New government resources @ OPL

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

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.

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:

• financial planning
• income and benefits from government programs
• managing and protecting their assets
• planning for possible loss of independence
• planning for their future housing needs
• having a will and making funeral plans
• financial abuse
• frauds and scams

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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