Cutting Old Age Security hurts Country's most Vulnerable Citizens, CMA says

OTTAWA, March 29, 2012 /Canada NewsWire/ - Raising the age of eligibility for Old Age Security to 67 years will hurt many low-income seniors and increase health care costs, the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) said in reaction to the federal government's 2012 budget.

"Cutting back on Old Age Security targets the most vulnerable citizens in our society," said Dr. John Haggie, CMA president. "It means that many seniors will have to choose between heating, eating and paying for their prescriptions. In that case, they'll forfeit their drugs."

For many seniors, the Old Age Security represents a major portion of their annual income, Dr. Haggie said.

"For older patients who tend to have complex medical problems, medication is their lifeline. When they skip their drugs, they will be sick and not only suffer the consequences, but also place greater demands on the health care system."

Dr. Haggie said this underscores what was missing from the federal budget - any move toward the creation of a National Pharmaceuticals Strategy, which was supposed to be an outcome of the 2004 Plan to Strengthen Health Care.

"A pharmaceutical strategy that would ensure consistent coverage and secure supply across the country remains unfinished business from eight years ago," Dr. Haggie said.

Dr. Haggie welcomed funding for Aboriginal programs focused on clean water, family violence prevention and mental health. He also recognized other measures such as funding for the Canadian Depression Research and Intervention Network to study post-traumatic stress disorder; a project at McMaster University to improve outcomes through greater implementation of medical teams; and funding for Genome Canada.

However, in reaffirming its December announcement on health care funding, the federal government missed an opportunity to introduce accountability measures and to engage with the provinces and territories on innovation, he said.

"This was an opportunity missed to articulate a vision for an effective and modern pan-Canadian health care system," Dr. Haggie said.

As for federal plans to consolidate some functions of Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada, he said: "We'll have to watch to make sure that the government's assurances that services to Canadians won't be affected are justified."

The Canadian Medical Association (CMA) is the national voice of Canadian physicians. Founded in 1867, CMA's mission is to serve and unite the physicians of Canada and be the national advocate, in partnership with the people of Canada, for the highest standards of health and health care. The CMA is a voluntary professional organization representing over 74,000 of Canada's physicians and comprising 12 provincial and territorial medical associations and 51 national medical organizations.

Statement from Ontario's Doctors

TORONTO, March 27, 2012 /Canada NewsWire/ - On behalf of Ontario's doctors, the Ontario Medical Association has reviewed the provincial budget documents and has some serious concerns about the government's ability to appropriately care for our aging and growing population. The government commits in the budget to improving access to doctors and same day services, but the budget proposes to put a cap on the budget that pays for those things for the next fiscal year. The OHIP budget also pays for new medical graduates, new doctors coming to the province, and for health services such as hip and knee surgeries, tests and treatments for children and their families, and most other medically necessary services in Ontario.

At a time when we know that the population is aging and growing, and the demand for services will continue to increase, doctors have serious concerns about what a cap on the OHIP budget will mean for patients and families. Doctors are worried that the progress we've made to improve wait times and protect access to care will be lost or get worse.

Ontario's doctors understand the fiscal challenges the government faces. To demonstrate that commitment we've actively found efficiencies that don't negatively impact on patient care. To date, we've already helped find over $240 million that has been reinvested back into the system.

The number one priority for Ontario's doctors is protecting patient access to services and care. This budget jeopardizes the ability of patients to get the care they need. The government has laid out an ambitious agenda to transform the health care system, but they will have difficulty achieving any of their goals if they don't make the necessary investments into health care.

Ontario's doctors have a history of working with the government to address and fix challenges in our health care system and it will be important to strike the appropriate balance between finding efficiencies and protecting patient care. We hope the government shares this view.

As negotiations for a new Agreement continue, protecting patient care will require that the government fulfill their commitment to respect fair bargaining processes. Public statements that threaten this process and put our progress and success at risk send a negative message to the hard-working physicians in Ontario, who have been working longer and harder to improve access to patients. As doctors, we will focus on patients, improving their health and well-being and ensuring they have access to the right care when they're sick.

Stewart Kennedy, MD

President

Ontario Medical Association

CNIB and CAO partner to take action on vision health

TORONTO, March 21, 2012 /Canada NewsWire/ - Today, CNIB announced that the Canadian Association of Optometrists (CAO) will be taking the role of CNIB's National Vision Health Month Partner for the third annual Vision Health Month happening this May.

The goal of Vision Health Month 2012 is to educate Canadians about the importance of caring for their eyes in order to eliminate avoidable sight loss in Canada.

Currently 45,000 Canadians lose their sight each year, many of them needlessly. CNIB's goal is to reduce this number by 50 per cent by the year 2020. That's 22,500 Canadians whose sight could be saved every year - the size of a typical town.

"Many Canadians lose their sight unnecessarily, simply because they don't know enough about their vision health and they don't visit their optometrist regularly," said John Rafferty, CNIB's President and CEO. "An eye exam is an excellent way to detect many serious eye diseases that can lead to vision loss. CNIB is thankful for CAO's support to help remind Canadians that their eyes need to last a lifetime."

Together during Vision Health Month, CNIB and CAO will encourage Canadians to take action for their vision health by getting a complete eye exam from their optometrist, and encouraging their friends and family to do the same.

"Regular, complete eye examinations by a doctor of optometry can help to detect eye disease early," said Dr. Lillian Linton, CAO's President. "CAO is happy to lend its support to CNIB during Vision Health Month to help reduce avoidable sight loss in Canada."

As part of the partnership, CNIB and CAO have also joined forces to empower optometrists to take action and spread that powerful message in their communities across the country. For every eye exam conducted by participating optometrists during the month of May, $2 will be donated to CNIB.

Funds raised during Vision Health Month will help CNIB reduce avoidable sight loss in Canada and provide community-based programs across the country to ensure no Canadian has to face the challenges of sight loss alone.

About CAO

The Canadian Association of Optometrists (CAO) is a professional association that represents 4,250 doctors of optometry in Canada. CAO's mission is to enhance the quality, availability, and accessibility of eye, vision and related health care; to enhance and promote the independent and ethical decision making of its members; and to assist optometrists in practicing successfully in accordance with the highest standards of patient care.

About CNIB

CNIB is a registered charity, passionately providing community-based support, knowledge and a national voice to ensure Canadians who are blind or partially sighted have the confidence, skills and opportunities to fully participate in life. To learn more, visit cnib.ca or call the toll-free CNIB Helpline at 1-800-563-2642.

About vision loss:

...One in seven Canadians will develop a serious eye disease in their lifetime.
...Vision loss can happen to anyone, at any age, but many Canadians aren't aware that 75 per cent of vision loss can be prevented or treated.
...After age 40, the number of cases of blindness or partial sight doubles approximately every decade. At 75, it triples.

Challenges with movement only half the story in Parkinson’s

TORONTO, March 21, 2012 - People with Parkinson’s disease have a new tool to help them identify the non-motor symptoms they are experiencing with their Parkinson’s disease.

A Guide to the Non-Motor Symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease, the first of its kind in Canada, is a user-friendly, educational booklet, designed to help people with Parkinson’s recognize non-motor symptoms such as cognitive impairment, sleep problems and compulsive behaviours and learn about treatments and strategies to manage them.

The 50-page booklet, available in English and French, is the result of a partnership between Parkinson Society Canada and the CIHR Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction. The author, Dr. Ronald Postuma is a researcher in neurosciences at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) in Montreal.

Citing a typical example, Dr. Postuma says a man with Parkinson’s may present with a urinary problem that is initially thought to be a prostate issue when, in fact, it may be related to Parkinson’s.

"Many patients do not realize that urinary problems, constipation, insomnia and other symptoms are linked to Parkinson’s disease. As a result, they go untreated,” says Postuma who is also a neurologist at the MUHC and an Associate Professor of Neurology and Neurosurgery in the Faculty of Medicine at McGill University. “The booklet is a simple, pragmatic tool that I hope will improve patient care," he added.

Postuma says that the booklet is intended to help people with Parkinson’s identify their non-motor symptoms, record what they are experiencing using the Non-Motor Symptoms Questionnaire at the back of the booklet, and discuss these symptoms with their doctor. He cautions it is not intended to replace the advice or instruction of a professional healthcare practitioner, or to substitute medical care.

"This is an excellent example of the practical application of evidenced-based research that benefits clinical care," says Joyce Gordon, President & CEO, Parkinson Society Canada.

A Guide to the Non-Motor Symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease is available at www.parkinson.ca/NonMotorGuide.

Parkinson Society Canada’s national research program is dedicated to improving the quality of life for Canadians living with Parkinson’s. Its 10 regional partners and 240 chapters and support groups, have been providing education, support, and advocacy on behalf of over 100,000 Canadians living with Parkinson’s since 1965. To learn more visit www.parkinson.ca.

The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) is the Government of Canada's health research investment agency. CIHR's mission is to create new scientific knowledge and to enable its translation into improved health, more effective health services and products, and a strengthened Canadian health care system. Composed of 13 Institutes, CIHR provides leadership and support to more than 14,100 health researchers and trainees across Canada. www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca

Little change in wait times for Canadians

Knee replacements have longest waits; most radiation therapy provided within benchmarks

OTTAWA, March 22, 2012 /Canada NewsWire/ - A new analysis from the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) reveals that about 8 out of 10 Canadians receive priority-area procedures—including hip and knee replacements, cataract surgery, hip fracture repair and radiation therapy—within the medically recommended time frames.

Featuring provincial comparisons and trends in wait times, the analysis further reveals the following:

...Almost all (97%) patients receive radiation therapy within the recommended time frame of four weeks;

...Similar proportions of patients receive hip replacement (82%), hip fracture repair (79%) and cataract surgery (82%) within these procedures' respective time frames;

...Knee replacements have the longest wait times, with 75% of patients receiving care within the benchmark time frame.

These results are largely similar to last year's findings.

First ministers named timely access to care a top priority in 2004. They identified priority areas and issued wait time benchmarks for seven procedures. While all patients would ideally receive treatment within these time frames, this may not be achievable or practical. For example, some patients may experience other illnesses or complications while waiting. Others may choose to delay surgery, preferring to schedule it when a family member is available to help with post-treatment care. For reasons such as these, providing care to 90% of patients within the benchmark may be a reasonable target.

From a national perspective, radiation therapy is the only procedure for which 90% of patients receive care within the benchmark time frame. From a provincial/territorial perspective, hip replacement in Ontario is the only procedure to reach the 90% threshold. Examination of wait time trends over the last three years reveals limited improvement toward benchmarks.

"Across provinces, there has been little change in wait times for priority procedures since 2009," says Jeremy Veillard, CIHI's Vice President of Research and Analysis. "These results may seem generally positive, but some patients are still waiting too long for care relative to benchmarks."

Provinces struggle to reduce wait times

This year, a few provinces showed longer wait times for areas such as knee and hip replacements and cataract surgery. British Columbia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island now have longer waits for knee replacement. P.E.I. also has longer waits for hip replacement and cataract surgery.

However, two provinces showed wait time improvements for more than one priority area: Saskatchewan for hip and knee replacements and Nova Scotia for hip replacement and radiation therapy.

"It is difficult for provinces to reach the 90% threshold," says Tracy Johnson, Manager of Emerging Issues at CIHI. "Reports like this identify that there are still opportunities to improve access to care."

CIHI's new interactive display enables better tracking of progress and benchmarking over time

The launch of CIHI's interactive wait times display depicts four years of comparable provincial data. This unique tool is easy to use and will help decision-makers

...Analyze data for trending over time or in a specific time frame, all with one click;

...Refine data to the provincial level with a simple click; and

...Access pan-Canadian, at-a-glance performance information for all priority-area benchmarks.

The report, interactive data display and the following figure and table are available from CIHI's website, at www.cihi.ca.

Nearly one million more canadian volunteers since 2007

- Latest Canada Survey of Giving, Volunteering and Participating Data Released Today

- 13.3 Million Canadian Volunteers Contribute 2.1 Billion Total Hours -

- Young Canadians Deliver Highest Volunteer Rate -

OTTAWA, March 21, 2012 /Canada NewsWire/ - Newly unveiled research today from Canada's most comprehensive study on giving and volunteering confirms an increase of nearly one million volunteers nationally. The 2010 Canada Survey of Giving, Volunteering and Participating also reveals that young Canadians, 15-24, have consistently participated in volunteering more than any other age group for over a decade.

In 2010, a force of 13.3 million Canadians over the age of 15 participated in volunteering, an increase of more than 800,000 since 2007. These Canadians contributed 2.1 billion total volunteer hours. However, average annual volunteer hours decreased to 156 in 2010 from 166 in 2007. According to Statistics Canada, "the number of hours volunteered varied from one hour to a few thousand hours."

"It appears as though more Canadians are beginning to get involved in a vast range of volunteering options that work better with their lifestyles," said Ruth MacKenzie, President & CEO of Volunteer Canada.

Volunteering by the Numbers

Silver Times Puts Healthy Living for Older Adults Online

SHELBURNE, Ontario, March 19, 2012 /Canada NewsWire/ - This new optimal aging website for older adults provides easy to understand articles about the benefits of physical activity and healthy living. Written by experts in their field, articles are based on current research.

Identifying a need for reliable on-line research-based information for older adults, the Active Living Coalition for Older Adults (ALCOA) is pleased to announce the launch of silvertimes.ca and bellesannees.ca in both English and French. The silvertimes.ca and belleannees.ca websites are truly Canadian websites - published in both official languages - and written specifically for older Canadian adults.

Dr. M.T. Sharratt, PhD., an Executive Member of ALCOA:

"Everything I have learned in my years researching the health of older adults reconfirms that it is never too late to benefit from physical activity and healthy living! Silvertimes.ca and bellesannees.ca provide older adults with the evidence-based information and tools that will help them to make informed lifestyle choices. I know that if you take our message of daily activity and optimal living to heart, you will see positive benefits in how you feel, and how you live."

Evidence based information, is offered in six areas of interest: physical activity, men's and women's health, safety at home, mental & spiritual health, plus a section for those living with a chronic disease. These six areas have one or more articles with ideas and practical solutions for healthy living and a new article will be posted every two weeks. Each article is not just about giving good ideas - it is written to inspire!

(www.alcoa.ca). ALCOA is a charitable, non-for-profit organization, comprised of 24 national and 35 local and provincial organizations. The coalition was created to inform and educate older adults about the benefits of active healthy living.

CARP welcomes Stiffer Sentencing for Elder Abuse; Bill Introduced by Minister of Justice

TORONTO, Ontario March 15, 2012 - CARP welcomes the introduction of a Bill changing the Criminal Code to increase sentencing for elder abuse convictions and calls on the provinces to follow the federal lead to increase resources for detection, investigation, prosecution and victim services.

CARP members will welcome the proposal to increase sentencing for elder abuse especially in light of yet another high profile case of victimization. The case also highlights the need for more resources to detect, investigate and prosecute elder abuse cases – actions that are within provincial jurisdiction.

"Older Canadians will take heart from this opening salvo on ending elder abuse. Public awareness initiatives are always welcome but nothing beats a Minister of Justice standing up in Parliament to back up our collective opprobrium with legislative action. More is needed, of course, to detect, investigate, prosecute and ultimately end elder abuse", said Susan Eng, VP Advocacy, CARP.

This legislation can’t have come soon enough. Just this month, there was another media report of elder abuse at the hands of a care giver which illustrates the extent to which people will go to victimize an older person, even one who has all her wits about her and access to lawyers.

In March 2011, CARP called on the then Minister for Seniors, Julian Fantino to do more to address the scourge of elder abuse following media reports of a grandmother forced to live in the family’s garage through a Toronto winter..

This was followed by CARP’s open letter to the Justice Minister and then Seniors Minister: stressing the importance of legislative action:

"… the law has an important role to play in embodying societal values and in the wake of this case and too many others like it, must be examined to determine whether the law and the administration of justice have adequately reflected our abhorrence of such behaviour or has had the desired deterrent effect." [CARP letter to Minister Nicholson and Fantino, March 3, 2011]

A former Toronto Chief of Police and OPP Commissioner, Minister Fantino did not need much convincing that exacerbated sentencing plays an important role in deterring crime provided it is combined with enhanced investigation and prosecution.

Stiffer sentencing for elder abuse became an election promise, repeated in the June Throne Speech, and is now poised to become law with the introduction of this Bill.



...read more story at CARP

HOLD STEADY. Let's Prevent Falls Among Seniors: Ontario's Doctors

TORONTO, March 15, 2012 /Canada NewsWire/ - Every 10 minutes in Ontario, at least one person over the age of 65 visits an emergency room because of a fall and the impacts can be devastating. That's why Ontario's doctors are launching an information campaign for patients to raise awareness about the risks of falling and how to take steps to prevent falls in the first place.

"We are facing a growing population of people over the age of 65 and no matter how sure-footed they feel, if seniors take a few simple precautions, they could significantly reduce their risk of taking a serious fall." Stewart Kennedy, MD President, Ontario Medical Association

Unintentional falls are the leading cause of injury among those over 65, making up 59% of emergency department visits and 79% of all hospitalisations for this age group in Ontario. Surprisingly, the most common type of fall among Ontarians over 65 is caused by slipping or tripping on level ground and not falling on stairs or off of furniture.

A fall can carry serious consequences including damage to muscles, broken bones, and damage to a person's confidence about living independently. Recognizing that the number of people over the age of 65 is expected to double over the next 20 years, Ontario's doctors want to ensure that patients have the information they need to potentially avoid a dangerous fall.

"We want our patients to live healthy and independent lives. Falling can take a person from fully able and independent, to disabled and relying on others in just a split second." said Dr. Kennedy

Since most falls are preventable, there are a few easy steps to take to lessen the chances of falling. These include:

...Eliminating tripping hazards inside the home;

...Wearing appropriate footwear, especially on slippery or uneven surfaces;

...Talking to your family doctor about the side effects of all medications that could increase your chances of falling, especially if you take more than one; and

...Staying physically active to keep muscles strong.

Brochures are available in doctors' offices and more information can be found at: www.oma.org/falls

Quick Facts:

...Fall-related emergency department visits most frequently involve hip fractures, open wounds to the head or face, and wrist or forearm fractures.

...Among hospitalisations, 38% of patients are discharged home, 26% are transferred to another facility (such as a rehabilitation centre), and 26% are transferred to a long-term care facility. For approximately 7% of seniors, a fall will be fatal.

...Almost 1/4 of all the fall-related emergency department visits and over 3/5 of fall-related hospitalisations occurred among the over-65 group;

...In Ontario, data from 2004 reveals that falls on level ground cost a total of $610 million to the health care system. Falls from furniture and on stairs accounted for another $137 million and $241 million respectively.

What Would Health Care Be Like Without Labs?

National Medical Laboratory Week Raises Awareness of Vital Health Care Professionals

HAMILTON, Ontario, March 13, 2012 /Canada NewsWire/ - The Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science (CSMLS) has launched a national public awareness campaign which asks us to consider what would happen to our health care system if lab professionals were not there for one day. The impact on this hypothetical day is wider than you may think.

"Surgeries, trauma care, cancer diagnoses and treatment, newborn care, and heart attack diagnoses are just a few of the examples of patient care dependent on the lab," says Christine Nielsen, CSMLS's Executive Director. "The sheer number of procedures and patient treatments that are affected by the lab on any given day are staggering."

The Our Focus Is You campaign ( www.OurFocusIsYou.ca), which is part of the lead-up to National Medical Laboratory Week, serves to illustrate and quantify the vital contributions medical laboratory professionals make to Canada's health care system each and every day. The website includes a one-minute video and eye-opening statistics.

Every day in Canada, life-saving diagnoses and treatments are dependent on work done in laboratories. The dedicated professionals who work in the lab often go unnoticed by the public because they are rarely seen by patients.

"Despite their vital role, our members are often over looked by the public as key contributors to patient care," states CSMLS president, Tricia VanDenakker. "As National Medical Laboratory Week draws nearer, our campaign will help shed some light on these hard working and dedicated professionals."

National Medical Laboratory Week will be taking place from April 22 - 28, 2012. Since 1985, CSMLS has sponsored this special week to educate the public about the important role that laboratory testing plays in the health and well-being of Canadians.

Joining in the celebration will be Medical Laboratory Technologists, Diagnostic Cytotechnologists, Clinical Genetics Technologists and Medical Laboratory Assistants from coast-to-coast.

Please visit www.OurFocusIsYou.ca, to learn more about medical laboratory professionals and to share the video.

The Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science is the national certifying body for medical laboratory technologists and medical laboratory assistants, and the national professional society for Canada's medical laboratory professionals. Incorporated in 1937 as the Canadian Society of Laboratory Technologists, the society has over 14,500 members in Canada and in countries around the world.

Heart-Powered Pacemakers to Eliminate Battery Replacement Surgery

photo credit: Eric Schmuttenmaer/CC BY-SA 2.0

from TreeHugger.com
by Sami Grover - Technology / Clean Technology

Cardiac pacemakers save countless lives, but their batteries only last so long. That's why researchers have been looking for ways to avoid costly and invasive battery replacement surgery which is currently performed on a patient every 5 to 10 years. We've already heard about a rubber film that could harvest energy from walking and even breathing to power pacemakers, and now another group of researchers is pinning its hopes on an even more obvious source of power—the heart itself.

EurekAlert reports that engineering researchers at the University of Michigan have developed blueprints for heart-powered pacemakers using a ceramic layer that expands and contracts to generate enough energy that it might one day eliminate battery replacement surgery:

Karami and his colleague Daniel Inman, chair of Aerospace Engineering at U-M, have precisely engineered the ceramic layer to a shape that can harvest vibrations across a broad range of frequencies. They also incorporated magnets, whose additional force field can drastically boost the electric signal that results from the vibrations.

The new device could generate 10 microwatts of power, which is about eight times the amount a pacemaker needs to operate, Karami said. It always generates more energy than the pacemaker requires, and it performs at heart rates from 7 to 700 beats per minute. That's well below and above the normal range.

From electricity-generating sneakers to piezoelectric backpacks, the idea of harnessing human motion to generate electricity has been much hyped. But there can be fewer more elegant, and more important, uses than to harness the bodies own rhythms in order to help keep those rhythms going.

Spider Silk Violin Strings Make Amazing Sound

photo credit: goatfarm5237/CC BY 2.0

from TreeHugger.com
by Melissa Breyer - Living / Culture


For years researchers have been drawing inspiration from spider silks to produce innovative, protein-based, eco-friendly materials for use in medical, cosmetic, electronic, textile, and industrial applications. Now a researcher in Japan has the used the dragline silk of 300 female Nephila maculata spiders to spin a set of violin strings.

Using between 3,000 and 5,000 individual strands of silk per string, Shigeyoshi Osaki of Japan's Nara Medical University, spun the strands in one direction to form a bundle, then twisted together three of the bundles in the opposite direction to complete each string.

According to the BBC (which also has a video of the sound), the spider-silk strings weren't as strong as traditional (but seldom-used) strings made from gut, but they were able to withstand more tension than aluminium-coated, nylon-core strings.

But it's their sound that has been noticed.

"Several professional violinists reported that spider strings...generated a preferable timbre, being able to create a new music," he wrote. "The violin strings are a novel practical use for spider silk as a kind of high value-added product, and offer a distinctive type of timbre for both violin players and music lovers worldwide."

Upon inspection using an electron microscope, the strings were shown to be perfectly round. In cross-section the strands were seen to be compressed in a unique polygonal packing structure--a range of different shapes that all fit together very tightly with no space between them.

Dr. Osaki believes that it is this feature of the strings that gives them their strength and unique tone--and that this unusual packing structure can provide important details for developing new type of materials in the future.

The work will appear the journal Physical Review Letters.

Failure of metal welds on recalled BIOS Rollator brand walkers sold at Wal-Mart stores pose fall and injury hazards

from Health & Safety Watch.com

Health Canada reports that Thermor Ltd. Canada is conducting a voluntary recall of their walker, the BIOS Rollator 56001, sold at Wal-Mart stores across Canada.

Due to a manufacturer's defect, the fracturing of metal welds on the walker could cause the user to fall and possibly suffer serious injury. The fracturing of the metal welds can occur near the front legs of the walker above the area of the support bar.

Health Canada is aware of one report from a customer who experienced a fall but suffered only minor injuries. However, customers may experience falls leading to more serious injuries.

Corrective Action:

The company is advising consumer to stop using this product. Consumers may contact Thermor Ltd. Canada directly at 1-800-387-8520 or BIOS exactly for information, including how to receive a replacement.

Health Canada has also been advised that Wal-Mart Canada has posted a recall notice in all Wal-Mart Canada stores to alert customers.

Best Before and Expiration Dates on Foods ... What do they mean?

from Health & Safety Watch.com

Everyone has seen a "best before" date or "expiry date" on foods, but do you really know what it means? Health Canada is advising Canadians of what they should know about this kind of label.

What is the "best before" date?

The best before date tells you about the freshness and shelf life of the unopened food you are buying. It must appear on almost all pre-packaged foods that will keep fresh for 90 days or less. Some foods show a best before date even if they are not required to do so. It is important to know that a best before date is only meant to indicate how long a food will retain its normal wholesomeness, flavour, and nutritional value when stored under normal conditions. Health Canada recommends that you not consume unopened food products that have passed their best before date. They may have lost some of their flavour or their texture may have changed. Do not rely on your sight, smell or taste to judge the safety of food. Use your judgement. When in doubt, throw it out.

If the product has been opened, does the "best before" date still stand?

The best before date only applies to unopened products stored under normal conditions. Once opened, the best before date is no longer valid. Handling or transporting food can also affect the shelf life of a food. For opened packages, manufacturers are required to provide storage instructions on the label when they differ from normal room temperature. Some examples are "refrigerate after opening" or "keep refrigerated," which are important to follow.

Advice on how long food can be safely refrigerated can be found on the Canadian Partnership for Consumer Food Safety's website.

Does the "best before" date still stand if you freeze foods?

Some foods can be frozen to keep beyond their best before date. If you freeze food, the best before date is no longer valid. The length of time you can freeze items depends on the type of food you are freezing and its ingredients. Advice on how long food can be frozen can be found on the Canadian Partnership for Consumer Food Safety's website. Consumers can also contact manufacturers for information about freezing and storing their products.

Where can I find the best before date?

Best before dates must be in both official languages, using the words "best before" and "meilleur avant" with a date in the year-month-day format. The month may be expressed as a numeral or by one of the bilingual abbreviations below. The year is optional, unless it is needed for clarity (i.e., if the shelf life extends into a new calendar year).

Best before 11 JA 22 Meilleur avant

January: JA; February: FE; March: MR; April: AL; May: MA; June: JN; July: JL; August: AU; September: SE; October: OC; November: NO; December: DE

What is an "expiration date" and how is it different?

Some foods--such as meal replacements, nutritional supplements, infant formulas and formulated liquid diets--must carry an expiration date. The expiration date is the date up to which the food maintains its microbiological and physical stability and the nutrient content declared on the label. Foods with an expiration date should not be consumed after the date on the label has passed. When an expiration date has passed, there is no doubt, throw it out.

More information about food date labels is available from:

...Healthy Canadians - How to Read Food Date Labels and Packaging

...Partnership for Consumer Food Safety Education's Be Food Safe Canada Campaign

The Weather Network's Spring Outlook: Meteorologists Share what to Expect this Spring

Despite a warmer than normal winter, near-normal conditions expected

OAKVILLE, Ontario, March 5, 2012 /Canada NewsWire/ - The Weather Network has just released its outlook for the months of March, April and May. Following an exceptionally warm and generally dry winter, Canadians can expect a normal and gradual warm-up this spring.

The unusually warm winter can be attributed to several factors, one of which is the jet stream, which stayed further north than usual during the winter months in Canada, keeping the coldest air bottled up over the Arctic. The deeper cold and heavier snow normally attributed to a Canadian winter has instead been felt over parts of Europe and Asia.

"While winter in Canada was relatively dry and warm for most of the country due to the jet stream pattern, it doesn't necessarily mean the same for the spring months," said Chris Scott, Director of Meteorology for The Weather Network. "March tends to be a winter month in most of Canada, and the potential is still there for significant snow. Overall though, we are expecting a fairly typical warm up through the spring months."

The Western Canada Spring

While we can expect a near-normal spring in most of the region, cold temperatures are expected for the northern Prairie Provinces, Yukon and Northwest Territories, with above normal temperatures for southern Manitoba. Precipitation is expected to be near-normal for most of Western Canada, with the exception of Southern Alberta, where below-normal precipitation is forecast.

The Eastern Canada Spring

From the Ontario/Manitoba border east to Atlantic Canada, near-normal temperatures and precipitation are expected for most regions. Above-normal temperatures are expected for Northwestern Ontario, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. Central Ontario through to Montreal can expect above-normal precipitation as the storm track is expected to reside across the region.

The Weather Network's Spring Outlook is now available online. To learn even more about the expected conditions this spring, tune into The Weather Network on March 5.

About The Weather Network and MétéoMédia

The Weather Network and its French counterpart, MétéoMédia, are among the most popular media brands in Canada. They are the undisputed leader of weather information services in Canada across all mediums including cable, satellite, online, mobile and newspapers. The specialty television networks are among the most widely distributed and frequently consulted television networks in Canada. The websites, theweathernetwork.com and meteomedia.com, are among Canada's leading web services. All mobile carriers now distribute The Weather Network and MétéoMédia on their services. As the leading source of weather services in the commercial market, energy companies, municipalities, road services and numerous other commercial clients have their weather information needs met by The Weather Network and MétéoMédia. The growth of The Weather Network and MétéoMédia can be attributed to the continued focus and commitment put into providing the very best weather information to Canadians whose activities are dependent on weather.

Education Can Keep You From Being an On-Line Fraud Victim

March is Fraud Prevention Month

ORILLIA, Ontario, March 1, 2012 /Canada NewsWire/ - As the online world continues to evolve daily, so have the scams criminals use to defraud unwitting consumers, according to members of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Anti-Rackets Branch.

The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC; formerly Phonebusters) reports on-line fraud scams are increasingly impacting Canadian consumers, taking millions of dollars out of the pockets of victims every year.

"Perpetrators of fraud prey upon the most vulnerable people in society and the impact of their fraudulent activities is staggering. The money taken is used to fuel other illegal activities, further victimizing the unsuspecting public." - Deputy Commissioner Scott TOD, OPP Investigations and Organized Crime

During online anti-virus repair schemes, representatives 'cold call' individuals and state that, for example, "your computer is running slow" or "has viruses". The fraudsters then offer to repair the computer over the Internet, which can involve the installation of software or the customers allowing the representatives remote access to their computer. Payment for the software or repair service is handled via credit card. In 2011, the CAFC received 9,349 complaints from Canadians. The 2,119 people who were identified as victims lost a total of just under $447,000.

Other variations of the scam involve consumers responding to pop-up ads online. These pop-ups are often referred to as 'Scareware' as the message in the pop-up is commonly crafted to make you feel a sense of alarm and anxiety and that there is a threat to your computer if you don't click on the link.

Allowing a third party to download software or remotely access a computer carries inherent risks. 'Keyloggers' or other malicious software could be installed to capture sensitive data, such as online banking user names and passwords, bank account information, and your identity information.

Police advise you to invest in and install reputable security software and keep it up to date.

"The OPP officer who started Phonebusters in the 1990's -- Barry Elliott -- realized quickly that police cannot catch all of the fraudsters. An educated consumer is still the best defence against online fraud." -- Detective Inspector Paul Beesley, OPP Anti-Rackets Branch

If you suspect you or someone you know has been a victim of on-line fraud, contact your local police service or CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).

FRAUD…Recognize it…Report it…Stop it.

LEARN MORE

OPP - March is Fraud Prevention Month

Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre - Online Fraud

Glossary of Pitch Types from the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre

Phishing: Any e-mail falsely claiming to be an established legitimate organization such as a financial institution, business or government agency in an attempt to have the consumer surrender private and personal information. The e-mail may request or direct the consumer to visit a web site where they are asked to update or provide personal and/or financial information.

Modem-Hijacking: Any victim who unknowingly downloads a virus or program that uses the phone line to make long distance calls.

Personal Information: Any solicitation where an individual is asked for or to verify private and personal information.

Innovative Guelph researcher tackles treatment challenges for colon cancer with new Canadian Cancer Society funding

GUELPH, Ontario, February 29, 2012 /Canada NewsWire/ - Dr Brenda Coomber, a Guelph researcher investigating an innovative way to improve treatment for colon cancer, is one of 10 Ontario-based scientists receiving new funding, the Canadian Cancer Society announced today.

"This funding helps us work towards solving a problem for cancer patients in an unconventional way," says Dr Coomber, who is leading the project at the University of Guelph.

The drug Avastin works by starving cancer cells of their blood supply, but unfortunately the therapy doesn't work for everyone and there is no way of telling which patients will benefit.

Dr Coomber and her team have proposed a way to tackle this problem and will be using the new funding to study how to identify which patients will respond and how to make the drug more effective. This is important because it may lead to more patients surviving colon cancer.

Being able to identify the patients who would benefit from this drug while improving a tumour's sensitivity to Avastin through Dr Coomber's innovative approach landed her top scores in the Society's first Innovation Grants competition.

An estimated 3,250 Ontarians died of colorectal cancer in 2011 and 8,100 were diagnosed with the disease. Colon cancer is the second biggest cancer killer of Canadians.

"We are funding unique and creative research projects to stimulate new approaches in cancer research, the kind that have the potential to turn cancer on its head," says Lorraine Skarratt, manager of the Society's Wellington County Unit. "In this way and with the support of our donors and volunteers, we lead the way in the fight against cancer."

The Society's new Innovation Grants were developed to support innovative and creative problem-solving in cancer research. The goal is to support unconventional concepts, approaches or methodologies to address problems in cancer research.

Dr Coomber is receiving nearly $200,000 over two years for this project. Including this new grant, she has received more than $1.1 million in funding from the Canadian Cancer Society since 2000. In total, researchers at the University of Guelph have been awarded more than $1.5 million since 2008.

A total of 23 grants representing a $4.5 million investment were announced today across the country. For more information about the Society's research funding, visit www.cancer.ca.

The Canadian Cancer Society is a national community-based organization of volunteers whose mission is the eradication of cancer and the enhancement of the quality of life of people living with cancer. When you want to know more about cancer, visit their website www.cancer.ca or call our toll-free, bilingual Cancer Information Service at 1 888 939-3333.