Toy Show upcoming, smoke-free at CKHA, minimum wage up

Morning Coffee – By Aaron Hall

Weather forecast for Tuesday, January 2, 2018

Today – A mix of sun and cloud. 40 percent chance of flurries this morning. Wind becoming southwest 20 km/h gusting to 40 this morning. High minus 12. Wind chill minus 25 this afternoon. UV index 5 or moderate.

Tonight – A few clouds. Increasing cloudiness overnight. Wind southwest 20 km/h gusting to 40. Low minus 19. Wind chill minus 29.

17th annual Chatham-Kent Toy Show & Sale upcoming

The Chatham-Kent Toy Show & Sale is being held on Sunday January 14, 2018 for the 17th straight year.

It will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the John D. Bradley Convention Centre.

There will be farm toys, trains, sports cards, trucks, construction, model ships, books, planes, cars, action figures, military displays, dolls, collectibles, coins, and more.

Displays and hands-on activities from many local organizations will also be available.

Admission cost is $4 for adults, $2 for students and children six and under are free .

For more information, visit: www.facebook.com/cktoyshow/, email cktoyshow@hotmail.com or call 519-352-8365.

Proceeds from the event support Chatham-Kent 4-H Farm Toy Club, Essex-Kent Junior Farmers, and Chatham Outreach for Hunger.

CKHA is 100% smoke-free

The Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA) is now 100% smoke-free, as new provincial legislation came into effect January 1, 2018 that prohibits smoking cigarettes and any other smoking product on hospital property; this includes existing smoking shelters, exterior grounds, parking lots, bus shelters and the property of 47 Emma Street and the Foundation of CKHA.

“This new provincial legislation helps protect our patients, families, visitors, staff and the public from the hazards of second-hand smoke,” stated Lori Marshall, President and CEO.

“As Health Care Providers, we at CKHA fully support this direction and will introduce the necessary policies and supports to implement this change.”

The new legislation required that all designated smoking areas be removed.

CKHA’s Chatham and Wallaceburg Campuses will no longer provide sheltered gazebos for smoking.

The designated smoking gazebos at both campuses will be removed as well as the accompanying designated smoking signage.

The donated gazebo will remain at the Wallaceburg Campus as it has never served as a designated smoking area.

Under these new restrictions, hospital security guards will be the first line of enforcement and will have the ability to ticket people who are smoking on hospital property.

CKHA will work with the Chatham-Kent Public Health Unit’s Tobacco Enforcement Officer, who has grounds to lay charges.

Violators are subject to a fine of $175 up to a maximum of $5,000.

CKHA officials anticipate that with the new legislation coming into effect, some smokers will leave hospital property to smoke in near-by neighbourhoods.

CKHA officials will be informing its neighbours in close-proximity to hospital grounds of this new legislation and is reminding smokers to be respectful of the residents who live around both campuses.

In the coming weeks, outdoor signage bordering hospital property will inform the public of the new legislation.

Ontario’s minimum wage is now $14 an hour

Starting on Monday, people across Ontario will see their wages rise to $14 an hour as the new general minimum wage takes effect.

Government officials say this change will help workers and their families who are struggling to get ahead in a changing economy.

As part of Ontario’s Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act, 2017, the minimum wage will increase again to $15 an hour on January 1, 2019, to be followed by annual increases at the rate of inflation.

“Our plan for fair workplaces and better jobs provides a minimum wage people can actually live on and modernizes our labour laws to adapt to an ever-changing economy,” stated Kevin Flynn, Minister of Labour, in a press release.

“Too many families struggle to get by on part-time or temporary work. Those working full-time can be living in poverty. This is unacceptable in Ontario. Our plan will help ensure everyone who works hard has the chance to reach their full potential and share in Ontario’s prosperity.”

Other provisions of the new provincial legislation that come into effect on January 1, 2018, include:

– Ensuring workers are entitled to at least three weeks’ vacation after five years with the same employer, bringing Ontario’s vacation time in line with the national average.

– Expanding the 10 days per calendar year for personal emergency leave to employees in workplaces with fewer than 50 employees, with at least two paid days per year for employees who have been employed for at least a week

– A new domestic or sexual violence leave of up to 10 individual days and up to 15 weeks of job protected leave; the first five days of leave in every calendar year would be paid

– Increased family medical leave from 8 to 28 weeks per year

– A new child death leave from any cause up to 104 weeks, and increased crime-related disappearance of a child leave from 52 to 104 weeks, and

– Changes to make forming a union and reaching a first collective agreement easier

Government officials say supporting workers and their families is part of Ontario’s plan to create fairness and opportunity during this period of rapid economic change. The plan includes a higher minimum wage and better working conditions, free tuition for hundreds of thousands of students, easier access to affordable child care, and free prescription drugs for everyone under 25 through the biggest expansion of medicare in a generation.

More details:

– The Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act, 2017 responds to the final report of the Changing Workplaces Review. It was the first-ever independent review of both the Employment Standards Act, 2000 and Labour Relations Act, 1995.

– The report estimated that more than 30 per cent of Ontario workers were in precarious work in 2014. In 2016, the median hourly wage was $13.00 for part-time workers and $24.73 for full-time workers. Over the past 30 years, part-time work has grown to represent nearly 20 per cent of total employment.

– Studies show that a higher minimum wage results in less employee turnover, which increases business productivity.

Prescription medications now free for everyone 24 and under

More than 4,400 prescription medications are now free for children and youth age 24 and under, as the province delivers the biggest expansion of medicare in a generation for Ontario families.

OHIP+: Children and Youth Pharmacare launched on Monday, to help families and young adults in Ontario get the prescriptions they need without having to worry about the cost, government officials say.

“We believe in helping all families receive the medication they need, at no cost, to stay healthy and strong regardless of income,” stated Dr. Eric Hoskins, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, in a press release.

“OHIP+ is a bold step toward our commitment and vision of bringing universal drug coverage to all Ontarians.”

All people need to do is present their Ontario health card number along with a valid prescription at an Ontario pharmacy and medicine will be provided free of charge.

Medications covered by OHIP+ include asthma inhalers, drugs to treat depression, anxiety, epilepsy and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, antibiotics, EpiPens (epinephrine auto-injectors), insulin, diabetes test strips, oral contraceptives, medications to treat some childhood cancers and other rare conditions, and many others.

People can search Ontario’s new medication coverage tool to see if their drugs are covered under OHIP+.

Ontario is the first province to provide prescription medication coverage at no cost for children and youth age 24 years and under.

Tribunal initiates inquiry — dry wheat pasta from Turkey

The Canadian International Trade Tribunal (the Tribunal) has initiated a preliminary injury inquiry into a complaint by the Canadian Pasta Manufacturers Association, of Ottawa, Ontario, that it has suffered injury as a result of the dumping and subsidizing of dry wheat pasta originating from the Republic of Turkey.

The Tribunal’s inquiry is conducted pursuant to the Special Import Measures Act as a result of the initiation of dumping and subsidizing investigations by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA).

Canadian government officials say on February 26, 2018, the Tribunal will determine whether there is a reasonable indication that the alleged dumping and subsidizing have caused injury.

If so, the CBSA will continue its investigations and, by March 28, 2018, will issue preliminary determinations.

If these preliminary determinations indicate that there has been dumping or subsidizing, the CBSA will then continue its investigations and, concurrently, the Tribunal will initiate a final injury inquiry.

Anti-dumping and/or countervailing duties will be imposed only if the Tribunal finds that dumped or subsidized products are injuring or threatening to injure the Canadian producers.

The Tribunal is an independent quasi-judicial body that reports to Parliament through the Minister of Finance.

It hears cases on dumped and subsidized imports, safeguard complaints, complaints about federal government procurement and appeals of customs and excise tax rulings.

When requested by the federal government, the Tribunal also provides advice on other economic, trade and tariff matters.

Any interested person, association or government that wishes to participate in the Tribunal’s inquiry may do so by filing a Notice of Participation.