The science experience

Jason Kerr
-
0
The science experience

For the last four days, a group Prince Albert students have set their minds to answering the tough questions.

How do you find credible sources of information? How would you keep society running if the Internet crashed forever? How would you build a display of the different layers of human skin using only food?

It’s called “Science Celebration” and it’s all part of a new satellite science camp put on by instructors from the Saskatchewan Science Centre. For the youth involved, it’s definitely a unique experience.

“Probably my first reaction was, ‘why are we doing this?’” said eight-year-old Sara Pawlyshyn, who signed up for the camp because she wants to be a nurse, and thought it would be good to “learn some things.”

“It’s been fun,” she added. “I’ve learned lots.”

“I thought it would be different,” added Noah Weinrich, another eight-year-old participant. “It’s better than I expected, actually.”

Pawlyshyn, Weinrich and more than a dozen other students on hand are the first of what will hopefully be many students to take part in the new Saskatchewan Science Centre camps. After holding a successful inaugural event in Yorkton last year, the Science Centre tried one again, this time in Prince Albert.

Natalie Bolen, one of three Science Centre educators on hand for the four-day camp, said the program is still in its early stages. However, if test runs like this one in Prince Albert go well, they’re hoping to expand it to other communities around the province.

“We have a (Science Centre) team that goes to communities all over and does little things here and there, but we don’t always have a full week of camp that you can get to know these kids,” Bolen explained. “We definitely want to be able to come back to communities, or be in more communities throughout the summer.”

For Bolen and her fellow educators, science camps start with the basics. In this case, that means showing kids just how often science affects their day-to-day lives.

With kids there’s the impression that science is something you do in a lab with fancy equipment, so one of the camp goals is to show students that you can do science with something as simple as a few pieces of cardboard and a role of tape.

After that, it’s about having fun and making friends, and eating. That last part is a big one when you’re making a display made entirely out of food.

“They were more excited about the snacks, but we got some science in there,” Bolen chuckled.

Like the Yorkton camp in 2017, “Science Celebration” in Prince Albert has been a roaring success. Bolen said Prince Albert has been an awesome host, and the youth have been fantastic. She’s hopeful the experience will help with the school year and the years beyond.

“Whether they’ve picked up the actual science we’ve tried to impart, hopefully they’re just excited about being here and finding other kids who are interested in the same thing,” she said. “At the end of each day … we have them write what they thought was awesome about that day. Even if it’s them saying, ‘I found a friend,’ that’s some of the best stuff that we see.”

Homeownership dream becomes reality for Prince Albert family

Jason Kerr
-
0
Homeownership dream becomes reality for Prince Albert family

Yohannes Zerai didn’t believe it when friends told him he could own a house, but as of Tuesday, he’s on the road to doing just that.

The Zerai family arrived in Prince Albert four years ago from Eritrea and at the time, they had little hope of owning a home in the community. However, that’s going to change in the coming months.

On Tuesday, friends and community members, including members of Calvary United Church who sponsored the Zarai’s move to Prince Albert, were on hand for the ceremonial groundbreaking of the families new home on 24th Street. The house will be fully constructed by next spring.

“Someone from Calvary United Church, they told me (I could own a house),” Zerai remembered. “I said, ‘How? How can I own a house because (it’s) $200,000, $300,000, $400,000 for one house.’”

It’s just a patch of grass now, but Zerai and his wife are already excited at the prospect. The couple came to Canada with six kids, and had one more in the years since. They can’t wait to have everyone under the same roof.

“I am very happy, yes, very happy,” Zerai said.

“The government of Canada and the people of Canada, they did a lot for my family,” he added.

Homeownership isn’t a free gift for Zerai, although given that he did celebrate his birthday on Tuesday, it almost seems like it. Instead of a down payment, he’ll contribute by working a minimum of 500 hours, something Habitat for Humanity calls “sweat equity.” The family also has to pay off the mortgage, but unlike most mortgages, this one comes with a zero per cent interest rate.

“(It’s a) double celebration,” Zerai chuckled. “First my birthday, and then we’re digging for (a new home). We’re excited…. I can’t explain how happy I am.”

Prince Albert Carlton MLA Joe Hargrave and Mayor Greg Dionne were also on hand to help with the groundbreaking, as were Lakeland Co-op employees who held a fundraising barbeque on site during the lunch hour.

Dionne said projects like this one not only help by providing needy families with affordable housing, they also use up empty infill lots scattered throughout the city.

“Look how long this lot’s been empty,” he explained. “Let’s put something on it and start generating taxes and make it useful then. I think that’s what I’m excited about. Every time we come up with a lot that we can give them a deal on, Habitat just snaps it up and builds another home. It’s a great partnership for us in the city.”

The Saskatchewan Housing Corporation provided $50,000 in funding for the 1,175 square-foot bungalow. The SHC receives support from both the provincial and federal governments through the 2014-19 Investment in Affordable Housing Agreement.

Learning through Lego

Jason Kerr
-
0
Learning through Lego

Not-for-profit seeks to help build and develop youth social skills through new Lego Club

The Prince Albert chapter of a provincial non-profit is hoping to use Lego as a way to teach children about social cues, cooperation and empathy.

At this point it’s just called the Lego Club, but it’s already been successfully implemented in Saskatoon by the Learning Disabilities Association of Saskatchewan. Now, the organization wants to start the same thing in Prince Albert.

Program facilitator Flora-Ann Halkett said using Lego provides a fun interactive way to help children develop social skills and she’s excited to see the first group take off.

“Lego’s fun for every child,” Halkett said. “To them they’re playing Lego. To them they’re building something, but in reality they’re also learning.”

Halkett was trained by Cass Phillips, the only certified Lego Social Skills Therapy Coach in the province, and plans to get the program going by October. Children will cooperate in groups of three to build a Lego creation, with each taking a turn at reading the directions, finding the right pieces, and building the final creation.

The goal is to get quieter children to speak up, while teaching rowdier children how to listen and follow directions.

“It’s going to help them in their daily lives, at home and at school,” Halkett explained. “ Sometimes at school when you have one teacher per 30 children, they don’t get that (instruction). When they come here and they learn these skills one-on-one, they’ve learning it in a smaller setting (and) they can use it in a bigger setting.”

The new club will be a learning experience for Halkett as well as the participants. This is the first time she’s ever led this kind of program, so she’s eager to see what kind of demand there is.

At this point the program is limited to eight and nine years olds, but that could change depending on the response from parents and students.

“A successful first run would be if we have people coming back,” she said. “That’s not saying that it didn’t work the first time, just that the kids enjoyed it.”

The LDAS Lego Club is open to all children. It runs one hour a week for seven weeks, starting in October. For more information about the program, including cost, phone 306-922-2982.

Fond du Lac firefigthers take title

Jason Kerr
-
0
Fond du Lac firefigthers take title

The Fond du Lac Dene Nation Fire Department is back in familiar territory.

For the second time in three years, the six-member team took home top spot in the annual Aboriginal Firefighters Association of Canada’s National Firefighter Competition in Dauphin, Man.

This is the 11th time a Saskatchewan firefighting team has won the competition, and the sixth time for Fond du Lac Dene Nation. However, what made this victory so special was the difficult circumstances surrounding it.

“It has been a tough few years dealing with the first death of one of our brothers, the late D.J. Mercredi, and also another brother, Frank Jr. McDonald, who we lost before nationals,” fire captain Ronnie Augier said in a media release. “We will always honour and respect their families, and every call we get we are hoping they are watching over us from up above as we serve and protect our families and community.”

Fond du Lac Chief Louis Mercredi echoed those sentiments, and called for more resources to help those struggling with mental health issues.

“The team’s achievement coincides with the loss of another one of the team members for the second time in three years, and our thoughts and prayers are with their families,” he said in a media release. “We are struggling with the PTSD in our community and we are in need of mental health counselors. We need full-time staff who can reside in our community.”

Neither Augier or Mercredi were available for interviews.

Augier and his firefighting team of Justin Mercredi, Lonnie Augier, Derek Cook, Garrie Mercredi and Richard McDonald finished with 390 points over seven different competitions. That put them 70 points ahead of the defending champions from Cross Lake First Nation, Man., who finished second. Events included everything from a two-and-a-half inch Hose Drag and Drain, to a Breathing Apparatus and Bucket Walk.

“We try to encourage our firefighters and our Canadian Rangers to be well trained for unexpected things, like the plane crash that took place in December,” Chief Louis Mercredi said. “They were well trained, but are still in need of proper equipment for unexpected emergencies. It makes me proud as a leader of what they have accomplished.”

With the victory came congratulations from across Northern Saskatchewan, including from Prince Albert Grand Council Grand Chief Brian Hardlotte.

“We have always been proud of our First Nations firefighters and we are thrilled that one of our northern teams has been recognized nationally as being among the best of the best,” Hardlotte said in a media release. “Thank you for not only representing this province, but Saskatchewan’s north.”

Results:

  1. Fond du Lac (Sask.) – 390 points
  2. Cross Lake (Man.) – 320 points, 70 penalties
  3. Eskasoni (Atlantic) – 320 points, 80 penalties
  4. Six Nations (Ont.) – 280 points
  5. Nunavut – 230 points
  6. Listuguj and Gesgapegaig (Que.) – 210 points, 70 penalties
  7. Maskwacis (Alta.) – 210 points, 95 penalties
  8. Penelakut (B.C.) – 120 points

Consumer advocacy group urges city council to revisit smoking bylaw

Jason Kerr
-
0
Consumer advocacy group urges city council to revisit smoking bylaw

Consumer Choice Center says inclusion of vaping in smoking restrictions a mistake

A non-profit advocacy group is urging Prince Albert city council to take a second look at its recently passed Smoking in Public Places Bylaw.

The new bylaw, which governs where residents can smoke inside city limits, has caused the Consumer Choice Center (CCC) to come out swinging after the city limited vaping as well as smoking.

CCC North American Affairs Manager David Clement said cities across Canada are rushing to introduce new bylaws before the federal government legalizes cannabis, but he worries that means they aren’t making smart decisions.

“It seems like in rushing things through there is a bit of a sloppy nature to some of these bylaws because they don’t actually evaluate some of the evidence presented and some of the differing opinions and why some of these restrictions are not necessarily good public policy,” Clement said during an interview on Monday.

Instead of placing limits on vaping, Clement wants city council to view it as a solution to Prince Albert’s high smoking rate. He said residents use vaping as a means to quit smoking. He’s hopeful that with more research, cities like Prince Albert will see the positives.

“I think at the very least, there should be a move here to exempt vaping from the restrictions, for the sole purpose that it is a harm reduction tool,” he explained. “It is a useful measure to help people quit. When you treat vaping like smoking, it’s kind of like punishing people who ride their bike to work. They’re actually part of the demographic that we want to increase.”

There is some support internationally The CCC’s position, but it’s harder to find closer to home. Organizations like the American Council on Science and Health in the United States, and Public Health England in the United Kingdom, have come out in support of vaping as a way to lower smoking rates.

However, in Saskatchewan, organizations like the provincial chapter of the Canadian Cancer Society remain skeptical.

“It’s hard to know what someone is vaping because a lot of people vape cannabis,” cancer society spokesperson Donna Pasiechnik said. “How would people know what’s in that vaporizer? Is it nicotine? Is it cannabis? They’re heavily flavoured, these products, so sometimes just by smell, you can’t tell.”

The Canadian Cancer Society and Lung Association of Saskatchewan were the two most prominent organizations to come out and strongly support Prince Albert’s smoking bylaw. Pasiechnik said including vaping in the bylaw makes it easier to enforce, and creates safer environments for children and non-smokers.

“This bylaw doesn’t prevent anyone from vaping,” she said. “They can still vape. They just have to do it outside, away from where the public and children are.”

Regardless of where the discussion goes in the future, it doesn’t look like Prince Albert city council is going to revisit the issue.

Ward 5 Coun. Dennis Ogrodnick, one of the bylaws strongest supporters, said he would be willing to do so if Prince Albert residents want to, but he doesn’t expect that to happen. He added that city council did more than enough research on the issue to make an informed decision.

“We were told as a committee that anything that is burned has the potential to be dangerous,” he said. “Vaping gives off a vapor. Obviously something is happening inside that device, and we were told by these other lobby groups that it has the potential to be dangerous as well. That’s why we included it in the bylaw.”

The Consumer Choice Centre is an independent non-profit that monitors regulations in Canada, the United States and the European Union. According to the organization’s Code of Ethics, it does not accept donations from government institutions or “give our funders influence on editorial decisions.”

According to the CCC website, past donors include Tokyo Smoke, a Canadian company that focuses on the medical cannabis industry, and Japan Tobacco International, a tobacco product manufacturer headquartered in Switzerland.

Photo via https://vaping360.com/

Non-profit housing groups band together

Jason Kerr
-
0
Non-profit housing groups band together

A group of non-profit housing corporations have banded together to create a province-wide non-profit housing network designed to improve representation and lower costs.

Officially called the Network of Non-Profit Housing Providers of Saskatchewan (NPHPS), the new group already has 8 member organizations, with two more scheduled to soon join, after only a few months of operation.

The list of current members includes two local organizations: Prince Albert Community Housing and River Bank Development Corp.

River Bank manger Brian Howell said the move is long overdue.

“There was a sense that we needed a broader group to represent housing providers across the province,” he explained during an interview on Friday. “We started this new group and we’ve had a number of objectives. First, we’re the only province that doesn’t have an association representing the non-profit housing sector. We thought it was about time that Saskatchewan caught up to everybody else.”

Getting professional representation to effectively lobby the government was the biggest need. Non-profit housing providers didn’t have a professional association speaking for them, like for-profit landlords do.

So far, NPHPS representatives have met with the Ministry of Social Services and the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation, and secured their first big win when members gained the right to change rental rates with six months notice. Previously, non-profit groups had to wait a full year. The change is designed to give non-profit organizations more financial flexibility.

The other major goal is to give member organizations a way to combine their purchasing power. Howell said the provincial government’s tight financial situation has made it difficult for non-profits to keep operating. Ideally, they’re looking to band together to get deals on everything from utility rates to office supplies.

“Incomes have been quite static, so we haven’t really been able to pass the increases in cost from taxes and utilities and that sort of thing on to our tenants,” Howell said. “We’re really needing to find effective ways to work together to reduce our cost.”

Non-profit housing groups have tried these kinds of partnerships before in Saskatchewan, but never on this scale. Locally, the City of Prince Albert’s former financial director, Steve Brown, worked to get non-profits like River Bank involved in a supply savings pilot program with the city. Province-wide, six Métis urban housing organizations banded together to negotiate better deals on things like insurance packages and utility rates.

Gabriel Housing Corporation in Regina was one of the six non-profit housing providers involved with the program. When the NPHPS was set up, they were among the first to join.

Gabriel CEO Doug Moran said non-profit landlords have different needs and goals than their for-profit counterparts, making a province-wide organization more than necessary.

“We just felt it was time for something new,” he explained. “We’ve been pretty stagnant in the housing area, so I think this is a really exciting opportunity for people to buy in and take it where it can go.”

Gabriel owns nearly 400 low-income housing units in Regina. In the past year, they’ve suffered through a five per cent property tax increase, five per cent increase for power, three-and-a-half per cent increase for energy and the phasing out of the Rental Housing Supplement.

Moran said the NPHPS will be vital in helping them trim their budget so they can maintain staff and keep their properties in good shape.

“We’ve been hit pretty hard in the last year-and-a-half with increase after increase after increase,” Moran said. “Whatever we can do to assist our non-profit sector to save some money, that’s another one of our goals.”

Both Moran and Howell are optimistic the NPHPS will have long-term benefits for the province of Saskatchewan, but they aren’t planning to rest on their laurels.

Howell said the lines of communication need to be open, not just with the provincial government, but with potential new members as well. He’s hoping to see some quick expansion now that the initial framework is in place.

“We don’t really know what sort of uptake we’re going to get,” he explained. “We haven’t really set a goal. We’re just working to try and get everyone on board.”

Francophone advisory committee calls for improved guidelines on French-language services

Jason Kerr
-
0
Francophone advisory committee calls for improved guidelines on French-language services

Saskatchewan’s Advisory Committee on Francophone Affairs is urging the provincial government to develop guidelines for how ministries, agencies and Crown Corporations deliver French-language services.

The committee met in November 2017 to discuss the issue, and on Friday they officially released their recommendations to the provincial government.

Advisory committee chair Michel Dubé of Prince Albert wrote that the development of guidelines would strengthen the province’s French Language Service Policy, while making it easier for staff to implement.

Dubé was unavailable for comment on Friday, but in a media release he said was proud of the work done by the government, but looked forward to more progress in the future.

“It is important that we learn from one another’s successes when supporting the development and vitality of the Fransaskois community,” he said.

The committee’s major recommendation was to see ministries include French-language services as part of their annual planning. Currently, only the Ministries of Education and Justice are required to do so.

The report also recommended greater promotion of which programs and services are available in French, along with better signage telling the public French services are available.

Provincial Secretary Nadine Wilson received the report on behalf of the government, and thanked the committee for their work.

“Keeping the French language and culture vibrant is important,” she said in a media release. “I am pleased that the Advisory Committee on Francophone Affairs has submitted additional recommendations to make this possible.”

Moe announces new cabinet picks

Jason Kerr
-
0
Moe announces new cabinet picks

The provincial cabinet has some new faces as Premier Scott Moe filled holes left after Lyle Stewart stepped down earlier this month to focus on his fight with cancer.

On Thursday, Moe announced that Wood River MLA David Marit will be Saskatchewan’s new Minister of Agriculture, while Estevan MLA Lori Carr takes Marit’s old role as Minister of Highways and Infrastructure. Current Education Minister Gord Wyant will also take on responsibility for SaskBuilds.

Moe told reporters that cabinet picks are never easy decisions, but added he’s certain Marit and Carr will excel in their new roles.

“I am confident that both Dave and Lori will bring an important perspective to their new portfolios,” he said. “I look forward to working with them as we stand up for Saskatchewan.”

This is the first cabinet post for Carr, who was elected in 2016 after 20 years as a licensed assistant in a financial planning office. Moe said he had chances to serve with her on the Treasury Board, and was looking forward to having her in cabinet.

“She’s very, very competent, and deserving of this honour, to serve in executive council on behalf of, not just the people of Estevan, but the people of this province,” he said.

Marit is a former rural municipality councillor who was also first elected in 2016. Moe lauded him for his work in his previous portfolio, and said he would help build strong relationships in rural Saskatchewan.

“I’m sure that he can carry on with the great relations with the stakeholders across the province that we have had in our agriculture industry.”

Marit is only the third Minister of Agriculture to serve since the Saskatchewan Party was formed government in 2003.

Feds consider new stat holiday remembering legacy of residential schools

Jason Kerr
-
0
Feds consider new stat holiday remembering legacy of residential schools

The federal government is in consultation with Métis, Inuit and First Nations groups to determine the date for a federal statutory holiday dedicated to residential school students, however the Saskatchewan government isn’t entirely on board.

On Thursday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the government was in discussions to create a new holiday, which would fulfill a Truth and Reconciliation report recommendation. There is no firm date set for the new holiday, and no timetable for when it will be announced.

“The date of that holiday and how exactly it’s named and framed and all that will be done in the spirit of reconciliation in full collaboration and consultation with Indigenous peoples,” Trudeau said during a media scrum in Saint-Eustache, Que. “We are going through that process right now. We’re listening to what the Metis Nation, what the First Nations and what the Inuit have to say and how they would like to see this day of reconciliation move forward, and when we’ve finished our consultations we will announce what we are doing.”

However, talks between the federal government and Indigenous groups won’t be the only discussions going on. Premier Scott Moe said Saskatchewan will not automatically observe the new holiday, but added that no final decision would be made until they had meetings of their own.

“We’ll have to have those discussions on whether or not we implement it as a full statutory holiday here in the province, what the cost to employers would be, understanding the government of Saskatchewan also is a large employer here in the province,” he explained.

Moe added that the government still supports reconciliation efforts, even if it doesn’t officially observe the federal holiday.

“There’s actually four provinces that have not adopted Remembrance Day as a statutory holiday, Manitoba being one of those,” he said. “I think it’s fair to say that the people of Manitoba very much respect Remembrance Day and everything that it signifies, but it is not an actual statutory holiday with the payments that come with that to employers in that province, so we’ll have those discussions on whether or not it will be a provincial stat holiday here in the days and weeks ahead.”

While Remembrance Day is not a general holiday under current Manitoba labour laws, most industries are only allowed to operate under specific circumstances. For example, retail stores must be closed between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. unless they provide professional health services, gasoline and motor oil, vehicle parts and services for emergency repairs, or meals and other services connected to living accommodations. Employees are also automatically paid for half a day’s work, even if they only come in for one or two hours.

In a media release on Thursday, provincial NDP leader Ryan Meili said he was disappointed with Moe’s decision to focus on employer costs instead of the residential school legacy.

“Saskatchewan had many residential schools, and thousands of survivors of those schools and their families continue to live with the negative impact,” Meili said. “What message would it send if the rest of the country recognized this day but Saskatchewan refused to do so?”

Jolibois surprised by news, but pleased with response

Few people were more surprised by the federal government’s announcement than Desnethe-Missinippi-Churchill River MP Georgina Jolibois.

The Northern Saskatchewan NDP MP already has a private member’s bill on the floor that would make June 21 a statutory holiday to “respect and acknowledge the historical impact of the residential school system,” and to demonstrate some of the current achievements made by Indigenous people.

When she left Parliament Hill in June, Jolibois said parliamentary assistants and Liberal MPs told her the federal government would not support the bill. However, the CBC has reported that the government is open to backing the bill as it makes its way through parliament.

“To some extent, it shows that the Prime Minister is listening,” she said. “Now, if he can encourage government or show leadership, that his government and the Liberals do support selecting June 21 as a National Indigenous People’s Day, that would be even more encouraging.”

Jolibois added that she’s not sure that June 21 will be the official date, but she’s encouraged by the support.

She also said she’s disappointed, but not surprised by Premier Scott Moe’s remarks. Still, she remains hopeful he’ll change his mind.

“I will continue, and the supporters of the bill will do what we can to continue, to encourage the Saskatchewan government to support it,” she said.

New hospital a priority, but timeline undecided: Reiter

Jason Kerr
-
0
New hospital a priority, but timeline undecided: Reiter

Saskatchewan’s Minister of Health says it’s clear Victoria Hospital is not able to meet current needs, but added there’s no clear timeline for building a new one.

Rosetown-Elrose MLA Jim Reiter, who took over from former minister Dustin Duncan in February, was in Prince Albert on Tuesday for a medical facilities tour with Prince Albert Carlton MLA Joe Hargrave. The trip included a stop at the Mont St. Joseph Home, as well as a meeting with Rose Garden Hospice representatives and an extensive tour of Victoria Hospital.

Reiter said this was the first time he’d toured the facility, and the need for a new one was a common theme throughout the trip.

“It was, I was going to say, the underlying tone, but it was more blatant than that,” he chuckled. “It was a discussion point as we toured through the building. It was good for me to see it.”

Reiter said that while aging infrastructure is a concern across the province, Victoria Hospital is still in good shape. However, he added that it clearly isn’t built to handle such a large number of patients.

“We went into various departments, some heavier than others and that sort of changes with the day, but clearly the hospital was serving far more patients than it was designed for,” he said. “We’ve got issues that we’re going to need to deal with.”

During the Saskatchewan Party leadership campaign, then-candidate Scott Moe promised to build a hospital in Prince Albert with 100 per cent government funding “when our finances permit.” With Moe firmly installed in the premier’s chair, Reiter said that commitment hasn’t changed.

On Tuesday, he said the province’s financial position was improving, and called the new hospital “a huge priority for our government.” However, he also has no timeline for when that will occur.

“It would be inappropriate for me to put an exact date on it,” he said. “Obviously this isn’t a decision made by one person. This is a decision that’s going to be made by the candidate and the premier. Joe (Hargrave) has advocated strongly for it. It’s always front of mind for all of us and like I said, finances are moving in the right direction. I’m hopeful we’ll see that continue.”

Aids treatment

A new Prince Albert hospital isn’t the only issue on the Health Ministry’s front burner. In 2017, the province of Saskatchewan saw newly diagnosed HIV cases rise slightly from 170 in 2016 to 177 last year. That’s the third straight year the number of newly diagnosed cases has increased.

Reiter said the problem was deeply concerning, but said it’s a positive sign to see more people getting treatment.

“We’ve greatly increased the amount of testing that we do, and obviously when you’re testing more people, you’re likely to find more people who are HIV positive,” he explained. “That hurts the statistics, but obviously if you’re going to help people, you need to know.”

In the most recent budget, the provincial government earmarked $600,000 to provide free HIV medications for eligible Saskatchewan Health beneficiaries. In the past, the province only covered 91 per cent of HIV medication.

Beyond that, Reiter said there needs to be a renewed commitment to education, and encouraging residents to “not engage in risky behaviour.”

He also didn’t rule out creating safe injection sites around the province, but added that it wasn’t their first choice.

“We’ve tried to focus on other areas we think could potentially be more effective,” he said.

1...160161162...209Page 161 of 209