Some think ketamine therapy should be more widely available in N.S.
The QEII Foundation has been offering ketamine therapy to Nova Scotians with severe depression since 2023. But due to limited funding and resources, only a handful of people are eligible for the treatment on a compassionate basis. Celina Aalders has the story.
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Globe and Mail
13 minutes ago
- Globe and Mail
Ontario's Bill 5 has passed. Here's why it has sparked conflict with First Nations
Ontario's Bill 5, which passed on Wednesday, will give the provincial government sweeping powers to disregard its own laws in order to speed up mining or other projects – and has prompted warning of protests or blockades from Indigenous leaders who say they should have been consulted. Formally known as the Protect Ontario by Unleashing Our Economy Act, the legislation allows the Ontario government to designate 'special economic zones' where it could suspend any provincial law – including environmental or labour rules and municipal bylaws – for companies or entities it labels 'trusted proponents.' The federal government, and B.C., are also pushing to accelerate major resource projects to try shore up the country's economy in the face of U.S. tariffs and China's dominance in critical minerals. But these moves are being made amid a shifting legal landscape on Indigenous issues – and could put governments on a collision course with First Nations. In addition to allowing for special economic zones, the bill also rewrites Ontario's endangered species legislation, allowing cabinet, instead of scientists, the final say on what species are protected. And it would loosen the rules around preserving Indigenous archeological sites. (It also includes other provisions to streamline mining approvals, supported both by the industry and even the opposition, that would see key projects funnelled through a centralized, 'one project, one process' system.) The government has said it aims to designate the remote northern Ring of Fire region, where it says reserves of critical minerals are key to Ontario's economy, as its first special economic zone. While three First Nations in and near the region are supporting plans for all-season roads to the area, others have opposed the push to mine there. How these zones will be implemented – and what rules will take the place of any laws wiped off the books – is supposed to be laid out in regulations that have not been released. Those regulations must also be subject to both First Nations and public consultations, which the government has promised over the summer. First Nations leaders say they should have been consulted first, and want the bill scrapped. As opposition to Bill 5 mounted from First Nations in recent days, the government said these future regulations could include provisions to allow 'Indigenous-led economic zones,' but provided no details. Bill 5 could affect these six species in Ontario, conservationists say Ontario's Bill 5 falls into a category lawyers label 'Henry VIII legislation,' as Laura Bowman, a staff lawyer at the group Ecojustice, has pointed out. The term invokes the infamous 16th-century English king – who had two of his wives beheaded – in giving the executive branch the power to pick and choose which laws passed by the legislature apply and to whom. This aspect has alarmed not just First Nations, but the Canadian Civil Liberties Association and opposition MPPs. Liberal MPP John Fraser compares Bill 5 to the executive powers now being abused by U.S. President Donald Trump. The government defends the need for the extraordinary powers, saying it can take 15 years to open a new mine in Ontario, much longer than in other jurisdictions. Properly called the 'duty to consult and accommodate' First Nations, it has been recognized in court rulings dating back to the 1980s. It obligates the Crown – meaning governments – to consult First Nations about activities that impact their treaty rights, which were embedded in Section 35 of the Constitution in 1982. Landmark Supreme Court of Canada rulings in the past 20 years have outlined and strengthened this obligation. In essence, if governments want to allow the construction of a mine or another project in a First Nation's traditional territory, they must engage in meaningful consultations and accommodate Indigenous concerns about its effects on treaty rights, such as hunting grounds of fishing grounds. The duty to consult has seen many First Nations sign 'impact benefit agreements' with mining companies or others operating on their traditional territories, which usually involve revenue for Indigenous governments. The Decibel: Unpacking the nationwide push to fast-track major projects Ontario Indigenous Affairs Minister Greg Rickford has repeatedly asserted it does not, referencing a 2018 Supreme Court ruling. In that case, the Mikisew Cree First Nation argued the then federal Conservative government had a duty to consult before bringing in contentious 2012 legislation that sparked the 'Idle No More' protest movement. In a split decision, the top court ruled against the First Nation, concluding that parliamentary privilege means governments do not trip over their constitutional obligation if they draft legislation without consulting first. But lawyers say the Mikisew ruling does not preclude governments from choosing to consult First Nations before tabling a bill. Governments routinely consult industry or other interest groups while drafting legislation. That phrase, routinely invoked by First Nations, comes from the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which Canada had at first avoided endorsing but fully signed onto in 2016. Federal legislation in 2021 began the implementation of this new standard, which clearly goes beyond a 'duty to consult.' However, Ontario has not signed onto UNDRIP or adopted it in its law. And lawyers say what 'free, prior and informed consent' will precisely mean across Canada, in different contexts, remains legally contested ground. This is also increasingly contested ground, as First Nations argue their forebears understood these documents, signed hundreds of years ago in many cases, much differently than governments did. In a case working its way through the courts, 10 First Nations that signed Treaty 9 in 1905 – which covers two-thirds of Ontario's land mass and includes the Ring of Fire – argue they never gave up decision-making power on their lands and that a new 'co-jurisdiction' regime must be established. They are also seeking $95-billion they say they are owed under the treaty, which was signed by both Ontario and Canada. 'What First Nations are really saying is, forget the duty to consult,' said Kate Kempton, a veteran lawyer for First Nations in battles with mining companies who is leading the Treaty 9 case. 'It doesn't work. It needs to be the right to decide. Bill 5 is really just the straw that is breaking the camel's back.' The government has committed to consultations with the public and First Nations on the regulations it must draft before any 'special economic zones' are named. But Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler of the Nishnawbe Aski Nation, which represents 49 First Nations across Northern Ontario including those in the Ring of Fire, has warned of an 'Idle No More 2.0″ wave of protests against bill, as have other Indigenous leaders.
CBC
13 minutes ago
- CBC
Small but 'life-changing' policy helps Parkinson's patients who need emergency care at Guelph's hospital
When people go to the emergency department, they're not allowed to take their own medications while they wait, which Theresa Daly says can be a huge problem for people with Parkinson's. A longtime nurse and social worker who actively works in Parkinson's disease support groups, Daly says she's thrilled the hospital in Guelph, Ont., has recently made a tweak to a long-standing practice to make it easier for Parkinson's patients to take their medications on time. "It's life-changing," Daly said. "Life-giving and life-saving and certainly quality of life saving." Hospitals have a policy that any medication given while a person is in the hospital must be through the pharmacy or a physician's order. Hospitals will monitor every patient's medication to avoid mixing, doubling up, choking or even overdosing. But emergency departments can be very busy and this can lead to people not getting medications on time. One of the more common medications for Parkinson's is Levodopa, used to control some of the physical deterioration symptoms. Daly says when a dose is missed, it can lead to people not feeling "normal" again for days, weeks or even months afterwards. The new policy at Guelph General Hospital says, an emergency department nurse is able to give permission to those with Parkinson's to take the medication they brought from home. Daly volunteers with the southwestern Ontario branch of Parkinson Canada and her brother also has the disease. She says she's very familiar with the toll the conditions take on both a sufferer and their loved ones. "To see them move into suffering because they haven't had their medication on time affects two people. The person with Parkinson's and the one who loves them. So it's a big deal," Daly said. 'Hospitals don't like you bringing your own pills' Parkinson's disease is a neurological and degenerative condition. It has no cure and can get worse over time. The most commonly known issues from PD include slowness of movement, rigidity, tremors and instability. There are other symptoms associated with the condition including insomnia, anxiety, depression, bladder issues, faintness, leg swelling, heavy sweating, double vision and a multitude of other challenges. Ian Smith has Parkinson's and in the past few months, he's had to go to Guelph General Hospital three times. "[Parkinson's patients] all have different problems, some more than others ... and generally, hospitals don't like you bringing your own pills in," he said. While Smith doesn't always feel drastic effects if he misses a pill, he's familiar with how demanding the medication schedule can be. He takes three pills a day with specific food and timing restrictions. "My little Parkinson pill isn't high on the priority list because nobody has told them that it should be," Smith said. By allowing Parkinson's patients to monitor their medication, he said it's less stress for both them and, he assumes, the medical professionals. Not red tape but 'a matter of best practice' Andrea de Jong is the director of the emergency department Guelph General Hospital hospital. She said it's become a successful best practice to give emergency room nurses the power and knowledge to administer medications without having to get an order from a physician. She said there are still restrictions on who is able to administer Parkinson's medication that's brought in from home, but nurses are very familiar with these guidelines. "This ideally helps them go back home quicker and overall have a better experience here," she said. Daly said that Guelph General Hospital was very quick to approve this directive with their emergency department teams and medical advisory committee and said it's in line with much of the work Parkinson Canada aims to do within hospitals. A patient's knowledge of their own rights and their ability to advocate is a separate hurdle, she said. "There's a double prong education piece to this... people with Parkinson's have to know that it was okay, and emerge has to know that they have Parkinson's and that it's important they get their pills on time," Daly said. Parkinson Canada spokesperson Emma Gostovic told CBC News that the organization wasn't aware of any other hospitals in the country with a similar directive for Parkinson's patients and their medications. Most hospitals are still aware this is a concern and are conscious of medication timing, she said. Gostovic called Guelph General Hospital's model one they'd like to "explore and share with others throughout the clinical community."
CTV News
22 minutes ago
- CTV News
‘If you're seeing liquids or funny smells… call 911': Thousands of abandoned oil wells pose danger to landowners in Brant County and across Ontario
A public meeting in Brant County raised concerns on tens-of-thousands of abandoned oil and gas wells across Ontario Wednesday. CTV's Alexandra Holyk reports. A public meeting in Brant County raised concerns on tens-of-thousands of abandoned oil and gas wells across Ontario Wednesday. CTV's Alexandra Holyk reports. Thousands of abandoned oil wells pose danger to landowners in Brant County and across Ontario A public meeting in Brant County raised concerns on tens-of-thousands of abandoned oil and gas wells across Ontario Wednesday. The province and Brant County confirmed there are around 27,000 wells left behind, with a potential for more being undocumented. A majority of these wells are on private land and in homeowners backyards. These wells were abandoned without following modern safety protocols. Rebecca Comley, the acting medical officer of health for Grand Erie Public Health told CTV News this can cause concern for health and safety. 'Legacy wells can be a source of potentially dangerous gases such as hydrogen sulfide,' said Comley. 'Leaking hydrogen sulfide into the atmosphere, into the air, especially in contained spaces can cause a very dangerous health risk.' Comley said these gases can smell like rotten eggs. 'Our noses can detect it at a very low level; less than one part per million,' said Comley. 'It's important to remember though the smell doesn't correlate with the concentration in the air… we can often lose the sense of smell at higher concentrations.' The wells also pose a threat to contaminating groundwater, possibly affecting the health of plants, animals and people. The province said it's spending nearly $20 million to tackle challenges related to these wells. They said so far they have spent around $33 million to plug 440 wells across Ontario. What should landowners look out for? Brant County officials have asked residents to take a deeper look at their properties. 'Ignoring [oil and gas wells] and having something tragic happen is not the way to go. It's putting themselves, their neighbours or their families at risk,' said Kent Pottruff, the community of emergency management coordinator for Brant County. 'So, the [Ministry of Natural Resources] stated they want to work with [landowners], there's resources available to assist them.' At Wednesday's meeting, the ministry said oil and gas wells on private property that meet criteria may be eligible to be partially or fully covered financially. Deputy Chief Brant Cain with the Brant County Fire Department said identifying an oil and gas well is simple. 'If it smells funny, it probably is funny. If it looks funny, it probably is funny,' said Cain. 'If you're seeing liquids or funny smells coming from something you've struck while excavating on your property, that's a good sign to call 911.' Officials said the best way for a landowner to see if their property is impacted by a documented legacy oil and gas well is to use a well map.
