Women’s Institute seeks support to reopen obstetrics unit
Nine first-time mayors and nine re-elected mayors gathered at the Lions Hall in Bryson on Wednesday evening for the first public meeting of the Pontiac MRC Council of Mayors since the November 7 election, with Warden Jane Toller, re-elected for her second term, presiding. Early in the proceedings, eleven members of . . .
the Pontiac County Women’s Institute (PCWI) brought forward a petition they are launching that calls on the Quebec government to reopen the obstetrics unit at the Pontiac Hospital in Shawville. Beryl Smart, president of the PCWI, stated that the obstetrics department has been closed for almost two years and that Pontiac mothers have to travel to Gatineau or Pembroke to give birth to their babies, “placing them in potentially dangerous situations,” she said. The petition asks the provincial government to put measures in place to relaunch the obstetrics service in Shawville as quickly as possible.
Covid vaccines for children ready for roll out
In a press conference with Quebec Minister François Legault, the minister states that children across the world have had to face the consequences of COVID, some have gotten ill, were hospitalized and some even had to deal with long-term effects. The first reason he says his government believes children should be vaccinated, based on the recommendations made by scientists, is that it would greatly reduce these risks. The second reason, according to Legault, is to avoid having to shut down schools as a measure to reduce the risk of wide-spread infections as they’ve had to close down some schools already. They do not want children to miss too many school days. The third reason Legault states is that with the upcoming holiday season, vaccinating young children will decrease the risk of infection to older or more vulnerable members of their families. The vaccinations will begin in the schools this week, according to Legault. Written consent from parents will be mandatory and appointments can currently be made on the clicsante.ca website. As of Nov. 23 more than 80,000 appointments had already been scheduled.
Anesthesiologist suspended for improper conduct
Dr. Richard Robinson, formerly an anesthesiologist at the Shawville Hospital, was suspended for a year beginning Oct. 25, 2021 for irreproachable behaviour towards a co-worker at the Montreal General Hospital. A CISSSO media spokesperson stated: “Although we will not comment on Dr. Robinson’s departure for reasons of confidentiality, his departure has no impact on the services offered to the population.”
According to a CBC News article, a respiratory therapist who filed a $360,000 sexual harassment lawsuit against Dr. Robinson claims she was harassed for more than three years. Her accusations included receiving unwanted touching, photos and explicit texts of a sexual nature from Dr. Robinson. The inappropriate behaviour began in 2013 and continued over several years and did not stop until she hired a litigator. The investigation is ongoing and hearings are scheduled to begin soon.
Pembroke Diocese responds
Following Fr. Justin Bertrand’s resignation from priesthood, the Pembroke Diocese’s response came in the form of a Nov. 26, 2021 press release, issued by Bishop Guy Desrochers. In his response the bishop said that he is saddened by the former priest’s resignation but adds that he respects his decision. “Fr. Justin has reported allegations of harassment and abuse. I want to assure the faithful of the Diocese of Pembroke that I take these matters very seriously. Diocesan authorities examined the allegations when they surfaced and heard at length both Fr. Justin and the person who was the object of the allegations. Diocesan authorities involved Fr. Justin in the decision-making process,” said Bishop Desrochers in his press release.
“A canonical preliminary investigation is being launched, and the gathering of information will be made by an independent third party. I will determine if any action needs to be taken based on the findings of the canonical preliminary investigation. To my knowledge, there is no criminal investigation,” the bishop added. In closing the bishop thanked the people of the Diocese for their faith, support and understanding in these troubled times and asked that they continue to pray for them.
Chief Forester announces opportunities
Since January of 2006, the position of Chief Forester of Quebec has been occupied by Louis Pelletier, an engineer with a degree in forest management. As a result of his collection of data, Pelletier foresees an overall increase of 39 percent in harvesting for the Outaouais region as of April 1, 2023. This means the harvest is set at 4,151,700 cubic metres of wood annually which includes all species of wood. The Outaouais’ forests currently occupy an area of 3,007,150 hectares. Of that total, 33 percent are excluded from harvesting because they are protected territories or wetlands. Part of his mandate has been to compile information that would help develop a five-year timber harvesting allocation plan for the Ouataouais. The purpose of calculating allowable cuts is to ensure the maintenance and future growth of the forests. Since the closure of the mill, Pontiac wood producers have only been cutting 30 percent of their yearly wood production capacity. “Currently, the wood coming out of Pontiac is being shipped more than 450 kms away to Sherbrooke, and the government has proposed subsidies for truckers, but they’re subsidising poverty,” said Brodeur who added it’s difficult to make a living on one load a day. “Besides, it kind of defeats the purpose of minimizing our carbon footprint,” Brodeur told THE EQUITY.
Government launches fast-track training for nursing assistants and admin officers
In an effort to recruit more nursing assistants and administrative officers, the Quebec government is launching an accelerated training program to help with the labour shortages in this field. According to media relations spokesperson Marie-Pier Després, the Outaouais region will be receiving 107 scholarships to recruit administrative officers, and 96 scholarships for nursing assistants. The implementation of the training program for administrative officers will be conducted over a course of eight-weeks and will lead to a 240-hour attestation of professional studies. The allocated scholarship amount for administrative officers is $4,000 but admissibility conditions must be met. “Ultimately, obtaining this AEP will allow graduates to work as administrative agents in functions similar to those of a class 3 in Quebec’s health and social services institutions,” said Després. Nursing assistants will receive a diploma of professional studies at the end of the program, which is due to begin in Jan. 2022,
Students, parents gather in solidarity with teacher dismissed for wearing hijab
Parents and students gathered outside Chelsea Elementary School on Sunday to stand in solidarity with Fatemeh Anvari who, last week, was removed from her Grade 3 teaching position for wearing a hijab, which is not permitted under Quebec’s Bill 21. What started as a few people expressing their anger and frustration with what happened to Anvari, soon became a gathering of some thirty people showing support by tying green ribbons to the schoolyard fence.
According to Farhia Ahmed, a parent and local human rights activist who was on hand to support the teacher, the Bill is “hurtful” and “a cover for racism.” Under Bill 21, all Quebec civil servants in positions of authority, including teachers, are prohibited from wearing religious symbols such as hijabs, kippas and turbans. The law was officially passed in June, 2019.
Anvari, who had been teaching an English class for almost a month, was reassigned to a non-teaching role within the school.
When the young woman was removed from her teaching position, it was just weeks after the Nov. 9 ruling by the Quebec Court of Appeal denying a request by the English Montreal School Board for an exemption that would have protected English school boards in Quebec from certain conditions of Bill 21 until challenges to the law could be heard in court, a process that could take years.
Emergency rooms over capacity
In recent weeks, the estimated wa iting time in emergency rooms in Quebec has been increasing. When asked what CISSSO is doing to alleviate pressure from hospitals, Marie-Pier Després, Media Relations Agent, said “we will ensure that we can free up beds on the floors so that emergency admissions can get a place on a care unit.” The data shows the Outaouais is at 124 percent capacity overall. Looking at individual emergency rooms, as of Dec. 13 Pontiac hospital is at 100 percent capacity (four occupied beds), Hull Hospital is 156 percent occupied (39 occupied beds), Gatineau Hospital is at 121 percent (34 occupied beds), and CLSC de Fort-Coulonge is at zero percent. Some of the options that CISSO suggests if you do not have a health condition that requires emergency services would be to try some of these alternatives:
• Calling Info-Santé at 811
• Check the availability of your family doctor
• Make an appointment at a medical clinic, with or without an appointment
• Consult a pharmacist
• Check the services available at the CLSC
• For children, there is the Centre de service ambulatoire de pédiatrie de l’Outaouais (0 to 17 years) in Gatineau
• Make an appointment at the Médigo Clinic in Hull Hiring efforts are still ongoing with CISSSO and they have also mentioned that “the new bonuses announced by the government in recent weeks and months, this gives us additional leverage to attract nurses to all of our services and facilities.
You can find all the occupancy of emergencies in real-time at this link: https:// www.indexsante.ca/urgences/#Outaouais.
Grand reopening of red covered bridge
Recognized as the longest covered bridge in Quebec and the second-longest in Canada, the Félix-Gabriel-Marchand bridge is now officially open and safe to walk or drive over once again. Community members gathered for the reopening of the bridge on Dec. 16. “It’s very exciting for the people in town to have it back and we’re very excited about that,” said Sandra Armstrong, Mayor of Mansfield. Locally known as the Red Bridge, named in honour of Félix-Gabriel Marchand, who was the 11th Premier of Quebec.
The bridge was built in 1898, and holds great significance for the community as it connects the communities of Mansfield and Fort-Coulonge, and allows people to move easily between the two municipalities. In 2015, community members of Mansfield and Fort-Coulonge rallied for the bridge. Jane Toller circulated a petition, which resulted in André Fortin, Member of the National Assembly of Quebec presenting the signatures to the National Assembly in late 2017. Around 2018, when he was able to secure funding for the bridge they started on repair efforts and restoration. Toller said “he would have loved to have been here today.” Standing in front of the bridge, and looking at the people crowding around, Fortin said “I think you can see just in talking to people here, and the smiles on their faces, it was a long time coming for a lot of people and I’m glad we were able to do it before the holidays.”
Buckling down again: Quebec Health Minister Christian Dube calls the situation “critical”
In a press conference held on Dec. 20, Quebec Health Minister Christian Dubé reported the highest daily increase in COVID-19 (of 4,571) cases since Jan. 3, 2020 when the province was hit with the second wave of the virus. According to the Quebec government, these numbers are a cause for alarm and merit a readjustment of the current restrictive measures instituted across the province. Restrictions currently in effect include the closing of schools, bars, theaters, cinemas and spas. Restaurants can open between five a.m. and 10 p.m. Working from home is now mandatory and officials advise against unessential travel during the holidays.
Entertainment venues as well as sports competitions and tournaments have also been shut down. Vaccination passports will now be required at places of worship. While the number of people allowed at indoor gatherings over the holiday season was previously set at 20, in a Dec. 16 press conference Premier Legault announced the number was now reduced to 10 vaccinated members of up to three different households. In a press conference held on Dec. 17, CISSSO announced that there were currently two COVID hospitalizations in Pontiac. Quebec Health Minister Christian Dubé also announced that the province will be distributing 10 million rapid testing kits to more than 1,900 pharmacies in Quebec, adding that each individual will be permitted up to five free kits per 30-day period. In an effort to stay ahead of the rising curve, the government is also planning to accelerate the distribution of the third dose of the vaccine to younger age groups early in the new year.
