Tag Archives: Deb Matthews

Politics

Ontario Planning Legislation- Mandatory Menu Labeling For Fast-Food Restaurants and others

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It appears North American society has been desensitized to what childhood obesity 'looks like'- what a difference a single generation can make. Here we see child obesity stricken Augustus Gloop characters from Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory- (Left) 1971 (Right) 2005. Clearly, what was considered obese 42 years ago would not be considered obese today. As Society as a whole becomes more overweight and as media desensitizes our perspectives due to film and video characterizations, our opinions have been influenced. CP image: weknowmemes.com
It appears North American society has been desensitized to what childhood obesity ‘looks like’- what a difference a single generation can make. Here we see child obesity stricken Augustus Gloop characters from Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory- (Left) 1971 (Right) 2005. Clearly, what was considered obese 42 years ago would not be considered obese today. As Society as a whole becomes more overweight and as media desensitizes our perspectives due to film and video characterizations, our opinions have been influenced. CP image: weknowmemes.com

 

October, 2013     Ontario will help parents and their children make healthier choices by putting calories on menus, following consultations with the fast-food industry and health care sector.

Legislation that would require large chain restaurants to include calories and other potential nutritional information on their menus will be introduced this winter. The government will also seek advice on how to reduce the marketing of unhealthy food and beverages aimed at kids.

Consultations on menu labeling will include parents and representatives from food and beverage manufacturing, agriculture, restaurant, food service, food retail and health sectors. Consultations on limiting the marketing of unhealthy food and beverages to children will also include the media and telecommunications industry.

Making it easier for Ontario families to choose healthy food is a key component of the Healthy Kids Panel report and helps deliver on our Action Plan for Health Care.

This is part of the Ontario government’s economic plan to invest in people, invest in infrastructure and support a dynamic and innovative business climate.

QUICK FACTS

*   The consultations build on steps the government has already taken to implement recommendations from the Healthy Kids Panel, including a 24-hour support line for breastfeeding moms and expanding Ontario’s Student Nutrition Program.

*   In 2009, the economic cost associated with physical inactivity and obesity in Ontario was $4.5 billion.

*   More than 80 per cent of food ads in Canada are for food high in calories and low in nutritional value.

*   A vast majority of Ontarians (95 per cent) support requiring fast food restaurants list nutritional information on their menus (Ipsos Reid, 2011).

 

Australia’s controversial “Break the Habit”- childhood obesity commercial

 

 

LEARN MORE

*     Ontario Consulting On Healthy Eating Initiatives

*     Support for Ontario’s Healthy Eating Initiatives

*     Ontario’s Action Plan for Health Care

*     The Health Kids Panel Report

QUOTES

“Parents have told us they want our support in keeping their kids healthy. We are

committed to giving parents and their kids the information they need to make healthy

choices. I want to thank our health care and industry partners for working

collaboratively with us on this important initiative to improve kids’ health.”

— Deb Matthews, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care

 

McDonald's VP Ontario- Sharon Ramalho began working at McDonald's part-time in 1983. image courtesy of womenworthwatching.com
McDonald’s VP Ontario- Sharon Ramalho began working at McDonald’s part-time in 1983. image courtesy of womenworthwatching.com

 

“McDonald’s Canada supports the Ontario government’s action to provide Ontarians

with more access to nutrition information in restaurants. McDonald’s is a long-time

leader in providing comprehensive in-restaurant nutrition information based on the

13 core nutrients including calories, so its customers can make informed eating

choices to suit their dietary needs and preferences.”

—  Sharon Ramalho, Vice President – Ontario Region, McDonald’s Canada

 

 

 

 

“Ontario’s doctors wholeheartedly support the government’s plan to introduce menu

labelling in large chain restaurants, and also believe in the need for restrictions

on the marketing of unhealthy food to kids. Obesity is strongly associated with an

increase in chronic disease – and over half of all adults and one-third of children

are overweight or obese. The government’s Healthy Kids Strategy will go a long way

towards addressing this growing epidemic.”

— Dr. Scott Wooder, President, Ontario Medical Association

 

“The Heart and Stroke Foundation applauds the Government of Ontario’s decision to

introduce mandatory menu labeling. With today’s busy lives and vast array of food

choices, it’s crucial to provide everyone with the ability to make well informed

decisions about the food we eat and feed our children. This important initiative

will go a long way in empowering Ontarians to make healthy choices when dining out

or purchasing prepared food. Eating well is absolutely one of the best investments

Ontarians can make to decrease the risk of heart disease and stroke.”

— Mark Holland, Director of Health Promotion and Children & Youth, Heart and Stroke

Foundation

 

Helping Families Make Healthier Food Choices

Supplemental- How close is planned Ontario legislation to the USA Obama administration’s new calorie limitations for school lunches? http://eagnews.org/appalled-school-cafeteria-employee-seconds-banned-extra-food-thrown-away/

The impact of food advertising on childhood obesity by the American Psychological Association http://www.apa.org/topics/kids-media/food.aspx

"“We have to keep an enormous amount of paperwork, about serving sizes, food temperatures, labels, on and on,” our source says. “The new forms are more complex, ask for more information that’s just being duplicated on other forms. (Food service workers) are all collecting the same data for reports that sit in a file drawer and never get looked at.” Our source believes the new government-required paperwork consumes so much of the employees’ time that it is driving up labor costs for the school district, which serves a low-income community." source/image: eagnews.org
““We have to keep an enormous amount of paperwork, about serving sizes, food temperatures, labels, on and on,” our source says. “The new forms are more complex, ask for more information that’s just being duplicated on other forms. (Food service workers) are all collecting the same data for reports that sit in a file drawer and never get looked at.”
Our source believes the new government-required paperwork consumes so much of the employees’ time that it is driving up labor costs for the school district, which serves a low-income community.” source/image: eagnews.org
Politics

Ontario Will Invest $2,500,000 in Breastfeeding Supports

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Dr. Jack Newman: "Breastfeeding should almost always work" image: breastfeedinginc.ca
Dr. Jack Newman: “Breastfeeding should almost always work” image: breastfeedinginc.ca

Earlier today [Sept 30, 2013 ed.] , our provincial government announced an investment of more than $2.5-million for enhanced breastfeeding supports. This will include the launch of a 24-hour helpline providing access to lactation experts with service in more than 100 languages. This really is a fantastic program for breastfeeding mothers who can benefit from increased support, no matter what region of Ontario they call home.

Ontario Government Helping Babies Get Healthy Start

Ontario newborns and their families will soon benefit from enhanced breastfeeding supports, helping ensure that every woman who wants breastfeeding support can get it.

Breastfeeding helps to encourage healthy development and can reduce the likelihood of overweight and obesity in adolescence and adulthood. As part of Ontario’s Healthy Kids Strategy, the government is investing more than $2.5 million to help families give their infants a sound nutritional start by:

*   Providing 24-hour telephone access to expert support for mothers who are breastfeeding.

*   Supporting Ontario’s hospitals and community health care organizations with training, tools, guidance and resources to help them achieve the World Health Organization’s Baby-Friendly Initiative<http://www.who.int/nutrition/topics/bfhi/> designation and adopt clinical best practices in infant feeding that meet Baby-Friendly Initiative designation requirements.

·         Targeted support for mothers in population groups that have lower rates of breastfeeding.

*   Providing new resources to support breastfeeding through Best Start: Ontario’s Maternal Newborn and Early Child Development Resource Centre.

These initiatives fulfill recommendations made by the Healthy Kids Panel.

Giving Ontario’s children the healthiest start in life helps deliver on our Action Plan for Health Care to provide the right care, at the right time, in the right place. This is part of the Ontario government’s economic plan to invest in people, invest in infrastructure and support a dynamic and innovative business climate.

In Ontario, approximately 90 per cent of mothers want to breastfeed, but only 60 per cent do so when they leave the hospital after giving birth. By six months, only 28 per cent are breastfeeding- that means 72 per cent are feeding their infant formula. image: Jarrod Barker
In Ontario, approximately 90 per cent of mothers want to breastfeed, but only
60 per cent do so when they leave the hospital after giving birth. By six months,
only 28 per cent are breastfeeding- that means 72 per cent are feeding their infant formula.

 

QUOTES-

“We’re helping moms to breastfeed with round-the-clock telephone support and expert
help from hospitals and community health providers. Breastfeeding promotes closeness
between mom and baby, helps protect against illness, and sets babies on the path to
leading healthy lives right from the start.”
– Deb Matthews, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care

“Experts tell us that the first few years of our lives have a major impact on our
health as adolescents, teenagers and in adult life.  This investment will help
mothers who want to breastfeed and create more Baby-Friendly Initiative certified
places where they can go to get answers and supports that are critical to raising
healthy children.”
– Teresa Piruzza, Minister of Children and Youth Services

“Breastfeeding should almost always work.  Almost all breastfeeding problems are
preventable and if they are not prevented, they can be fixed.  Unfortunately in
Ontario today, mothers have significant difficulties with breastfeeding because they
cannot get the best start from day one and they cannot always find help when they
need it.  The initiatives the Ontario government is announcing today will help moms
get the support they need to breastfeed successfully.”
– Dr. Jack Newman, International Breastfeeding Centre and Newman Breastfeeding Clinic

“Though breastfeeding is natural, it is a learned behaviour and two must learn. Here
in Ontario there hasn’t been enough knowledgeable help for learning mothers and
babies up until now. I am hopeful with these new initiatives announced today that we
will see a vast improvement in the support mothers receive to achieve their
breastfeeding goals.”
– Edith Kernerman, International Breastfeeding Centre, Newman Breastfeeding Clinic,
Centre for Breastfeeding Education and Ontario Lactation Consultants Association

QUICK FACTS

*   In Ontario, approximately 90 per cent of mothers want to breastfeed, but only 60 per cent do so when they leave the hospital after giving birth.  By six months, only 28 per cent are breastfeeding.
*   The benefits of breastfeeding include improved cognitive development and reduced incidence of illness during infancy, childhood and later in life.

*   For each month a baby is breastfed until the eight month, the risk of obesity is reduced by four per cent – resulting in a reduced risk of obesity of 32 percent overall when a baby is breastfed for the first eight months.

LEARN MORE

Read the report of the Healthy Kids Panel

http://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/common/ministry/publications/reports/healthy_kids/healthy_kids.pdf

Culture

Minister Matthews asks Opposition to stop backtracking on Youth tanning bed ban Bill 30

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Ontario's ruling Liberals want to ban Teen Tanning but need support to pass the legislation.
Ontario’s ruling Liberals want to ban Teen Tanning but need support to pass the legislation.

 

 

 

“PCs and NDP Threaten to Stall Youth Tanning Bed Ban” (Queen’s Park)  One day after calling on the government to fast-track Bill 30, legislation to ban youth access to tanning beds, the PCs and NDP are threatening procedural tricks to stall the bill in the Ontario Legislature.

“When the House returns next month, our government will move a programming motion in the Legislature in order to quickly pass this life-saving bill into law by the end of September,” said Liberal MPP Deb Matthews.  “The PCs and NDP have already pledged to support Bill 30 – it’s concerning to hear the opposition parties might play procedural games to prevent this vital legislation from passing.”

Matthews was referring to published media reports that indicate both opposition parties are backtracking from a commitment to fast-track the tanning bed ban:

·         NDP Health Critic France Gelinas said Thursday the Government should pass the legislation “fast, very fast…[Ontario Liberals] controls the calendar.” (Toronto Sun, August 22, 2013). Today, Gelinas said the Liberals “are not in control” and “can’t simply push legislation through the house without getting agreement from the two opposition parties.” (Toronto Sun, August 23, 2013).

·         The PCs said Thursday “We support the legislation” and called for a time allocation motion to secure speedy passage (Toronto Sun, August 22, 2013).  The same day, the PCs wouldn’t confirm if they will follow through on their pledge to fast-track the Bill (Globeandmail.com, August 22, 2013).

“It’s time to put an end to the procedural games blocking our efforts to pass new tanning legislation so we can prevent skin cancer among young Ontarians.  MPP France Gelinas has been unclear on whether or not she will support our efforts to fast-track this legislation.  I would like a clear answer from Ms. Gelinas – yes or no – will her party help us get this bill passed before the end of September?  All MPPs have a shared responsibility to make the legislature work so we can help to keep young people safe,” stated Matthews.

The proposed legislation would prevent skin cancer among youth and create awareness potential harm by prohibiting the sale of tanning services to youth under 18.  It ould also require that tanning bed operators request identification from anyone who appears under25 years old.

Last spring, the opposition blocked progress on Bill 30, Skin Cancer Prevention Act(Tanning Beds), 2013 by needlessly extending debate on three other bills for more than55 hours – far more than required.  By running out the clock debating the Local Food Act, the Air Ambulance Amendment Act & Co-op Housing legislation, the  opposition prevented this important tanning bed legislation from moving forward.

 

Supplemental- Sunlight burning Vampires http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/59697-sunlight-burning-vampires

 

 

 

Sweet Greens Juice Bar Hagersville

Politics

Ontario Deploys Mobile Medical Unit To Aid Fire Evac

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Ontario Deploys Mobile Medical Unit To Aid Forest Fire Evacuation
2,730 People Evacuated From Northwestern Ontario

The province is sending the Emergency Medical Assistance Team (EMAT) to support forest fire evacuees in Northwestern Ontario.

EMAT will be on hand to provide medical assessment to evacuees arriving in Thunder Bay, to address a range of immediate health needs, and to help relieve pressures for local health providers.  The team will be operational by tomorrow, Friday, July 22.

All people that are in immediate danger have been evacuated. To date 2,730 people have been moved to safety. Daily evacuations are ongoing, as smoke and flying conditions allow, until the situation improves.

Ontario thanks the federal government and the armed forces for responding to our requests for assistance in evacuation efforts and for working with us. Provinces and territories have also sent help and resources to Ontario to protect people, homes and to support the evacuation and help contain and extinguish the fires.

Hot, dry weather has created the conditions for forest fires in Northern Ontario, with more than 100 currently burning. Emergency Management Ontario (EMO) is working with the Canadian Forces, First Nations communities, municipalities and relief organizations to coordinate efforts to fight the fires and help people who have been forced out of their homes.

QUOTES

“A great many provincial and federal resources are being deployed to help fellow Ontarians in their time of need. I am impressed by the cooperative, dedicated efforts of all those involved in the evacuations and who are keeping First Nations residents safe.”
— Jim Bradley, Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services

“Our first priority is protecting people. Suppression action is being taken to protect Ontarians and our communities on a priority basis. This is an extremely difficult situation and is affecting the lives of many Ontarians.  It is not an easy situation for anyone affected by the fires or for firefighters and other personnel working to coordinate the evacuations and extinguish fires.”
— Linda Jeffrey, Minister of Natural Resources

“Our thoughts are with the evacuees facing this challenging time. We are proud that the Emergency Medical Assistance Team will work with the community and local health care providers to support health care services to evacuees.”
— Deb Matthews, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care

QUICK FACTS

  • There are 2,000 firefighters and support staff currently involved in fire fighting efforts, including about 500 from out of province.
  • There are 16 water bombers and 85 other aircraft involved in the fire fighting operations.
  • The EMAT deployment is being supported by the City of Toronto’s Heavy Urban Search and Rescue (HUSAR) unit which will support set up and maintenance.

LEARN MORE

Get updates on the affected First Nation and host communities and on Twitter and Facebook

Learn more about the Emergency Medical Assistance Team.

Read more about the current forest fire situation in Ontario.

The Canadian Red Cross (Ontario) has set up a registration and inquiry bureau for evacuees who wish to inquire about family and relatives. This number is 1 866 356-3645 ext 236.

Ministry of Natural Resources
Media calls only, Greg MacNeil, Minister’s
Office, 416-314-2208
Media Desk, Communications Services Branch, 416-314-2106
Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services
Joe Kim, Minister’s Office, 416-325-8282
Greg Flood, Communications Branch, 416-325-0432
ontario.ca/safety