The Sale of Ontario Northland, a Liberal View

If something isn’t broken, don’t fix it? How many of us have heard this expression in our lives? Now, let us think of the opposite, what if something is broken. Using my liberal lens, this blog will discuss the reasons behind the divestment of the OntarioNorthland Transportation Commission (ONTC).

Firstly, let us begin by looking at the numbers. I bet most of you were not aware that the ONTC would be costing us 100 million dollars a year to run, based on past and present trends (Ministry of Northern Development and Mines, 2012). This is compared to just under 28 million dollars not even a decade ago. In less than 10 years, the ONTC has upped its running cost by 71 million dollars! 430 million dollars thus far has been put into this service (Ministry of Northern Development and mines, 2012). This is unacceptable. Let’s honestly consider how much money has already gone into this service, with not only no revenue but our government actually paying out.  This subvention is actually costing us on average approximately 400$ per person for their ride on the Northlander train (Ministry of Northern Development and Mines, 2012). How can we justify these numbers? In school, we hear a lot about the idea of sustainable communities and viable options. Environment Canada defines sustainability as meeting the needs our current people without it taking from our future generations. Looking at the numbers noted above, how could one say that the train was a sustainable method of transportation? We expect the government to help us with making our communities more sustainable but there is a point where communities must take on the role themselves  (Alternatives Journal, 1996).

      Working in the social work field, we learn a lot about agencies and funding as well as the way budget cuts works.  If something isn’t thriving financially and is hindering our success why shouldn’t the government help us improve it in order for the communities to thrive. The train servicing the Northern Ontario was making stops at the same place as the motor coaches do (Ministry of Northern Development and Mines, 2012). Is that really necessary? Furthermore, both these services are running at under 50% capacity (Ministry of Northern Development and Mines, 2012). It makes sense to combine them into one service that serves the same locations. This was not an easy decision for the government to make but sometimes situations need to be examined, assessed and a hard decision must be made to ensure progression (Bartolucci, 2012).

      Moving forward, I would agree that this decision is one that benefits everyone in the end. Divestment of the ONTC will allow private sectors to purchase parts of the company, which will create jobs and economic growth do (Ministry of Northern Development and Mines, 2012).  As far as the short-term employment loss goes, Rick Bartolucci (2012) has stated that the government is working very closely with the people who are suffering job loss to attempt to provide a smooth transition for everyone. The federal government is guiding us and working with us to build stronger, sustainable, efficient communities and services.

      In conclusion, I ask everyone to think of our future generations. Just think, if the money we are pouring into ONTC is going up by every year, what kind of a legacy are we leaving for our future generations? Focusing on our future to me means putting money into the services that the people need now such as health care, education, social welfare and so much more. Why continue to support something that is not only no longer viable and is a duplicate service?  This wasn’t an easy decision, but one that had to me made.

References

Bartolucci, R. (2012, March 23). By abstaining from budget vote, ndp gives ontc divestment thumbs up “the ndp’s posturing does a disservice to north-eastern ontario residents – but today their true position is clear.” Retrieved from http://www.rickbartolucci.onmpp.ca/mNews/812?l=EN

Bartolucci, R. (2012). Statement from Rick Bartolucci minister of northern development and mines. News.ontario.ca. Retrieved from http://news.ontario.ca/mndmf/en/2012/03/remarks-for-rick-bartolucci-minister-of-northern-development-and-mines.html

Ministry of Northern Development and Mines, (2012).Ontario northland transportation commission frequently asked questions. Retrieved from Queens Printer website: http://www.mndm.gov.on.ca/en/northern-development/transportation-support/ontario-northland-transportation-commission/frequently

Environment Canada ( 2012). Sustainable development. Retrieved from http://www.ec.gc.ca/dd-   sd/default.asp?lang=Fr=E19EE696-1

Sustainable communities resource package // review. (1996). Alternatives Journal, 22(2), 32-33. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/218767366?accountid=46683

Healers

Illnesses have always been part of societies, whether it’s a stomach ache to a head ache, or other more serious illnesses. In our modern day societies we have doctors, dentist, medication, x-rays machines, machines that can scan your entire body for most illnesses, to help prevent, diminished, or stop illnesses from taking someone’s life.  All these new technologies have assisted in saving countless lives. When you think about before all this technology, before sterilizers and forms of antibiotics, how did Anishnaabek individuals remain healthy and safe?

Pre-contact Anishnaabek people had individuals known as healers, who will aid the sick when needed (Johnston, 2002). In the past these individuals were represented as medicine men or women, shaman or herbalist (Johnston, 2002). These individuals use common and uncommon herbs and other materials to prevent, diminish or stop people’s pain and suffering from the illness. These individuals were known as being very spiritual and in tuned with nature. Individuals often believed that people who were ill had either angered the forces of nature, or individuals who have been possessed by evil spirits (Johnston, 2002). Therefore in order to get better and receive treatment these medicine men and women would be called upon to help individuals remove the taboo that they have brought upon themselves.

Each area of in the First Nations community had different values and beliefs that would alter how medicine man and women would assist those in need. For instance the Northwest Coast and Inuit healers would use powerful visions and go through extensive journeys (all the way to the spirit realm) to help cure those who had made these illnesses (Johnston, 2002).  In the Navajo area, through the use of complex ceremonies they would attempt to recreate the harmony of creation by invoking power Holy People to assist those who were ill (Johnston, 2002). Other areas would focus more on the herbalist method to help cure illness; meaning gathering different types of herbs and using different techniques to help individuals (Johnston, 2002).  In addition, the Ojibway`s believe in evil spirits called manitou`s. These spirits were able to posse the individual body and cause them to develop illnesses. Shaman were used in these cases to heal individuals, the shamans would enter a trance like state and eventually release the evil spirit from the individual`s body; therefore curing the person (Csordas & Lewton , 1998).

 

 If you would like to read more about these rituals the website listed below are two researcher papers go into greater depth and detail about each area and rituals that would be used in order to cure someone from their illness. It is interesting to see how much the culture and society has changed. I am unsure if certain First Nations area`s still practice these healing methods, but it would be very interesting to witness first hand.

Christine

References:

Csordas, T., & Lewton , E. (1998). Transcultural Psychiatry. Practice, performance, and experience in ritual healing. 35 (4), 435-512 Retrieved from http://resolver.scholarsportal.info/resolve/13634615/v35i0004/435_ppaeirh

Johnston, S. (2002, 09). The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science. Native American Traditional and Alternative Medicine. 583 (1), 195-213 Retrieved from http://resolver.scholarsportal.info/resolve/00027162/v583i0001/195_nataam

Issues with the availability and quality of education on northern and rural reserves!

     When you look around and hear the many issues facing so many third world countries on the news; who would have thought so many of these issues fell so close to home. Up in the Northern and rural communities there are so many Indigenous families and individuals says Beaton (2012) "who are struggling with homelessness, hunger, and so many youth suicides." He discusses the fact that Aboriginal children are only afforded eighty percent of educational resources, compared to non-indigenous children who do not live on reserves (Beaton, 2012). In his article he stresses his belief in literacy and that he can see that being one of the things that would cause a positive outcome for these individuals (Aboriginal peoples) and their children(Beaton, 2012). He also goes on to discuss that these individuals appear as invisible because so many things appear in the media on any given day and then it’s just forgotten about, as well as, issues being addressed at the house of commons and they are said to be ignored (Beaton, 2012). It is no wonder that there is so much painful things transpiring with us only just touching the edge of a chapter thaqt was so large in Canada's hiostory. As discussed by Cherubini, Hodson, Manley-Casimir & Muir, (2010) the residential school timeframe was a horific time for these people and has spilt out and over into every aspect of their lives not only back then, right now but for the future as well. The applogy that had been made was discussed in this journal and just as it says in the article it is the start to the path of healing and forgiveness and unitement of all peoples in all of Canada (Cherubini, Hodson, Manley-Casimir & Muir, 2010).

     The Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs website notes that "forty percent of Indigenous peoples live in Ontario" and that in Northern Ontario there is a higher rate of lower education, labor force participation and employment income amounts in comparison with the entire province of Ontario (Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs, 2012). The information was provided to this website through Statistics Canada in the 2006, and 2001 Canadian Censuses. A study was done on the wage gap between Indigenous peoples and non-indigenous peoples in regards to education and the findings were very staggering as far as I was concerned. For every year completed of primary and secondary school Indigenous peoples added an average of 7.8 percent to their annual earnings (Jankowski & Moazzami, 1994). It also went on to discuss there being an even larger wage increase should they attain university, this implying that an increase in income as a result of better education and that it would make sense to help ensure that there is the ability to attain this higher education for our northern and rural populations who are residing in areas where this might not have been otherwise possible (Jankowski & Moazzami, 1994).

     Overall I am totally on that page and think that we should give the same to everyone in the province no matter what our race, culture or ethnic background. In closing I would like to quote two statements made by the Government of Ontario in their promise of Diversity in a public document labeled "Ontario’s equity and inclusive education strategy"

1. "It is the effort to live in a country of peace and prosperity, with laws that are just, with people who are humane, and where citizens of all backgrounds encounter equal opportunities when they set out to realize their potential, contribute to their communities, participate in the Canadian economy, and engage the Canadian political system. "
2. "Inclusion is not bringing people into what already exists; it is making a new space, a better space for everyone. ")

 

(Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs website, November 2012)

REFERENCES

Beaton, B. (2012). Ottawa Citizen; First Nations across northern Ontario facing a "crisis situation" of inadequate support Retrieved from http://media.knet.ca/node/16742 on November 13, 2012

Cherubini, L., Hodson, J., Manley-Casimir, M. & Muir, C. (2010). ‘Closing the Gap’ at the Peril of Widening the Void: Implications of the Ontario Ministry of Education’s Policy for Aboriginal EducationCANADIAN JOURNAL OF EDUCATION. 329-355

Jankowski, W.B and Moazzami, B. (1994). Lake Head University, RETURNS OF EDUCATION AMONG NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO'S NATIVE PEOPLE; Retrieved from http://www2.brandonu.ca/library/cjns/15.1/Jankowski.pdf on November 13, 2012

Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs Website: Retrieved from; http://www.aboriginalaffairs.gov.on.ca/english/services/datasheets/northern.asp on November 13, 2012

Ministry of Education; A promise to the children of Ontario Retrieved from; http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/policyfunding/equity.pdf on November 13, 2012

 

 

Ministry of Children and Youth Services (MCYS) cut the program budget by 1.7 million dollars

Due to the recent austerity agenda our government has put in place we have been witness to many cuts here in the northern rural areas. The austerity agenda was put in place to help Canada reduce its billions of dollars in debt. One of the areas that were affect that I will discuss is the Payukotayno health services, near the James Bay area (Carpenter, 2012.  

The Ministry of Children and Youth Services (MCYS) cut the program budget by 1.7 million dollars this year (Carpenter, 2012). The cut to the budget forced to close “two staff-supported receiving homes and lay off 22 full-time employees, including the managers and front-line workers who run the homes (Carpenter, 2012). Unfortunately within the support of workers program must return to being reactive, whereas with the funding could be proactive. This means that instead of being able to help the youth immediately and pre-crisis, workers must wait until attempts are made, or if a youth has committed suicide to help those around (Cochrane Times Post, 2012). People are what make this environment and world run and as a society we must work together, as government and people to develop a sustainable community that give ourselves and our children a future. A government is supposed to help give everyone an equal opportunity to succeed, the government has done the opposite by taking away services that are needed, and that were helping the communities.

 

            We had a guest speaker talk to us in one of my other classes and she was the Aboriginal Liaisons for Timmins and surrounding area to the servers up north. She explained to us that the rate of suicide have been increasing over the past year. She explained to us that approximately 45 teenagers this year along have taken their lives and the numbers continue to grow (Chandler, Lalonde , 1998). I wonder to myself if we had a political party who main goal was to allow everyone an equal opportunity for every individual, would they have let things gotten to where they are now? Would they have taken the time to talk to the communities, figure out where the needs are and help provide the services they need in order to live, happier, healthier lifestyles.

 

            If this party governed this Country, I feel as though these types of decisions would not be made so abruptly and unexpectedly.  The party works cooperatively with individual to help build and grow communities and not hinder them by taking away necessary services. This party is for the people and are willing to help people; working together for a better future for ourselves and our children.

Christine

 

References:  

 

Carpenter, Lenny (2012, 08). Province slashes payukotayno budget. Retrieved from:

http://www.wawataynews.ca/archive/all/2012/8/23/province-slashes-payukotayno-budget_23344 

 

Cochrane Times Post. (2012, 09). Bisson questions the removal of suicide prevention funding.  Retrieved from http://www.cochranetimespost.ca/2012/09/13/bisson-questions-the-removal-of-suicide-prevention-funding

 

Chandler, Michael  Lalonde, Christopher (1998) Cultural Continuity as a Hedge against Suicide in Canada's First Nations. Transcultural Psychiatry 35 (2), 191-21. Retrieved from http://resolver.scholarsportal.info/resolve/13634615/v35i0002/191_ccaahasicfn

 

The sale of the Ontario Northland, a social democratic view

Sustainability, what is sustainability? Simply put, isn't it the idea of being able to provide for ourselves? Doesn't it mean ensuring that people's needs are met? Isn't is being able to maintain our resources to the best of our abilities long-term? At least, that's what I thought it was. Well how does it make sense that the government sells off our Ontario Northland Train because it wasn't sustainable (Gillis, 2012)  By not sustainable do they mean that it's costing them too much to provide for the people of the north? This is how we feel. Are there not ways to make this more sustainable than to completely shut it down? Do the people of the north not have rights? What ever happen to equality? This was a poor decision for both economic development and social development. 

Before closing down our more economical and development form of transportation maybe they should have asked for some ideas on how to make it more sustainable. There are some ideas us people of the north may have had, if we would have been given the opportunity. Re branding, re marketing the train, could have been done, to attract people back to the train, if passengers were a problem (Littlejohn, 2012) Isn't that what most company do to get people to buy into their products? There could have been developments pertaining to day trips, weekend trips and camps utilizing the train as the mode of transportation to these "attractions" (Littlejohn, 2012)  That would bring people on the train, money into the areas, economic development in the north and so much more. Isn't that what sustainability is about? Why didn't anyone ask the people who were the most affected by these changes what possible scenarios could we implement and try to save our train before closing it down? It was a bad investment to keep the train running apparently, what about investing in people (Littlejohn, 2012)? We learned in our community economics and social development class that the people who are best to solve the people's problems, are the people it affects. Why isn't our government working with the people to create a better north, a place were more people will want to leave, rather than tearing it down (Northern Communities Working Group, 2012)?

This is a little piece of history now erased, swiped by the government of today. It just adds fuel to the fire that a decision that affects the north so greatly was made all the way at Queen's park. I guess we didn't really need anyone from the North representing us, asking questions when this decision was announced.

Our government talks about not wanting to put more money into the train, about monies being lost and about the train being a subsidy. A subsidy, who's money does the government play with? Our money. The people's money (Northern Communities Working Group, 2012) . The government should be helping the people of the north utilize their services to assure equal chances for everyone for growth. Taking away jobs, mode of transportation, history, and so much more is not an investment in people.  They had the opportunity to really help the people of the north to make the most that we could have out of this train service. Instead, chose to shut it down.

How is this supposed to make us feel? Unwanted, less than, inequality, helpless and hopeless. If that was the purpose, mission accomplished. Without a say in our own development, we have suffered a major loss not only in income and jobs but a loss to our history as people actually used some of these services to learn more about northern culture and aboriginal cultures (Blundell, 1996). I will have to tell my kids that trains like this existed instead of being able to take them and show them myself. It is a sad sad time for people in the north right now, saying goodbye to such an important player in our economic development and social development.  

Angele

References


Gillis, L. (2012, 08 12). Queen's park liberals explain sell-off of ontario northland. Timmins times. Retrieved from http://www.timminstimes.com/2012/08/16/queens-park-liberals-explain-sell-off-of-ontario-northland


Littlejohn, E. (2012, 08 15). Design for democracy: Ontario northlander, treasured transit. Rabble.ca. Retrieved from http://rabble.ca/columnists/2012/08/design-democracy-ontario-northlander-treasured-transit

2012 Northern Communities Working Group. (2012). New deal for ontario northland. . Retrieved from http://www.nd4on.ca/

Blundell, V. (1996). Riding the polar bear express: And other encounters between tourists and first peoples in canada. Journal of Canadian Studies, 30(4), 28-51. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/203552627?accountid=46683

Health Care in the North

     For those of us who live in the North, Healthcare is a need just like the rest of the province; however when looking at this through a neoliberal lens.
     When reflecting back over the articles I have read I have come to see that the main issue is not necessarily a shortage but as discussed by Lofgren, De. eeuw, and Leahy, 2011 "it is also the fact that we now have a secondary role in decision making as discussed" (p. 193). There is also a misdistribution of health practitioners and doctors. Health care professionals seem to prefer larger cities for their practices and as a result there are fewer in the smaller Northern and rural communities of Ontario. Although Canada prides itself on a health care system that is “universal and accessible”, in some ways it falls short of that promise to people (Human Resources for Health, 2012).

     I truly believe that for individuals living in the North and rural areas having to travel hundreds of miles for specialized care is unfortunate. Also it is very sad that there are not enough doctors in some areas and thus patients must use walk-in clinics or go to the emergency department of the local hospital simply to refill prescriptions. I know that there are many individuals who are dealing with this today and believe it needs to be addressed. I find in both articles there is discussion of it being addressed; however, it still seems to fall short of the actual need.
There was discussion in this article of a study to find ways to alleviate the strain of the shortages in many areas in Northern part of Ontario. Many strategies such as financial incentives, rural medical training and recruitment programs have been proposed (Human Resources for Health, 2012). I do not know if using these methods in the future will alleviate the issue but it sounds promising and I believe at this point that anything is worth a try (Human Resources for Health, 2012). The other article I read on the accessibility of health care in the North, by (Pong , 2012) describes the many initiatives that Ontario has launched to rectify this issue. According to this article, many of these rural areas experience difficulty in securing health care because they are located a long distance from larger areas, have low populations, and some are in remote areas with limited accessibility (Pong , 2012). I felt that the issue was taken seriously, is being well researched and appropriate steps are being taken to find solutions. Do I agree with either of these articles? I will say that I agree with them both to some degree; however, I think more needs to be done to ensure that there is adequate health care to all of Ontario including the Northern and rural areas.

Angela

Human Resources for Health, retrieved from http://www.human-resources-health.com/content/6/1/24  on November 1, 2012

Pong, R. W. (2008). Ministry of Health and Long Term Care; Rural and Northern Health Care Framework/Plan, retrieved from http://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/public/programs/ruralnorthern/docs/report_rural_northern_EN.pdf   on November 1, 2012

Löfgren. H, de Leeuw. E.J.J, and Leahy. M, 2011. Democratizing Health: Consumer Groups in the Policy Process, Chpt 13, 193-195.