Morning Coffee – By Aaron Hall
Weather forecast for Monday, September 25, 2017
Today – Sunny. High 31.
Tonight – Clear. Low 17.
Murray Street and Reaume Avenue poll question
[polldaddy poll=”9836083″]
Background information, here: Stop light approved for Wallaceburg intersection
Meal cancelled
The Knox church supper planned for Saturday, September 30 has been cancelled.
Blood Donor Clinic Thursday in Wallaceburg
A Blood Donor Clinic is being held in Wallaceburg on Thursday as the UAW Hall.
Here are the details:
Well water testing plan expanded
Chatham-Kent is expanding its offer of well water testing for residents near the North Kent One wind farm project whose wells have experienced water quality issues.
In August, Chatham-Kent Council voted to provide well water testing for five individuals who had contacted the provincial Ministry of Environment and Climate Change. There are currently 11 individuals who have contacted the Ministry and all are eligible to have their well water tested.
Chatham-Kent CAO Don Shropshire said the action was taken so that all 11 residents have the same ability to have their water tested independently.
The municipality, working with public health officials, has identified labs in Ontario that are both licensed and accredited by the Canadian Association for Laboratory Accreditation to test drinking water for microbiological agents, organic chemicals, inorganic chemicals, and other particulate matter.
Shropshire said residents will have the option to choose any of the accredited labs and the cost will be borne by the municipality.
Residents who are interested in learning more about the testing can contact the office of the mayor or CAO at 519-360-1998.
Tougher penalties to deter drug-impaired driving in Ontario
To help keep roads safe, Ontario plans to introduce new measures to make drug-impaired driving laws even tougher.
Premier Kathleen Wynne and Steven Del Duca, Minister of Transportation, were in Toronto recently to announce that Ontario plans to introduce legislation this fall that would increase the consequences and costs for those who drive under the influence of drugs, including cannabis.
The measures add to Ontario’s comprehensive cannabis plan, introduced in advance of the federal government’s plans to legalize recreational cannabis by July 2018.
“There is no excuse for impaired driving — whether it is due to drugs or alcohol,” Wynne stated.
“It is unacceptable, dangerous and the consequences can be tragic and life-changing. Our zero tolerance policies for the highest-risk drivers are about keeping Ontario’s roads safe and protecting people across the province.”
In Ontario, the penalties for impaired driving are already among the toughest in Canada, government officials stated.
The province has been working closely with public health and safety experts, police, and federal and municipal governments to develop the proposed measures, which build on Ontario’s recent action to align penalties for drug-impaired driving with those already in place for drunk drivers.
“As we get ready for the legalization of cannabis, we are working to make our impaired-driving laws even tougher and keep our roads safe,” Del Duca stated.
“Impaired driving, whether by drugs or alcohol, is illegal, dangerous and it’s never okay.”
New, tougher laws against drug-impaired driving will include zero tolerance for:
– Young drivers aged 21 and under
– Novice drivers — G1, G2, M1 and M2 licence holders
– All commercial drivers.
Government officials say zero tolerance means that drivers should not get behind the wheel if they have any detectable presence of drugs or alcohol in their system.
For cannabis, the federal government will be approving a screening device and setting the thresholds for detectable presence in the coming months.
Ontario’s legislation would also increase monetary penalties for all drivers who fail, or refuse to perform, a sobriety test.
As the federal legalization of cannabis approaches, Ontario plans to convene a summit in the fall of 2017 with policing partners, public health and other stakeholders.
With the goal of keeping communities safe, the summit will be an opportunity to identify the resources necessary to address illegal storefront cannabis sales, proposed provincial offences, enforcement, opportunities for coordination and collaboration, and associated resource requirements.
More details:
– According to the 2014 Ontario Road Safety Annual Report, 29 per cent of all road fatalities that year involved a driver impaired by drugs and/or alcohol.
– In addition to provincial sanctions, impaired driving can lead to federal criminal charges, which could ultimately result in a loss of licence, additional fines and jail time.
– Ontario is the first province or territory in Canada to publicly announce a comprehensive plan to regulate federally legalized cannabis. Key elements include setting a minimum age, promoting education and awareness and proposing a safe and sensible approach to the retail of recreational cannabis.
Opioid crisis in Ontario
The following statement was issued last week by Dr. Eric Hoskins, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care:
“The opioid crisis in Ontario is a tragic and growing issue, one we are continuing to work diligently to combat. As part of our government’s commitment to openness, transparency and evidence-based decision-making, we are continuing to make relevant data widely available, including to health care providers and planners working on the front lines, as well as to the public.
Today, we have updated the Interactive Opioid Tracker with data from April 1 – June 30, 2017. As part of the $222 million announced last month to fight the opioid crisis, Ontario is making $21 million immediately available to help community-based addiction organizations in their response to this crisis. In addition, our government is making fentanyl testing strips available that can identify whether a substance contains fentanyl. These strips will at first be made available at all current supervised injection services and pop-up sites and will be evaluated for further distribution. We know that our work isn’t over — we continue to work closely with our partners, increasing access to treatment and supports as we fight this public health crisis together.”
Photo of the day – Sombra Optimists recognize Campbell
The Optimist Club of Sombra Township began their 2017-18 season with an award presentation at the first general meeting.
Optimist Ralph Campbell was presented a 30-year service award by president Carla Aarssen for his years of service to the club and community.
Anyone wishing to join the Sombra Optimist Club can contact President Carla at 519-892-3536.
World news
The iPhone 8’s release didn’t attract very long lines in Australia
Blogger wanted a free meal but got roasted instead
Meet Frida, the rescue dog helping out after Mexico’s earthquake
Spot the owl hiding in these photos
Gamer builds largest Game Boy ever created
L’Oréal heiress Liliane Bettencourt dies at 94
Food innovator Dave Hanley has died
If you have a suggestion, story idea, column idea, or if you want to say hello… drop me an e-mail at aaron@sydenhamcurrent.ca.
