OTTAWA, May 19, 2013 /CNW/ – The Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) is proud to announce that past president Judith Shamian has been elected president of the International Council of Nurses (ICN). The results were announced in Melbourne, Australia, at ICN’s quadrennial congress, which was attended by 83 countries.

“Words can’t express how honoured and grateful I am to be chosen for this position,” said Shamian, who was CNA president from 2010-2012. “I’m very humbled by all the support from my colleagues in Canada and internationally. Much like the work ahead for us at ICN, this campaign was a team effort. I’m eager to get to work right away, to collaborate with nurses from around the world to advance our profession for the health and well-being of our populations. Nurses have the experience, the knowledge and the solutions needed to improve global health. And ICN is the important global force that will lead these advancements.”

ICN is the world’s first and widest-reaching international organization for health professionals, representing more than 130 national nursing associations and more than 13 million nurses worldwide. Shamian will now begin a four-year term, focusing on increasing ICN’s leadership, visibility and accessibility to nursing associations throughout the world and to key international groups.

“I’m really thrilled for Judith and the next four years,” said CNA president Barb Mildon. “ICN plays a vital role in promoting global health and a strong nursing profession. I think we’ll see important progress in these areas during the coming years under Judith’s leadership.”

The Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) is the national professional voice of registered nurses in Canada. A federation of 11 provincial and territorial nursing associations and colleges representing nearly 150,000 registered nurses, CNA advances the practice and profession of nursing to improve health outcomes and strengthen Canada’s publicly funded not-for-profit health system.

SOURCE: CANADIAN NURSES ASSOCIATION

Rideau Hall

OTTAWA, ONTARIO–(Marketwired – May 17, 2013) - Their Excellencies the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, and Mrs. Sharon Johnston invite members of the public to discover Rideau Hall, the official residence and workplace of Canada’s governors general, in Ottawa. Open to the public year-round, Rideau Hall will feature special events and activities throughout the summer.

Among the highlights are the Annual Inspection of the Ceremonial Guard on June 20; the 30^th edition of the annual CHEO Teddy Bears’ Picnic on June 22; and the return of Storytime at Rideau Hall.

New this year, visitors are invited to explore Rideau Hall’s ornamental gardens and greenhouses, open exclusively during its Garden Gathering weekend, on June 15 and 16. All activities are free of charge.

DOORS OPEN OTTAWA 2013

June 1-2, 2013

10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Throughout the weekend, visit the residence and learn about the history and the role of the governor general. Guides will be on location to bring Rideau Hall’s history to life.

GARDEN GATHERING AT RIDEAU HALL

June 15-16, 2013

10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Meet horticultural experts and explore the ornamental gardens and greenhouses, open exclusively this weekend. Whether you are an accomplished or novice gardener, come dig up gardening tips and enjoy the vibrant displays of flowers, shrubs and rockeries highlighting native Canadian plant life.

ANNUAL INSPECTION OF THE CEREMONIAL GUARD

June 20, 2013

10 a.m.

Join His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada, for the pageantry, precision and colour of the Annual Inspection of the Ceremonial Guard, at Rideau Hall.

From June 24 to August 24, see sentries, led by a piper, march to their posts at Sussex Gate and in front of the residence during the Relief of the Sentries, every hour, on the hour, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

ANNUAL CHEO TEDDY BEARS’ PICNIC

June 22, 2013

8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

A fun-filled day of family activities awaits you on the grounds of Rideau Hall during the 30^th annual Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) Teddy Bears’ Picnic. The day will feature stage entertainment, rides and games, as well as a celebrity pancake breakfast. The popular B*A*S*H Tent-Bear Ambulatory Surgical Hospital-will be open for children who wish to bring their teddy bears and other stuffed animals for minor repairs and a visit with the dentist. For more information, please contact the CHEO Foundation at 613-737-2780 or visit www.cheofoundation.com.

LAUNCH OF STORYTIME AT RIDEAU HALL

June 29, 2013

1 p.m.

Over the summer months, this outdoor family activity will be hosted in collaboration with Frontier College, a Canadian non-profit organization that promotes literacy.

From June 29 to August 24, every Friday and Saturday, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Frontier College volunteers will invite visitors to settle in under the Reading Tent to read books and participate in fun literacy activities.

VISIT THE RESIDENCE AND TOUR THE GROUNDS

Open daily

Start your visit at the Visitor Centre to learn about the role and responsibilities of the governor general, as well as the history of Rideau Hall, through an interactive exhibit.

• May 17 until September 2: Daily, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Take a tour of the ceremonial rooms, where Canadians are honoured and dignitaries are welcomed. Guided tours are free of charge and are also offered on statutory holidays.

• May 4 to June 23: Weekends, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; weekdays, reservations required
• June 24 to September 2: Daily, from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Stroll through the grounds of Rideau Hall at your leisure and explore the paths along the flowerbeds and gardens of this urban oasis. Bring a picnic and enjoy the play structure with your children.

• Year-round: Open from 8 a.m. until one hour before sunset

For more information about Rideau Hall’s activities and guided tours, please call 613-991-4422 or 1-866-842-4422 (toll-free) or write to us at guide@gg.ca. Also, visit our website at www.gg.ca/visitus.

Please note that Rideau Hall is a working residence; scheduling for all activities is subject to change without notice due to official events.

Follow GGDavidJohnston and RideauHall on Facebook and Twitter.

SASKATOON, SASKATCHEWAN–(Marketwired – May 17, 2013) -

The Honourable Gerry Ritz, Canada’s Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, announced today the Safe Food for Canadians Action Plan. Through the Action Plan, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency will launch a number of significant food safety enhancements over the next two years.

Building on its long-standing commitment to food safety, the Harper Government unveiled its Safe Food for Canadians Action Plan today. The Action Plan aims to further improve Canada’s food safety system by strengthening food safety rules, more effective inspection, a renewed commitment to service and more information for consumers.

“Canada has a world-class food safety system and our Government is committed to taking real steps to make it even stronger,” said Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz. “This Action Plan is one of the steps our Government is taking to ensure that our system continues to provide safe food for Canadian families today and in the future.”

Through the Action Plan, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) will launch a number of significant food safety enhancements over the next two years. Most notably, the CFIA will work with consumer groups and industry to develop new regulations that will bring into force the Safe Food for Canadians Act, passed in November 2012.

As a first step, the CFIA is strengthening some of its beef safety rules and has implemented new mandatory requirements that will strengthen the control of E. coli in federally-registered beef plants.

Also, by July 2, 2013, federally-registered plants that produce mechanically tenderized beef cuts, such as steaks or roasts, will be required to label those products as tenderized and with cooking instructions.

While these actions are specific to federally-registered plants, Health Canada also intends to propose broader mandatory labels to identify beef that has been mechanically tenderized at retail outlets like supermarkets. This voluntary practice has been in place since 2012.

This spring, the CFIA will launch a review of the food regulations in Canada that will need to be revised in order to bring the Safe Food for Canadians Act into force. It is expected this work will take up to two years. Active consumer and stakeholder engagement in the process will be important to the success of efforts to bring the new legislation into force.

Consumer groups and stakeholders will have that opportunity at an upcoming food safety regulatory forum in June.

For more information on the Action Plan, visit the CFIA’s website at www.inspection.gc.ca/safefood.

TORONTO, May 18, 2013 /CNW/ – Outdoor enthusiasts queued up early this morning for a ride to an incredible nationally protected national park. These early risers were the first Greater Toronto Area (GTA) residents to take advantage of the new regular Parkbus service from downtown Toronto to Bruce Peninsula National Park.

In a short pre-boarding ceremony, Mrs. Ellen Bertrand, External Relations Director for Parks Canada, celebrated the signing of a partnering agreement between Parks Canada and Parkbus and wished all the passengers of this first trip of the season “Bon Voyage.”

“Parkbus is providing an easy way for people to escape the urban jungle and discover a part of Canada that is truly spectacular, wild, and open to all,” said Mrs Bertrand. “National Parks in Ontario offer the very best examples of Canada’s vast beauty and outstanding conservation efforts, and with Parkbus, they are becoming more accessible than ever before.”

Parks Canada recognizes that transportation is a barrier that many urban Canadians face when planning a visit to a national park. Parkbus offers an environmentally friendlier and affordable option for residents of the Greater Toronto Area to get out, discover and enjoy Canada’s treasured natural wonders. Spending the night in one of Parks Canada’s many campgrounds across Ontario offers a true escape in some of the country’s most beautiful natural heritage areas. Starry nights, breathtaking views, tons of activities and a chance to bond with your family around an open campfire… a quintessential Canadian experience.

In formalizing a partnering agreement with Parkbus, Parks Canada will be better able to work with Parkbus to promote this incredible transportation service, offer new destinations and jointly develop park services that are more responsive to the needs of bus riders.

For those who have never been camping and are not sure where to get started, Parkbus offers an easy way to connect with a park. Many Parkbus riders will also find the Parks Canada Learn to Camp App full of useful tips and tricks about how to get the most out of their national park experience.

“Parkbus exists because there is a demand for a mass transit service to Canada’s incredible outdoor spaces,” said Boris Issaev, Parkbus founder and Project Manager. “We look forward to working with Parks Canada to improve our offer to Ontario’s urban travellers”

The striking scenery of towering cliffs plunging into blue water make Bruce Peninsula National Park one of the most scenic and popular destinations in Ontario. A must see! To find out more about Parkbus and their scheduled service to Bruce Peninsula National Park, visit www.parkbus.ca. Learn more about the many amazing opportunities offered by Parks Canada in Ontario by visiting www.parkscanada.gc.ca/ontario.

Mayor Rob Ford

KJ Mullins-Toronto: At least three reporters, two from the Toronto Star and one from Gawker, have reportedly watched a video on a cell phone of what appears to be Toronto Mayor Rob Ford smoking a substance from what they believe is a crack pipe. The video allegedly was filmed at a residence on Dixon Road during the winter.

According to the Toronto Star the short video ended with a man who appears to be Mayor Rob Ford looking directly into the camera of the cell phone and saying that the camera better not be on.

This story is breaking right before the long Victoria Day weekend, making it more difficult to get comments from City Hall. City Councillor Shelley Carroll’s office said that this is a delicate situation and that Carroll has yet to make a statement about the issue.  Several other councillors are out of town or swamped in meetings this morning.

Mayor Rob Ford’s office said to contact his spokesperson George Christopoulos. An email has yet to be returned.

Could a drug test tell if Mayor Rob Ford smoked crack cocaine? While cocaine doesn’t stay in the body for a long period of time benzoylecgonine, a metabolite of the drug does remain in the liver of crack cocaine users. The substance can be detected for some time after crack cocaine use. A person who has used 0.5 grams or more during one occasion can test positive for benzoylecgonine eight days after their last use while heavy crack cocaine users can test positive up to 22 days after their last use.

While no one was willing to be quoted from City Hall the general consensus is that drug testing is not something that is done in Toronto other than for TTC employees.

Considering that there are those at City Hall that would like people receiving social assistance to undergo drug testing it may not be a bad idea for those deciding on how to spend Toronto’s budget be tested as well.

OTTAWA, May 17, 2013 /CNW/ – In celebration of National Road Safety Week, the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT) is proud to have developed a new resource for older drivers, their families and healthcare professionals that include an Older Driver’s Safety website and a new series of brochures entitled “Keeping on the go: Driving safely as you age.”

Valuable information on safe driving strategies and planning for driving retirement can be found in translated brochures in English, French, Italian, Punjabi, and Chinese (simplified and traditional).

CAOT is dedicated to keeping seniors behind the wheel for as long as possible. Driving increases the opportunity to be involved within the community and is a contributor to quality-of-life giving seniors a sense of wellbeing. For example, Statistic Canada reported that seniors with a driver’s license were twice as likely to volunteer as those without a driver’s license. Older driver safety is an important issue and Canadian seniors from diverse cultures deserve to have tailored information that might encourage them to continue driving.

Occupational therapists can evaluate driving abilities, help find alternative transportation and develop driving rehabilitation programs. These professionals have taken a leadership position in regard to driving rehabilitation services because of their expertise in assessing the interaction between the person, the environment and the occupation. Occupational therapists are highly trained professionals who work with anyone who is having difficulty doing the activities that are important to them.

Production of these brochures had been made possible through a financial contribution from the Public Health Agency of Canada.

SOURCE: Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists

TORONTO, May 17, 2013 /CNW/ – Despite strides in enshrining legal rights for queer and trans people in Ontario, students continue to face homophobia and transphobia on college and university campuses and in their communities. May 17 is International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia.

“Whether queer and trans students are facing homophobia and transphobia in the classroom or are being shut out of our colleges and universities because they cannot afford Ontario’s high tuition fees, there is still plenty to do to ensure our campuses are accessible, safe and inclusive places for queer and trans youth,” said Alastair Woods, Chairperson-elect of the Canadian Federation of Students-Ontario.

Over the past two years, legislative changes have created new protections for gender identity and gender expression in federal and provincial human rights legislation. Still, queer and trans people continue to be marginalized in our communities. A recent survey by Egale Canada found that almost two thirds of queer and trans high school students fees unsafe at school and more than one in five said they had been physically harassed or assaulted at school because of their sexual orientation.

“Today, it is important to celebrate the legal protections queer and trans people have fought for and won,” said Woods. “But we cannot forget that with queer and trans communities continuing to face high levels of poverty, and experiencing disproportionate levels of violence and harassment, there is still a lot to do to achieve equity for all people, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.”

One year ago, the Canadian Federation of Students-Ontario, along with the Lesbian Gay Bi Trans Youth Line, launched the Challenge Homophobia and Transphobia campaign on college and university campuses across Ontario. The campaign includes outreach materials and a comprehensive campus guide for student activists with legal information, local resources, campaigning tips and other resources and for organizing anti-homophobia and anti-transphobia campaigns and initiatives.

The Canadian Federation of Students-Ontario represents more than 300,000 college, undergraduate and graduate students in every region of Ontario.

SOURCE: Canadian Federation of Students – Ontario

TORONTO, May 17, 2013 /CNW/ – The first long weekend of the season is (finally) here, and it can be a busy time. Toronto Hydro-Electric System Limited (Toronto Hydro) is reminding customers to take a break and enjoy OFF-PEAK rates – the lowest electricity price all weekend long.

The following dates are designated OFF-PEAK at 6.7 cents/kWh all day long:

• Saturday, May 18
• Sunday, May 19
• Monday, May 20

Time Of Use (TOU) rates are designed to encourage customers to shift their electricity use to off-peak periods to help better manage their bills. Shifting electricity use also helps reduce strain on the grid during periods when electricity consumption is at its peak. Customers interested in learning more about their electricity consumption can sign up for Toronto Hydro’s TOU website (torontohydro.com/tou) to view their personal electricity usage on an hourly, daily and weekly basis. The data is updated as recently as the previous day.

Many residents may find themselves packing their bags this weekend as this is also one of the busiest times for moving across the city. To make life a little easier, customers can sign up for the newly launched My TorontoHydro portal. This online portal gives customers fast and secure access to bills, payment history, account details and more. Customers can perform account moves online, 24 hours-a-day from the comfort of their homes.

In addition to performing moves online, customers that register for My TorontoHydro can:

• Manage accounts wherever they are;
• Get account details immediately;
• See bills at a glance;
• Arrange for ‘set-it-and-forget-it’ payments; and
• Complete landlord requests for unit consumption records.

Electricity conservation is an important focus for Toronto Hydro. In 2012, the company saved over 116,000 MWh through its conservation and demand management (CDM) programs, resulting in a total demand reduction of approximately 53 MW. For more information on Toronto Hydro’s CDM programs visit torontohydro.com/conservation.

About Toronto Hydro

Toronto Hydro-Electric System owns and operates an electricity distribution system, which delivers electricity to approximately 719,000 customers located in the City of Toronto. It is the largest municipal electricity distribution company in Canada and distributes approximately 19% of the electricity consumed in the Province of Ontario.

Our World. Our City. Our Responsibility. See what we are doing to be safe, reliable and sustainable at torontohydro.com/responsibility

Twitter – twitter.com/torontohydro

Facebook – facebook.com/torontohydro

YouTube – youtube.com/torontohydro

SOURCE: Toronto Hydro Corporation

Last week, the Ontario government celebrated National Nursing Week
This week, it is allowing more Registered Nurse cuts

Registered nurses at The Scarborough Hospital are advocating for their patients by helping the community send the message: cutting nurses is cutting health care. (Photo Credit: Gregory Bennett) (CNW Group/Ontario Nurses’ Association)

SCARBOROUGH, ON, May 17, 2013 /CNW/ – New information about the latest cuts of Registered Nurses (RNs) at The Scarborough Hospital, coming less than a week after National Nursing Week celebrations concluded, is further evidence that the Ontario government is cutting health care.

Nurses are the professionals who provide most of the front-line care to patients in Ontario. Scientific research studies have demonstrated that there are fewer deaths and complications when more RNs are providing direct patient care.

“Cutting Registered Nurse jobs is cutting health care,” said Andy Summers, RN, Regional Vice-President of the Ontario Nurses’ Association (ONA) for the Greater Toronto Area. “Health care is consistently the number one concern of voters. If you are running a government that claims to be improving health care, there is no reasonable justification for allowing RN jobs to be cut.”

Ontario has the second-lowest RN-to-population ratio in the country: 668 RNs per 100,000 residents, compared to an average of 785 RNs to 100,000 residents in other Canadian provinces and territories. In order to catch up to the rest of Canada, 15,646 more RNs would need to be employed throughout Ontario. Instead of fixing the problem by employing more registered nurses, the Ontario health system employed 844 fewer RNs in 2012 than it did in 2011.

“Cutting health care by cutting the number of RNs available to provide care is not only happening in Scarborough. Front-line health care cuts are happening across the province because, in real dollars, hospital funding is being cut by the provincial government,” said Summers.

The poor standing of Ontario in terms of RNs employed in the health system to serve the population is not new, but it is a well known problem that the currently-governing party promised to fix when it took office 2003.

Last week, ONA released new research that shows understaffing is causing more work-related injuries and illness, and RNs are the most injured workers in Ontario—facing more dangerous workplace conditions than even several groups of construction and manufacturing workers.

“Those of us who are the RNs left behind after the endless rounds of cuts are having trouble coping with the workload,” said Susan Brickell, RN, ONA Bargaining Unit President for The Scarborough Hospital. “We want to provide health care that is second-to-none for our patients, but we can’t do that when there aren’t enough of us to do the work to the high standard that our profession demands.”

The Ontario Nurses’ Association is calling for a province-wide moratorium on the elimination of nursing positions, to take effect immediately.

“Do you want your family to get the best quality health care possible, or the cheapest health care?” asked Brickell. “By allowing more Registered Nurse positions to be eliminated, the government is answering this question for you and their choice doesn’t even save money when the full costs—of preventable infections and re-admissions of patients, and work-related injuries and illnesses of nurses—are considered.”

ONA is the union representing 60,000 front-line registered nurses, nurse practitioners, registered practical nurses and allied health professionals as well as more than 14,000 nursing student affiliates providing care in Ontario hospitals, long-term care facilities, public health, the community, industry and clinics.