According to the latest Stats Canada data, the Sault’s employment rate has fallen below 50%——–as the January report indicates there are now more people either unemployed or out of the labour force than there are employed. The Sault’s employment rate last month came in at 48% which is 5% less than the year ago rate. The Sault’s unemployment rate is 7.3% which is up from the year ago rate of 7%.

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The latest financial installment for the city of Sault Ste. Marie from our charity casino comes in at over 343-thousand dollars—-that represents a slight one percent decline from the same October to December period in 2010.

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Local Health Integration Network news release…

Primary Care Lead collaborates to improve access to health care for North East LHIN residents

The NE LHIN today took another major step in strengthening and further integrating primary care into local health planning by recruiting Dr. Tim Zmijowskyj as the Primary Care Lead for the NE LHIN.
Dr. Zmijowskyj, will work with the NE LHIN to assist in the ongoing efforts to ensure greater integration of primary care services with other health sectors. By working together, the LHIN and local health service providers continue to implement strategies to improve access to quality care for Northerners.
Recognized as the Family Physician of the Year for Northern Ontario by the Ontario College of Family Physicians in 2009, Dr. Zmijowskyj brings a diverse background to his new duties as Primary Care Lead for the North East. A senior administrator, researcher, educator and practicing family physician in Sudbury, he also has extensive experience working with partners in rural North communities, as well as, Aboriginal and marginalized communities. His research work has involved leading clinical trials related to the determinants of health for Canadians and the development of innovative models of primary care.
Across the province, LHINs have been building great partnerships with local primary care providers. The introduction of a Primary Care Lead in each of the province’s 14 LHINs is endorsed by both the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and the Ontario Medical Association and is in line with the government’s Action Plan commitment to bring planning for the full patient journey under the LHINs. Through this collaborative work, local primary care providers can strengthen these partnerships and focus on implementing system initiatives identified locally by the LHIN through extensive community consultation to address local health care challenges.
In the NE LHIN these local initiatives have included: the creation of five joint assessment centres; developing a Surgical On-Call schedule; hosting an annual Chronic Disease Management and Prevention Forum; integrating 13 mental health and addiction providers into an Algoma Anchor Agency to ensure more patient-focused services; working closely with the region’s 6 community health centres and meeting regularly with the 27 family health teams to move forward on primary care issues in Northeastern Ontario; and more.

QUOTES
“Having Primary Care Leads in each LHIN shows the government’s commitment to improving access to health care. Today’s announcement is good news for Ontarians. Patients – especially seniors – will benefit from the earlier intervention and case management that our primary care physicians and their teams provide.”
- Deb Matthews, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care
“Ontario’s doctors know that progress has been made in improving and strengthening the health care system but believe there is more work to be done. By appointing Primary Care Leads in each of the LHINs, and building on existing partnerships and successes, local family physicians can work more closely with other health care providers to improve access and find innovative ways to save the system money that can be re-invested into patient care.”
-Dr. Stewart Kennedy, President, Ontario Medical Association
“As the LHINs take on responsibility for planning for primary care, the addition of Dr. Zmijowskyj to our team will support the NE LHIN in continuing to achieve more accountability for delivering the care needs of Northerners. As the Primary Care Lead for the NE LHIN, Dr. Zmijowskyj will focus on local system initiatives that will integrate with our primary care providers as we create a seamless system of care.”
-Louise Paquette, North East LHIN CEO
“We should be proud of the extent and depth of resources available in our health care system. However, more and better services are not the complete solution. We need to ensure that people receive the right care in the right place and at the right time. Primary care can provide the navigation needed for continued wellness or a path of support in times of difficulty. A more integrated system of care for fellow Northerners is welcomed.”
-Dr. Tim Zmijowskyj, North East LHIN Primary Care Lead

QUICK FACTS
“Dr. Tim Zmijowskyj is a senior administrator, educator, researcher and clinician with extensive experience working with partners in Northeastern rural areas, as well as, Aboriginal and marginalized communities. Lead physician with the Sudbury Family Health Group, Dr. Zmijowskyj is responsible for the administration of more than 30 physicians. He also works as a clinician with various health service providers including the Shkagamik-Kwe Aboriginal Health Centre, N’Swakamok Native Friendship Centre and Health Sciences North.

“Dr. Zmijowskyj has also been involved in planning and coordinating faculty at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine. His responsibilities have included developing curriculum, a teaching schedule for the undergraduate program, as well as planning clerkships for the third year students in rural and remote Northern communities. Zmijowskyj has led clinical trials and research related to the determinants of health for Canadians, including the development of innovative models of primary care.
“As a health-focused organization, the North East LHIN works to improve local access to health care and create a more patient-focused system. The North East LHIN makes decisions about regional health care integration, funding and planning. It oversees $1.4-billion in local health care investments working with 186 health providers including 25 hospitals, 42 long term care homes, mental health and addiction providers, community health centres, and community service support organizations such as Meals on Wheels. To find out more, visit nelhin.on.ca or call 1-866-906-5446.
“Some of the Primary Care options in the North East include: 27 family health teams (157 family physicians and 130 interdisciplinary health care providers); six community health centres, and six nurse practitioner led clinics.

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Mario DeLuca and Rob Zettler are the latest players tro be voted into the Sault Ste Marie Hockey Hall of Fame – along with the late Lawrence LaHaye in the builder category. The induction ceremony will take place during a Greyhounds game February 29th – although Zettler will be busy with the Maple Leafs that night, so his induction will come at a later date.

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Thessalon OPP report that 16 year old Brenda Russell who’d not been heard from since Monday – was located in Sudbury yesterday.

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The Local Health Intergration Network has worked out a deal with Lifleabs to provide one hour a week blood-work services at Matthews Memorial and Thessalon Hospitals – who stood to lose their lab services as a further cost-cutting move by Sault Area Hospital. This is a temporary solution. There’s been no indication of what the long term fix might be. In the meantime the Ontario Health Coalition says it’s just further evvidence of more health dollars going to for-profit companies. They’d like to see hospital staff continue to do the blood work as they have in the past.

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City Police are investigating the theft of a red Ski Doo snowmobile from the 100 block of Hess Street yesterday.

Otherwise, it was a pretty quiet 24 hour period with a 21 year old male arrested for domestic assault.

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The first court approved deadline for bankrupt St. Mary’s Paper arrived earlier this week. Alex Morrison of Ernst and Young says a number of parties have submitted letters of intent——however Morrison declined to say exactly how many or the level of interest. Morrison says things are very preliminary at this stage as the letters of intent are non-binding. We will know soon enough who the serious players are when the next deadline arrives on February 10th as interested parties will need to submit formal offers by that time—-the offers will need to include a 250-thousand dollar deposit. Ernst and Young is the court appointed receiver.

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OPP news release…

(Thessalon, ON) – On Monday January 30, 2012 at 7:30pm the Thessalon Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) received a call in regards to a 16 year old female who was last seen by her mother at 8:00am.

It is believed that Brenda RUSSELL (18 February 1995) is attempting to hitchhike to Newton, ON to be with her boyfriend. RUSSELL last spoke to her boyfriend at 2:40pm on January 30, 2012 informing him that she was in Sudbury.

RUSSELL is described as 168cm, 52kg, thin build, freckles, blonde hair with a dyed green piece of hair above her left eyebrow and blue eyes. RUSSELL was last seen wearing a blue hooded sweater with blue jeans, running shoes and was carrying a small bag.

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Area people were among the 60 arrests carried out as part of a province wide child sexual abuse and exploitation on the internet investigation. City police participated in the OPP led investigation and executed five search warrants in Elliot Lake, Sault Ste. Marie and Heyden over a three day period beginning Monday. It resulted in the arrest of a 64-year old Elliot Lake man, a 45-year old Heyden man and a 16-year old male youth from Sault Ste. Marie. Out of the 60 arrests province wide, police laid over 200 charges and 24-police forces arrested suspects ranging in age from 16 to 69 and the charges include sexual assault, internet child luring and making child pornography.

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