The role of the Department of Health in the prevention and treatment of the health effects of exposure to lead and to radon.

On May 27th I asked the Minister of Health in Estimates about the role her Department is playing in the prevention and treatment of the adverse health effects of exposure to lead and to radon. My question and the Minister's response is below.

Mr. Gerrard: My next question deals with–I know there's multiple departments involved - but I would like to know what, if anything, her department is doing in terms of preventing the adverse health effects of exposure to lead and to radon, two toxic substances which are all too prevalent in Manitoba.

Ms. Gordon: I'm pleased to respond to the question posed about our department's role in preventing lead and radon.

So, our role is generally, through Public Health, to provide scientific and medical advice and advisors to departments that are more closely linked with that work, so climate and parks, and other departments. And we certainly don't want to overlap or operate at cross-purposes with the other departments.

So, that is the role of the Health Ministry is–again, Dr. Roussin quite often at the table and the discussions related to lead–

Mr. Chairperson: The hour being 12:30 p.m., committee rise.

Comments

Comparison between Manitoba and South Dakota shows dramatic impact of Physical Distancing

Manitoba implemented physical distancing measures in mid-March. South Dakota has still not made physical distancing mandatory. The result is a dramatic difference in the incidence of covid-19 viral infections between the two jurisdictions. This graph shows the number of people with Covid-19 infections from March 27 to April 14. Manitoba ( red line ) started leveling off about April 4 and has seen only a small increase in Covid-19 infections since then. South Dakota ( blue line ) has seen a dramatic increase in Covid-19 infections since April 4. Those who are skeptical of the impact of physical distancing in Manitoba should look at this graph! Data are from the Johns Hopkins daily tabulations

Pushing for safe consumption sites and safe supply to reduce overdose deaths

On Monday June 20th, Thomas Linner of the Manitoba Health Coalition, Arlene Last-Kolb Regional Director of Moms Stop the Harm and Winnipeg City Councillor Sherri Rollins were at the Manitoba Legislature to advocate for better measures to reduce deaths from drug overdoses, most particularly for safe consumption sites and for a safe supply, measures which can reduce overdose deaths.

There is an imperative to have a provincial plan to ensure every child learns to read

Too many Manitoba children with learning disabilities like dyslexia are not being identified and helped early on starting in Kindergarten and grades 1 and 2. The Supreme Court ruled in 2012 that it is the provinces responsibility to ensure that every child learns to read, and even when, in the case of a child with dyslexia intensive intervention is needed. In 12 years Manitoba has failed to produce a provincial plan to address this issue. We are holding a Forum (see below) on this subject. Please come out to the Forum. There is no cost. Everyone is welcome. To learn more about the need to do better helping children, youth and adults with a learning disability click on this link

The Gerrard Report

Search This Blog