ASQUITH COUNCIL NEWS FOR July

Asquith Town Council held its regular council meeting on July 12, 2023.

Attending was Mayor Gail Erhart, DeputyMayor Jackie Stobbe, and Councillors Cecilia Mryglod, Darcy Stack, and Pete Heck. Councillor Jodi Nehring attended by video. Also attending was C.A.O. Kathy Picketts. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Ehart at 7:00 p.m.

Councillor Pete Heck took his oath of affirmation.

MONDAY 5 P.M.

2023

A resolution was made to accept the council minutes from the June 2023, regular council meeting. Council made a motion to accept the June 2023 financials and June 2023 bank reconciliation as presented to them at the meeting.

Accounts Paid in the amount of $92,322.42 and Accounts Payable of $51,811.43 was accepted as presented.

2022 Audited Financials were presented to Council.

Correction

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Ask The Money Lady

Christine

Ibbotson

Dear Money Lady Read- ers: Are you taking advantage of the July Benefits from the Canadian Government?

Due to higher interest rates, increased inflation and the rising costs of the basics, families all across Canada are feeling the squeeze. This is especially painful for our seniors on a fixed income. There are two ways that inflation hits a retirement portfolio. First you withdraw more to meet the higher priced living expenses and second the central banks increase interest rates, which pushes down share prices and reduces the value of equity portfolios. The net effect is retirees are forced to withdraw increasingly larger amounts from a constantly shrinking asset base. So, now what?

As part of the 2023 Budget, the Canadian Government introduced a new grocery rebate which is scheduled to be issued on July 5, 2023. The CAIP (Climate Action Incentive Payment) will also commence in July for our Atlantic provinces something the rest of the country should have received in April of this year. So, let’s talk about these two new benefits.

First, the grocery rebate will be the equivalent to double the GST/HST credit amount and the July 5, 2023, credit payment will be based on your 2022 tax return. If you are single with no children your maximum benefit will be $234. If you are a single parent, the benefit will depend on how many children you

Humankind, What problems we create

nated, and that is largely the job of bees.

Often that means honey bees being put to work.

“There’s a relationship between honey bees and canola. A very good relationship,” said Marcelo Camilli, a Brazilian researcher currently in Saskatchewan studying the relationship.

“What we see here is bees flourish in canola.”

Agriculture

Daniels

While humankind has tended to run rough shod over the planet since forever, thinking no matter what we do, what problems we create, we’ll somehow mange to keep the wheels on the bus and rolling forward.

In most cases science has managed to keep pace with addressing the problems we create, although there is a sense with micro plastics everywhere, habitat being lost, a population still growing and the impact of a changing climate, we may well be at a tipping point where science can no longer stem the tide of the impact of humanity’s mistakes.

What is perhaps most concerning is that what might get human kind –before climate issues, or population woes, will be the loss of crop pollinators.

We tend to look at crops of canola, or rows of peas in gardens as simply being planted and some months later we reap a harvest that we consume.

While we – farmers and gardeners – play a role, from readying the soil to combating weeds and harmful bugs, those efforts would be for nothing if the crop isn’t polli-

Camilli said it is estimated honey bees pollinate 70 per cent of canola, and in so doing generate some $1.5 billion in value.

But, worldwide there are of course native pollinators – various species of bees in particular.

In recent years there has been an increased awareness of pollinators and their health.

But what happens when farmers need to apply herbicides to their canola? Does it impact the health of honey bee hives? Does it impact the honey produced?

“What is the safe dose range for honey bees?” asks Camilli, who is part of team looking to answer that question.

A recent release also noted “Canada’s southern prairies are dotted with patches of active sand dunes, ecosystems that are slowly disappearing as they become overgrown and transformed into grasslands. A new study of bees and wasps from these at-risk sites sheds light on changes to biodiversity in Canada’s prairie sandhills, which are increasingly being “stabilized” by plants that take root in the sand.

The research is based on careful examination and analysis of more than 12,300 specimens of wild bees and stinging wasps collected by Thomas have. Here is the breakdown: $387 for 1 child, $467 for 2 children, $548 for 3 children, and $628 for 4 children.

If you are married (or have a common-law partner) your benefit would be $306 with no children, but if you have children you would be entitled to the same benefits as a single parent. Here is the breakdown for married parents with children: $387 with 1 child, $467 for 2 children, $548 for 3 children and $628 for 4 children. The second government benefit to come out this month is the CAIP-fed- eral fuel charge available only to Newfoundland, Labrador, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island residents. Payments can be expected to be received in 3 initial instalments: July 2023, October 2023 and in January 2024. The CAIP is a tax-free amount paid out to Canadians to help residents offset the cost of the federal pollution pricing. It was made available to residents in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Ontario last year in July 2022.

Over the course of the summer, I want to give you weekly tips, tricks, and tangible advice that you can use to save money. We are going to hit those topics that everyone wants advice on: how to earn more income, how to restructure and pay off debts, how to create smart budgets to overcome higher prices, and of course, how to create a sustainable financial future on any income. Don’t worry, you can still use this economic market situation to your advantage to profit right now and in the future. Stay with me – see you next week.

3 ailments older Canadians should have on their radar

Onuferko at the dunes over four months in the spring and summer of 2019. As a post-doctoral research fellow with the museum’s Beaty Centre for Species Discovery, he visited 13 dune sites (each five times) across southeastern Alberta, southern Saskatchewan, and southwestern Manitoba.

Areas surveyed included the Great Sandhills Ecological Reserve and Douglas Provincial Park in Saskatchewan, as well as Spruce Woods Provincial Park, an important refuge for rare species in southwestern Manitoba. These sorts of research initiatives are essential simply because we have to be aware of our impact on pollinators because if there were to be loss in significant numbers our food production could be decimated.

Our golden years can be the best time of our lives, but your body may need a little more care than it did in years past. Regardless of how young you may feel at heart, there are illnesses that are more common at an older age. Here are three conditions to be aware of that can significantly affect older adults:

1. Shingles Herpes Zoster, typically referred to as shingles, is caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox. If you had chickenpox in the past, the virus remains dormant in your body and can reactivate later in life as shingles. Shingles often shows up as a painful rash or blisters that can last for weeks and can lead to nerve pain lasting for months or even years. It’s estimated that one in three Canadians will get shingles in their lifetime, and with ninety per cent of us thought to have had chicken pox, shingles is a concern for older Canadians.

Treatment may have limited impact, but shingles can be prevented. The National Advisory Committee on Immunization and the Comité sur l'immunisation du Qué- bec (CIQ) recommend that people aged 50 and over consider vaccination to help prevent shingles. The CIQ also recommends vaccination for people aged 18 years and older who are immunocompromised.

2. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

COPD is a lung disease that includes chronic bronchitis or emphysema. It causes a narrowing of the airways and can progress slowly over a number of years. It’s typically diagnosed in those over age 40, and many people may not realize they have the condition. Symptoms can include a cough lasting longer than three months, wheezing or whistling when breathing, long-lasting colds and shortness of breath during everyday activities. Feeling short of breath is not a normal sign of aging and those experiencing it should seek medical guidance. Those with the disease are also at higher risk of developing heart conditions, diabetes and low bone density. The good news is COPD is manageable with treatment.

3. Respiratory Syncytial

Virus (RSV)

RSV is a common and highly contagious virus that affects the lungs and breathing passages. Despite commonly being associated with infants and young children, adults aged 60 and older are also at increased risk for serious infection from RSV.

The natural decline in immune function as we age makes the older-adult crowd more vulnerable to infections and health complications, including RSV. Additionally, immunity against RSV is shortlived, so you can catch it again even if you’ve already had it. There is currently no vaccine available in Canada for adults to help prevent RSV, so practising steps to avoid coming into contact with the virus is sound advice. Washing your hands frequently, disinfecting surfaces around you, and avoiding time spent close to anyone who is ill are a few steps to help avoid contracting the virus. There are all sorts of ways to enjoy life well into our golden years, but it can be helpful to know what you might be up against.

Simple ways to beat the summer heat

Whether you bask in tropical days of a heat wave or dread hot temperatures each summer, you should know how to stay safe during extreme heat. Hot days are expected to become more frequent and intense across Canada in the future. Here’s what you can do.

Get informed

Tune in to local forecasts or sign up to receive heat alerts on your phone so you know when to expect the heat. If it’s available, check the Air Quality Health Index in your area since air pollution is often worse on very hot days.

Don’t wait for thirst

Feeling thirsty is not a good sign of how hydrated you are, especially in hot weather, so be sure to drink water before you feel thirsty. Try leaving a glass by the sink as a reminder, and up your fluid intake by eating fruits and vegetables with high water content like watermelon or grapes.

Keep your home cool

If you find yourself in an overheated home, activate the air conditioning if it’s available.

If you don’t have air conditioning, close your curtains or blinds during the day to block out heat from the sun, and avoid using your oven to cook. If it’s safe, open your windows at night to let in cooler air. If it gets too hot in your home, relocate to a cooler area of the home like your basement or visit an air-conditioned space like a library or cooling centre.

Be friendly

Try to plan regular check-ins with family, friends and neighbours on hot days to help each other find relief. Head to an air-conditioned space such as a home, the local library or the movies.

Extreme heat poses health risks for everyone, especially for young children, older adults and those of us with breathing difficulties or other health conditions. It’s smart to stay connected to give and receive support.

Find more information at canada.ca/health.

Six Tips To Keep Pets Safe

During Storm Season

While no one is immune from the devastation of a natural disaster, preparing before a storm hits is key to keeping everyone in your family— including your pets— safe. Here are six ideas from the TurfMutt Foundation to help you include pet safety when mapping out a disaster preparedness plan.

Have pets microchipped. In the event of an emergency—natural or otherwise—you want to ensure your pet can get back to you if you’re separated. Collars and ID tags, though important, can break or detach. Microchips— computerized and scannable implants about the size of a grain of rice— are more fool-proof since they’re inserted under your pet’s skin. Bring pets inside at the first sign of danger. Disasters can be disorienting for pets, and they could run away or hurt themselves reacting to loud noises and strange changes to their landscape. Also, rain, flying debris and high winds pose a danger. If you have to leave, keep pets with you. Leaving your pets behind during a natural disaster is never a good idea because they could escape or become exposed to a number of life-threatening hazards. Keep them on a leash or in a pet carrier so they don’t escape, even if you are in a “familiar” neighbourhood.

Determine where you’ll go.You need a Plan B if you are advised by government officials to leave your home. Not all emergency shelters will accept pets and physical distancing guidelines may reduce capacity in public shelters. Make a plan and develop a list of pet-friendly hotels open for business and outside your immediate area that you might evacuate to. Create a pet-friendly resource list. Research a list of veterinarians in the area should your pet need medical care (your regular vet may have some recommendations). Also, figure out which boarding facilities are nearby in case you need to separate from your pet