New government publications added at Oakville Public Library

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.