Winter tires recommended, lock it or lose it, opioid crisis

Morning Coffee – By Aaron Hall

Weather forecast for Monday, December 11, 2017

A special weather statement is in effect in Chatham-Kent.

Today – Becoming cloudy this morning then snow. Amount 2 to 4 cm. High zero.

Tonight – Snow. Amount 5 to 10 cm. Wind becoming northwest 20 km/h gusting to 40 after midnight. Low minus 4.

Police recommend using winter tires

The Chatham-Kent Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) wants to ensure drivers stay safe during the upcoming snowy season while traveling on the roads.

Winter tires

Winter tires are designed to move water. If the water isn’t moved away from the area in front of the tire, the car will hydroplane. The tire tread has grooves and channels to move water away to the sides, allowing the tire to stay in contact with the surface.

Putting winter tires on your vehicle:

– Improves traction and control in frost, snow and icy conditions

– Shortens braking distances by as much as 25%

Be sure to install four winter tires – never mix different types of tires on one vehicle.

Check your tires regularly for wear and pressure. Cold weather can bring down your tire pressure, and worn or damaged tires make it harder to drive safely.

How to recognize a winter tire

The easiest way to know a tire has been designed specifically for severe snow conditions is to look for the three-peak mountain snowflake symbol right on the tire.

All-season tires

All-season tires don’t work the same on snow, ice or cold pavement. The stopping distance of a car with winter tires can be up to 30 to 40 per cent shorter than one with all-season tires. The most important part of a winter tire is actually its rubber compound. They are designed to stay soft in freezing temperatures, and very effective for 7 degrees Celsius and below. The tread compound used in all-season tires offers little cold weather traction and becomes hard, losing pliability and traction in freezing temperatures. Winter (snow) tires, however, are designed to help deliver safety and control in snow, slush, rain, ice and cold weather.

Driving in winter weather

Winter weather can be unpredictable but some extra preparation and caution can help you stay safe.

Before you leave

– Check the weather forecast. If it looks bad, delay your trip if you can

– Visit Track my Plow to find out where plows are on provincial highways (available in London, Chatham, Owen Sound, Niagara/Hamilton, Peel/Halton, Toronto, York, Durham, Simcoe County, Ottawa, Huntsville, Kingston West, Kingston East and Bancroft areas)

– Use Ontario 511 to check road conditions: ontario.ca/511, Twitter @511Ontario, or dial 511 (hands-free, voice-activated phone service).

– Clear ice and snow from your windows, lights, mirrors and roof

– Be prepared

– Have emergency supplies with you – a charged cell phone, non-perishable food, water, flashlight, blanket, warm clothes, jumper cables, shovel and traction mats or sand.

The number one cause of motor vehicle collisions during snowy conditions is speed – driving too fast for road and weather conditions.

Remember – ice and snow – keep it slow!

Visit https://www.ontario.ca/page/winter-driving for more Winter Driving Tips.

Lock it, or lose it

The Lambton Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) is asking all citizens to be extra vigilant this Holiday Season as one of the busiest shopping occasions of the year is upon us.

Everyone, including would-be-thieves know that shopping centres will be packed the next several weeks with busy shoppers purchasing gifts. An absent minded shopper is a perfect target for a thief looking for a quick and vulnerable target.

Take the target off your back by following these Crime Proofing Techniques:

– Never carry or display large amounts of cash when checking out or at ATM’s.

– Never leave a purse or wallet unattended in a shopping cart or change room.

– Never leave purchased items unattended at any time.

– Keep purchased goods in a locked vehicle trunk and out-of-sight.

– Always check and double-check to make sure your vehicle is locked.

– Park in well-lit portions of parking areas with high-volume foot traffic.

– Shop with a friend whenever possible for company and protection.

– If leaving your home unattended – always lock and secure doors/windows.

– Leave a few lights on at home to give a “lived-in” look.

– Have a friend or neighbour clear your driveway of snow for a “lived-in” look.

– Have a neighbour park their vehicle in your driveway for a “lived-in” look.

– Report ANY suspicious activity/persons to police or security officials immediately!

Police say don’t let a ‘Festive Thief’ turn your festive season in to a horrible memory.

Crime Prevention works best when everyone works at it together.

Aquatic species at risk

The Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority continues to raise awareness about aquatic species at risk in their watershed.

Here is information about two more species:

Ontario expanding opioid response

Ontario is providing life-saving naloxone to police and fire services across the province and seeking an expanded ability from the federal government to address overdoses, as new data shows that opioid-related deaths continue to increase.

Dr. Eric Hoskins, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, and Marie-France Lalonde, Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services, were joined by Dr. David Williams, Chief Medical Officer of Health and Provincial Overdose Coordinator, and Dr. Dirk Huyer, Chief Coroner for Ontario, last week to make the announcement.

“Every life lost to this opioid crisis is an avoidable tragedy,” Hoskins said in a press release.

“Our government is committed to using every tool available to save lives and help communities grappling with this crisis.”

Provincial officials say new data shows the urgent need for continued action.

There were 336 opioid-related deaths in Ontario from May to July 2017, compared with 201 during the same time period in 2016, representing a 68 per cent increase.

From July to September 2017, there were 2,449 emergency department visits related to opioid overdoses, compared with 1,896 in the three months prior, representing a 29 per cent increase.

“We want our police officers and firefighters to have the tools they need to save lives,” Lalonde stated in a press release.

“Making naloxone kits available to all police and fire services will ensure they can have this life saving antidote if and when they need it.”

Provincial officials say naloxone can temporarily reverse an opioid overdose, and will be offered to all 61 police services across the province, including municipal and First Nation police services as well as the Ontario Provincial Police.

“Our police officers have been on the front-line from the start in dealing with the opioid crisis and worked closely with our government, health and first responder partners,” stated Chief Bryan Larkin, President, the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police.

“By making naloxone kits available to our officers, police personnel will be better equipped to save lives and protect themselves.”

The kits will also be made available to all 447 municipal full-time, composite, and volunteer fire departments, all northern fire departments, as well as all First Nations fire services to prevent overdoses, and could also be used to help front-line police and firefighters in case of exposure.

“Public safety is of paramount importance to Ontario’s fire service leaders,” stated Chief Steve Hernen, President, Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs, in a press release.

“Equipping firefighters, as well as our police colleagues, with naloxone kits gives us one more tool to use in potentially saving someone’s life during an emergency situation.”

Naloxone kits are currently available for free at participating pharmacies and from eligible community and health organizations.

In addition, the federal government has recently announced changes that would expand the ability of provinces to respond to the escalating opioid crisis. Under the new federal policy, provinces experiencing a public health emergency can request an exemption under federal law for temporary overdose prevention sites.

In response to this federal change in policy, Minister Hoskins wrote a letter to the Federal Health Minister last week recognizing the public health emergency in Ontario due to the opioid crisis, and formally requested that the federal government allow Ontario to approve and fund overdose prevention sites.

These overdose prevention sites would provide necessary health services that are accessible and free of stigma to help reduce the growing number of overdose deaths affecting some of the most vulnerable and marginalized populations in Ontario. Establishing overdose prevention sites with a federal exemption would also protect front-line workers at these sites from criminal prosecution.

More details:

– Ontario is also improving access to comprehensive care for people living with addictions by opening new Rapid Access Addiction Medicine (RAAM) clinics and expanding the services and hours of operation of existing ones across the province. These clinics provide people with immediate help and short-term addictions treatment, as well as counselling, until they can be connected to longer-term holistic support in their community. More than 30 communities across Ontario will benefit from new or expanded RAAM clinics.

– Ontario has established an Opioid Emergency Task Force that includes front-line workers and people with lived experience to strengthen the province’s coordinated response to the opioid crisis.

– Over the next three years, Ontario is investing more than $222 million to combat the opioid crisis in Ontario, including expanding harm reduction services, hiring more front-line staff and improving access to addictions supports across the province.

– The government has also committed to invest $20 million annually in Ontario’s Chronic Pain Network.

– Ontario is working with Health Quality Ontario and other partner organizations to provide customized prescribing data, mentoring, education and other supports for physicians to learn best practices for supporting people with opioid use disorder, and for safe opioid prescribing and effective approaches to managing pain.

Program supports low-carbon innovation

Ontario is supporting industries to reduce greenhouse gas pollution from their facilities or manufacturing processes through a new program from the Green Ontario Fund, a non-profit provincial agency funded by proceeds from the province’s carbon market.

Chris Ballard, Minister of the Environment and Climate Change, was joined last week by Reza Moridi, Minister of Research, Innovation and Science, and Parminder Sandhu, Green Ontario Fund board chair, to announce the launch of GreenON Industries and the successful applicants for TargetGHG, a similar industry-focused program.

“Ontario is committed to fighting climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions from big industries,” Ballard said in a press release.

“Our Climate Change Action Plan and carbon market work together to fund transformative programs like GreenON Industries and ensure we are moving towards a cleaner, low-carbon future.”

Provincial officials say GreenON Industries will provide funding for eligible projects that reduce greenhouse gas pollution in buildings and the production of goods by large emitters and other industrial, commercial and institutional facilities. Projects could involve switching to less carbon intensive fuels, redirecting harmful carbon dioxide emissions back into production processes, upgrading energy inefficient production equipment and introducing production processes that require fewer energy resources.

“Supporting the efforts of large industries to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions is an important part of our government’s Climate Change Action Plan,” Moridi stated in a press release.

“With the help of our province’s innovative cleantech companies, the TargetGHG program will help build a prosperous, low carbon economy and create a cleaner, more sustainable future for Ontario.”

GreenON Industries builds on the TargetGHG program, which brings together large industries, innovative cleantech companies and research consortiums in order to develop new technologies that will help lower greenhouse gas emissions, support innovation and strengthen the economy. Both programs are key parts of the province’s plan to reduce greenhouse gas pollution from industry, which generates almost a third of Ontario’s greenhouse gas emissions.

“GreenON Industries will accelerate Ontario’s transition to a low-carbon economy, while helping our industry and clean-technology innovators become more globally competitive,” Sandhu stated.

“As envisioned in the Climate Change Action Plan, we’re using proceeds from the carbon market to create a prosperous and resilient economy for the people of Ontario and a healthier and sustainable environment.”

The TargetGHG projects announced last week include using landfill gas to generate electricity in an auto plant, a fast-charging station for electric vehicles and a more efficient way of capturing solar energy.

More details:

– GreenON Industries will provide up to $200 million in matching funding for eligible projects that reduce greenhouse gas pollution in buildings and the production of goods by large emitters and other industrial, commercial and institutional facilities.

– Companies interested in how to qualify and apply for the new GreenON Industries program should visit GreenON.ca.

– Through its Climate Change Action Plan, Ontario is investing $377 million in proceeds from its carbon market in the Green Ontario Fund, launched in summer 2017.

– TargetGHG was launched in February 2016 and is administered by the Ontario Centres of Excellence. Nine projects in the Industrial Demonstration Program, three projects in the Collaborative Technology Development Program and five projects in the Collaborative R&D Program are being announced.

– TargetGHG is supported by $74 million, a part of the province’s initial investment in the Climate Change Action Plan.