Morning Coffee – By Aaron Hall

Weather forecast for Tuesday, February 6, 2018

Today – A mix of sun and cloud. 60 percent chance of flurries early this morning. High minus 5.

Tonight – Becoming cloudy late this evening. Snow beginning after midnight. Amount 2 to 4 cm. Low minus 10.

Charity Curling Classic raises $11,500

On Saturday, February 3, 2018, the Foundation of Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA) hosted its 7th Annual Charity Curling Classic at the Sydenham Community Curling Club in Wallaceburg.

A total of 16 teams of four participated in this event and helped raise over $11,500 through sponsorship, pledges, 50/50 Draw and a silent auction.

Proceeds from the event will support the Foundation of CKHA’s Diagnostic Imaging Equipment Renewal Campaign.

7th Annual Charity Curling Classic held in Wallaceburg

From left: Rene Sauve, Director, Foundation of Chatham-Kent Health Alliance Board of Directors; Kris Baillargeon, Heather Bennett, members, Sweeping Bones; Mary Lou Crowley, Executive Director, Foundation of Chatham-Kent Health Alliance; Janine and Matt Myers, members, Sweeping Bones **(Submitted photo)**

The Foundation of CKHA’s 7th Annual Charity Curling Classic featured two, six-end, games of curling, lunch, dinner and great prizes.

The event’s ‘Top Fundraising Team’ was Sweeping Bones, with $1,050 raised through pledges. Taking home the title of the event’s point’s leader and winning team was Matt Mapletoft, Larry Mapletoft, Erin Glasgow and Tyler Gauthier.

“We are thrilled with the support of Wallaceburg and area individuals and business that helped make the event a huge success,” says Mary Lou Crowley, Executive Director, Foundation of CKHA.

“Although new to this wonderful community, I have quickly learned how passionate people are about health care and Chatham-Kent Health Alliance. Events like this highlight that passion and raise much needed funds for our hospital. Thank you to everyone who supported this great day of fundraising for CKHA’s Chatham and Wallaceburg hospital sites.”

About the CKHA Diagnostic Imaging Equipment Renewal Campaign

Launched in late 2014, the $6.9 million Diagnostic Imaging Equipment Renewal Campaign will support CKHA in the purchase of 18 new pieces of equipment for the Diagnostic Imaging Departments at the Chatham and Wallaceburg hospital sites, including an urgently needed replacement of a CT Scan and a new mammography system. To date, more than $5.6 million has been raised.

About the Foundation of Chatham-Kent Health Alliance

The Foundation of Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA) was established in 1998 to enhance the quality of healthcare available to the citizens of Chatham-Kent by raising funds and providing other resources to support CKHA. It accomplishes this through annual campaigns, capital and endowment campaigns, memorial giving, special events and planned giving. To date, the Foundation of CKHA’s efforts have raised over $43 million for local healthcare.

Let’s Talk Chatham-Kent

The launch of Let’s Talk Chatham-Kent, the Municipality of Chatham-Kent’s new online engagement site, brings community involvement to an entire new level, according the Chatham-Kent Chief Administrative Officer Don Shropshire.

“We now have a tool which gives us the ability to converse with citizens in every part of the community on any issue,” Shropshire said in a press relase. “It empowers residents and provides municipal staff with a greater opportunity to get more feedback than ever before.”

Users registering on the site will have the opportunity to provide their opinion on issues both serious and light-hearted.

“Right now we have the I Love My Community feature asking residents to share why they enjoy being part of Chatham-Kent,” he said. The site has been used for the 2018 budget, the snow plow tracker and will be used for the Smart Cities Challenge.”

The site features content and feedback monitoring. “We want Let’s Talk to be the place for respectful discussion, where people can come and tell us what they think without fear of the kinds of backlash too often associated with social media. We can provide factual information and let the discussions proceed.”

Shropshire said Let’s Talk fits in perfectly with the municipality’s goal of being open and transparent and relates to the goals of CKPlan 2035. “The more involvement we have from our community, the better we can meet our goals of Economic Prosperity, a Healthy and Safe Community, celebrating People and Culture and Environmental Sustainability,” he said.

Ontario’s dentists urge provincial government to do more for low-income kids

The Ontario Dental Association (ODA) has launched an awareness campaign to help Ontarians understand the dangerous funding gap in public dental care.

Dentists across the province currently treat about 200,000 kids under the Healthy Smiles Ontario program but more needs to be done to ensure all 500,000 eligible children and youth get the care they need.

Dental pain is the second-most common reason kids miss school. Ontario’s dentists have been doing their part in helping kids from low-income families because no child should go to bed in pain.

Ontario’s dentists have a long history of providing care to vulnerable members of their communities and even created dental programs for people on social assistance. Ever since the province took over the administration of dental care for at-risk groups, funding for these programs hasn’t changed to keep up with demand.

For more than a decade, the ODA has asked the Ontario Government to find real, long-term solutions that ensure children from low-income families get quality dental care in their communities. Ontario’s kids have an urgent need – now’s the time for the province to step up and address its chronic underfunding of the Healthy Smiles Ontario program.

For more information, visit oda.ca/healthysmiles.

Premier standing with Ontario’s auto sector

Premier Kathleen Wynne released a statement following a roundtable with leaders from Ontario’s automotive sector:

“Ontario’s auto sector is essential to our economy and to people’s lives. It drives innovation and supports hundreds of thousands of families across the province. Today, Minister Chan, Minister Del Duca and I met with key industry leaders to talk about the future of our auto sector and the steps our government is taking to support Ontario’s automotive businesses in this changing economy.

Canada’s decision to sign the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CP-TPP) will bring new opportunities for trade, investment and job creation in Ontario.

But while more free trade with more global partners is a welcome development, we should not allow these new opportunities to be created at the expense of Ontario’s auto sector. That would not be fair to the hard-working men and women who rely on these jobs, and it would undermine Canada’s economic competitiveness in the years ahead.

Last October, I sat down with key leaders in Ontario’s automotive industry to discuss the ongoing pressures from the U.S. that could impact our auto sector’s success, namely concerns over NAFTA renegotiations. I made a promise to keep doing everything I can to support the businesses and people in our auto industry, which is exactly what I am doing.

In the days following Canada’s decision to sign the CP-TPP, I have spoken with key stakeholders and leaders in Ontario’s auto industry. I have listened to their views as to the challenges and opportunities the CP-TPP creates for Ontario, and reassured them that I will continue to advocate for and support this important sector. We are working closely with our federal partners to understand the potential impacts of the CP-TPP, and continue to tirelessly promote Ontario’s interests at the NAFTA negotiating tables.

Today, I heard from many in our auto industry about the impact of the new CP-TPP, ongoing NAFTA negotiations and the implications of U.S. tax reforms. I deeply value the honest, expert advice and perspective they offer. I share their concerns. And I know we will find a way forward. I leave today’s roundtable more committed than ever to standing up for the people and businesses that depend on the province’s auto sector. Our work together will achieve the best possible deal for Ontario, and a competitive auto sector for the decades ahead.”

International research call on the future of Canada-UK trade relations

The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada and the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) in the United Kingdom have launched an international competition to assess the state of research knowledge on Canada-UK trade relationships.

Federal official say this unique competition will foster international research collaboration and, through the synthesis of existing knowledge, identify research strengths and gaps around Canada-UK trade relations. The resulting findings on diverse issues related to trade between Canada and the UK—such as inclusion, labour and environment, trade barriers, and technological and digital transformations—will deepen understanding needed for future trading relationships, and support evidence-based decision-making and policy development.

“The international research collaboration between the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada and the Economic and Social Research Council strongly supports our government’s goal of expanding and enhancing Canada-UK relations, notably in science and innovation,” stated Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science and Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities.

“This competition will help foster global research excellence, while mobilizing scholarly talent in areas such as inclusion, labour and the environment, and trade barriers.”

This international competition focuses exclusively on collaborative research projects. Proposed projects must involve at least two researchers, one affiliated with a postsecondary institution in Canada, the other with a UK-based university or approved, independent research organization.

“The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council is delighted to partner with the ESRC on this important and timely knowledge synthesis competition,” stated Ted Hewitt, President, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.

“The dynamic research landscape to which SSHRC contributes is seeing increased international collaboration, with greater access to new ideas, talent and opportunities for researchers and students. The complexity of a globalized society highlights the important role the social sciences and humanities must play to build a better future for Canada and the world.”

As many as 20 projects will be funded, valued at up to C$30,000 each. Proposals for Knowledge Synthesis Grants on understanding the future of Canada-UK trade relations may involve any disciplines and approaches or subject areas eligible for ESRC and SSHRC funding.

SSHRC and the ESRC will organize two workshops to convene award holders and key stakeholders from across the business, community and government sectors. The first workshop will take place in July 2018, in Ottawa, Canada. In December 2018, a second workshop will be held in London, UK, timed with the release of the knowledge synthesis reports. The key aim of the workshops is to share results from the knowledge synthesis reports, and to contribute evidence for decision-making and policy development.

The deadline to apply for these grants is March 28, 2018. Learn more about the competition and the application process.