Hi there,
With apologies to those on the list who live outside of Ontario,
clicking the link below will take you to an action alert urging the
provicincial government to begin consultations on the special diet
program. Thanks very much, Lynn Anne
To view the electronic action alert and to send a letter, please click
here
http://www.rnao.org/Page.asp?PageID=122&ContentID=3289&SiteNodeID=403&BL
_ExpandID=
-----Original Message-----
From: RNAO Home Office [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Monday, August 09, 2010 10:48 AM
Subject: Action Alert to Premier McGuinty: Keep Your Promise to Consult
on a New Nutritional Supplement Program [REF5360012131008037762]
Action Alert to Premier McGuinty: Keep Your Promise to Consult on a New
Nutritional Supplement Program
August 9, 2010
Background
The Ontario Legislature is adjourned for the summer but Ontario's
registered nurses continue to be deeply concerned about the unremitting
need and fear experienced by our patients, clients, and neighbours who
require access to nutritional resources currently provided by the
Special Diet Allowance Program.
When Ontario's 2010 Budget was revealed on March 25, it stated that the
Special Diet Allowance Program would be replaced with a new nutritional
supplement program to be administered by the Ministry of Health and
Long-Term Care rather than the Ministry of Community and Social
Services.
This announcement has caused many vulnerable Ontarians who currently
receive the Special Diet Allowance as part of the Ontario Works and
Ontario Disability Support Program to worry that they will no longer be
able to meet their nutritional needs that are exacerbated by health
challenges. The government's decision to change the program has been
interpreted as a disturbing sign about the degree to which it is
committed to poverty reduction and the importance of protecting the
human rights of people with disabilities.
These concerns were communicated in a letter (see link below) from the
25 in 5 Network for Poverty Reduction, the ODSP Action Coalition, and
the Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario to the Honourable Deb
Matthews, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, on May 25, along with
Five Principles for a New Nutritional Supplement Program (see link
below).
Links:
Letter - 5 in 5 Network for Poverty Reduction, the ODSP Action
Coalition, and the Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario
http://www.rnao.org/Storage/71/6562_Letter-to-Matthews-on-Nutritional-Su
pplement.pdf
Five Principles for a New Nutritional Supplement:
http://www.rnao.org/Storage/71/6561_Five_Principles_Special_Diet_May_201
0.pdf
The full text of the letter to Minister Matthews and the Five Principles
for a New Nutritional Supplement Program may be downloaded here and at
the bottom of the page.
As of early August, no consultation process has been announced.
Please Act Now! Here are three things you can do:
1. Endorse the Five Principles for a New Nutritional Supplement
(Organizations and Individual Endorsements welcome) at the 25 in 5
website
http://25in5.ca/endorse-the-five-principles-for-a-new-nutritional-supple
ment-program/
2. Email the letter below to Premier Dalton McGuinty. Copies will
also automatically be sent to Deb Matthews, Minister of Health and
Long-Term Care, Laurel Broten, Minister of Children and Youth, Dwight
Duncan, Minister of Finance, Tim Hudak, Leader of the Official
Opposition, and Andrea Horwath, Leader of the New Democratic Party. You
can edit the letter to include illustrations from nursing practice on
the importance of access to nutritious food for health, especially for
those faced with chronic health challenges in low-income contexts.
3. Share this action alert with your colleagues, neighbours,
friends, and family. Invite them to take action through the Take Action
page at the 25 in 5 Network for Poverty Reduction
http://25in5.ca/take-action/ and/or through this action alert.
To view the electronic action alert and to send a letter, please click
here
http://www.rnao.org/Page.asp?PageID=122&ContentID=3289&SiteNodeID=403&BL
_ExpandID=
Resources
Addison, Webster, M. (2010). Save Ontario's diet allowance. Toronto
Star. August 7, 2010.
http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorialopinion/article/845003--save-ont
ario-s-diet-allowance
25 in 5 Network for Poverty Reduction, ODSP Action Coalition, and
Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario. Five Principles for a New
Nutritional Supplement Program. Toronto: Authors. May 2010.
http://www.rnao.org/Storage/71/6561_Five_Principles_Special_Diet_May_201
0.pdf
The Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario. (2010) Five Principles
for a New Nutritional Supplement Program, August 3, 2010
http://www.rnao.org/Page.asp?PageID=122&ContentID=3283&SiteNodeID=398&BL
_ExpandID=
The Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario. (2010) . Put Food in the
Budget Joint Statement: Implications of 2010 Ontario Budget for Food
Security and Health of People Receiving Social Assistance, August 3,
2010
http://www.rnao.org/Page.asp?PageID=122&ContentID=3281&SiteNodeID=398&BL
_ExpandID=
Creek, M., Grinspun, D., & Vose, K. (2010). Letter to Minister Deb
Matthews. Toronto: 25 in 5 Network for Poverty Reduction, Registered
Nurses' Association of Ontario, and ODSP Action Coalition. May 25, 2010
http://www.rnao.org/Storage/71/6562_Letter-to-Matthews-on-Nutritional-Su
pplement.pdf
Toronto Public Health (2010) Update on Proposed Changes to the Special
Diet Allowance, June 22, 2010
http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2010/hl/bgrd/backgroundfile-31677.pdf
http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2010/hl/bgrd/backgroundfile-31678.pdf
25 in 5 Network for Poverty Reduction
http://25in5.ca/
ODSP Action Coalition
http://www.odspaction.ca/
To view the electronic action alert and to send a letter, please click
here
http://www.rnao.org/Page.asp?PageID=122&ContentID=3289&SiteNodeID=403&BL
_ExpandID=
Lynn Anne Mulrooney, RN, MPH, PhD
Senior Policy Analyst
Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario
158 Pearl Street
Toronto, ON M5H 1L3
Telephone: (416) 408-5616 (direct line)
Toll-Free: 1-800-268-7199 ext 238
Fax: (416) 599-1926
Email: [log in to unmask]
Website: www.rnao.org
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