What a beautiful province we live in! During March, my husband and I had the opportunity to travel to St. Joseph Island in the Sault Ste. Marie area to celebrate the 37th anniversary of Club #290. The area was picturesque and, as usual, the people were welcoming. We had a great visit and were impressed by the spirit of community both at St. Joseph Island and Blind River. Thanks to Club #290 for your support through the years and all good wishes for the future.

Marie Smith and I were pleased to be a part of the Zone 11 rally and had a super time. At the Ontario Senior Secretariat Liaison meeting, Mr. Carl Isenberg represented MPAC and explained how and why most properties in Ontario were assessed. Many assessments went up and a few went down. It was only a week or so after this presentation that the Ombudsman's office came out with a report on the inequities, secrecy and the lack of cooperation that have existed with MPAC. Stay tuned! - Maybe we will meet with MPAC again to hear their response.

The committee had an overview of Local Health System Integration which is designed to ensure better access, continuum of care and more efficient management of the system. There is an expectation that most LHIN board meetings will be open to the public and that some board members are selected from the public. I still have concerns about the extent of public consultations on this legislation and am curious about how many of you had heard of this huge revamping of the health system prior to its implementation. There is a requirement for LHINS to publicize their upcoming meetings - I hope that many USCO members will take the opportunity to learn about LHINS and how it will affect their community.

Just a reminder - the New Horizons grant program is open from now until the end of June. If your club is interested in new programs or resources for which you need funding, please investigate the New Horizons grant - you can call 1.800.277.9914 or visit their website at www.sdc.gc.ca You will find the personnel in this office (New Horizons for Seniors Program Social Development Canada) to be most helpful and accommodating.

As many of you know, macular degeneration is the leading cause of blindness in seniors. There are other drugs and more aggressive treatments available to treat this than the Ontario Drug Benefits Program is willing to pay. The same is true of many of the new cancer drugs. We have a responsibility to ensure that drugs prescribed by a doctor and approved by the Canadian government are available for many of these catastrophic diseases. Universal, publicly-funded health care was hard won but it is facing serious challenges: demand is increasing along with costs. This is a problem that must be solved - healthcare needs to be put on a sustainable basis for the future.

This means we have to look for more efficient ways to manage the health care system - but not at the expense of denying the best health care available to anybody in Canada. A letter from you to Minister George Smitherman regarding the availability to Ontario residents of the newest medically approved drugs would help to determine how health care dollars are spent.
The address is:

The Honourable George Smitherman Minister of Health and Long Term Care 80 Grosvenor Street 11th Floor, Hepburn Block Toronto, Ontario M7A 2C4

One of the pieces of legislation that died prior to the federal election was a bill that would have allowed seniors (who are eligible) to receive the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) without having to apply for it. Had it been passed, this bill would also have removed restrictions on retroactivity. Hopefully, one of our newly elected MP's will reintroduce it - ask your MP.

The Ontario Senior Secretariat recently invited representatives from non-profit groups (including some of our members) to attend a day long seminar on capacity building - how will non-profit and volunteer groups sustain themselves when so much government funding is drying up? There were many suggestions, most of which involved innovative ideas, partnerships and community involvement.

The gaming laws were not addressed and the USCO will continue to pursue this - so many small clubs rely on raffles and draws for operational money. In any discussion of long term care, the issue of mental health services arises. There is a recognition by most participants (senior groups and government representatives) that mental health services are inadequate. This concern will continue to be brought forward.

Thanks to the member who called in with the second verse of the poem in April's Voice - and here it is:

They say the boids is on the wing But that's absoid 'Cause everyone knows The wings is on the boid." From Odes to Spring

No one can ever say The Voice doesn't offer cultural inspiration!

Senior's month starts on June 1st and International Elder Abuse Awareness Day is June15th. I hope your club has special activities planned and that you will share them with The Voice and the Ontario Senior Secretariat (1.888.910.1999).

Geriatric dentistry should be a growing specialty - but it isn't. The Ontario College of Dentistry barely makes mention of it in its courses, long term care homes profess to be aware but, again, application is limited. It's always an inspiration to speak to Dr. Irwin Lightman who is a retired dentist (now) but he's been working since 1954 to make the College of Dentistry and the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care aware that poor dental hygiene creates health problems. Check at your closest long term care home and see for yourself what dental practices are carried out.

The annual USCO conference is on August 28, 29 and 30 at the Delta Kitchener. Your conference package will be going out in May - watch for it. I hope to see you in Kitchener. I'm looking forward to the many spring rallies and visiting with you.

Enjoy the spring, keep well and look after one another.

Best Regards,

Judith A. Muzzi