Morning Coffee – By Aaron Hall

Weather forecast for Monday, February 5, 2018

Today – Mainly sunny. Increasing cloudiness this afternoon. Wind becoming southwest 20 km/h this morning. High minus 7.

Tonight – Cloudy. 60 percent chance of flurries late this evening and overnight. Wind southwest 20 km/h becoming light late this evening. Low minus 11.

More 2018 Chatham-Kent budget details

Following five community open houses and two council budget committee meetings, on Wednesday, January 31, Chatham-Kent Council has passed the 2018 municipal budget.

The budget includes a 1.62% tax increase, which included a $3,080,000 investment in infrastructure, $300,000 for new affordable housing, debt reduction and sustainable investments in many services.

The increase is just under the Bank of Canada target inflation rate of 2%.

It represents approximately a $46 increase on an average home assessment of $165,500.

After the recommendations were presented to Council by the municipal administration on January 17, Council and administration held Community Open Houses to gather input from citizens on the recommendations.

Public meetings were held in Wallaceburg, Tilbury, Ridgetown, Blenheim and Chatham.

Comments were also received by e-mail at ckfps@chatham-kent.ca.

During the development of the 2018 budget, 695 residents visited the “Have Your Say on the 2018 Budget” survey, which was an on-line budget consultation tool to gauge community concerns.

The addition of on-line surveys and additional community meetings resulted in greater public education and understanding of the operations of the Municipality.

With Councillor Derek Robertson as chair, the Council Budget Committee held deliberations on January 30 & 31.

For more information on the 2018 Municipality of Chatham-Kent budget, please visit www.chatham-kent.ca/budget.

Ministry of Education approves $1.8 million to increase child care spaces in LKDSB schools

The Ministry of Education has approved a $1.8 million investment in the Lambton-Kent District School Board (LKDSB) to increase licensed child care spaces in Chatham and Wheatley.

The provincial government is providing the LKDSB with $1.6 million to provide 49 child care spaces at Indian Creek Road Public School through its Early Years Capital Program Funding.

The Ministry is also funding $264,000 for 10 child care spaces at Wheatley Area Public School.

“This funding will support families by providing additional child care spaces in Chatham and Wheatley,” stated Elizabeth Hudie, LKDSB Chair, in a press release.

“We appreciate the opportunity to work with our community partners to support young families and promote community hubs within our schools.”

“We’re thrilled about this funding for an improved child care facility,” stated Kathi Lomas McGee, YMCA President & CEO.

“It will allow the YMCA to expand our Before-and-After Child Care services at Indian Creek Road Public School to include quality infant, toddler and pre-school care, making it more convenient for families in this community. We’re grateful for the ongoing support and partnership of the LKDSB for our YMCA Child Care programs.”

“This is great news for families in Wheatley and the surrounding area. Local families will benefit from the new licensed infant spaces that are more convenient and closer to home,” said Kelly Emery, Municipality of Chatham Kent Director of Child Care and Early Years Division.

“This investment from the Ministry of Education gives young children a strong start in life and supports families with access to safe, high-quality licensed child care.”

LKDSB Senior Administration will be working with the Ministry to develop a plan for the construction
and renovations at the two school sites.

The LKDSB will also be meeting with child care providers to discuss future plans for the sites.

Is it fake news?

Wondering if stories online are actually true?

Join staff at the Tilbury Branch of Chatham-Kent Public Library to learn how to spot fake news.

The event will be held on Tuesday, February 13 from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

To find out more about programs taking place at Chatham-Kent Public Library, visit www.ckpl.ca.

Josie Matteis Doto Bursary applications available

Do you know a future college or university student interested in public service or nonprofit management?

The Chatham-Kent Nonprofit Network invites applicants for the Josie Matteis Doto Bursary for Nonprofit Management.

Inspired by Josie’s volunteer work with the local United Way, the bursary was established to honour the memory of the Chatham-Kent native who passed away in 2015.

Josie is remembered as someone who was selflessly dedicated to helping those in need in our community.

Her family members and the Chatham-Kent Nonprofit Network are proud to offer this bursary for nonprofit management to someone who has a similar passion and commitment to helping to build a stronger and better community for us all to live, work, and play in.

This bursary will be awarded to a deserving student entering a program at a College or University in the field of Community Studies, Liberal Arts, Arts and Humanities, Social Science, Leadership and Social Change, Social Work or Behavioural and Social Sciences.

Eligible students will be Canadian Citizens or permanent residents of Canada (landed immigrant or a protected person).

This $1,000 award for the 2018/2019 academic year will be granted to one recipient.

Applications will be accepted until Sunday, April 1 st , 2018 at 5:00 p.m. The successful candidate will be notified in writing by Thursday, April 26, 2018.

Students can apply at https://goo.gl/8sNCME.

For more information on eligibility and how to apply please visit www.CKNN.ca or contact Erica Kitchen, Acting Project Coordinator of Chatham-Kent Nonprofit Network at 519-354- 0430 or CKNN@uwock.ca.

Ministerial Message – World Cancer Day – February 4, 2018

“You, a member of your family or a relative probably know someone who has or had cancer. Indeed, close to 1 in 2 Canadians is expected to be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime; nearly half of these will be lung, colorectal, breast and prostate cancers. And, unfortunately, cancer remains the leading cause of death in Canada. This year’s World Cancer Day theme, “We can. I can.” inspires us to take action to reduce cancer in Canada and around the world.

We can all reduce our risk of developing cancer and other chronic diseases by being physically active, reducing smoking and alcohol consumption and eating healthy. Helping Canadians to eat healthier is one of our top priorities and an important approach to chronic disease prevention.

We are also taking action to further reduce smoking rates and protect youth from nicotine addiction and inducements to tobacco use. Some of these initiatives include, implementing plain and standardized packaging for tobacco products, limiting access to vaping products to those over 18 years of age and restricting the marketing of flavours in vaping products that appeal to youth.

Our Government continues to support increasing food skills and encouraging healthy living habits among Canadians, including promoting physical activity. For example, the Public Health Agency of Canada has invested $73 million and leveraged more than $57 million in non-governmental funding through innovative partnerships like Kid Food Nation, Farm to School, APPLE Schools, Don’t Change Much and Run to Quit. These projects empower Canadians to eat healthy, increase physical activity and stop smoking to help prevent chronic diseases, including cancer.

Recently, the Government of Canada and partners announced $255 million in genomics research bringing in new hope for Canadians living with cancer, cystic fibrosis, juvenile arthritis, childhood asthma and other diseases. The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) partnered with Genome Canada to fund the new genomics-based precision health projects that will improve patient outcomes. In 2015-16 alone, CIHR invested $156 million towards cancer related research.

In addition to prevention efforts and reducing the risk of developing cancer, we must also support the people that are currently battling the disease and recognize their challenges and needs. Through investments in the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer, our Government is funding prevention, early detection, treatment and support for people living with cancer. A recent report released by the Partnership, Living with Cancer: A Report on the Patient Experience plays an important role in helping us to understand the challenges survivors face, as well as the work underway to improve their experience.

This World Cancer Day, I encourage you to take steps to live healthier and help reduce your risk of cancer, including by talking to a health care professional and getting regular cancer screenings. Join the conversation on social media using the hashtag #WorldCancerDay and share your thoughts on how we can work together to reduce cancer and support those affected by it.

The Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor
Minister of Health