Southwestern Public Health is airing its concerns as the province moves to expand alcohol sales.
The health unit wants to ensure “the province takes a stronger commitment to the health and well-being” of Ontario residents.
In a conversation this week with SWPH board chair Bernia Martin, she explained, “We originally received a report from staff on alcohol-related harms on our community back in October (of last year).
“And at that time, the board took the recommendations and one of those recommendations was to reply to the province outlining our concerns.”
Other recommendations included a request for the provincial and federal governments to beef up advertising regulations, increase taxes and improve access to treatment.

Martin noted, “In March, we received correspondence back from the province and the board looked at it in our March meeting.”
Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy indicated the government is committed to making alcohol sales more convenient and safe for Ontario residents.

As part of the push, the Ministry of Health will provide an additional $10 million over five years to support and ensure safe alcohol sales and consumption.
Martin noted, “The letter from the Ministry of Finance addresses some of our concerns but it does not take into the big picture some of our over-arching concerns.
“We appreciate the ministry response, but we are looking for greater commitments to health and wellbeing from the province.

“It sounds good to generate more taxes and generate more sales, but we know when alcohol becomes more accessible, we see more issues, including domestic violence, chronic disease, vehicle collisions, underage drinking, injuries, mental health concerns and all of this impacts policing, it impacts healthcare, our social services.”

“This is not just a public health concern. Of course, the board of health looks at it from that lens, but we recognize there are economic impacts, there are social impacts, there are medical impacts, there are policing impacts. It is a wide spectrum of concerns.
“Given the level of detail that was in that alcohol-related harms presentation, the board does review the provincial plan to increase alcohol access as an all-encompassing community health concern.
“And that is what came out of our most recent meeting (at the end of March).”
In December of last year, the Ford government announced that no later than 2026, people will be able to purchase beer, cider, wine and “other low-alcohol, ready-to-drink beverages at participating convenience, grocery and big box stores across the province.”
Martin observed, “It sounds good to generate more taxes and generate more sales, but we know when alcohol becomes more accessible, we see more issues, including domestic violence, chronic disease, vehicle collisions, underage drinking, injuries, mental health concerns and all of this impacts policing, it impacts healthcare, our social services.
“It’s broad spectrum sweeping and we just want to ensure the province takes a stronger commitment to health and well-being.
The health unit estimates, on average, that there are 76 deaths, 388 hospitalizations, and 3,707 emergency department visits annually across the Southwestern Public Health region due to alcohol-related harms.

“And that is the step we are taking today as a board of health to ensure the ministry understands that we want to be preventative and proactive in our behaviour.”

“If we increase access,” suggested Martin, “we have to believe those numbers would be in jeopardy of increasing.
“The board of health is taking a much bigger-picture look at this rather than just the dollars-and-cents economic benefit to the community and the province. What is the big-picture impact?
“As a board of health, we look at the public health lens, but we recognize it’s much bigger than that.”
We asked Martin what was next for the board.
“The motion (at the March board meeting) was to receive the letter from the Ministry of Finance and reply, expressing our concern that the issues raised by public health remain unaddressed.
“So, we will continue our correspondence with the ministry, ensuring they understand we appreciate their correspondence and acknowledging our concern, but we are not done yet.
“We have the opportunity now to get ahead of this (greater ease of alcohol sales). This hasn’t been rolled out, we can be proactive. Rather than reactive once it is rolled out.
“And that is the step we are taking today as a board of health to ensure the ministry understands that we want to be preventative and proactive in our behaviour.”

POLICE SCHOLARSHIP HONOURS ‘A GOOD ONE’

At the end of March, the St. Thomas Police Service announced its first-ever scholarship award.
It is known as the Andrew M. Bennett Scholarship, named in honour of Const. Bennett whose career and life were cut short by cancer some years ago.

We spoke with Chief Marc Roskamp this week to get a picture of who Bennett was and the motivation for the scholarship.
“This is a new concept. A private donor contacted me recently with the idea of creating a scholarship fund for Const. Andy Bennett.”
Bennett was a member of the police service from 1982 to 1992.
Roskamp explained the scholarship award “is for a student who is aspiring to pursue a career in policing who carries the traits of Const. Bennett.
“He was not only a kind person who loved his family and cherished his friendships, but also deeply valued his professional role in our community as a police officer.
“He’s been described as being ethical, consistently principled, honest and helpful. All those traits we expect from police officers.
“And so that is what we’re looking for in a young person who is off to a post-secondary undergrad program with a focus on public safety.”
The $500 scholarship to be awarded annually will see eligible candidates submit a 500-word essay on how they intend to serve and support their community as a police officer.

“Andy was an esteemed colleague and friend to many St. Thomas police officers, civilians and the community. He was one of the good ones who left us too soon.”

The submissions should detail how they intend to be a force for good and how ongoing kindness encourages others and impacts change.
Each year the call for applications will go out in April, with submissions due on June 1.
Roskamp explained, “Applications and essays will be reviewed by the executive leadership team of the police service.”
Candidates must attend one of the six high schools in St. Thomas and Elgin county.
Roskamp advised he had reached out to colleagues of Bennett including former police administrators and received one collective message.
“Andy was an esteemed colleague and friend to many St. Thomas police officers, civilians and the community. He was one of the good ones who left us too soon.”
We put a what-if to the chief in the form of, What if one of the recipients of the scholarship returns to the city to serve with the St. Thomas Police Service?
“Wouldn’t that be a story? If this started somebody out . . . and they ended up coming back our way and were eventually hired, that would be a good news story.”
All applications must be sent to ambennettaward@stps.on.ca by June 1 of this year.

NOT OUR PROBLEM

We had a heart-to-heart conversation this week with realtor Earl Taylor on the state of the city’s downtown.
He raised the issue of the amount of graffiti on the walls of buildings in the alley adjacent to The Inn, the city’s emergency shelter.
As has been suggested during city council meetings of late, if you have a concern or question related to matters in the city or associated with city hall, then submit a request to the customer service line there.
Taylor took that route and received the following response from the city.
“Upon inspection, staff have removed shopping carts, and cleared the area from debris. All graffiti is apparent on private property and is not the responsibility of the City.”
Taylor took the time to email the mayor and councillors but has yet to get a response.
He then called city manager Sandra Datars Bere and he was told since the damage is on private property, the city can not help.
She did suggest holding a meeting to talk further, however as Taylor noted, “we’ve done this numerous times already, how many more times do we need to do this to get a commitment, to get help?”

“Broken windows, break and enter, theft, crime, garbage, drug addiction, graffiti, lost sales and overall safety concerns expressed by customers – how much more are business and property owners supposed to put up with?”

Taylor went on to point out, “The St. Thomas Police Service budget is $1 million to protect the vulnerable but still our downtown business owners continue to be abused by the culture that the city has imposed on us. A huge budget for a bandaid solution but there’s no money for property damage or to support our downtown business and property owners.”
Makes you realize there is more than one set of victims here.
This next point from Taylor has been discussed at city council meetings in the recent past.
“I’ve proposed that a fund be established through the CIP (Community Improvement Plan) to cover these types of damage expenses.
“Broken windows, break and enter, theft, crime, garbage, drug addiction, graffiti, lost sales and overall safety concerns expressed by customers – how much more are business and property owners supposed to put up with?”
Taylor concludes, “I’m asking that the city immediately create a fund to provide assistance for damage repairs, to find a new location for the emergency centre and to support and help return our downtown to a vibrant safe business district.”
Quite possibly the downtown core has fallen off the radar as attention and resources are micro-focussed on the new industrial park, Yarmouth Yards.
A great city is one where all corners of the municipality are healthy and vibrant.

BUS LEAVING FOR LONDON

The new regional bus service linking St. Thomas with London and Dorchester is available to passengers beginning Monday morning.
The first bus will leave the transit hub in St. Thomas at 7:20 a.m. and arrive in London at 7:45. However due to construction, the bus will not go directly to White Oaks Mall but instead stop at Bradley Avenue, east of Wellington Road.
A second morning run leaves St. Thomas at 9:25.
Afternoon trips leave St. Thomas at 4:10 and 6:15. Southbound trips from London depart at 6:40 and 8:50 a.m. and 3:30 and 5:35 p.m.
The southbound stop is on Wellington at Bradley Avenue, in front of White Oaks Mall.
The Saturday schedule is slightly different and the local Railway City Transit times are to be adjusted to link in with the Saturday runs.
There is no Sunday service.
The service is operated by Middlesex Connect using Voyago buses, the operator of the St. Thomas transit system.
It is part of a one-year pilot project funded by the province.
The one-way fare is $5 and you can view the timetable below.

Middlesex Connect Route 3 timetable

THE ECHO CHAMBER
Carrie Smith reacted to last week’s Central Elgin housing item with this observation on Facebook.

“I hope re-purpose means saving the old psych and not tear it down. It is a fortress and to say it can’t be retrofitted and re-used is untruthful. It can be.
“New builds are not always better. Save the heritage and don’t do another “Alma Estates” boondoggle, please.
“Too much decimation in and near town without thought and or proper planning.
“The Walnut estates is another example.”

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And a reminder, I can be heard weekday afternoons as news anchor and reporter on 94.1 myFM in St. Thomas. As always, your comments and input are appreciated.