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A Study of the Role of the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre and the Development of a Regional Service Plan for Northwestern Ontario (http://nwodhc.com/update.htm)

Tom Closson was appointed Special Advisor by the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, the Honourable George Smitherman. As Chair of the Steering Committee overseeing this study, Mr. Closson welcomes your input to this study that is preparing a Regional Service Plan for Northwestern Ontario. The terms of reference for this study can be found at http://nwodhc.com/pdfs/terms.pdf.

Your interest and comments in the issue of access to tertiary services for the residents of Northwestern Ontario are being sought. As part of gathering input into A Study of the Role of the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre and the Development of a Regional Service Plan for Northwestern Ontario, you can provide your comments via e-mail to planning@nwodhc.com (Subject line: Feedback).

From the web site:

You have the opportunity to outline the problems, as you see them, via e-mail. Also, we are interested in learning about the solutions you feel are available or any other advice you may wish to offer. Limit your remarks to the biggest three issues that, if resolved, would have the greatest impact for the most people in your community. Your ideas about how to solve the issues are most important to the committee.

There are several opportunities for your participation. First, there have been consultation sessions with various community leaders and stakeholders. Secondly, through an in-depth interview process, the Hay Group consultants will seek input from Northwestern Ontario residents. And thirdly, by submitting your comments via e-mail on this web site, you can participate in this study.

The final product will be developed from all of the work that has been done to date in Northwestern Ontario. The Minister will receive a framework for action and feasible recommendations for a regional health plan for Northwestern Ontario. The role of Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre will be described in that plan, and then, it will be up to the health care providers in Northwestern Ontario, the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, and the communities of Northwestern Ontario to implement the plan.

Russell Means was in Winnipeg in September sharing his thoughts about building strong and healthy communities. His message contain challenges for everyone to consider ... "Anything you don’t work for you shouldn’t get. If you don’t work, you shouldn’t be rewarded, period. It creates a dependency syndrome that is only beneficial to those who are in control."

Means' recommendations for positive change in First Nations include:

• Abolish the Bureau of Indian Affairs (in Canada, the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs). “The Bureau of Indian Affairs is a racist, colonial office that has total authoritarian control over Indian land, resources and people...."
• Establish property rights on reserves. “It would benefit our people. Every society on Earth . . . knows that property rights enhance meaningful economic development.”
• Have your own schools. Means has adopted an immersion school model from the Maori for a Lakota school program at Pine Ridge. 
• Have your own courts. Without the protection of law, efforts to attract sustainable businesses and investment will fail.

Means' was brought to Winnipeg by the Frontier Centre for Public Policy (http://fcpp.org/), an independent, non-profit think tank founded to undertake research and education in support of economic growth and social outcomes which will enhance the quality of life in our communities. Through a variety of publications and public forums, the Frontier Centre explores policy changes required to make the Prairies a winner in the open economy. It also provides new insights into solving important issues facing our cities, towns and provinces.

The Frontier Centre web site contains several more interviews, discussions and radio presentations with Russell Means. Check out ...

• Where White Men Fear To Tread - Russell Means lays out his vision for aboriginal policy reform.
• Russell Means, America's "most famous Indian" - On four changes needed in aboriginal policy
• NCI Radio interview with Russell Means (Mp3)