Toronto - Some good news today for cancer patients, the Ontario government will now pay for three new and expensive cancer drugs.
The province will spend 50 million dollars over the next three years for three drugs that until now cancer patients had to pay for themselves at private clinics.
The bulk of the cash, 30 million dollars will fund Avastin a ground breaking drug for colorectal cancer which costs a whopping 40 thousand dollars per treatment.
Dr Jim Biagi said the high price put Avastin out reach for many patients. (more…)
Man Drowns Trying To Save Kayakers
Lake Huron-The body of a Etobicoke man was discovered on the shore of Lake Huron near Kincardine late Sunday afternoon.
Three teens were kayaking when their canoe overturned Saturday about 5pm, and a man who saw the event from shore rushed into the water to help.
He was last seen as he rushed into the water near MacCaskill Road as he and another man tried to help the kayakers. (more…)
Anti Freeze Ingestion Results In 2nd Dog Death
Toronto-The presence of anti freeze in a drinking water dispenser at a Toronto Park has caused a second canine death.
Six animals were reported severely ill who spent time in High Park in Toronto. Each showed lethargy, dizziness and frequent urination.
Two dogs have died so far from the anti freeze poisoning.
One of the two was put down by veterinarian, and the other dog died as a direct cause of the poison.
No one knows for certain who poisoned the dogs, and the Toronto police are continuing to investigate.
One theory that the police are pursuing is a recent dispute over dogs being allowed to be off leash in the west end park may have tempers flaring.
But to go so far as to poison animals? There is no solid evidence either way, and police continue to look into all tips submitted by the public.
There have been at least two different pet poisoning sprees in the last several years, and it is not known how this recent spate of poisoning relates to the past illegal poison activity.
Police say five dogs got seriously ill after visiting High Park in the past few days.
Police say they believe that the dogs ingested antifreeze that they could have licked off of the grass.
One dog is listed in critical condition and is not expected to survive.
They’re warning that animals and small children are at risk in the park until the City of Toronto finishes its investigation.
Police say dogs should be kept on a leash, and children shouldn’t be allowed to pick anything up off the ground.
Four years ago one dog died and 15 others fell ill in Withrow Park, near Danforth and Pape Aves
Deputy Premier For Ontario Energy and Infrastructure
Toronto-The cabinet level shuffle of offices resulted in the swearing in of a new Cabinet level minister of Energy and Infrastructure.
George Smitherman was sworn in to oversee the energy and infrastructure ministery today, after the offices of the Cabinet were shuffled around by Premier Dalton McGinty.
McGinty merged two ministries in a shuffle that is seen as a larger simplification and one that should make things a little more clear for the public and for the ministers as they attempt to perform their duty and jobs in the administration. (more…)
Sale Of License Plate Covers To Avoid Cameras On Toll Systems
Oshawa -A Whitby man was arrested and charged with fraud after marketing covers for vehicle license covers that would assist evasion of toll cameras.
The license covers would obscure the license plates of vehicles, making the photography of the licenses impossible. This would allow evasion of the toll or tax on each vehicle passing through certain toll stations on areas Canadian roadways. (more…)
Federal Canada Privacy Commissioner On Facebook Friends List
Ontario- The Canadian Federal Privacy Commissioner has received an official complaint about the Web site Facebook, about a violation of the privacy law in effect in Canada, at the same time that the Commissioner’s office is working on a privacy initiative with them.
Facebook is a popular Internet web site where users post messages and pages, and there is an assumed level of privacy among its users.
A group of Canadian university students is alleging that Facebook revealed private and personal information without their permission. (more…)
Research In Motion Co Creator Lazaridis Gives To Perimeter Institute
Waterloo-The Co-CEO of the Research In Motion company, who manufactures the Blackberry personal electronic e-mail device, donated a generous additional $50 million dollars to Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics.
Mike Lazaridis stepped up to the plate and announced his increased, personal donation to the Perimeter Institute, located in Waterloo Ontario.
The total philanthropy now equals $150 million dollars the RIM executive has given to the independent institute.
The RIM founder often visits the Perimeter Institute, and Mr. Lazaridis says that spending time among young scientific minds is “inspirational.”
“We are experiencing exciting new horizons in the scientific fields and I have the good fortune to help support new research here at the Perimeter Institute” said Mr. Lazaridis.
“The mission of the Perimeter Institute is something that I support and I am very passionate about,” said Lazaridis.
The additional donation joins the other $100 million previously donated by Mr. Lazaridis and is the most recent financial support enjoyed by the Institute.
Perimeter Institute was initially founded with his original $100 million donation in the year 2000, and has gained an international reputation as a leading scholastic research and theory centre in the last 8 years. The public-private partnership that funds the research and outreach activity also includes the Governments of Ontario and Canada.
Corrected by editor 3:44pm June 5
60 Year Old Electrician Tries To Electrocute His Wife And Flees Police
Oshawa - A man who works as an electrician in the Oshawa area tried to use the family shower to electrocute his wife, and then fled police leading them on a high-speed chase.
The Regional Police in Durham state that the suspect, who is 60 years old but whose name is not yet being released attempted to kill his wife using electrical connections to their shower.
The man connected some of the wiring in the house to the shower in such a way as to try and electrocute his wife.
The wife suffered severe electric shocks while trying to adjust the shower temperature while showering on Sunday. She later discovered part of the wall missing and saw the wires connected to the shower faucet and shower stall. (more…)
Toronto - She was the voice of calm and reassurance during SARS.
Doctor Sheela Basrur, Ontario’s former medical officer of health, has died at 51 after a battle with a rare form of cancer.
She became widely known during the crisis back in 2003, when in the words of Toronto Mayor David Miller…”it was the ever-courageous Dr. Basrur who stepped forward to become both Toronto’s face and its voice to a worried world.”
She resigned in December 2006 after being diagnosed with cancer. Soon after, she was awarded the Order of Ontario in April for her leadership during the deadly outbreak.
There will be a private funeral, but a public memorial is in the planning stages.