Latest news with #Main
Hamilton Spectator
a day ago
- Health
- Hamilton Spectator
Nunavut health minister eyes ‘fresh start' with federal government
With a new leader at Indigenous Services Canada, Nunavut Health Minister John Main is hoping for a 'fresh start' with the federal agency as the Government of Nunavut seeks a deal to fund the Non-Insured Health Benefits program. Main will head to Ottawa next week after this legislative sitting ends on June 3. He hopes to meet with Mandy Gull-Masty, the new Indigenous Services minister , who earned the cabinet position following her victory in the Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou riding in last month's federal election. Securing federal funding for NIHB — a program that covers costs such as medical travel and dental and vision care for Nunavut Inuit — is what Main says is his top priority. The GN's previous NIHB funding agreement with Indigenous Services Canada expired at the end of March. Since then, the Health department has been in what Main called a 'holding pattern,' in seeking an agreement for a new deal. 'There is some hope there that with the new minister, we'll see a change in the approach,' Main said, describing Gull-Masty as 'a minister who is intimately familiar with northern life.' Main said it's important that Indigenous Services Canada properly funds NIHB because it is a federal program which the GN administers for Ottawa. Without full funding, the Health department is forced to eat into its own $580-million operating budget to cover shortfalls. Main has previously threatened to return administration of the program to the federal government if a deal can't be reached. 'We need to be devoting our energy to other things that are more important, such as better diagnosis and screening for cancers, better mental health treatments for Nunavut residents, better infrastructure to provide for their needs at the community level,' he said. The Health department is seeking a $236-million commitment from Indigenous Services Canada to cover the fiscal year ending March 31, 2026. The previous funding agreement was $190 million over two years, which expired March 31. But, Main said, 'The biggest figure that we continue to mention is 100, as in 100 per cent of the cost needs to be covered by the agency that owns the program, which is Indigenous Services Canada.' Nunatsiaq News requested an interview with Gull-Masty. Staff at Indigenous Services Canada acknowledged the request, but as of Friday neither Gull-Masty nor the department have responded to Main's recent comments. Main said he hopes the next NIHB commitment provides more long-term certainty because previous territorial health ministers have had to deal with the same challenge. 'When you see a repetition or you see a pattern that keeps coming up and taking up a lot of resources and energy, it makes you wonder: Isn't there a better way to solve this problem?' he said. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Hamilton Spectator
a day ago
- Health
- Hamilton Spectator
4 Nunavut elders come home to Rankin Inlet
Some elders are starting to come home to Nunavut from their stays in Ottawa, says Health Minister John Main. The first group of elders who will live at the new 24-bed Rankin Inlet long-term care facility arrived back in the territory this week. 'As of today, this group of elders are receiving advanced elder care here in our territory,' Main said, speaking in Inuktitut in the legislature Thursday. 'The Kivalliq facility in Rankin Inlet will be their new home.' Four elders have arrived so far and more are on their way. Main said they will come north on three or four medevac flights per week. 'A state-of-the-art facility — the first of its kind in Nunavut — awaits them with [a] culturally enriching, safe and home-like environment,' he said. 'We know that the elders who will live there want to hear Inuktitut being spoken. They want Inuit values and culture reflected in the activities and in the food they are served.' The 24-bed facility was completed in January following several delays and opened in May. Its 22 permanent-care beds will be occupied by July, said Charmaine Deogracias, a Health Department spokesperson. The other two beds are for temporary respite care. Main said the process of hiring and training people to work in the facility is ongoing. The $59.4-million project is one of three long-term care facilities the government plans to build in the territory by 2030 as part of its Aging with Dignity strategy. Long-term care facility projects are also planned for Iqaluit and Cambridge Bay.
Calgary Herald
3 days ago
- Business
- Calgary Herald
John Ivison: The first Carney spending numbers are out, and they're as bad as Trudeau's
Politics is not a zero-sum game where one person's win is automatically another's loss. An economy is not a conserved system, so, in theory, it is possible that a government could reduce taxes, increase spending and balance budgets (if, for example, revenues rise). Article content But it is a theory that is as rare in real life as white peacocks. Article content The Carney government is in the process of legislating a $5-billion-a-year middle-class tax cut, while planning to increase spending on things like the military and housing, and at the same time promising to balance the operating budget in three years. Article content Article content Yet, the Main Estimates, the government's spending plan that was released on Tuesday at the same time as the throne speech, shows no signs of the restraint that will be needed if the government is to meet that last target. Article content Article content This is the first evidence of concrete spending plans since the election and it seems the bureaucracy did not get the memo about the need for fiscal rigour. Article content The prime minister was critical of his predecessor's fondness for distributing cash, saying the Trudeau government spent too much and invested too little. Mark Carney said his government will limit operating-expense increases to two per cent a year, down from nine per cent a year under former prime minister Justin Trudeau, while preserving transfers to provinces and individuals. The Main Estimates suggest that message of restraint fell on deaf ears in Ottawa: total budgeted spending is scheduled to rise 7.75 per cent to $486.9 billion this fiscal year across 130 federal organizations (compared to last year's Main Estimates). The government will ask Parliament to vote on $222.9 billion of spending measures, a 14 per cent increase on last year's estimates. Article content Article content The most egregious spending appears to be on consultants. The estimates reveal that budgetary expenditure by 'standard object' — in this case, 'professional and special services' — are set to hit $26 billion this year, if departments are granted the approvals they are seeking (the estimates are an 'up to' amount; departments could spend less). Article content Article content These numbers require numerous caveats. They include operating and capital spending, as well as transfer payments and contributions to Crown corporations. To add some perspective, payments to seniors (Old Age Security and the Guaranteed Income Supplement) swallow up $86 billion of that number. Some people have suggested the only way to make a meaningful dent in the spending picture is to means test OAS, but Carney has already ring-fenced all transfers. Article content It should also be pointed out that the Main Estimates are not the whole picture. There will be additional 'supplementary estimates' over the course of the year that will likely increase spending further in response to events.
Hamilton Spectator
3 days ago
- Health
- Hamilton Spectator
Nunavut legislature approves law allowing pharmacists to give vaccines
Within the next 18 months, Nunavummiut may be able to see a pharmacist for vaccinations and treatments for minor illnesses. The Pharmacy Profession Act passed third reading Tuesday in the Nunavut legislative assembly. It awaits assent before it becomes law. The bill is 'a comprehensive modernization of Nunavut's pharmacy legislation,' Health Minister John Main told the committee of the whole Tuesday, before the bill was voted on. 'Traditionally, pharmacists focused on dispensing medications and providing basic drug information,' he said. 'Today, their role has expanded to include a broader range of clinical services, such as administering vaccines and supporting chronic disease management.' Main said the need to modernize Nunavut's pharmacy laws came to a head during the COVID-19 pandemic. While Nunavummiut were rolling up their sleeves to get vaccinated, the Department of Health was legally unable to employ pharmacists to administer shots – something pharmacists in other jurisdictions, such as Ontario, were able to do. Examples of some of the minor ailments someone could see a pharmacist for in the future include skin conditions and urinary tract infections, Main said. In addition to expanding what pharmacists can treat, the bill establishes a pharmacist registration committee, outlines a complaints and discipline process, and allows for pharmacists to provide remote care to people in communities without a pharmacy. 'Right now, our legislation doesn't properly support remote dispensing or tele-services, but that's something that in the new bill is properly laid out and supported,' he said. The bill becomes law once it receives assent from Nunavut Commissioner Eva Aariak, which usually happens on the final day of sitting. After that, more work will be needed to draft regulations, which Main estimated would take a year to a year and a half roll out. That work will include educating pharmacists, pharmacist technicians and their employers. Janet Pitsiulaaq Brewster, Iqaluit-Sinaa MLA and co-chair of the standing committee on legislation, told the committee the new legislation will 'improve the territory's health-care delivery system as a whole.' Tyler Gogo, spokesperson for the Canadian Pharmacists Association, agrees. 'This legislation is a significant step forward and will help to modernize pharmacy care in the territory, bringing it closer in line to other jurisdictions in Canada,' he said in an email. 'By allowing pharmacists to work to their full potential across Canada, pharmacists can provide the care they are trained and trusted to deliver.'
Scottish Sun
22-05-2025
- Scottish Sun
Two cars left burned out at home of former Glasgow taxi firm boss
The two charred vehicles went up in flames just after midnight in Gartcosh. NOTHING TO SEE NOTHING TO SEE Two cars left burned out at home of former Glasgow taxi firm boss Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Two cars left burned out at home of former Glasgow taxi firm bos A FORMER taxi firm boss confirmed two burned out cars in his driveway were destroyed by a faulty battery and have nothing to do with the wave of firebomb attacks sweeping the country. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up Alex Main, 57, told how fire crews raced to his home in Gartcosh, Lanarkshire, after the vehicles went up in flames just after midnight. 2 The two charred vehicles went up in flames just after midnight in Gartcosh. 2 Cops and the vehicles' owner says the blaze is 'not suspicious'. The vehicles were left charred wrecks after igniting on Wednesday night. The inferno sparked fears it was the latest in a string of attacks linked to an ongoing gang war involving rival organised crime groups but cops are treating the fire as non suspicious. But last night Mr Main - an ex-director of now dissolved Glasgow Airport Cars Ltd and G1 Executive Private Hire - confirmed the fire was caused by a motor malfunction. He said: 'I bought a new Mercedes diesel hybrid some weeks ago and it went on fire the other night there. 'That's what it is but everybody has been thinking it's the other thing which has been going on. 'But the fire brigade have said there are no suspicious circumstances, it's not been petrol bombed or anything like that. 'The car has got a hybrid battery in it and with the heat the other day it's just went on fire and it's caught the other car on fire as well. So there is nothing bad happening.' A witness, who asked not to be named, said: 'We were at home and just after midnight we heard a commotion and within minutes the whole place was glowing red with smoke billowing everywhere. "It was terrifying. 'This is a quiet area and there are kids and families living here.' When we told Mr Main of the fears, he said: 'I don't know anything about that because we were in our bed at the time. Inside the rise of ex-Rangers ultras chief turned mob boss waging gangland war across Scotland 'I can only go with what the police and fire brigade have said regarding it. That's all we know.' A Police Scotland spokesperson said: 'Around 12.30am on Wednesday, we were made aware of a vehicle fire in Beech Grove, Gartcosh. 'Emergency services attended and the fire was extinguished by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. 'There were no injuries and the fire is not being treated as suspicious.' We told how cops have made almost 40 arrests over the last two months amid an ongoing campaign of gang violence being orchestrated by a Dubai-based mob boss. Former Union Bear Ross 'Miami' McGill, 32, is said to have ordered attacks on associates of caged crime kingpin Mark Richardson, 38, and members of the notorious Daniel clan. Sources said McGill has the backing of the Lyons crew - the Daniels' long-standing enemies with whom they've been at war for decades.
