News

1. Running for Municipal Office

On Thursday August 18, 2016 the Federal Minister of Agriculture, Lawrence MacAulay, the Federal Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, Ralph Goodale, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport, Kate Young, and the Saskatchewan Minister of Agriculture, Lyle Stewart, all attended a roundtable in Regina, SK that featured a number of agriculture industry representatives from Saskatchewan and Alberta.  Below is a summary of the discussion.

Grain Roundtable August 2016

As part of the application for development for a Potash mine in Saskatchewan and environmental impact statement is prepared.  As you can see, it is an extensive document.  The stakeholders were given 45 days to review the documents and make comment on areas that could be deficient.  The RM of Cupar joined with the RM of McKillop and hired Urban Systems to assist us in the review.  Please find below the review that was submitted to the Ministry of Environment.    

2016-06-06-MASTER-Final-EISReview

Interesting but just be advised it is an opinion piece, so not fact based.

http://www.cbc.ca/player/play/2690303647

The cost of using an air ambulance in Saskatchewan is going up.

Right now, it costs $350 for a flight. Starting July 1, taking a fixed wing or STARS air ambulance will cost between $350 to $385. Increases will continue over the next two years and by April 1, 2018 the cost will be $465.

Fees will increase 10 per cent and $1 per mile for third-party insurers and people from out-of-province.

“Each year, as part of the budget process, we clearly look at our expenditures for delivering the programs and services we provide to residents of the province,” said Deb Jordan, executive director of acute and emergency services for the Ministry of Health.

Over the 2015-16 fiscal year, the province gave $14 million in operating funding to Saskatchewan Air Ambulance, which offers fixed-wing services out of Saskatoon. Another $10.5 million was given to STARS.

Through fees, the province recouped $1.7 million in that time and is thus able to boast of covering roughly 93 per cent of the total cost.

The government will gain $311,250 in additional revenue in 2016-17 from the changes.

By the time all the increases are phased in, government will still be covering about 90 per cent of the total cost.

Inflation, increased salaries for aviation staff and clinical care teams and changes to federal regulations requiring two pilots instead of one on fixed-wing flights were all rationales for the larger fees.

About 900 Saskatchewan residents use air ambulance services each year and another 725 people each year are paid for by non-residents and third-party insurers.

“This government shouldn’t be putting more barriers up for people to receive health care,” said NDP health critic Danielle Chartier

Jordan said the cost had not been raised in more than 15 years and “it was timely to take a look at the charge associated with the service.”

With a deficit budget expected to come out just a month before the increase kicks in, Chartier said people are very concerned over the upcoming budget.

“This is an indication of what’s to come, that people in Saskatchewan will be footing the bill for mismanagement for years to come,” she said.

Dean Becker from Rocanville is simply grateful the service exists. Twice he was flown from Moosomin to Regina knocking on death’s door.

“Everybody thinks it never happens to you, either. I was bulletproof until it happens,” he said.

Of the added price, Becker said it doesn’t matter.

“It’s an essential service,” he said. “You’re going to pay it anyways.”

Chartier pointed out Saskatchewan is the only province charging patients for ambulance transfers between facilities and one of the only provinces charging per-kilometre fees on top of the basic rate.

She said the province has mismanaged health care priorities.

With ground ambulances there are known cases of people refusing a ride because of the payment. That’s a less likely scenario with air ambulances because they are used in “critical care” situations – often a matter of life and death. Being able to afford the higher payment is another issue.

“(People) will get a bill, and there will be people who will not be able to afford this bill,” said Chartier.

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Twitter.com/dcfraser

While you hope you never have to use one – this is not a bad idea.  (Taken from fivegallonbucketideas.ca)

With regular large scale disasters already common in North America, it’s a good time to talk a bit about disaster preparation and how a 5 gallon bucket can help provide some good physical insurance against a catastrophic situation.

Image Credit: SafetyKitStore.com

A well designed emergency kit will contain the best bits of modern technology and heathcare needs packaged neatly in a five gallon bucket.

Organizing the 5 Gallon Emergency Kit

AE has divided his emergency kit into a few broad categories to keep his supplies organized and well rounded:

• General Supplies
• Hygiene Supplies
• First Aid Kit

Every item is listed in detail in a printed contents document. On the back is a list of important phone numbers such as relatives, insurance companies, local law enforcement, fire department, etc. Did you catch the line second from the top? It’s the most important detail on the loadout document – the date. This helps you remember when the bucket was put together so you can keep track of all your expiration dates. A good emergency kit can easily last 5 years or more, but not everything inside will be good for that long and may need to be replaced periodically. For example, an EpiPen – they only last about 20 months from the day they are made. Replacing an expired EpiPen could be a life or death matter!

General Supplies

• glow sticks (12 hrs)
• flashlight
• liquid candle
• matchbooks
• mylar thermal blankets (link)
• hand warmers (link)
• AM/FM radio
• whistle and lanyard
• sewing kit
• blank notebook
• pencils
• extra batteries (for flashlight and radio)
• zip ties
• P-38 can opener
• trash bags
• N95 dust masks
• duct tape
• small tarp
• paracord (link)
• safety goggles
• split leather gloves

Hygiene Supplies

Hygiene supplies are packaged inside their own separate bag. These basic supplies should look familiar – it’s similar to a toiletries bag you might take on vacation.

• bar soap
• kleenex
• floss
• baby shampoo
• hand lotion
• sunscreen
• toothpaste
• toothbrushes
• feminine hygiene pads
• comb
• toilet paper
• washcloths

First Aid Kit

The first aid box is packaged with a list of contents taped to the inside of the lid. Moist towelettes and antiseptic towelettes and latex gloves kept on top so you can clean your hands before digging through supplies.

• basic first-aid guide
• moist towelettes
• antiseptic towelettes
• latex gloves
• acetaminophen (Tylenol)
• ibuprofen (Advil)
• aspirin
• diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
• loperamide (Imodium A-D)
• burn cream
• sting relief towelettes
• hydrocortisone cream
• triple antibiotic ointment (Neosporin)
• cough drops
• earplugs
• instant ice pack
• tweezers
• nail clippers
• scissors
• digital thermometer
• cotton balls
• waterproof adhesive tape
• gauze rolls
• gauze pads
• moleskin
• band-aids
• butterfly bandages
• ace bandage
• triangular bandage
• hand sanitizer
• Q-tips
• petroleum jelly
• RAD sticker (personal radiation dosimeter) (link)
• potassium iodide (radiation emergency thyroid blocker) (link)

Additional Items Suggested by You

These pieces of kit weren’t included in the example bucket build above but are listed here by popular demand. (links will open in a new browser tab)

• Lifestraw ultracompact Water Filter (link)
• 24-inch Pocket Chainsaw (link)
• 3600 calorie ration bars with 5 year shelf life (link)
• 4-in-1 Emergency Gas & Water Shutoff Tool (link)
• 12,000 Strike Firestarter and whistle (link)
• Hand-crank Flashlight (link)
• Everstryke Match (15000 uses) (get one free)
• Foldable Drybags (link)
• Foldable credit card knife (get one free)

Just reading the news and it reports an area has burned that is 85,000 hectares in size.  This is equivalent to 210,039 acres or 1,312 quarter sections or 328 sections.  It is essentially the size of the whole Municipality.

So a reminder:

• Be very careful where and when you are starting a fire.  Refrain from doing so if at all possible.  The conditions are favourable for the burn to become uncontrolled.
• Keep your emergency kit up to date.  Have an evacuation plan.
• Thank a firefighter or emergency responder.