are a lot of them. Tell them it’s better to look different than dead.

You should never assume (and you know what happens when you assume...)

a hill is safe for sledding as well. Check it out yourself, just to make sure. Some hills may end quickly with a lot of trees, rocks, a fence or even a road. If they do, don’t use it even if everyone else is.

Registration open for City of Ottawa March Break activities

The new year may have just started, but it’s already time to start making plans for March Break, scheduled for March 13-17. You can explore March Break programs and camps on the City’s new registration system register.ottawa. ca. If you haven’t done so already, be sure to create your account before online registration opens on Wednesday, January 25 at 9 pm. March Break camps in-

clude a wide variety of activities, offered in English and French for children aged 4-14 years old. You can choose from both inperson and virtual camp options where children can learn new or enhance existing skills in activities such as skating, swimming, basketball, hockey, painting, drawing, junior science, cooking and babysitting.

With City of Ottawa

Camp Energy and Camp Adventure, kids can get creative with crafts, sing songs, play interactive games and make new friends. Inclusive programming for all ages is also available. Through the new registration system, you can explore these camps and more by using filters for activity, time and day, age group, and location.

To create a new account, you will be asked to submit

your email address and create a password. Fill in the form with your information and add other family members to your account. Saving your credit card information (Visa, Mastercard or American Express) in advance will also save you valuable time.

When preparing for registration day, it’s a good idea to browse and bookmark more than one of your preferred activities

by creating a wish list for easy retrieval during registration. If your first choice is full, you can quickly get to your second or third choices.

A reminder that if you have an active membership (fitness, swimming, sport, etc.) or had 2022 Ottawa Hand in Hand financial assistance, your account was transferred and you will need to recover your password. Select “Forgot

By A Professional Artist/Teacher Blair T. Paul AoCAdu,osA

your password?” on the sign in page and request a password reset to receive a reset link in your email inbox.

The new registration system will continue to evolve and improve. Your comments and ideas are welcome as we continue our path forward to enhance your customer experience and keep you and your family active and engaged.

With the recent snowfall, sledding has once again become a favourite activity.

‘Chickengate’ exposes the crisis of confidence grocers face today

By Sylvain CharleBoiS

It all started with one reporter taking a simple, trivial picture of an overpriced pack of five boneless, skinless chicken breasts. The cost was $26.87 a kilo, a world-class sticker shocker, at least double what one would expect to pay for chicken breasts.

Within hours, the picture became the lightning rod for frustrated consumers on social media.

Loblaw and Galen Weston – the company’s Chairman, President, and well-known public persona of the company’s brand – became public enemy number one. Attacks were instant, and mostly vicious.

For months now the poultry industry, including egg producers, has been

challenged by an avian flu outbreak, affecting almost 300 farms across the country. Many of them are in Ontario. Almost five million birds were culled in the last year, preventing millions in inventory from reaching the market. Supply-side pressures have been significant for a while. As such, prices for chicken, turkey, and eggs have all been impacted by the outbreak.

What also needs to be underscored is that chicken production is supply-managed in Canada. With our quota system, we essentially produce what we need and consume very little imported poultry products. According to Statistics Canada, the average net worth of a poultry and egg farmer in Canada is well

over $6 million. Farmgate prices are set by boards which, in turn, are heavily influenced by production costs. In most years, farm prices will go up and the rest of the supply chain will cope with supply chain economics.

That’s how supply management works. Poultry and egg prices have historically been higher in Canada than elsewhere in the Western world. Nonetheless, supply management has offered Canadians stable prices. In fact, chicken has been the more stable component of the meat trifecta, which also includes pork and beef. But since early 2020, the meat counter has increasingly become expensive, no matter what protein you are after. Many of these factors

are far beyond Loblaw’s control.

The last time Canada’s food inflation rate was below our nation’s general inflation rate was in October 2021. While everything in our lives got more expensive, it got significantly worse at the grocery store.

Consumers are actively looking for a scapegoat, one they can relate to. Most consumers barely appreciate how farming, logistics, or even food processing works, but most of us have been to a grocery store. It’s a familiar environment for most of us. Grocery stores are portals to a very complex food system we can barely see and understand, so promptly blaming grocers for overpriced products is instinctive.

Canada has one of the

SHOP LOCAL

lowest food inflation rates in the Western world. Amongst G7 countries, only Japan has a lower food inflation rate right now. Higher food prices are a global phenomenon, full stop. Even if it makes little sense to blame one grocer, or even one man for our ills at the grocery store, Canadians have every right to be upset. Context is everything, and consumers are on edge and will second-guess anything and everything and have every reason to do so.

The chicken breast incident points to how incredibly delicate things are right now. The food industry, and particularly grocers, are facing a crisis of confidence, no less. Consumers have become hyper-sensitive to any po-

tential evidence suggesting abuse of market power, and grocers will need to navigate the coming months with extreme caution. Showing more public empathy would be a good start.

In the meantime, consumers should know their prices even before they show up at the grocery store, stay calm, and read labels. If a price is beyond what was expected, just walk away. A more affordable substitute in the same store is likely within reach. Consumers have more power than they believe.

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

CLUES ACROSS

1. Not invited

6. Whale ship captain

10. One point south of southwest

14. Small cavity in a rock

15. Recidivists

17. City of Angels

hoopster

19. A way to mark with one’s signature

20. OJ trial judge

21. Rice cooked in broth

22. One point east of due south

23. One point east of southeast

24. Complements an entree

26. Grouped by twos

29. Disfigure

31. Woods

32. Political action committee

34. Longer of 2 bones in the forearm

35. Kin groups

37. Philippine Island

38. Contrary to

39. Bluish-gray fur

40. Comprehend the written word

41. Natural depressions

43. Felines

45. Breathe noisily

46. Taxi

47. Pancake made from buckwheat flour

49. Swiss river

50. Foot (Latin)

53. Have surgery

57. Formal withdrawal

58. Monetary units of Peru

59. Greek war god

60. 2,000 lbs.

61. High points

CLUES DOWN

1. Green and yellow citrus fruit

2. A bright color

3. Thicket

4. Journalist Tarbell

5. A place to work or relax

6. Sharp mountain ridge

7. Helicopter

8. Mimic

9. Suggests

10. More musty

11. Large, flightless rail

12. Make beer

13. Soviet Socialist Republic

16. People who can account for you

18. Taunt

22. South Dakota

23. Cover the entirety of

24. Kids’ favorite visitor

25. A way to save for retirement

27. Fencing swords

28. C. China mountain range

29. Type of sandwich

30. Team

31. Paddle

33. Partly digested food

35. Most cagey

36. Shoppers make one

37. Cathode-ray tube

39. Food supplies

42. Backbones

43. Concern

44. Blood group

46. Broadway songwriter Sammy

47. Dutch colonist

48. Full-grown pike fish

49. Deity of a monotheistic cult

50. Type of bread

51. S. Nigerian people

52. Scottish tax

53. Young women’s association

54. Brazilian city

55. Hide of a young animal

56. Midway between north and northeast

AGCO reinstates betting on UFC events throughout Ontario

UFC fans looking for some sweet action are back in the game.

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has announced that regulated sport and event betting operators in Ontario may resume offering bets and betting related products on Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) events.

On December 1, 2022, following alleged incidents, including possible betting by UFC insiders, and reports of suspicious betting patterns in other jurisdictions, the AGCO required all registered gaming operators in Ontario to stop offering and accepting wagers on UFC events. Since that date, the AGCO has been actively engaged with regulated entities and stakeholders as they worked to address the issues.

The ruling meant that the large number of sports betters were unable to place bets at Rideau Carleton Casino for a six-week period.

“The AGCO is committed to protecting Ontario players and the integrity of its betting market,” said Tom Mungham, Registrar and CEO, AGCO. “With the legalization of single event betting last year, the AGCO created strong new rules to protect bettors in Ontario. We are pleased these rules are already working to strengthen the integrity of sports betting in Ontario and, as a result, of UFC competitions around the world.”

The AGCO said its Registrar’s Standards were set to protect the betting public. Those standards include rules to safeguard against odds manipulation, matchfixing and other sports betting integrity issues. Sport and event betting operators must specifically ensure that sporting events they offer bets on are effectively supervised by a governing body which must, at minimum, prescribe rules and enforce codes of conduct that include prohibitions on betting by insiders. There must also be integrity safeguards in place, which are sufficient to mitigate the risk of matchfixing and other illicit activities that might influence the outcome of bet upon events.

The UFC announced it has updated its policies and procedures. Specifically, the UFC has:

• Amended its Athlete Conduct Policy to prohibit all insiders from placing any wagers directly or through a third party on any UFC match, including placing wagers on themselves.

• Made clear that these same prohibitions against wagering apply to an athlete’s coaches, managers, handlers, athletic trainers, and other individuals affiliated with the athletes or UFC, and that violations by these Insiders may result in disciplinary action against related contract athletes.

• Have provided assurances for enhanced mon-

itoring and action against insider betting through the strengthening of their internal processes.

• Reiterated their expectation that their contracted athletes report any matters that might raise integrity concerns.

• Engaged in a betting integrity monitoring relationship with US Integrity, an independent sports integrity monitor registered with the AGCO, to identify and analyze unusual wagering activity as indicative of possible integrity concerns.

Given these actions, the Registrar is satisfied that the betting integrity concerns raised have now been addressed and is therefore permitting registered gaming operators to resume offer-

ing UFC-related bets. Operators must continue to meet all applicable Registrar’s Standards and the AGCO will continue to monitor compliance with the Standards. The AGCO is aware of ongoing investigations in other jurisdictions and will be monitoring the outcome and actions related to those investigations.

Business As Usual

While many who bet on UFC fights and cards watch the pay-per-view broadcasts faithfully, local UFC-driven events were not as effected by the ruling as one would think. Boston Pizza in Barrhaven saw the same enthusiastic crowds for their UFC nights.

“We carry the UFC events

and they draw a good crowd for us,” said Russ Arthurs in December. “Some of the regulars may have a bet on some of the fights, but they are not coming and watching because they are betting. They are coming here because they are fans, and they want to have a night out with their friends and watch the fights.”

Arthurs said that the UFC Nights at Boston Pizza draw a consistent crowd.

“With everything back to business as usual, people are wanting to get out and watch sporting events with their friends and with other fans,” Arthurs said. “We saw that during the World Cup. We will never capture a complete stadium or arena experience, but when people

come and watch an event like UFC they will cheer and enjoy the atmosphere. It’s much different that renting the pay-per-view and watching it at home.”

The AGCO is responsible for regulating the alcohol, gaming, horse racing and private cannabis retail sectors in Ontario in accordance with the principles of honesty and integrity, and in the public interest.

The AGCO is a regulatory agency with a governing board that reports to the Ministry of the Attorney General. The agency was established on February 23, 1998. It is a corporation under the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario Act, 2019.

Local sports betters can once again place bets on UFC fights.

New rules to attract more health care workers to Ontario

With new “As of Right” rules, the Ontario government will allow health care workers registered in other provinces and territories to immediately start working and caring for people in Ontario.

“As we connect people to more convenient care, we need to be bold, innovative and creative,” said Premier Doug Ford. “With our new “As of Right” rules, Ontario is the first province in Canada to allow health care workers from across the country to immediately start providing care. That’s the kind of innovative solutions that will cut down unnecessary bureaucratic delays and help bring reinforcements to the frontlines of our health care system.”

The government will introduce legislative changes in February 2023 that, if passed, will allow Canadian health care workers that are already registered or li-

censed in another Canadian jurisdiction to practice in Ontario immediately, without having to first register with one of Ontario’s health regulatory colleges. These changes will help health-care workers overcome bureaucratic delays that have made it difficult to practice in Ontario.

“Our government is making health care more accessible for Ontarians, which means recruiting more health care professionals to bolster our health care system and making it easier for them to start working,” said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “A highly-skilled health care worker from British Columbia or Nova Scotia shouldn’t have to pause their career or face barriers to practice here in Ontario.”

In addition, Ontario will also be helping hospitals and other health organizations temporarily increase

staffing when they need to fill vacancies or manage periods of high patient volume, such as during the COVID-19 pandemic. In February, the government will introduce legislation that, if passed, will increase staffing levels on a shortterm basis by allowing health care professionals, including nurses, paramedics, respiratory therapists, and others, to work outside of their regular responsibilities or settings, as long as they have the knowledge skill, and judgement to do so. This will provide hospitals and other settings with more flexibility to ensure health care professionals are filling the most in-demand roles at the right time.

As a part of the government’s focus on making health care more convenient for Ontarians, the province is hiring more health care professionals to better connect Ontarians to the care they need, when and where

they need it. This work is on top of other initiatives to recruit more health care workers, such as making it easier for internationallyeducated nurses to join Ontario’s workforce and investing to upskill nurses currently working in the province. As Ontario continues to expand its health workforce, patients can expect more services in their community, shorter wait times and greater access to high-quality care.

These changes, if passed, will mark the first step towards a pan-Canadian portable registration model, the first of its kind for health care professionals in Canada.

Under this proposal, health care professionals from outside the province will only be eligible and permitted to work in Ontario if they have provided safe, competent, and ethical health care in their home province or territory.

Information on practicing in Ontario as an outof-province health care professional can be found on the HealthForceOntario website.

The Ontario government is expanding medical school education. Ontario is adding 160 undergraduate seats and 295 postgraduate positions over the next five years, the largest expansion of undergraduate and postgraduate education in over 10 years.

www.barrhavenindependent.ca

BARRHAVEN

Raiders win thriller in Pembroke to earn CCHL weekend split

The Nepean Raiders split a pair of Central Canada junior Hockey league games on the road last weekend.

On Sun., Jan. 22, the Raiders scored an exciting 8-6 victory against the Pembroke Lumber Kings.

Joshua Branton got his first start in the CCHL for Nepean.

Owen Hardy opened the scoring with an unassisted goal when he stole the puck in the Nepean zone and went coast-to-coast before beating Forget on a low shot to the blocker side.

Nicholas Larkin made it 2-0 Nepean with a blast from the point that deflected off the skate of Lumber Kings defenseman Josh Brady. The period ended with Nepean out in front 2-1 despite being outshot 14-6 in the period.

The second period was complete mayhem as the two teams combined for seven goals in the period. Curtiss Sturgeon opened the middle frame with a pair of goals.

The 4-1 lead did not survive the period as the Lumber Kings stormed back with three straight goals of their own coming from Cam Hicklin, Sacha Trudel, and Stetson with his second of the game.

Joshua Reid restored Nepean’s lead on a brilliant backpass from Affiliate Player Alex Boileau from behind the net.

Vital Dinis tied the game at 5-5 to bring the second period scoring spree to an end with two teams deadlocked at 5-5. Pembroke outshot Nepean 1914 in the action-packed period.

Jack Matsukubo picked up his seventh of the season pouncing on a rebound on a shot from Alex Boileau from the half-wall. Boileau made a couple of dandy moves to beat two Lumber Kings before launching the puck at the Pembroke goal.

Nathan Duck then tied it again at 6-6 but Nicholas Larkin picked up his second of the game just a minute later to put Nepean up for good. Luke

Posthumus added one for good measure burying a shot off a terrific pass from Josh Reid.

It was a season high eightgoal performance by Nepean to give them an 8-6 victory. Despite the high scoring game, Nepean has now shaved 40 goals off their goals-against from this time last season.

Joshua Branton picked up his first win of his CCHL career.

On Fri., Jan. 20, the Raiders travelled down the 416 to visit the North Grenville Municipal Centre as they faced off against the Kemptville 73s.

It was Hunter Brazier, the leader in points and goals for Kemptville who opened the scoring.

Ryan Rutley made it 2-0 73s after stealing the puck in the Raiders zone and taking it to the high slot and snapping one again over Sandu’s blocker. Former Nepean Raider captain Coleman Bennett picked up his 20th assist on the goal.

Owen Hardy and Luke Posthumus each extended

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their point-streaks to five games after Posthumus won a faceoff in the 73s zone back to Luca Ricciardi who then fed Owen Hardy who snapped a shot from the left faceoff circle through the five-hole to beat Musielak.

After 20 minutes Kempt-

ville had a 2-1 lead outshooting Nepean 14-9 in the process.

Hunter Brazier , Gavin McDougall and Coleman Bennett scored for the 73s to make it 5-1. Nepean made a goaltending change to start the third as Joshua Branton came in to re-

lieve Sandu.

The third period’s only goal would come on a nifty move by Tyler Melvin who intercepted a puck in the Raider zone and took the puck in tight and backhanded a shot top shelf to make it 6-1 Kemptville.

Seniors who want choice in how they enjoy their retirement choose us. From spectacular views of the majestic Rideau River to main street shopping right next door, Manotick Place is right at the heart of the Village of Manotick, Offering the best of town and country.

Brayden Potvin crashes the net, literally, in a recent Raiders loss to the Cornwall Colts at the Steve Yzerman Arena. With file S BY Ro CCo Rom