GovInfo

New government resources @ OPL

2011-04-12T09:36:00.004-04:00

If Oakville was a village of 100 people, Town of Oakville, November 2010. "Understanding the diversity of our town helps to ensure we are considering the needs of all our residents... We've reduced Oakville to a village of 100 people so it's easier for us to understand and appreciate our diversity."

2010 Town of Oakville accomplishments, Town of Oakville, 2011. This "booklet outlines all the work Council and our dedicated staff have undertaken over the past year."

Households and the environment 2009, Statistics Canada, March 2011. "This survey aims to measure the behaviours of Canadian households with respect to the following aspects of the environment: consumption and conservation of water and energy; indoor environment; household hazardous waste; and purchasing decisions."

Canadian biodiversity: ecosystem status and trends 2010, Federal, Provincial and Territorial Governments of Canada, 2010. This report "is the first assessment of Canada's biodiversity from an ecosystem perspective." Twenty-two key findings are presented, organized under four themes: biomes; human/ecosystem interactions; habitat, wildlife, and and ecosystem processes; and science/policy interface.

Cycling skills: Ontario's guide to safe cycling, Ontario Ministry of Transportation, 2007. "This is your guide to cycling safety. Whether you're new to cycling or you are an experienced cyclist, this guide contains important information, tips and techniques to make you a safe, confident rider."

Organized breast cancer screening programs in Canada: Report on program performance in 2005 and 2006. Public Health Agency of Canada, 2011. "The monitoring and evaluation of organized breast cancer screening programs provides an opportunity to understand the impact of screening on breast cancer morbidity and mortality, as well as the potential harms associated with screening."

What is contempt of parliament?

2011-03-29T14:43:00.004-04:00

Canadians will be heading to the polls for a Federal Election on May 2, 2011. A sub-committee made up of members from the three opposition parties ruled that Stephen Harper's Conservative government was in contempt of Parliament on March 21, 2011. Harper's government was found to be in contempt of Parliament for refusing to reveal the cost of new F-35 fighter planes and failing to disclose the cost of some of its crime bills. On March 25, 2011, Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff introduced a motion of non-confidence. The NDP and BQ supported the Liberals, making Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s government the first to fall on a charge of contempt of Parliament. But what is "contempt of Parliament?" According to House of Commons Procedure and Practice, the House claims the right to punish, as a contempt, any action which, though not a breach of a specific privilege does one of the following: 1) tends to obstruct or impede the House in the performance of its functions; 2) obstructs or impedes any Member or Officer of the House in the discharge of their duties; 3) is an offence against the authority or dignity of the House, such as disobedience of its legitimate commands or libels upon itself, its Members, or its Officers.

World Cancer Day: February 4, 2011

2011-02-03T10:18:00.003-05:00

February 4th is World Cancer Day, so declared by the Union for International Cancer Control in Geneva, Switzerland. The UICC and its partner organizations run campaigns to raise awareness about a disease that claims many lives every year. Many of those deaths could have been prevented.

One of the participants in World Cancer Day is the Ontario Health Study, a "long-term study that will help us understand the causes, prevention and treatment of cancer, heart disease, asthma and diabetes." All residents of Ontario age 18 or older are invited to participate in the study. Participants will be followed for their entire lifespan, allowing researchers to discover "how environment, lifestyle and genes affect the risk of common diseases." The OHS website has a 20-30 minute online questionnaire for participants to complete.

Canadian statistics regarding incidence, mortality and types of cancer may be found in two publications at Oakville Public Library: Canadian Cancer Statistics, published biennally by The Canadian Cancer Society and Cancer Incidence in Canada, published annually by Statistics Canada.

New government resources @OPL

2011-01-26T16:30:00.008-05:00

Several new government publications are now available, illustrating the breadth of subject matter published by various levels of government. Most of these documents are available as electronic documents as well.

Buying your first home: three steps to successful mortgage shopping. Financial Consumer Agency of Canada, 2010.

Ontario's long-term energy plan: building our clean energy future. Ontario Ministry of Energy, 2010.

Age-friendly communication: facts, tips and ideas. Public Health Agency of Canada, 2010.

Euthanasia and assisted suicide in Canada. Parliamentary Information and Research Service, 2010.

Building the pipeline: increasing the participation of women in non-traditional occupations. Report of the Standing Committee on the Status of Women, December 2010.

Federal disability report: The Government of Canada's annual report on disability issues,Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, 2010.

The sustainability of Medicare. The Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions, 2010.

Health care transformation in Canada. Canadian Medical Association, 2010.

Ahmadinejad's Iran: A threat to peace, human rights and international law. Canada. Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development, 2010.

Measuring up: Canadian results of the OECD PISA study. The performance of Canada's youth in reading, mathematics and science. Statistics Canada and Council of Ministers of Education, Canada, 2010

Family Literacy Day

2011-01-26T14:16:00.003-05:00

January 27th, 2011 is Family Literacy Day, an initiative of ABC Life Literacy Canada to encourage families to read and learn together all year long. Oakville Public Library has these government publications covering various aspects of literacy:

Me read? And how! Ontario teachers report on how to improve boys' literacy skills. Ontario Ministry of Education, 2009.
This guide is intended for educators at the primary and secondary levels who are developing and delivering literacy programs for boys, but it is also helpful for parents who might want to advocate for the use of these strategies in their schools.

Towards an understanding of gender differences in literacy achievement. Education Quality and Accountability Office of Ontario, 2010.
Research has shown that girls "have a significant and consistent advantage in literacy from an early age over boys," and this advantage is found internationally. Researchers used EQAO data collected in Ontario to study the gender gap.

Education indicators in Canada: an international perspective. Statistics Canada and Council of Ministers of Education, 2010.
This annual study compares educational systems in Canada with those of OECD countries.

Measuring up: Canadian results of the OECD PISA study. Statistics Canada and Council of Ministers of Education, 2010.
This study tracks the performance of Canada's youth in reading, mathematics and science.

Voter Turnout in the 2010 Municipal Election

2011-01-18T13:58:00.002-05:00

Community Development Halton recently published four bulletins reporting on voter turnout in the 2010 municipal election for Oakville, Burlington, Milton and Halton Hills. Graphs of voter turnout over time show that Oakville is the only municipality in Halton breaking the downward trend. Oakville has seen a steady increase in voter turnout in the past four municipal elections. Voter turnout in Oakville was 40.0%, Burlington was 37.6%, Milton was 32.6%, and Halton Hills was 25.5%. Maps of each municipality show voter turnout rate by polling subdivision.

The four bulletins are issues of Community Lens, published in January 2011.

How did the 2008-2010 recession and recovery compare with previous cycles?

2011-01-13T10:12:00.005-05:00

The question above is answered in a feature article in the January 2011 edition of Canadian Economic Observer, published by Statistics Canada.

The article states that the recent recession was less severe than those in 1981-82 and 1990-1992, by most conventional measures.

The early stages of the recent recession had significant impact however, because output and employment contracted at a faster rate than in any post-war recession.

Compared to other major industrialized countries, Canada's decline in output was less pronounced and the subsequent recovery was more complete and quicker.

The article also shows how Statistics Canada determines whether an economy is in recession.

A summary of the article may be found in the January 13, 2011 edition of The Daily, published by Statistics Canada.

A Change for Crown Copyright and Licensing

2010-12-27T15:36:00.004-05:00

"Crown Copyright and Licensing (CCL) announced in December 2010 "that permission to reproduce Government of Canada works is no longer required, in part or in whole, and by any means, for personal or public non-commercial purposes, or for cost-recovery purposes, unless otherwise specified in the material you wish to reproduce."

"Literary, artistic, dramatic and musical works as well as sound recordings, performances by performers, and communication signals that have been created under the direction and control of the Government of Canada" are protected by Crown copyright.

A reproduction for personal or non-commercial purposes may be made without permission as long as that reproduction is a copy of the original without any alteration.

Permission is required if the work is being revised, translated or adapted in any way. Likewise, permission is alway required if the work is being copied and distributed for commercial purposes.

More about Crown copyright may be found on the Government of Canada Publications website.

New government resources @OPL

2010-12-15T10:01:00.007-05:00

The World's Women 2010: Trends and Statistics

This United Nations publication is a numerical profile of women around the world. "It addresses critical aspects of life: population, families, health, education, work, power and decision-making, violence against women, environment and poverty. It finds that progress in ensuring the equal status of women and men has been made in many areas, [but]... it makes it clear that much more needs to be done."

Canadian Incidence Study of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect, 2008

This is the "third nation-wide study to examine the incidence of reported child maltreatment and the characteristics of the children and families investigated by child welfare. The data presented in this report are crucial to better understand child abuse and neglect and to respond to this very important issue of child health and well-being."

First Results from the Survey of Older Workers, 2008

This Statistics Canada report "looks at labour force attachment and detachment, as they pertain to Canadian workers aged 50 to 75.... What are the intentions of older workers in relation to working versus retirement? What plans have they made to ensure the feasibility of these intentions? The report will also provide information on which types of employer provided incentives would most effectively encourage older workers to remain in their 'career' job longer."

Canada's Relationship with Inuit: A History of Policy and Program Development

"Inuit have lived in Canada's north since time immemorial. The Canadian government's administration of Inuit affairs, however, has been generally shorter and is less well understood than the federal government's relations with First Nations and Metis. We hope to correct some of this knowledge imbalance by providing an overview of the federal government's Inuit policy and program development from first contact to 2006."

Canada's Economic Action Plan, Year 2

This report details the progress made by the federal government in implementing Canada's Economic Action Plan - " a two-year $62-billion plan to boost confidence and support the economy in response to the deepest global recession since the 1930s."

The H1N1 Pandemic: How Ontario Fared

Written by Dr. Arlene King, Ontario's Chief Medical Officer of Health, this report looks at how we responded to the 2009 H1N1 pandemic, and how Ontario might better respond the next time there is a need.

National Housing Day

2010-11-17T10:07:00.006-05:00

National Housing Day in Canada is on November 22, 2010. An initiative of Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, the day is meant to recognize people and organizations who advance affordable housing in Canadian communities. CMHC's website features "the latest resources and special events all over Canada to recognize the advances made in affordable housing."

From November 15-26, Oakville Public Library is hosting a display for National Housing Day. Halton Region's Social & Community Services department has created posters promoting "Voices for Housing Choices" to "help raise awareness and understanding about the need for safe, adequate, local affordable housing solutions." Halton Region's website features a housing page to provide information about affordable housing to residents.

OPL's collection includes the following housing resources:

Halton Region Joint Municipal Housing Statement, March 2010

2009 State of Housing Report, Halton Region, 2009

Best Planning Estimates of Population, Occupied Dwelling Units and Employment, 2007-2021, Halton Region, April 2007

A Comprehensive Housing Strategy for Halton Region, 2006-2015, Halton Region, 2006

Social Profile of Halton Region 2009, Community Development Halton, 2009

Ontario's Long-Term Affordable Housing Strategy Consultation, Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, 2009

Canadian Housing Statistics 2009, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, August 2010.

E-Stat for students and teachers

2010-11-04T14:35:00.005-04:00

E-Stat, Statistics Canada's online learning tool for the educational community, is available on OPL's website. E-Stat allows you to create tables, graphs and maps using Stats Can's census and socioeconomic data.

There are two main sources of information that may be searched on E-Stat: the CANSIM database and the Census. CANSIM is Stats Can's online database of socioeconomic statistics, offering data on labour manufacturing, agriculture, health, investment, and much more. "CANSIM lets you track trends in virtually every aspect of Canadian life... As of the end of June 2010, over 3,000 tables accounting for over 42 million time series have been updated."

The census is a survey of population done at regular intervals. It is a snapshot of data at one point in time, unlike CANSIM which provides data at regular time intervals.

"CANSIM data in E-Stat are updated once a year during the summer and are free to registered educational institutions. The commercial CANSIM database is updated daily, and there is a charge per series." Retrieving commercial CANSIM data can be quite costly, so E-Stat is a great alternative when you don't have to have up-to-the minute data. For example, if you search for consumer price index data in December, you would only retrieve data up to May if the annual CANSIM update occurred in June. You would need to use other sources to find data for June to December.

Because E-Stat is designed for students and teachers, it is meant to be easy to use, but also flexible to allow data to be manipulated and then put in tables, charts or maps. Each page of the website contains a "Help using this page" feature which clearly describes how to proceed.

Two guides on E-Stat are particularly useful for beginners. Finding and Using Statistics is "especially for users needing a step-by-step review on how to find, read and use data, with quick tips on locating information on the Statistics Canada website." The CANSIM User Guide for E-Stat "walks you through each CANSIM screen and option."

Quoted material taken from www.statcan.gc.ca/estat/estat-eng.htm.

New government resources @ OPL

2010-10-06T09:26:00.002-04:00

Towards an understanding of gender differences in literacy achievement
The Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) produced this report to provide insight into the "significant differences in students' success across schools... [It] provides an initial exploration of such differences, focusing on the literacy achievement gaps that exist between girls and boys in elementary schools in Ontario."

Your guide to doing business with the Government of Canada: A 5-step approach for small and medium enterprises
"If you own or operate a business and are interested in selling your goods or services to the federal government, this guide will help you understand the basics of procurement... The guide is divided into five steps - understand the process, register your business, promote yourself, search for opportunities, and bid on opportunities."

Witness to war: Reporting on Afghanistan 2004-2009 by Adam Day
Adam Day is a Canadian reporter who has taken four trips to Afghanistan, and he says, "it's always the same experience - a comprehensive and sometimes jarring process of becoming bewildered." This collection of stories is an "attempt to document the experience of the Canadian Forces at war."

Social network site privacy: a comparative analysis of six sites
The Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada examines six social networking sites from a privacy perspective, "looking at the stated mandate, the financial underpinnings..., [their] history and the user demographics." The six sites that are assessed are Facebook, Hi5, Linkedin, LiveJournal, MySpace, and Skyrock.

Preparation for the English-as-a-second-language evaluation
Preparation a l'evaluation du Francais langue seconde
While these practice guides are produced for use by employees in the Public Service Commission, they may be useful for anyone studying English or French as a second language.

New Source for Parenting Information from Halton Region

2010-10-05T14:12:00.004-04:00

Halton Region recently launched a new parenting website, www.haltonparents.ca. It is "a new online community for parents that offers the latest in local parenting news, tips, health matters, events in your community and much more. It's a place for parents to talk directly with an integrated team of Public Health Nurses and Child Development staff from across the Region, and to connect with other parents about their parenting experiences."

The website contains advice for all stages of parenting, from pregnancy to infancy, toddlerhood, elementary school years, and teenagers.

The "Haltonparents" team is also tweeting and blogging, so there are lots of ways for parents to stay informed. Dr. Bob Nosal, Halton's Medical Officer of Health, says "we hope that by offering another way for families to find us, we can build on our capacity to promote healthy growth and child development, and help create strong family units in Halton."

(Source: Oakville Beaver, Oct. 1, 2010, p. 20)

New government resources @ OPL

2010-09-16T12:08:00.003-04:00

Life with Arthritis in Canada: a Personal and Public Health Challenge
"This report... provides an overview of arthritis in the Canadian population and its wide-ranging impact. It also suggests approaches for reducing the risk of developing some types of arthritis in addition to minimizing disability and improving the quality of life of those living with any type of arthritis."

Employer's Roadmap to Hiring and Retaining Internationally Trained Workers
This is a guide for employers in small and medium-sized businesses. Some of the topics covered include reasons for hiring internationally-trained workers and how to find them, tips on preparing for a diverse work force, and integrating and retaining such workers.

Health Works
Written for small business owners, this booklet outlines a simple, five-step process for improving business and employee health.

Canadian Health Measures Survey
"This... is the most extensive national survey on physical health measures ever conducted in [Canada]. The CMHS captures a broad portrait of the health of Canadians ... including cardiovascular health, nutritional status, chronic diseases and physical activity," among other measures.

Health in Canada

2010-08-19T10:10:00.007-04:00

Statistics Canada's website features a helpful page called "Health in Canada." It's a one-stop source for information about the health of Canadians. Upcoming and recent releases are featured, such as a study about Bisphenol A concentrations in the Canadian population. Current health statistics about the population are featured for ready reference - such as birth and death rates, current smokers, high blood pressure, and life expectancy.

Under "Health Profile," you can find information about your community by health unit, or health integration unit. For example, you can create a chart for Halton Region that measures the perceived well-being of the population, as well as the incidence of health conditions such as arthritis, obesity, diabetes and asthma.

Access is also provided to "Health Reports," an excellent journal of population health and health services research. The August 2010 issue, for example, contains articles about the role of socio-economic status in diabetes incidence, and health-promoting factors among Canadians in mid-to-late life.

Finally, "Health Subtopics" provide information about the population's health, lifestyle and environmental factors that affect health, use of and access to health care services, and health-related reasearch. News releases, statistical tables,and publications are all brought together in one easy-to-use source.

The Canadian Consumer Handbook

2010-08-12T10:18:00.004-04:00

The Canadian Consumer Handbook is a website that provides consumers with information to build their buying skills. A joint federal/provinicial/territorial group called the Consumer Measures Committee created the Handbook and updates it.

Information on a wide range of topics is intended to help people become better-informed and more confident consumers. Selected topics include debit card fraud, researching your credit history, shopping for a funeral, what to look for in a mortgage, how to choose a cellphone plan, and how to deal with online shopping, telemarketers, and door-to-door sales. Advice is practical and wide-ranging, making this a good source to check before making a major purchase, or when facing a problem as a consumer.

If you feel you have been wronged as a consumer, the website offers helpful advice about how to lodge a complaint.

A key contact list is very helpful as well. It includes federal, provincial and territorial consumer affairs offices, and consumer groups and Better Business Bureaus across Canada.

New government resources @ OPL

2010-07-21T10:05:00.002-04:00

Air India Flight 182: A Canadian tragedy
On June 23, 1985, a bomb killed 329 passengers and crew of Air India Flight 182. The first volume in the final report of the commission of inquiry into the bombing is an overview "provided for those who want a quick and convenient 'bottom line' discussion of the issues."

Auto$mart, new point of view
This student workbook that links safe and fuel efficient driving, using a series of exercises.

Early Development Instrument (EDI) Halton community profile
This report focuses on the learning of young children in Halton Region, based on the EDI, a tool used to assess children's development.

Canadian cancer statistics
This annual report presents statistics for incidence, mortality, and geographic distribution of various forms of cancer. It also includes a special chapter on end-of-life care.

Workplace violence and harassment: Understanding the law
This guide explains what every worker in Ontario needs to know about the workplace violence and harassment requirements that came into effect on June 15, 2010 as part of the Occupational Health and Safety Act.

Seniors' housing report
Produced by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, this annual report focuses on vacancy rates and supplies of seniors' housing.

Aquaculture in Canada
This report by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans reviews the significant business of aquaculture, or fish farming, in Canada.

Long-form Canadian census in 2011 to become voluntary

2010-07-15T16:26:00.005-04:00

Changes to the national census in 2011 have some statisticians worried about the validity and integrity of the data that will be collected. In the past, a long-form census was distributed to one in five households and completion was mandatory. In 2011, the government will retain the mandatory short form that collects basic demographic information, but the long-form will be replaced by a voluntary National Household Survey.

Tony Clement, the Minister of Industry, stated on July 13, 2010 that the government has received complaints about the long-form census from citizens who felt it invaded their privacy. "The government does not believe it is appropriate to force Canadians to divulge detailed personal information under threat of prosecution," said the Minister. "To promote data accuracy, this voluntary survey will be sent to a larger cross-section of households than the old long-form census."

Former top officials from Statistics Canada are speaking out against this move, stating that a voluntary survey is likely to result in seriously biased data. Ivan Fellegi, Stats Canada's Chief Statistician until he retired in 2008, says that a voluntary survey could seriously bias the census data and that increasing the sample size will not compensate for the bias. Fellegi is worried that aboriginal groups, new immigrants, those with low income or education, or the very wealthy will be less likely to complete a voluntary survey, resulting in biased data.

Some of the groups expressing concern about the change include the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, the Statistical Society of Canada, and the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. Municipalities in particular are concerned as they rely heavily on census data to make decisions about community needs such as bus routes, locations for affordable housing and programming for new Canadians.

2010-06-30T11:20:00.007-04:00

Financial Planning for Seniors

The federal government recently issued a series of brochures about financial planning for seniors. Using simple terms, they make what can be an intimidating topic easily understandable. They cover several key areas:

What every older Canadian should know about:

The Federal/Provincial/Territorial Ministers Responsible for Seniors Forum published the brochures. More helpful information for seniors is available on the the federal government's website, http://www.seniors.gc.ca/.

Canadian social and economic information

2010-05-27T15:54:00.004-04:00

Two journals published by Statistics Canada provide a wealth of social and economic information. They may have just what is needed to add current statistics or analysis to a student's research paper. Decision makers might use the articles to develop programs that meet the needs of Canadians. According to Statistics Canada, Canadian Social Trends allows you to get the scoop on topical social issues, be on the forefront of emerging trends, and obtain accurate, first-hand Canadian data. Recent articles include:

Who participates in active leisure?
Online activities of Canadian boomers and seniors
Caring for a parent who lives far away: The consequences

The second journal, Canadian Economic Observer, provides a thorough monthly economic briefing. Economic performance for the country, provinces and specific economic sectors is presented, along with topical and timely feature articles that highlight major issues and industries. Recent articles include:

Differences in Canadian and US income levels, 1961-2008
The evolution of the Canadian manufacturing sector
The impact of recessions in the United States on Canada

Paper copies of the two journals are available at the Central Branch of OPL. They are also available on OPL's website as part of the Federal Depository Services Program, and on Statistics Canada's website.

The New Harmonized Sales Tax - Help for Consumers and Businesses

2010-05-13T13:23:00.005-04:00

The Ontario Ministry of Revenue website provides guidance for consumers and businesses about how the new Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) will affect them.

The HST was introduced in the 2009 Ontario budget. It will replace the provincial sales tax with a value-added tax that will be combined with the Goods and Services Tax. The combination of the two taxes will be called the Harmonized Sales Tax.

The new tax will be effective on July 1, 2010.

A chart outlining "What's taxable under the HST and what's not?" is a helpful document. It is broken down into categories such as clothing and footwear, food and beverages, accomodation and travel, and household products.

The Canada Revenue Agency also provides information about the HST on its website.

Changing Faces - Profile of Oakville Newcomers

2010-04-26T14:52:00.004-04:00

The United Way of Oakville partnered with Community Development Halton to form a better understanding of the recent immigrant population in Oakville. Over 6,800 foreign-born individuals moved to the Town Of Oakville between 2001 and 2006. This report presents population data that will allow organizations to respond to and embrace the growing diversity in Oakville. Major socio-economic characteristics, such as place of birth, age, language, education, employment and income are highlighted and compared with the general population.

Electronic copies of this report are available from Community Development Halton and online at www.cdhalton.ca/pdf/Oakville-Newcomers-Profile-FINAL.pdf

Ontario Municipal Elections 2010

2010-02-02T10:21:00.005-05:00

The 2010 Ontario Municipal Elections take place on Tuesday, October 26, 2010. Other key dates are:

Nomination and Campaign Period Begins: January 1, 2010
Nomination Day (Last Day to be Nominated): September 10, 2010
Final Day for Withdrawal of Candidacy: September 10, 2010
Voting Day: October 25, 2010
Council Term Begins: December 1, 2010
Campaign Period Ends: December 31, 2010
Financial Filing Deadline: March 25, 2011

To find out who's running for which positions in Oakville, visit the Town of Oakville's website for 2010 Municipal Elections. For results from previous years, visit the past election results page.

If you are considering running or have general interest in how elections are carried out, you should consult The Municipal Elections 2010 Guide. It refers to several provincial and federal acts, including:
Municipal Elections Act, 1996 (MEA)
Good Government Act
Municipal Act, 2001
Education Act
Broadcasting Act (Canada)
Public Accounting Act, 2004

New @ OPL

2009-10-22T17:11:00.002-04:00

This week's new addition is a publication from the Canadian Institute for Health Information entitled Mentally Healthy Communities: A Collection of Papers. This report consists of several short, readable opinion-oriented pieces answering the questions What are mentally healthy communities, and; what makes some communities more mentally healthy or resilient than others?

This collection will be followed by a supplement addressing mentally healthy communities from an Aboriginal perspective, which is on order and should arrive soon.

New Government Resource

2009-10-14T14:13:00.004-04:00

The Government of Ontario has released a preliminary 10-Year mental health and addictions strategy. This paper, entitled Every Door is the Right Door, is an indepth examination of mental illness and addiction treatments and services in Ontario, with a focus on developing a plan to improve existing services and supports. This publication is an excellent resource for those interested in both the occurence of Mental Illness and Addiction problems in Ontario, as well as information about possible services.

H1N1 Resources

2009-10-01T15:14:00.002-04:00

Looking for information about H1N1? Check out the Government of Canada's Fightflu.ca site. A great source for up-to-date information about symptoms, the H1N1 vaccine, and flu protection.

Want more local information? Try Ontario's Ministry of Health and Long-term Care flu site.

More New Materials!

2009-09-18T10:05:00.002-04:00

This week business and economic issues abound!

Canada's Economic Action Plan: A Guide to Benefits and Programs is now available. This guide is a companion to the previously issued Economic Action Plan, outlined in Budget 2009.

Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada has also released an update on Canada's State of Trade. An excellent summary of Canada's economic status and trade activities, this publication also includes a special feature on Canada's performance in emerging markets.

On a slightly more business oriented note, Human Resources and Skills Development Canada has released an updated Guide to Planning Inclusive Meetings. With the introduction of the Accessibility Standards in Ontario, this resource is an extremely valuable tool for anyone responsible for coordinating and organizing meetings in almost any setting.

New Government Documents at OPL

2009-09-11T10:36:00.006-04:00

It been a while but we have several new government publications in OPL’s collection, ready for Fall reading.

Healthy Canadians: A Federal Report on Comparable Health Indicators 2008

This report from Health Canada offers current information on, and analysis of the performance of Canada’s Health Care System, and the health of its citizens. It focuses primarily on the status of the general Canadian population, with some extra attention paid to the health of the First Nations and Inuit communities of this nation. In addition, Statistics Canada and the Canadian Institute for Health Information have just released Health Indicators 2009, another useful source of comparative data.

With Our Best Future in Mind: Implementing Early Learning in Ontario

Just in time for back to school, we now have a print copy of Charles Pascal’s report on early childhood education.

For those interested in environmental and energy issues in Ontario and Canada, we have several new publications just for you.

Interim Report on Ontario’s Biodiversity 2008 and;

The Solar Task Force Report from Ontario’s Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure.

Canadian Energy Overview 2008

Government documents recently added to OPL's collection

2009-07-23T09:32:00.003-04:00

Report of the propane safety review
(Report by independent panel prior to the August 2008 explosion in north Toronto)
Society at a glance 2009: OECD Social indicators
Organisation for Economic Co-operation & development biennial report that attempts to satisfy the demand for quantitative data on social well-being and trends. It compares facts and figures across countries, using a wide range of indicators, some more unexpected than others - time spent watching television, on personal care, leisure patterns by age. There are also many health indicators, poverty and education indicators, crime, bullying and suicide indicators.
Up against a wall. Coping with becoming a teen when you have been maltreated as a child
Substance use among adolescents in child welfare versus adolescents in the general population
Places to Grow: Size and location of urban growth centres in the Greater Golden Horseshoe
This report outlines the relevant policies in the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe, which relate to urban growth centres and provides maps depicting the size and location of the 25 urban growth centres in the GGH.
Immigrants in rural Canada: 2006
Examines immigration patterns in Canada's rural and small towns
2009 Hunting Regulations Summary
From Government of Ontario - if you plan to hunt small game, wolves, moose, wild turkeys, black bear or deer, you need to know the regulations that apply.

Health Care Options Ontario

2009-07-17T15:20:00.003-04:00

The Health Care Options website from the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care aims to connect Ontario residents quickly with the local health care they need.
It provides contact information, including names, addresses and hours of operation, for frontline health care services in your community, and includes descriptions and links to Telehealth Ontario (call to get health advice from a registered nurse (helps you find family health care in your community), Healthcare Connect (helps you to find health care in your community), Community Care Access Centres (access to government-funded homes and community services and long-term care, Connex (alcohol, gambling and mental health services). Factsheets in over 20 different languages can be printed off from the website.
For analysis of the health care systems in the U.S. and Canada, see the report One Issue, Two Voices: Health Care in Crisis. The Drive for Health Reform in Canada and the United States

New government resources at Oakville Public Library

2009-07-03T15:35:00.003-04:00

The following electronic resources have been added:
Finding home: Policy options for addressing homelessness in Canada
Finding Home aims to fill a gap in the information available on homelessness by providing an easily accessible collection of some of the best Canadian research and policy analysis on homelessness. This e-book includes summaries of recently completed research reports as well as the most policy-relevant published articles from scholarly journals. The chapters have been edited to keep them at a length of 3,000 to 9,000 words and to ensure that they are accessible to a non-specialist audience. Each chapter is a separate dowloadable PDF.

Opening doors to the world: Canada's international market access priorities

Lessons to be learned : The report of the Honourable Bob Rae, Independent Advisor to the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, on outstanding questions with respect to the bombing of Air India flight 182

The community solution to gang violence - a collaborative community process and evaluation framework

With our best future in mind; Implementing early learning in Ontario

Children and lone-mother families

Recognition of the foreign credentials of immigrants

Canadian housing observer 2008: with a feature on housing need

Guide to Canadian Heritage financial support programs

Income in Canada

Abortion in Canada

Energy efficiency trends in Canada 1990 to 2005

Energy Consumption of major household appliances shipped in Canada

Health in Canada

2009-06-26T14:25:00.002-04:00

Statistics Canada has just introduced a new module available from its home page. Called Health in Canada the module features the most up-to-date statistics on the health of Canadians and the health care system.
Scroll down the page and view the sections: Health Indicators (data about a topic), Health Reports (articles on a topic), Health Subtopics (information by theme) and Health Profile, which features community-level data from a number of sources, including Statistics Canada's health surveys, administrative data, and the Census of population.
The application provides the latest statistics available for a selected health region (e.g. Oakville), provides the corresponding provincial data by default, and users can easily select any region of choice for comparison.

Use this information to:

Find the latest health statistics available from a wide range of indicators for a specific region
Quickly compare with provincial or national rates, other jurisdictions, peer groups, etc.
Profile the overall health of a community.
Toggle to census Community profile data for the same area.

Ontario government report on early education

2009-06-16T10:37:00.002-04:00

This 68-page report, published yesterday, is available from the Ministry of Education's website With our best future in mind: Implementing early learning in Ontario.
There will be a link in Bibliocommons to the PDF, and the print copy will be added as soon as it is available for ordering.

Virtual Reference Service - U.S. Government Information Online

2009-06-08T10:17:00.003-04:00

GIO (Government Information Online)is a free online information service supported by nearly twenty public, state and academic libraries throughout the United States. Through Chat and e-mail users are directed to information from U.S.. government agencies, in particular federal, but state, regional and local agancies as well. The libraries involved are federal depositories.

Funding for Town of Oakville from Ontario and Federal governments

2009-06-08T10:02:00.003-04:00

A total of $3.4 billion in federal funding has been granted to municipalities in Ontario for investment in infrastructure projects. These funds will be matched by the Ontario government and the municipal governments themselves.
The Town of Oakville has received $30 million in infrastructure stimulus funds - equally provided by the governments of Canada and Ontario - to build a new $45 million dollar transit facility (the remaining third to come from Town's capital funding). The new facility will be completed by March 31, 2011.
For an aerial view and site plan of the proposed facility, see the Town's website

NEW government resources at Oakville Public Library

2009-05-29T10:39:00.002-04:00

Recently added to our collection:

Featured publication
The World Health Report 2008: Primary Health Care, Now more than ever. World Health Organization
This is a great resource for anyone researching or working in primary health care of health care policy.
Chapter headings :
Challenges of a changing world
Advancing and sustaining universal coverage
Primary care: putting people first
Public policies for the public's health
Leadership and effective government
The way forward

More additions to the collection :
On-line News Fundamentals: An introduction to journalism on CBCNews.ca
Discovering Ontario: A report on the future of tourism
Ontario Curriculum Grades 11 & 12 Science (updated 2008)
Divorce law in Canada
Improving the health of Canadians

Electronic resources:
Deaths 2006. Statistics Canada
Retail Trade :How the provinces fared in 2008
Manufacturing: the year 2008 in review
Immigrant Characteristics, the IT bust, and the effect on entry earnings of immigrants

Ontario's Green Energy Act

2009-05-25T22:14:00.002-04:00

This new act, which came into force on May 14, porposes to ease the growhth ot clean, renewaable energy, including wind, solar, hydro, biomass and biogas. It will help to get energy projects up and running more quickly by removing barriers and providing added reliability.

Kevin Flynn, MPP for Oakville and Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of the Environment, was at Oakville Town Hall last week to talk about the act. Key components are:
· Streamlining the approvals process for renewable energy projects
· Mandatory (unless waived by buyer) home energy audits prior to sale of homes
· Developing a Feed-in tariff system to provide guaranteed prices for renewable energy projects
· Opportunities for communities to build, own, and operate their own renewable energy projects
· New programs to ensure some costs of community renewable energy projects can be recovered

To learn more about the act, go to http://www.ontariogreenenergyact.ca/ The fulltext of the act can be found at http://www.ontla.on.ca/bills/bills-files/39_Parliament/Session1/b150.pdf

Ontario legislation in the news

2009-05-18T19:42:00.004-04:00

There are several Bills of interest passing through the Ontario legislature at the moment and these are getting quite a bit of coverage in the press. It's interesting to track them as they go through the various stages to becoming law and interesting to see the wide array of Bills under discussion. It's simple to do this. Go to Bills and Lawmaking at the Ontario Legislature website to see a list of all Bills currently before Parliament. These can be sorted by Bill number or by Title.
Here are some examples of legislation that has recently received a lot of attention:
Bill 118, Countering Distracted Driving and Promoting green Transportation Act. This Bill, which received Royal Assent on 23 April is the new legislation covering the use of cell phones and other hand-held devices while driving.

Bill 163, Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area Transit Implementation Act, 2009 - from here you can read the full text of the bill, view the status of the bill (it received Royal Assent on 14 May), read the debates about the bill, find out what it is about and see what Acts are affected by it.

Bill 173, Mining Amendment Act - proposed changes related to prospecting land, staking claims etc.

Bill 150, Green Energy and Green Economy Act,

Bill 128, Christopher's Statute Law Amendment Act (Sex OffenderRegistry and Electronic Sexual Material) - this bill seeks to ensure that library and school boards block access to certain materials on their computers for people under the age of 18. It has not gone beyond First Reading.

Ontario Government, Summer Job Program

2009-05-04T14:08:00.003-04:00

The 2009 Ontario Budget increased funding for the Ontario summer job program by over 57 per cent or $32 million, to help more students find summer work in their communities. Students can apply for a variety of government jobs or for funding to start their own business. Employers may be eligible for a $2 per hour wage subsidy to encourage them to hire summer students. Different types of employment are available. Age range is 15 to 30.
Call Employment Ontario at 1-800-387-5656 or visitwww.ontario.ca/summerjobs to find out more about summer job opportunities.

Alcohol statistics: control and sale

2009-04-21T10:03:00.003-04:00

Never say Statistics Canada is dry!
Market share for beer declined over last year, though beer is still by far the most popular alcoholic drink. Wine sales showed an increase, particularly sales of red wine. Dollar sales of red wine have more than doubled since 2000. For more interesting facts see The Daily

Government rebates for homeowners

2009-04-12T22:28:00.006-04:00

Both the Ontario government and the federal government are offering a dizzying array of rebates to homeowners to help spur economic activity and encourage energy savings.
Here are some of the rebates offered. If you know of any others, please blog it.
From the federal government the EcoEnergy retrofit website gives a list of available federal rebates.
(NRCan-certified home energy audit required)
See Grant Table for list of qualifying Eco-Energy retrofits, including $1,250 Homes rebate for solar domestic hot water systems (a dramatic increase from the previous $500)

Ontario Home Energy Savings Program rebate
Current value$500 (but details are being finalized to match ecoENERGY rebate)

Home Energy Audit Program Rebate
$150 toward the cost of an NRCan-certified home energy audit
To qualify for rebates offered through the ecoENERGY Retrofit – Homes program and the Ontario Home Energy Savings Program, an NRCan-certified energy advisor must conduct an energy audit in your home and provide you with a checklist of recommended retrofits. Once the energy advisor has visited your home, you have 18 months (or until March 31, 2011, whichever comes first and subject to available funding) to complete any recommended retrofits and get a post-retrofit evaluation. You will receive a cheque within 90 days of your post-retrofit assessment. The cost of an NRCan-certified audit is approximately $350 for a pre-retrofit inspection and $150 for a post-retrofit inspection

Homeowners can qualify next tax season for the Home Renovation Tax Credit, which amounts to getting 15 per cent back from the cost of a home renovation in 2009, up to a maximum of $1,350.

Available until Jan 1, 2010 through Ontario Ministry of Revenue is the Retail Sales Tax rebate (Solar Energy Systems Rebate Program)

Feed-in Tariff (pending approval)
Get paid $0.802 per kWh that you produce throughout a 20-year contract
If approved, this tariff will be available through the Ontario Power Authority

Net Metering (Available through your local utility)
Pay the current rate for the energy you use minus the energy you produce.

In Ontario, most EnergyStar appliances are also exempt from retail sales tax until Sept. 1, 2009. http://www.rev.gov.on.ca/english/notices/rst/68.html

New government publications added at Oakville Public Library

2009-03-31T10:23:00.004-04:00

Publications recently received from the government and government agencies:
Review of the Roots of Youth Violence
Halton Region's strategy to become more inclusive to diverse communities 2009-2011
Diversity in Action: A toolkit for residential settings for seniors
Safe Boating Guide 2009
Canada's Electoral Process
Services for Seniors Guide (Large Print)
Ontario's Energy Efficiency Resource & Funding Guide
Step by step guide to exporting
Third Generation Public Libraries: Visionary Thinking and Service Development in Public Libraries (To 2020) and Potential Application in Ontario : Report for the Ontario Minister of Culture
A vision for children in Halton: Report Card 2008 (Our Kids Network)
A Fine Balance: Safe Pensions, Affordable Plans, Fair Rules: Report of the Expert Commission on Pensions

Plastic bags

2009-03-23T11:07:00.003-04:00

Library of Parliament produces excellent reports on a wide range of topics. A recent 9-pager "Plastic Bags: Reducing their use through regulation and other initiatives" gives the Canadian perspective on ridding our lives of this consumer item.

Pesticide Ban - new provincial law

2009-03-20T13:59:00.004-04:00

New legislation from the Ontario Government the Cosmetic Pesticide Ban Act will take the place of existing municipal pesticide by-laws (in the case of Oakville, it is the Pesticide By-Law 2007-123). This new legislation updates the existing Pesticides Act and Ontario Regulation 63/09 and comes into force on April 22. Read more about it on the website of the Ministry of the Environment. This includes regulatory requirements for retailers and the landscape industry as well as rules for golf courses, agriculture and forestry.

Health and medical information in Ontario

2009-03-09T18:50:00.006-04:00

Consumer Health Information Service (CHIS) at the Toronto Public Library provides access to a wealth of health and medical information for Ontarians. Located on the 3rd. floor of the Toronto Reference Library, CHIS is funded by the Ontario Ministry of Health Promotion. The website provides details of walk-in and telephone services and a list of resources. Check out the Health Guides on a wide range of topics and the CHIS Blog (see link "More Gov Blogs" on the sidebar)
Another excellent source, this time from the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-term Care is the Medical Services Directory. Enter your postal code to bring up a list of Walk-in clinics, Health Care Providers, Emergency Rooms etc. in your area.

Volunteer Tax Preparation Clinics Oakville

2009-03-07T15:39:00.002-05:00

Volunteer Tax Preparation Clinics are being held at various locations in Oakville, including the White Oaks Branch Library during March and April. Dates, times and locations are listed.
Canada Revenue Agency offers training to volunteers who can help you complete your income tax and benefit return if your income is low and your tax situation is simple.
Volunteers do not complete income tax and benefit returns for deceased persons, bankrupt individuals, or individuals who have capital gains or losses, employment expenses, or business or rental income and expenses.

Government publications - New at Oakville Public Library

2009-03-03T13:34:00.004-05:00

Recently added:
Action on the Ground II: Working with Canadians to improve ecological integrity in Canada's national Parks
Homebuying step by step: A Consumer Guide and Workbook
Reaching out: Innovation in Canadian Libraries
Health Care in Canada
Annual Report to Parliament on Immigration
Services for Seniors Guide: A guide to Government of Canada services for seniors and their families
Science, Discovery and Innovation for Canadians

2011 Census Statistics Canada

2009-03-03T13:29:00.002-05:00

Statistics Canada has created an online discussion forum to facilitate the exchange of comments between census and geography data users in order to explore and gather ideas and suggestions for the 2011 Census dissemination strategy. Any member of the public may post suggestions there regarding format and content of future census products.

Salmonella contamination - Peanut products in Canada

2009-02-03T12:51:00.002-05:00

From the CFIA website today. The list of products is extensive, with some unexpected additions. Take a look.

"As a result of the ongoing investigation in the United States, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), working in close collaboration with the United States Food and Drug Administration, has identified potentially affected foods present in Canada.
Canadians are urged to check the complete list of products in Canada that contain peanut butter and / or peanut paste recalled recently in the U.S. by Peanut Corporation of America. This list will be updated as additional products distributed in Canada are identified."

Government publications - NEW at Oakville Public Library

2009-01-29T15:05:00.003-05:00

Inquiry into Pediatric Forensic Pathology in Ontario (Goudge Report)
Welfare Incomes 2006/7

From Town of Oakville
State of the Environment
.Indicators for the Oakville Environmental Strategic Plan
Let's go green together

Buying your first home in Canada: What Newcomers Need to Know (Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation)
Community Lens (Community Development Halton)

Throne Speech and Budget

2009-01-26T14:29:00.004-05:00

We can't compete with last week's events in the U.S. government but there is a lot happening this week in the Canadian Parliament. The Governor General opens the 2nd Session of the 40th Parliament today with the Speech from the Throne. The text of the Throne Speech will be available in the Senate and House of Commons Debates for January 26, 2009. The Debates will be posted on the Parliament of Canada web site on January 27 and can be found under Chamber Business.
Minister of Finance Jim Flaherty will table the 2009 budget in the House of Commons on Tuesday, January 27, 2009, at approximately 4:00 p.m.
Click ParlVU to view live webcasts.

e-Laws official status

2009-01-17T12:16:00.003-05:00

There has been a recent change regarding the Government of Ontario's e-Laws. As of Nov 30, 2008, laws printed from the e-Laws website are now considered the official version and can be used in court. See the e-Laws website "What is considered to be an official copy of a source law or consolidated law?" for more information. However, for federal legislation, the Consolidated acts and regulations on the Department of Justice website still do not have official sanction. As indicated on the website, they are "provided to the public for convenience and readability only".

Savings accounts: choosing the right savings account for your needs

2009-01-12T21:40:00.002-05:00

From the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada, the Savings Report is a 30-page document with information to help the consumer get the best savings account. The report includes very useful tables for anyone wishing to shop around: Table 1 compares accounts from different financial institutions, under the headings Interest, features available, account accessibility, and record keeping options. Table 2 compares accounts by service fees charged - In-branch, ATM, Internet.

Tips for winter driving in Ontario

2009-01-02T14:25:00.003-05:00

The Ontario Ministry of Transportation has some good tips if you are driving in snowy or icy conditions. Learn what to do if you encounter a snow plow, why you should not pass it on the right, what you should carry in your car as a survival kit, and generally how to be road-ready and weather-wise.

Community Lens - Halton

2008-12-13T15:24:00.002-05:00

Community Development Halton produces an online publication that is full of great facts and figures about Halton. Community Lens comes out several times per month and is very short (about 2 pages). Examples of topics covered in issues so far: Population, Children at home, Senior Population, Families and Family Structure, Households and Household Size, Dwelling Units and Tenure, Mobility, Migration, Immigrants, Non-Official languages, Visible Minorities, Aboriginal identity Population, Labour Force, Commuting Patterns, Postsecondary Education. Community Lens focuses on results from the 2006 Census, and lives up to its name by providing a lens on our community.

Accessibility for Ontarians with disabilities

2008-12-05T13:49:00.003-05:00

AccessOn is a great place to look for information on the Ontario government's proposed accessibility standard. This standard, now under public review, outlines how businesses and organizations may be required to provide accessible public information in various formats such as online, print, verbal and digital. AccessON provides a quick summary and links to other information, including a link for submitting comments. Click here for a summary of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (2005) or here for a guide to the Act.

Canadian Social Trends

2008-11-26T14:13:00.003-05:00

The Winter 2008 issue of Canadian Social Trends has just been issued. Canadian Social Trends is published by Statistics Canada and discusses the social, economic, and demographic changes affecting the lives of Canadians. This issue features some really good articles:
Inuit in Canada: Selected findings of the 2006 census,
Selected findings of the aboriginal children's survey 2006,
plus several articles about eldercare and retirement.
Clicking on the link above will bring you directly to these articles.
(N.B. We have the print copy of this periodical in Central Library)

Ontario adoption records

2008-11-17T09:11:00.003-05:00

If you were involved in an adoption in Ontario go to AdoptionInfo and you can find information about an important change to your information and privacy rights. Effective June 1, 2009, Ontario adoption records will be opened, which means adopted adults and birth parents will be given access to identifying information from birth records and adoption orders. If the adoption order was made before September 1, 2008, a discolsure veto can be filed to prevent the release of information. This veto has to be filed before June 1, 2009.

New government publications at Oakville Public LIbrary

2008-10-25T12:42:00.004-04:00

Some new government publications have just arrived:

Ontario Prospects 2008: Ontario's Guide to Career Planning

Development of a Regional Transportation Plan for the Greater Toronto and Hamilton area. Papers 1 and 2.

Supporting English Language Learners with Limited Prior Schooling: A Practical Guide for Ontario Educators Grades 3 to 12

National Apprenticeship Survey: Ontario Overview Report 2007

Canada's Engagement in Afghanistan: Setting a course to 2011

Official Historyof the Canadian Army in the Second World War

Changing Patterns in Canadian Homeownership and Shelter costs, 2006 Census

Healthy Canadians Resource

2008-10-24T11:52:00.005-04:00

Physical & mental health & safety issues and initiatives are brought all together here at Healthy Canadians by the Government of Canada where you will find resources for expectant mothers, bunk bed safety, food recalls, nutritional information, and much more.

Yearbook of the United Nations

2008-10-17T13:37:00.004-04:00

The Yearbook of the United Nations , the principal reference work on the United Nations and their various activities, has been digitized for the years from 1946 to 2005. Browse by year or search by keyword.
Sections in the Yearbooks include: Political & Security questions, Human Rights, Economic & Social questions, Legal questions, Institutional, Administrative and budgetary questions, Intergovernmental organizations related to the UN.

Caregivers in Canada from GovInfo

2008-10-09T10:09:00.002-04:00

A new group is emerging in Canadian society - known as the Sandwich Generation These are individuals caught between the often conflicting demands of caring for children and caring for seniors.
VON Canada (Victorian Order of Nurses) has launched a groundbreaking new tool for Canada’s nearly three million caregivers: “Caregiver Connect…from Caring to Sharing". It provides access to information and resources that caregivers need to care for themselves, to provide better quality care to their family members and/or friends, and to connect and share with other caregivers through a virtual discussion forum. From the website there are many links to government programs and information.

Federal Election : promises affecting families

2008-10-09T09:37:00.003-04:00

A guide to election promises regarding families from the Ottawa Citizen

Canada Votes Papers

2008-10-03T16:45:00.003-04:00

Canada Votes Papers 2008 is a tool to help spark dialogue about social issues in Canada. A collaborative effort between SPARC BC, Community Social Planning Council of Toronto, Community Development Halton, Human Development Council St. John and Canadian Council on Social Development, it provides sample questions on social issues affecting communities that you can ask your candidates - issues such as crime, poverty reduction, accessibility, public safety.

Blocking telemarketers

2008-09-30T22:09:00.003-04:00

As a direct result of legislation passed in 2006, CRTC today announced the "National Do Not Call List". This gives consumers a choice whether to receive unsolicited marketing calls. Registering your telephone number with the list (by phone 1-866-580-3625 or on the Internet) will reduce most telemarketing calls, with some exceptions. Canadian registered charities, political parties, and candidates are still allowed to call for donations. Newspapers may also call you to sell you a subscription. If you have done business with a company in the last 18 months or inquired about a product or service in the last 6 months the company is considered to have a relationship with you and is allowed to call you. Telemarketers are required by law to subscribe to the National DNCL and to download updates to the List. It is their responsibility to ensure telephone numbers on the National DNCL are not called.

Second Career

2008-09-12T15:41:00.003-04:00

The Ontario Government has announced their assistance in helping Ontario residents find a Second Career for those recently laid-off or unemployed to find long-term training for high-demand jobs in their communities. Please follow this link for more information.

http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/tcu/secondcareer/

The General Election, October 14, 2008

2008-09-08T13:38:00.006-04:00

Most questions you have about the upcoming election can be answered at the Elections Canada website. From here you can find a list of MPs (alphabetical, by postal code, by riding), view a list of registered political parties and their financial reports, and get answers to questions about registering to vote, about identification required for voting (available in 27 languages as well as English), about getting time off work for voting, about employment during the election. The list is extensive - it even includes an answer to the question "Is someone allowed to eat a ballot?"
Released today is the 2006 Census FED Finder from Statistics Canada, providing statistical information about each federal riding (enter postal code) such as population, age, income and education.
For the individual parties' platforms, here are the links for :
Bloc Quebecois - Electoral platform
Conservative Party of Canada - Key issues
Green Party of Canada - Policy
Liberal Party of Canada - Vision
National Democratic Party of Canada - Plan

New Ontario portal for legal information

2008-09-03T20:51:00.002-04:00

From the Government of Ontario, a new portal for legal information. Contains a wealth of information on subjects such as finding a lawyer, tickets and fines, lawsuits, family law, human rights, wills and estates. This access to the legal system is in line with the existing access to Services through Service Ontario and to employment and training through Employment Ontario
In addition, there is toll-free telephone access to the same information in 173 languages at 1-866-252-0104.

Help for teachers on Census 2006

2008-08-29T09:35:00.006-04:00

Just in time for Back to School, Statistics Canada has today released the 2006 Census Results Teacher's Kit. Based on results from the 2006 Census, these excellent kits are classroom ready and cover the following subjects: English, mathematics, social sciences, geography, history, family studies and technology. Suggested grade levels are intermediate and secondary (Grades 7 to 12) and all necessary materials and links to articles, photos, graphs and data are included.
Lesson 1 Exploring the effects of population change
Lesson 2 Meeting the needs of an aging population
Lesson 3 What is a family?
Lesson 4 Immigration: the changing face of Canada
Lesson 5 The First Nations, Metis, and Inuit peoples of Canada
Lessons 6, 7 and 8 will be released on 17 September.

Listeria investigation and food recall

2008-08-27T19:17:00.002-04:00

For information from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency about products recalled, click here. If you're wondering how to determine if the Maple Leaf ham in your fridge is part of the recall click here. The Public Health Agency of Canada provides more information about listeriosis, updated frequently. The Ministry of Health and Long Term Care has a fact sheet about listeria, the symptoms of listeriosis and how to avoid it. For more information contact your local Public Health Unit

Infrastructure funding for municipalities

2008-08-26T11:10:00.005-04:00

All municipalities in Ontario will benefit from infrastructure funding under the Investing In Ontario Act. The Ontario government is investing an additional $1.1 billion in capital grants to municipalities. Click here to see how much Oakville will be receiving
This news release from CNW Group provides a good overview of the act, its implications, and the relationship building between the government and Ontario municipalities.

Identity theft. Warning from CRA

2008-08-19T12:37:00.002-04:00

The following information is taken directly from the CRS website today:
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) is warning taxpayers to beware of a recent scam where some Canadians are receiving a letter fraudulently identified as coming from the CRA and asking for personal information. The letter is not from the CRA. View a copy of the letter here PDF version of the letter
The letter claims that there is “insufficient information” for the individual’s tax return and that in order to receive any “claims,” they will have to update their records. The letter attaches a form specifically requesting the individual’s personal information in writing, via fax or email, including information on bank accounts and passports. This letter is not from the CRA and Canadians should not provide their personal information to the sender.
All taxpayers should be vigilant when divulging any confidential information to third parties. The CRA has well established practices to protect the confidentiality of taxpayers’ information.
The CRA has notified the proper law enforcement authorities of this scam.

Gas prices

2008-08-15T14:23:00.002-04:00

If you want to know some interesting statistics about Canadians' use of energy read the following article from The Daily (Thursday, 14th August) Study: Over a barrel? Canada and the rising cost of energy. Some food for thought: 1. despite the steady increase of gas prices since 2002, our consumption of gas has gone up, and 2. We think of ourselves as being self-sufficient in energy, but Canada actually imports 19.8% of the energy it uses.

New government publications - at GovInfo

2008-08-07T08:41:00.003-04:00

Some new government publications have just arrived. Check them out at the Oakville Public Library catalogue

Maintaining Seniors' independence: A Guide to Home Adaptations
From Canada Housing & Mortgage Corp., this publication identifies home adaptations/improvements that are easy to carry out and allow older people with disabilities to live independently at home.

Threats to Water Availability in Canada
From Environment Canada, a selection of 15 chapters written by experts from academe, industry and government addressing a range of threats to water availability, and detailing current status, trends and knowledge.

Federalism: An Introduction
A concise little book that will easily fit in your pocket, this provides a quick, straightforward introduction to the federal system of government, its origins and characteristics.

Local Government in Action
This is a simulation about a fictional, medium-sized municipality in Canada called Summerville. It provides an interactive teaching tool with a focus on governance and community development in municipalities in Canada. It also examines the major issues faced by communities on the periphery of metropolitan areas.

Canadian economic conditions, statistics and major events

2008-07-29T11:36:00.003-04:00

The Canadian Economic Observer is Statistics Canada's flagship publication for Canadian economic statistics. Here are a few pointers to the wealth of information contained there. The July 2008 issue analyses current economic conditions and summarizes the major economic events that occurred in June. A separate statistical summary contains a wide range of tables and graphs on the principal economic indicators for Canada, the provinces and the major industrial nations. Recent Feature Articles contains a chronological index to feature articles from January 1990 to June 2008. Browse through this list to view the topics covered, such as cross border shopping, Canada-China trade, the gender divide in the labour force, household use of the Internet. To view one of the feature articles go to the Chronological Index available from the Canadian Economic Observer Main page
The Canadian Economic Observer, Historical Statistical Supplement contains annual historical data for all series reported monthly in Canadian Economic Observer (annual data up to 2007).

Analog-to-digital television transition

2008-07-07T23:40:00.002-04:00

The final date for analog-to-digital television transition in Canada is August 31, 2011. In the United States. In the United States the date of transition is February 17, 2009. Why are we switching? What will it mean for you and your television? What do you need to know when buying a new television? To get the answers to all these questions, go to Canada's Office of Consumer Affairs.

Smoking ban in Ontario

2008-06-17T12:15:00.003-04:00

Read about the new ban on smoking in cars with children under 16, just passed by the Ontario legislature. View the text of the bill here.

European government sources on climate change

2008-06-13T14:50:00.003-04:00

On 23 January 2008 the European Commission put forth an integrated proposal for Climate Action
This website contains information on this proposal to reduce greenhouse gases and increase renewable energy sources in the European Union. It provides excellent Fact sheets on renewable energy for each EU country.

New government publications - at GovInfo

2008-06-13T14:32:00.004-04:00

Some new government publications have just arrived. Check them out at the Oakville Public Library catalogue

Controversial Canadian claims over Arctic waters and maritime zones. 2008

Human Activity and the environment; Annual statistics 2007 and 2008

Employability in Canada: Preparing for the future

Canadian Cancer Statistics 2008

About Canada Series

2008-06-11T16:35:00.004-04:00

The About Canada series is a collaborative effort of the Centre for Canadian Studies at Mount Allison University and the Canadian Studies Program, Department of Canadian Heritage. It is an exciting collection of online publications exploring a number of different aspects of Canadian history, culture and society. This series consists of articles, annotated bibliographies and study guides covering a diverse range of subjects, including Famous Women in Canada and Canada at the Movies. Great for school projects, teaching or just for fun, there is something here for everyone.

To check out the rest of the About Canada collection, click here.

Canada's trade with Russia - GovInfo

2008-05-22T10:19:00.005-04:00

A study on Canada/Russia trade from Statistics Canada shows a rate of growth 4 times that of Canada's total world trade figures. In this decade Canada has always had a trade deficit with Russia, a deficit driven recently by imports of mineral fuels, which in 2007 amounted to more than two thirds of total imports from Russia.
Read more about what and how much is being traded between the two countries in the full report Canada's Trade with Russia 1998 - 2007

More of the Canada Gazette online - GovInfo

2008-05-15T10:32:00.003-04:00

"A Nation's Chronicle: The Canada Gazette" is another major iniatiative from Library & Archives Canada.
The Canada Gazette is the newspaper of our federal government. Through it every Canadian gets to participate in the legislative process, so it's a very important part of our democratic tradition. The digitization of the Gazette, which began in 2007, is ongoing and it's expected that by the beginning of 2009 about 90% of all issues will be available in this searchable database from the Gazette's first issue in1841 until 1998. Approximately 30% of the Canada Gazette is now searchable online. This includes:
Part I - 1983-1997
Part II - 1950-1976, 1983-1997
Part III - 1985-1997

The database is searchable by issue and by keyword. Use Search Help for more information

You can also search the Consolidated Regulations of Canada. There have been five consolidations of regulations published (1874, 1889, 1949, 1955 and 1978). These are not officially part of the Canada Gazette, but have been included in the database for the convenience of researchers.

News from "The Hill" and What's Happening in Foreign Policy

2008-05-06T14:03:00.005-04:00

Happenings on "The Hill" are published in the weekly "The Hill Times". Tagged as "Canada's politics and government newsweekly", you'll find lots of news stories about what's happening on Parliament Hill.

"Embassy" is Canada's foreign policy newsweekly. Check it out and you'll find news, embassy reports, diplomatic appointments and embassy contacts, etc.

General Rick Hillier Retires

2008-04-16T18:00:00.000-04:00

General Rick Hillier announced his retirement yesterday. Succession plans are already underway. General Hillier will be leaving behind a strong legacy. Read more at CBC by clicking here.

Town of Oakville Pesticides Ban - GovInfo

2008-04-13T16:21:00.004-04:00

As gardening season approaches, you may be getting enquiries soon about the pesticide by-law that came into force on 1 January/08 for the Town of Oakville. Go to the Town's website and under the section Residents and Environment, you'll find lots of information on the by-law, and links to lists of natural insecticides and permitted product brands available in stores, as well as the document Oakville's Guide to Gardening Naturally which contains a list of native plants for the Halton Region as well as tips for fertilizers to use and how to care for your lawn without chemicals.

Great new government publications - GovInfo

2008-04-03T10:05:00.002-04:00

Some great new government publications have just arrived. Check them out at the Oakville Public Library catalogue:

The Economics of Climate Change (also known as the Stern Review)
The Book Retail Sector in Canada
Independent Panel on Canada's Future Role in Afghanistan (also known as the Manley Report)
State of the Great Lakes 2007
2008 Ontario Municipal Directory
National Health Expenditure Trends 1975-2007
The Federal Budget, February 2008
Regulation of Agricultural Biotechnology in Canada

Canada Year Book Historical Collection - GovInfo

2008-04-01T11:00:00.003-04:00

Canada Year Book Historical Collection was launched today by Statistics Canada. This digital collection, available free of charge from the Statistics Canada website, contains a wealth of historical data covering the first century of Canadian history following Confederation in 1867, through to 1967, with historical text, tables, charts and maps. It's a great site to show students and teachers, because it includes lots of learning resources, including lesson plans and worksheets, but it's also really good for historical statistics. To get an idea of the coverage, look at it under the heading “Browse by Topic” and follow the links , e.g. Photos and Lesson Plans. Topics there include The Great Depression, Canada at War, Ethnocultural Diversity and lots more.

UN Data - Worldwide Country Stats.

2008-03-27T09:07:00.001-04:00

http://data.un.org/

Literally a world of information!

This is a free database for all those comparison stats, country profiles, and other questions of the sort from countries around the world.

It searches over 55 million records covering topics such as:
Agriculture
Education
Employment
Energy
Environment
Health
Human development
Industry
Information and Communication Technology
National Accounts
Population
Refugees
Trade
Tourism

A very easy interface to use and search. Try it out!

311 and 211 explained at GovInfo

2008-03-18T10:28:00.000-04:00

311 Halton Government Services will be officially launched today Tuesday, March 18, 2008 at 2pm.

What are the differences between 311 and 211?
311 is a three-digit telephone number for callers to get access to the following government services in Halton Region:

· Town of Oakville
· City of Burlington
· Town of Milton
· Town of Halton Hills
· Halton District School Board
· Halton Catholic District School Board
· Halton Regional Police Service (non-emergency calls)
Examples would be: program information, request a service or report non-emergency problems.

Ontario 211, on the other hand, provides information about many community, health and social services, regardless of whether the services are provided by government, not-for-profit or community groups. 211 service is available in Toronto, Halton, Windsor-Essex, Niagara, Simcoe County and Thunder Bay, with plans for further expansion. It's free, operates 24/7 and staff has expertise in 150 languages. See today's Toronto Star Budget to offer Hotline Aid for more information on this great service.

Featuring Canadian War History in GovInfo

2008-03-16T15:52:00.001-04:00

Veterans Affairs Canada is a great place (and often overlooked) to refer those Grade 10 history students who are looking for information on the First and Second World Wars. They will find details of the battles, background to the wars, video clips and interviews with veterans. The website also contains information on the Boer War the Korean War and Canada's peacekeeping operations in the last 50 years. It's best to look under the History link on the sidebar, but this is a good website to explore a little as there are several hidden gems.
You'll find that the library has some print publications from Veterans Affairs too, such as Valour Remembered: Canada and the Second World War , Canada's Nursing Sisters and Native soldiers, Foreign Battlefields and these are in French and English, so particularly helpful for French Immersion students.

Oakville's highly educated population

2008-03-05T10:10:00.000-05:00

Figures released yesterday from the 2006 Census show Oakville and Richmond Hill residents holding the highest percentage of university degrees in the Greater Toronto Area. Approximately 42% of the residents in both municipalities have university degrees at the bachelor level or higher. The average for Ontario is about 31%. Click here to see full details of Oakville residents' educational attainment.
View this map from the Globe & Mail for a complete snapshot of education, employment and commuting in the provinces, territories and metropolitan areas of Canada in 2006.

New from the Census

2008-03-04T16:13:00.000-05:00

Statistics Canada today released data from the 2006 Census this morning, and most of the media coverage has been about labour market activities, and particularly the graying of the workforce (half now over the age of 40). However, there is much more to peruse there – data on industry, occupation, education and language of work. Take a look.
Also provided are three excellent on-line documents Canada's Changing Labour Force, Educational Portrait of Canada, and Using Languages at Work in Canada,

Spending Patterns in Canada

2008-02-26T16:00:00.000-05:00

To read a post on what people are buying and where they are buying it in Canada, please check out a post from February 26, 2008 on the Resources for Small Business blog. It references Statistics Canada's 2006 data in a report called Spending Patterns in Canada. Also included in this post is information on doing business in Alberta (because spending growth is very high there).

The Budget

2008-02-26T13:53:00.000-05:00

Time for a budget refresher as today is budget day.
Budgets are tabled usually early in the year. They are generally preceded in the fall by another major statement The Economic and Fiscal Update. Past statements and budgets can be viewed at the Department of Finance website
To find out more about how budgets are tabled in the House of Commons, what happens to budgets after they are tabled, and how they fit into the government’s annual financial cycle click here
To follow the Budget today, you can't do better than go to CBC. Coverage begins at 2 p.m. ET with a pre-budget special on CBC Newsworld, then live federal budget coverage at 4 p.m. ET on CBC Radio, CBC TV & CBC Newsworld and live streaming on CBCNews.ca.

Health Issues

2008-02-26T13:24:00.000-05:00

Sometimes it seems that people are turning more and more to libraries and the Internet for health information, and either bypass doctors completely, or go to their doctor with information gleaned from the Internet. Two interesting studies in Health Reports, Feb 2008 tend to confirm this. The first Chronic Pain in Canadian Seniors indicates just how great the problem of chronic pain is in the older population. The second article, Getting a Second Opinion: Health Information on the Internet, bases its findings on a 2005 survey and offers many insights into Canadians' habits in getting health information. Needless to say, the Internet figures prominently.

Questions about tax?

2008-02-10T08:30:00.000-05:00

If you have questions about personal or corporate tax in Canada, a lot of information is now freely available on the web. This can be supplemented by print publications in the library.

The Department of Finance and Canada Revenue Agency (CDA) are the two federal government bodies that deal with taxes.

Department of Finance
While CDA collects the taxes, it’s the Dept. of Finance who prepares the policies and legislation that determine who gets taxed, how, and how much. Budget papers from 1994 describe tax changes and how taxes will be spent. Coming tax changes are often first mentioned in Department of Finance News Releases. If you want to receive notification by email of new press releases or the posting of a new budget, you can register here.
If you have a question about tax regulations in general, such as how much tax we pay on alcohol, what tax measures are available to help students or families, or about car deduction rates, go to the excellent and lengthy FAQ page. This also gives useful links to websites that deal with related issues, such as student loans or the CPP.

The Bible of federal income tax is the Income Tax Act. Neither the Canada Revenue Agency nor the Department of Finance publishes the act in print or electronically (it is extremely difficult to maintain due to its length and frequent amendments). Go to the Department of Justice website for the unofficial version of the act. Income and tax regulations are published in the Canada Gazette Part II . Consolidations of the Act are available from commercial publishers. The best place to go to see a print copy is the library, Central Branch. You’ll also find the Canada Gazette Part II there, as well as many other books related to tax. Here is a small sample of what you can find:

Canadian Master Tax Guide
How to Reduce the Tax you pay
Income Splitting
Preparing your Corporate Tax Returns..
The Taxman is Watching
Winning the Tax Game

Canada Revenue Agency

This is a website packed full of information. Here are a few pointers to help guide you, though the site is very easy to navigate. If you are a business owner go straight to the link for business on the sidebar Clickherefor current corporate tax rates.
Click here for current personal tax rates.
You can find tax forms listed by number or tax forms listed by topic.
Access the excellent series of Tax Guides and Pamphlets that CRA produces on a variety of topics, for example Canadian Residents Abroad, Preparing a Tax Return for a Deceased Person, Canadian Residents Going Down South, Using your Home for Day Care.

Additional useful websites with free tax related information:
BDA Dunwoody Tax Publications – excellent electronic bulletins and newsletters, tax rates, tax tips, budget updates.
Tax Facts and Figures for Individuals and Corporations - an annual electronic publication from PricewaterhouseCoopers
Deloitte & Touche’s Quick Tax Facts
Canadian Income tax FAQs for Small Businesses .

For more on Canadian tax see:
Caruso, Agnese. “What a Taxing Day! A Survival Guide for Researching and Answering Canadian Tax Questions.” Feliciter, Issue 1, 2007, p.40.

Ontario Gov. Docs archive now online

2008-02-06T09:55:00.000-05:00

Gov. Docs. from the Legislative Library of Ontario are now available on the OurOntario site http://govdocs.ourontario.ca/index.html and searchable by keyword - Advanced search option also available. There's a browsable index by author, title, department, subject, date. Documents are captured from publicly available websites and archived in PDF format. Not all Government of Ontario documents are included, but at the moment there are 14,000 monographs and 900 serials, and the archive will be added to on a monthly basis. This has been in the works for some time so it's great to see it up and working with a good search engine. Try it out using keywords like "Walkerton" or "Ipperwash" or "ontario electricity system" - it brings up good results

New series of articles - cities and suburbs

2008-01-31T12:42:00.000-05:00

Canadian Social Trends is a quarterly magazine from Statistics Canada that contains a wealth of information. It's available electronically from the Statistics Canada website (look under Publications, free Internet publications, then under Society & Community). OPL also has a print subscription. The magazine has just launched a new series of articles that explore a wide range of issues related to life in our cities and suburbs. The first two articles have just been published in the Jan. 2008 issue, entitled "The city/suburb contrast: How can we measure it" and "Dependence on cars in urban neighbourhoods". Take a look. The articles are short - and relevant to Oakville.

Profile of Oakville

2008-01-20T22:22:00.000-05:00

With so much data now released from the 2006 Census (population & dwelling counts, housing, immigration, and language, among others) it's interesting to take a look at Oakville and see how it's evolving. What is the population? How has it increased from 2001? What is the median age? How many people in Oakville are widowed? Divorced? Single parents? How many dwellings were built between 1986 and 2006? How many families are French speaking? How many immigrants have come to Oakville since 2001? Since 1991? How many aboriginals live here? How does our community compare with Ontario in general? This and much more can be found by clicking on Community Profiles from the Statistics Canada home page
It's worthwhile taking a look, and play around with the "Select a View" capability, which allows you to pick and choose the data you want, then click on the Print-friendly button or download the data to an Excel spreadsheet.

2006 census data for Aboriginal peoples

2008-01-20T22:03:00.000-05:00

The new release of 2006 data from Statistics Canada presents the Aboriginal peoples of Canada and their demographic characteristics, including the growth of the Aboriginal population, information on age distribution, Aboriginal languages, living arrangements, housing characteristics and geographic mobility. Separate data are provided for Inuit, Métis and First Nations people. Click here to view. If you want all that information in a nutshell, then read the excellent summary provided in Aboriginal Peoples in Canada in 2006: Inuit, Métis and First Nations, 2006 Census