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HomeMy WebLinkAboutLakeshore Advance, 2011-09-07, Page 1212 Lakeshore Advance • Wednesday, September 7, 2011 Municipal leaders chose healthcare More than 100 people attend as number one issue Port Franks event to fight invasive phragmites plant Health care is the most important issue in their community: OMA 0MI Agency Municipal leaders from across Ontario chose health care as the number one issue that political parties should focus on in the upcoming pro- vincial election. In a survey conducted by the Ontario Medical Association (OMA), municipal leaders sent a clear message to their local candidates that health care is the most important issue in their comrnunity. \Vhile at the Association of Munici- palities of Ontario's (AMO) Annual General Meeting this week, municipal leaders discussed how communities can reach their full potential. When asked to identify what health care issues were most pressing and would have the most impact on patient care municipal leaders chose access to a physician and more long -terns care beds. Earlier this year, Ontario's doctors released a thorough and thoughtful set of recommendations in its policy plat- form, "Better care. Healthier patients. A stronger Ontario." The platform includes 41 recommendations designed to improve patient care and strengthen Ontario's health care system. One of the driving principles behind the plat- form is the belief that every person in the province deserves timely access to a family physician, regardless of where they live. Ontario's doctors also called for increasing long-term care capacity and home support services. Other recommendations include: • Fighting childhood obesity by requiring fast food chains to list cal- orie contents on menu boards, and Ai Municipal leaders know that excellent health care is the foundation of a thriving community. If all levels of government work with physicians and other health care providers, we can make sure patients receive the top-quality care they deserve." — Stewart Kennedy, MD, President (Ow Ontario Medical Association by mandating physical activity in our high schools; • Ensuring every person in Ontario has an electronic medical record by 2015 and expanding EMlts to 5,000 more physicians; • Expanding the number of Family Health Teams; and • Implementing a mental health strat- egy with a focus on our young peo- ple whose parents continue to find significant gaps in resources and care options. "Local doctors have solutions to local health care challenges and should be included in health care discussions. We hope that political parties and local candidates commit to work with Ontario's doctors to improve patient care." Stewart Kennedy, MD, President of the Ontario Medical Association BLUEWATER-ZURICH SKATING CLUB REGISTRATION FOR 2011-12 SKATING SEASON www.bzsc.ca Come juin our club! We offer Canskate, Junior, Starskate Intermediate, Starskate Senior and Adult programs with professional, fully certified coaches. We will have a NEW skating harness in place for this season!! Registration dates: Tuesday Sept.13 - 5pm to 7pm and Saturday Sept. 17 - 9am to llarn. Registration will take place at the Bluewater Community Centrte, Zurich. For more information, call Dana Bozzato at 237-3857 or thegIlls@cabletv.on.ce Pilot project to control plant in Port Franks area to proceed this month ABCA PORT FRANKS More than 100 people attended an information meeting on Tuesday, August 30 at the Port Franks Community ('entre to hear about plans to confront a plant that is invading beaches. riverbanks, wetlands, ;and islands. phragmites, of European t'1it111nonn reed, is an invasive plant (hall fall( glow tail to live Inletles high. It chokes out other plants, tiesnoys \vildlifr habitat, and it is causing damage to \islands ill Port Franks and area. 1)r. Janice filbert, wetlands ecologist \t nth the Ontario \linistry of Natural Resouaces, has worked on control of Phagnlites australis tor many years. She shorted striking photos 111 areas in Ontario \t Ilene the plant Inas invaded. Plaint seeds spread by water, air, of human activity, but, once a plaint is established, it can quickly spread through rhizomes (the plant's hot I,,ontal stein that sends out roots !rum its nudes) and blanket an area. 1)r. (;iibert also proyfdrd exams• pies where the plant has been conu'olled. Soini' photos provided docuinentatiotl of drltlmatic improvements in an area following phragmites control. Frank LewitrneaIt, of Dose(' Agrl-Serve, Is implementing phragmites control protects in Pint hanks 111 September. •Iht're is one project tin the beach in ('ort (ranks and a second on a small island in the t\usably River. (hest. two sites wIII tInlnollstratte how tilt. inyasiw' plant call he controllt.d. \Ilke Fall. of tine Township nt 1 lame Kinloss, sliared lie trusllaation that was telt during nna iiv tlllsiut'l't'ssftll early attempts to control phraat; mites along the Lake 1luron beaches in that municipality. It wasn't until 2010 that the con) !nullity was able to slake a significant reduction In the phruginites population \yith the assist • attlt'e 1)f I.t'tnttl'Ileatl. Ate council of the Muniacipality of Lanibton Shores \v11I be discussing phragmites at an upcoming meeting. St. (:lair Region (:onserva- tion Authority and Ausable liatyfield Conserva- tion Authority staff members are in discussions to determine how the two conservation authori- ties can assist with a strategy and to help with implementation of control of the invasive plant, Sidewalk sale a go ahead for Grand Bend Chamber Lynda Hlliman-Rapley Lakeshore Advance As long as the conditions ate rate!, the Oland Bend Area Chamber of C:onuuetce will he per- mitted to carry out their proposed sidewalk anle� on thanksgiving weekend, The Chamber had requested permission from Lamhton Shores to suspend enforcement of the Lambton Shores Streets by-law pertain- ing t the sale or display of goods which prohib- its the placement of items un n sidewalk. '(here were some concerns regarding insurance per. missions. A letter to this body from municipal clerk Carol McKenzie said their request has been approved with conditions, The suspension of the enforcement of the by- law is for Thanksgiving weekend 2011 only, That chairs and benches be used for seating purposes only -being 00 service The minimum portion of the sidewalk to be left unrestricted is l3 air as not to impede pedestrians and motor- ised scooters etc, 'leo reduce exposure for the municipality and for the safety of the public, the requirement to maintain a clear 43" walk- way will be monitored by municipal staff. Lnmhton Shores states at least one week in advance of the event, each participating mer- chant is required to provide the municipal clerk n certificate of insurance showing the named Insured liability limits (not less than one mil- lion per loss), as well u the effective and expir- ing dates of the polity. Mcken*le said there would not be a require- ment for a release letter or additional insured status In this case.