Quite frankly, governments' professions of concern -- especially from
'liberal' governments' -- for the health and well-being of citizens when
paired with their actions towards the most vulnerable make me sick.  This
is the Liberal government that has instituted a "Ministry of Health
Promotion" and is advising people to exercise, eat fruits and vegetables,
and cut out smoking as they break campaign promise after promise that would
have reduced the deprivation people on social assistance are experiencing.

You will note that Education Minister Gerard Kennedy was formerly executive
director of the Daily Food Bank in Toronto before he joined and ran for the
Liberal Party, presumably in response to the draconian policies of the
former "Conservative" government.

Does he have anything to say about hunger now that he is a Minister?

Perhaps all of us should begin writing to Mr. Kennedy and to the newspapers
about the transforation of the activist director of a major food bank into
a stooge for Dalton McGuinty and Sandra Pupatello.

A good beginning:

[log in to unmask]

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>It is ironic that the special diet allowance is available only once
individuals have already become ill with a chronic and debilitating disease
but the money to buy healthy foods (in addition to other basic necessities)
is not available to prevent these diseases.

 ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
>How interesting that extreme obesity is there but emaciation, malnutrition
or starvation are not!

>Ontario Government Clarifies Eligibility For Special Diet Allowance

The special diet allowance is intended to help people on social assistance
who require a special diet because of a medical condition.

 The government has created a new special diet allowance application form
that clearly lists the medical conditions that require a special diet,
making it easier for health professionals and applicants to understand who
is eligible for the allowance. The comprehensive list of medical conditions
requiring a special diet was developed in conjunction with health care
professionals, including dietitians, nutritionists, physicians and the
Ontario Medical Association.

 The following is the list of medical conditions for which a special diet
allowance may be paid:

 ·         Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

·         Cardiovascular Disease

·         Celiac Disease

·         Chronic Constipation

·         Chronic Wounds requiring protein

·         Congenital Abnormalities of the Metabolic Type 51; Adults

·         Congenital Abnormalities of the Metabolic Type 51; Infants and
Children

·         Congestive Heart Failure

·         Crohn's Disease

·         Ulcerative Colitis

·         Cystic Fibrosis

·         Diabetes

·         Diverticulum/Diverticulitis

·         Dysphagia/Swallowing or Mastication Difficulties

·         Extreme Obesity

·         Food Allergy 51; Eggs

·         Food Allergy 51; Milk/Dairy or Lactose Intolerance

·         Food Allergy 51; Soya

·         Food Allergy 51; Wheat

·         Gestational Diabetes

·         Gout

·         Hepatic Disorders

·         HIV/AIDS

·         Hyperlipidemia

·         Hypertension

·         Hypertension and Congestive Heart Failure and Grade 1 to 2 left
ventricular function

·         Hypercholesterolemia

·         Inadequate lactation to sustain breast-feeding or breast-feeding
is contraindicated during the first 12 months of infant's life

·         Liver Failure

·         Macrocytic Anaemia

·         Malabsorption

·         Malignancy

·         Marasmus or Kwashiorkor or Anorexia

·         Microcytic Anaemia

·         Osteoporosis/Osteomalacia/Osteopenia

·         Ostomies (e.g., jejunostomy,  ileostomy)

·         Pancreatic Insufficiency

·         Post-gastric surgery

·         Prediabetes: Impaired Glucose Tolerance or Impaired Fasting
Glucose

·         Renal Failure 51; Dialysis

·         Renal Failure 51; Pre-Dialysis

·         Short Bowel Syndrome

 In addition, women on social assistance, while they are pregnant and for a
further 12 months after delivery while breastfeeding, are eligible to
receive the Pregnancy Nutritional Allowance.

 The list of medical conditions requiring a special diet will be
periodically reviewed and can be updated if a new medical condition that
requires a special diet is identified by the medical community.

 The government will also be conducting a phased review of all special diet
allowance cases. As cases come up for review, individuals will be notified
about the changes to the special diet rules and that their allowances are
being reviewed. Recipients will be required to provide the necessary
information to confirm that they have a medical condition that requires a
special diet.

 Upon review, recipients who have a listed medical condition that requires
a special diet will continue to receive a special diet allowance.
Recipients who are currently receiving a special diet allowance for a
non-medical condition will not be eligible for a special diet allowance.

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