17 Sep 2008
MOH speaks to planners on aging
Simcoe Muskoka Medical Officer of Health Dr. Charles Gardner led a panel discussion on building communities that support the health of all ages, at the Ontario Professional Planners Institute''s annual conference October 20 and 21 in North Bay. The theme of this year’s conference, “The Grey Tsunami,” explored the impact of Ontario’s aging population.
Dr. Gardner described his role as helping participants “rediscover” the role of public health in community design and planning.
This is the second year the health unit has been invited to present at the planners'' conference about issues of community design and its impact on health. Last year the conference was staged at the Nottawasaga Inn and Resort in Alliston.
Health Unit staff policy puts stop to cell phone use in cars
Health unit employees are no longer permitted to use cell phones for work while they are driving in vehicles. The policy revision was implemented in May and encourages staff of the health unit to follow the same practice outside of work “as a prudent safety measure.”
News of the policy is particularly timely as the Ontario Medical Association recently unveiled its own research comparing studies around the world on the use of cell phones in motor vehicles. The OMA concluded that using a cell phone while driving creates the same risk for the driver as being at the legal limit for alcohol consumption.
Proposed children’s ad ban gets reactions
The Association of Canadian Advertisers has written to the Simcoe Muskoka District Board of Health asking that it reconsider a call made in May for a ban on food and drink advertising aimed at children, to reduce poor eating habits.
Health Minister Tony Clement also weighed in on the issue, with a letter stating the ministry is studying the effectiveness of voluntary and regulatory approaches to the issue of advertising and its influence on childhood obesity. He noted that the national advertising standards regulator has some controls in place on the way foods and other products are marketed to children.
Board of health chair Dennis Roughley has responded to the ACA letter, noting that the issue is presently being considered at the provincial level by the Association of Local Public Health Agencies.
As well, a resolution supporting the ban will be considered at the Ontario Public Health Association summit in late October.
The next board meeting will be held on October 15 in the Barrie office, 15 Sperling Drive at 9:30 a.m.
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