CARL HAGER

CARL HAGER
LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE

WAKEFIELD – Gilbert W. Whiteduck, a community activist, educator, and volunteer, is the new NDP candidate for the Pontiac-Kitigan Zibi federal riding. Over 60 people filled the Wakefield Community Centre on November 30 to celebrate his nomination.

Whiteduck was introduced by Lori Idlout, Nunavut MP, who said experienced voices like Whiteduck’s are essential in Parliament. Larry Rousseau, vice-president of the Canadian Labour Congress, spoke about Whiteduck’s commitment to working for the people. “In Gilbert Whiteduck, Pontiac will have an honest and compelling voice in Parliament,” he said.

Whiteduck, who currently works as a drug and alcohol abuse counsellor, talked about the love he has for the community he has lived in his entire life. “There’s much to love and protect in Pontiac, and I’ll work hard to protect the environment, make heart-to-heart connections with people, listen to their concerns, and help find solutions to affordability and support system issues,” he promised.

Whiteduck has five university degrees, including an honorary doctorate in education, and was Chief of Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg First Nations for seven years. He’s actively involved in heritage, health care, law, and environmental issues and is regularly called upon by local, provincial, and national organizations for advice. These experiences have deepened his knowledge of community issues; he intends to bring his energy to a broader arena, looking for ways to make life better for Pontiac citizens.

Note: Carl Hager is the vice-president of the Pontiac NDP riding association​.

Photo – Canadian Labour Congress Vice President Larry Rousseau (left) and Nunavut MP Lori Idlout (right) celebrate Gilbert Whiteduck’s (centre) Pontiac NDP nomination, Nov. 30, in Wakefield. (CH)

Carl Hager
Local Journalism Initiative

GATINEAU – Santé Quebec, the official operator of Quebec’s health system, began operating on December 1, more than a year after it was created by the provincial government.

The local arm of Santé Quebec, the Centre intégré de santé et de services sociaux de l’Outaouais (CISSSO), is already mired in controversy as it has been ordered to cut $90 million from its current budget, which expires in four months. Geneviève Biron, executive director of Santé Quebec, has ordered hospitals province-wide to find over $1 billion in combined savings from their operational budgets in order to combat the soaring provincial deficit.

“The CEOs of CISSSO’s health institutions weren’t able to plan for these cuts, so they’ll have to do last minute budget cutting. We know services to the public will be negatively affected,” said André Fortin, Pontiac MNA and Liberal health critic.

Jean Pigeon of SOS Outaouais, a coalition of Outaouais organizations and citizens who speak out and share concerns about the current state of the health and social services system, said Quebec is reducing the capacity to provide necessary resources for health care. “The Outaouais has been underfunded by successive Quebec governments by almost $200 million a year,” he added.

However, in the creation of Santé Quebec, bureaucrats who transferred from the Ministry of Health to Santé Quebec received a 10% pay increase.

Fortin said Santé Quebec is based on a model previously tried and disbanded in Alberta. “Rather than saying how the agency wants to improve health care delivery, Santé Quebec is focused on reducing even more money from health care operations.”

The government recently floated the idea of reserving family doctors for residents with health problems, an idea that was shelved due to backlash. Fortin said the government is flailing at fixing a very broken system, hiding behind the cover of Santé Quebec, which is making budget cuts in tune with government policies.

Doctors, community groups, and many elected officials criticize the centralization of health services directed by Santé Quebec. “Unfortunately, Santé Quebec’s idea of best practices might suit some areas, but may not be appropriate in outlying regions like the Pontiac. It takes local control out of the hands of medical practitioners who best know their patients,” said Fortin.

West Quebec has long suffered from its proximity to Ontario where better pay and working conditions continually draw health workers away. Quebec is currently experiencing a shortage of 10,000 nurses. “Only Quebec hasn’t returned to pre-pandemic surgery wait times, a clear sign the system isn’t managed well,” concluded Fortin​.

Carl Hager – Local Journalism Initiative

MUNICIPALITY OF PONTIAC – An information session on services available to local seniors was held April 30 at Gavan’s Hotel, with about thirty residents in attendance.

Invited by the Pontiac User’s Committee and Des Collines Senior Services, representatives of the des Collines Food Bank, Centre intégré de Santé et Services sociaux de l’Outaouais (CISSSO), La Table de développement social des Collines-de-l’Outaouais (TDSCO), and Connexions Resource Centre outlined their services and answered questions. Bilingual information documents were also provided.

“We felt it was important to bring these information resources closer to the people. Our next effort will be to have an event in Luskville,” said Jennifer Larose, president of the Pontiac Users Committee.

Veronique St-Onge from the Des Collines Food Bank said they visit Quyon once a month, offering either an emergency food basket or a regular grocery service: “More and more people are using our services, including workers who cannot make ends meet with their low pay. We invite people to donate money so we can buy even more food for the vulnerable. For those without a car, we offer home delivery. We can be contacted at 819-457-1010.”

Connexions Resource Centre aims to promote the health, social well-being and vitality of the English-speaking community by, among other things, helping seniors access health and social services in English. Pamphlets such as “Coping with Life Transitions” and “Men’s Mental Health Suicide Awareness” were available.

The Senior Services group described their “Aide-Moi” (Help Me) effort that assists seniors with physical conditions with things like minor exterior work (washing windows, raking grass, maintaining flower beds, etc.). “We’re actively seeking volunteers to help broaden the scope of the services we can offer to seniors,” said representative Chantal Leon.

Two kinesiologists from CISSSO, Gabriel Corbeil and Anna Miebach, encouraged seniors to take better care of their health by doing simple exercises – like chair yoga – at home, which can help prevent things like falls. They also highlighted the importance of good nutrition and social well being to improve quality of life.

Photo – Shelley Heaphy and Paul Brown of Connexions Resource Centre tell Bristol resident Margaret Conroy about the many services Connexions offers. (CH)

CARL HAGER – LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE

SHAWVILLE – Pontiac High School opened its doors to the next group of grade seven students at its annual Open House, April 18; over 150 people attended. The event highlighted the programs and activities the school offers its current 425 students. Teachers stationed in their classrooms welcomed students from as far as Fort-Coulonge, Campbell’s Bay and Quyon and gave brief explanations of the programs.

Principal Terry Burns participated in a presentation in the auditorium, noting PHS offers a safe and secure environment for learning success, and that parents can have a voice in the activities of the school by becoming involved in the consultative governing board.

Erica Tomkinson, who spearheads the Drug Awareness Resource Team (DART), emphasized the role her department has in helping students with substance abuse; alcohol, cannabis or prescription drugs. Tomkinson is employed by the Western Quebec School Board and is responsible for a number of Pontiac schools. “We’re here to help students make good decisions. Our help includes prevention activities, interventions which include discussions with parents, and our work is always confidential,” Tomkinson said. “When students discuss issues with us, we want them to feel safe and realize their full potential,” she added.

Vice Principal Luke McLaren noted all teachers at PHS are qualified, unlike many other high schools in the province. The school offers an enriched French program, welding class, visual arts, music and drama. Each day begins with an advisory session where students and their advisor-teacher discuss issues of the day. The school also has counselling support to help students with academic support, career planning, time management and mental health concerns.

PHS offers a gamut of activities in clubs and sports at the junior and senior levels. These include rugby, canoeing, volleyball, track and field, badminton, boxing, cross country running, and outdoor education excursions.

Teacher Lindsay Woodman noted that graduates are eligible for thousands of dollars in awards and bursaries every year.

CARL HAGER
LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE

QUEBEC – On January 9, following an agreement in principle with striking teachers, Quebec’s Education Minister, Bernard Drainville, announced a $300 million academic catch-up plan to help students who’ve fallen behind. How much money each school board receives depends on the resources each school in its jurisdiction has requested. For the Western Quebec School Board, it boils down to about $1 million.

The support measures, based on recommendations from school staff following an assessment of student needs at the beginning of January, began January 29. Parents were informed of supports proposed for their child during the week of January 22.

The Minister’s plan includes: tutoring during and outside school hours; specialized help outside school hours for students needing special instruction; free summer classes for Secondary 4 (math and science) and 5 (history and French) students; support for organizations involved in education (dropout centres, literacy); and schools will be open during spring break to pursue catch-up activities.

The Minister said this extra work is voluntary and teachers will be remunerated. He called on retired teachers, student teachers and professional staff to assist in this major catch-up plan.

In addition to these initiatives, a new calendar will be established for ministerial exams, with up to a week delay to allow more teaching time because of the compressed exam schedule. There will be no exams after June 24.

In terms of the weighting of ministerial exams, Secondary 1 and 2 exams will be worth 10% of the final mark (instead of 20%) and Secondary 4 and 5 exams will count for 20% of the final result (instead of 50%).

The second report card period may be delayed until the end of March, as determined by each school board.

Katherine Korakakis, president of the English Parents Committee Association (EPCA), said she’s pleased with the initiative; “If done correctly, this will help children succeed. We’ll need everyone on board, including parents.”

Korakakis said this kind of initiative should’ve been implemented after COVID when many days of instruction were lost. Students in level 4 and 5 writing ministry exams endured two major impacts on their learning (COVID and striking), so she’s optimistic weighting formula changes will help them immensely.

Korakakis is hopeful school boards will find the specialized help for those who need it. “School boards with rural populations may have difficulty enacting some of these tutoring measures because of problems with bus transportation for after school activities,” she said.

According to George Singfield, director of the Western Quebec School Board, the Ministry recognized schools need extra support by providing meaningful assistance.

CARL HAGER
LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE

QUEBEC – Students are no longer allowed to use cell phones in Quebec public school classrooms except for pedagogical purposes, following a province-wide policy that took effect January 1.

Quebec’s Minister of Education, Bernard Drainville, made the initial announcement in August, giving school boards a four-month heads-up. Drainville based his directive on a UNESCO report that found student learning is hindered by cell phone use in classrooms for non-instructional purposes.

Quebec isn’t the first to enact such a prohibition. Ontario did so in 2019 and countries including Great Britain, Portugal, Italy, China, Ireland and the State of Florida are pursuing similar policies.

Policies banning cell phones don’t go far enough, say some. While 92% of teachers in Quebec’s Federation autonome de l’enseignement (FAE) approve of the measure, some believe cellphones should be banned totally on school grounds. Others like Katherine Korakakis, president of the Anglophone Association of Parents, contend that the policy should include studies on issues like the effects dependence on technology and social media have on youths.

Brian Smeltzer, president of the Western Quebec Teachers’ Association, worries school boards may lay enforcement at the feet of teachers, potentially adding to their duties. It’s not clear if the Ministerial directive came with suggestions on enforcement or punitive measures.

From left to right: CISSSO representatives Joanne Dubois and Nicole Boucher-Larivière met with Josey Bouchard and Jennifer Larose to discuss new CISSSO initiatives on healthcare in the Pontiac.

Carl Hager
Local Journalism Initiative

SHAWVILLE – After a hiatus of almost four years, representatives of Pontiac Voice met with Centre Intégré de Santé et des Services Sociaux de l’Outaouais’s (CISSSO) Director of Proximity Services Nicole Boucher-Larivière, at the administrative offices of the Pontiac Community Hospital on April 12.

“The aim of this meeting is to renew dialogue with the community on health services. It is my intention to be as transparent as possible on the developments occurring in health care services for the Pontiac,” said Boucher-Larivière. She added she plans to have regular update meetings with Pontiac Voice and other groups in the community.

Boucher-Larivière explained her new role with CISSSO was created to increase communication links with the community and to ensure the community understands developments in health care delivery. Her assistant Joanne Dubois has been tasked with issues related to the use of languages in the health care system so that anglophone clients are not intimidated by going to the “French” hospitals in Gatineau.

Boucher-Larivière noted she has met with managers working at the hospital to bring all department voices to one table, to make sure they was working as a unified whole. Previously, individual managers were liaising with their counterparts in other institutions, so they were often not aware of problems in their own hospital in other departments.

The creation of a “User’s Committee” is also one of Boucher-Larivière’s main objectives. “We want to hear from our users so that we know what areas in health care delivery are problematic, so that we can take steps to fix them.”

Pontiac Voice spokesperson Josey Bouchard asked if she had more details regarding the government’s recently announced Health Care Reform and the creation of the new agency, Santé Quebec (see related article pg 7). Boucher-Larivière indicated there is a meeting scheduled for April 26 with local representatives, including mayors, MRC representatives, and the business community.

The Pontiac is suffering from a lack of doctors, nurses and technicians, and the retirement of many workers has created a situation where many positions are unfilled. Solutions are being looked at, but the situation is complex. For example, Boucher-Larivière noted three new nurses were recently hired to work at the hospital but since they could not find a place to live in the Pontiac, they declined the job offer.

Bouchard stated it is very important for CISSSO to reinstate obstetric services at the hospital, and Boucher-Larivière acknowledged one of her main objectives is to bring services closer to the people; the work is just beginning, she said, adding she hopes continued dialogue between CISSSO and community representatives will bring results. 

Photo: Left to right: CISSSO representatives Joanne Dubois and Nicole Boucher-Larivière met with Pontiac Voice representatives Josey Bouchard and Jennifer Larose to discuss new CISSSO initiatives on health care in the Pontiac.