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*** For the latest information on the Safe Housing Ottawa project for environmentally sensitive individuals, please click here.  ***

April 27, 2009 - Healthy Schools Day in Canada

Watch for an Invitation to Celebrate Healthy Schools Day in Canada appearing soon! The first annual national Healthy Schools Day in Canada is April 27, 2009. Twelve provincial and national organizations convened this past March 12, 2009, and voted to declare a national Healthy Schools Day in Canada - Journée des écoles saines du Canada. It will be publicly announced through media and other means later in April 2009.  For more information, please visit the CASLE website by clicking here.

March 4, 2009 - Ontario gov't passes regulations supporting the Cosmetic Pesticide Ban Act

The Environmental Health Association of Ontario (EHA Ontario) is pleased with regulations passed on March 4, 2009, by the Ontario government, to support provincial legislation banning the sale and use of cosmetic pesticides.  Ontario’s cosmetic pesticides ban takes effect April 22, 2009.  Over 250 products will be banned for sale and more than 95 pesticide ingredients will be banned for cosmetic uses (see list here).  The Ministry of Environment's press release can be viewed here.

February 2009 - $500,000 donated to Canadian Lyme Disease FoundationAn Ontario family recently donated $500,000 to the Canadian Lyme Disease Foundation towards funding an independent research facility in Canada after two members of the family fell seriously ill with Lyme disease. Lyme disease is a bacterial infection carried by ticks. For more information, please click here to view a media release from the Canadian Lyme Disease Foundation, or visit their website at http://www.canlyme.com/

January 2009 - Ottawa University Seminar on the health effects of Electro Magnetic Fields (EMFs).  Members of EHA Ontario may access a presentation of this seminar by clicking here and then entering the username and password as provided to you in an email from EHA Ontario's Executive Director. If you have lost your login info, please email our  requesting it.  For a full listing of our multimedia presentations, please click here.

November 12, 2008 -- CBC Documentary "The Disappearing Male"

For those of you that missed the excellent CBC TV documentary about toxic and hormone disrupting chemicals adversely affecting gender development, the show can now be viewed online here.   And then view the video by clicking here.

November 7, 2008 - Ontario Gov't Asks Ontarians To Comment On Lawn Pesticide Ban Details

The province is asking Ontarians to comment on the specifics of its cosmetic pesticides ban.

In particular, the public is being asked to comment on:
- the proposed lists of pesticides (products and ingredients) banned
  for use and banned or restricted for sale,
- the rules for pesticide use on golf courses,
- the exceptions to the ban for public health or safety reasons.

Comments can be sent online here.

A draft regulation containing the specifics is posted on the Environmental Registry here  (no. 010-5080), and can also be found on the ministry's website at www.ene.gov.on.ca/en/land/pesticides/index.php. Comments
will be accepted until December 22, 2008. The government will consider all comments before finalizing the regulation, expected to occur in spring 2009.

For more information, please click here.

November 3, 2008 -- CMHC Seed Funding approved for Safe Housing Project

EHA Ontario graciously thanks the CMHC Affordable Housing Centre for approval of Seed Funding for our Safe Housing Project. These funds, amounting to $20,000 in total, will help allow us advance to the next stage of project development.  For more information on the Safe Housing Project, please click here.

The Environmental Health Center in Dallas, Texas -- run by Dr. William Rea, is at risk of being closed -- it needs your support.  For more information, please click here.

September 19, 2008 - Bill C-51 -- Good Riddance!!!

This is a message to all those concerned who assisted in the fight against Bill C-51.
Bill C-51 has been killed!  All pending legislation was automatically dissolved when the Prime Minister called an election.  However, even if there had not been an election, both the NDP and the Liberal party had officially decided to vote against the Bill. This is a HUGE change. Prior to the protests from ourselves and our allies, there was NO opposition to the bill. So WELL DONE to all those who helped!  What you did MADE THE DIFFERENCE!  For a background on Bill C-51, please click here.

August 19, 2008 GREAT NEWS: Funding Approved for Safe Housing Ottawa Inc.

For more information, please click here.

August 1, 2008 - New Bulletin Board

A new Bulletin Board has been installed. It offers superior security and ease of use compared to the old one. However, as a result of being a different program, the old messages have been lost, due to software compatibility issues. If you registered on the old board, you'll have to re-register on the new board as the membership list from the old board could not be carried over. We hope to soon see you on the board!  

July 28, 2008 - Our new name: Environmental Health Association of Ontario

The Allergy and Environmental Health Association (AEHA) underwent a name change in July 2008. We are now known as the Environmental Health Association of Ontario (EHA Ontario).  

Please update your bookmarks:  Our website address has changed from www.aeha.ca to www.ehaontario.ca.

Environmental Health has gained public recognition, and the “environmental health” handle will make a clearer distinction between our organization and those organizations dealing solely with “conventional” allergies.

AEHA-Ottawa has been providing services to members in outlying areas for a number of years, so nothing has changed except that more funding avenues should open up to us as a provincial group.  Satellite support groups such as Toronto will be the vehicles to provide support to outlying areas. AEHA Quebec has also changed its name to EHA Quebec, so we will be aligned with EHA BC and EHANS as provincial organizations. Our website has undergone an overhaul to reflect the name change.

May 4, 2008 - Cosmetic Pesticide Ban in Ontario, Bill 64

Major loopholes exist in Ontario's Bill 64 - The Cosmetic Pesticide Ban Act - which make the Bill weak.

Please click here for details on how you can help.

April 22, 2008 - Province of Ontario to ban cosmetic use and sale of pesticides

The Ontario Government introduced legislation today (Earth Day) that will implement a province-wide ban on the cosmetic use and sale of lawn and garden pesticides.  The ban would likely take effect next spring.

Environment Minister John Gerretsen commented about the proposed legislation that:
 

"We always said it was a priority when we came out with our platform last year, and it's had tremendous support around the province from what we've received as far as the environmental registry is concerned.  Ninety per cent of the people that responded to it responded in a favourable way."

NDP Environmental critic Peter Tabuns stated:

"Cities have been doing this. There have been links between the use of herbicides (and) pesticides and human disease. Why don't we phase out the stuff that's unnecessary?

If they bring forward legislation that has teeth in it, that's useful, then obviously we're going to be inclined to support it."

The Ontario College of Family Physicians has said the long-term effects of exposure to pesticides can be devastating, especially to pregnant women and children, leading to learning disabilities, birth defects and abortions.

The legislation would also echo Massachusetts law requiring pesticide manufacturers to reduce the toxins they use in production.

AEHA-Ottawa welcomes strong province-wide legislation that would ban the sale and use of cosmetic pesticides throughout Ontario.

For the Ontario Government Press Release, please click here

For the CTV News video, please click: here.

For news stories, please click: Toronto Star, Globe and Mail,  Toronto Sun, CBC, CTV  Ottawa Citizen, CITY TV, and 680 News. 

February 6, 2008

New Action Alert page created.  Check it out by clicking here.

February 3, 2008

Please tell the Ontario Government to ban lawn pesticides

Dear Friend,

As you know, Ontario has promised to enact a ban on lawn and garden pesticides that would protect 12 million Canadians from toxic lawn chemicals. If the legislation passes, it will be a huge step forward for public health. However, as you can imagine, the chemical industry is fighting it every step of the way.

Would you take a moment, right now, to send a quick on-line message to the Environment Ministry to support the pesticide ban? All you need to do is click here.  (the deadline for comments is Feb. 17, 2008)

Simply fill in your contact information in the space provided and in the comments box you can type, "I support a province-wide ban on the sale and cosmetic use of pesticides." You dont need to write anything else. When you're finished, click "Save" to submit. Please send your message today!

Thanks so much and all the best,

Gideon Forman
Executive Director
Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment

The Ministry of the Environment's press release is located here.

January 23, 2008

NEW --- Environmental Sensitivities Video ---  click here to view it online (requires high-speed)

January 8, 2008

You are invited to participate in *MCS research regarding the Centers for Independent Living.  In effort to study and improve services to the chemically sensitive, Dr. Pam Gibson and her students are seeking persons with chemical sensitivity that have requested help from a Center for Independent Living (CIL). The study will take approximately 20 minutes to complete and is accessible through Dr. Gibson’s research site at www.mcsresearch.net. You can also access the survey directly on Websurveyor at

 https://websurvey.jmu.edu/ss/wsb.dll/40/mcsperspectives.htm.

We would be grateful for your participation. If you have attempted to access a CIL and are willing to participate, but unable to complete a study online, please contact us for a paper survey or a phone interview.
Phone 540-568-6195. E-mail: gibsonpr at jmu dot edu

September 9, 2007

AEHA-OTTAWA applauds Ontario Liberals' plan to restrict pesticides province-wide

The Allergy and Environmental Health Association, Ottawa (AEHA-Ottawa), congratulates the Ontario Liberals for the landmark decision to ban “cosmetic” pesticides from lawns, gardens and parks. AEHA-Ottawa members who suffer from environmental sensitivities have a valid reason to strongly support this province-wide ban: exposure to pesticides can trigger severe symptoms that can even disable them, with devastating consequences to their lives.  Read AEHA-Ottawa media release by clicking here

August 28, 2007

The Canadian Human Rights Commission (CHRC) recognizes Environmental Sensitivities as a disability

The Canadian Human Rights Commission's website states:

"Individuals with environmental sensitivities experience a variety of adverse reactions to environmental agents at concentrations well below those that might affect the “average person”. This medical condition is a disability and those living with environmental sensitivities are entitled to the protection of the Canadian Human Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability."

For more information, click: CHRC

August 20, 2007

Ontario awash in toxic chemicals  

A coalition of health and labour groups has released a report which concludes that Ontario is awash in toxic chemicals. The report finds that an environmental carcinogen use reduction strategy does not exist for Ontario. Ontario ranks highest among the provinces in environmental carcinogens released, according to the report.  59,500 Ontarians will be diagnosed with cancer in 2007 out of 159,900 in Canada. It is projected that by 2020, 91,000 new cancer cases will be diagnosed.  "We think there are just too many carcinogens released in air, water and soil and there's an opportunity here to reduce that," states Sarah Miller, co-ordinator and researcher at the Canadian Environmental Law Association and member of the Cancer and the Environment Stakeholder Group (as reported to the CBC).  For full story, please click here.

May 22, 2007

Environmental Sensitivities Voluntary Registry

 The City of Ottawa has set up a registry to notify people with environmental sensitivities of adulticiding (pesticide application) for West Nile Virus near their homes.  For more information, please click here.

May 14, 2007

CANADIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION RELEASES MEDICAL REPORT ON ENVIRONMENTAL SENSITIVITIES

The key to prevention and management of this illness is avoidance of toxic triggers.

The Allergy and Environmental Health Association – Ottawa, in partnership with the Human Ecology Foundation of Canada, wish to commend the Canadian Human Rights Commission on their recently released report titled “The Medical Perspective on Environmental Sensitivities.” This work was researched and written by Meg Sears, M.Eng., Ph.D., with technical review and assistance from a panel of prominent physicians and architects.  

Dr. Sears says there are high costs to society if people with sensitivities are not cared for, and workplace environmental quality affects workers’ productivity, health and attendance. She adds that improving the environmental quality of the workplace is an economically sound decision, as well as the best option for workers’ health. The full report, “The Medical Perspective on Environmental Sensitivities,” is available online by clicking here.

Tuesday, April 17, 2007

Governors and Mayor Proclaim May as Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Awareness and Education Month

Governor Bill Ritter of Colorado, Governor Ted Strickland of Ohio, Mayor Josephus Eggelletion of Broward County Florida, Governor Jim Gibbons of Nevada, and Governor Christine Gregoire of Washington are among the first governors and mayors to proclaim the month of May 2007 as Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Awareness and Education Month.  For full details, and valuable information on MCS, please click here.

Adverse Effects Reporting

The Federal Government has recently established adverse effects reporting mechanisms for both pesticides and perfumes.   The AEHA recommends that individuals who've had adverse effects report them immediately by clicking on the links above.  

By November 2006, the outer label of cosmetic products sold in Canada will have to list all the ingredients in the product.  For more information, please click here.

Are You An Environmentally Sensitive Individual Who Has Filed A Complaint With The Human Rights Commission?

If so, bakerlaw (www.bakerlaw.ca) is doing research for the Canadian Human Rights Commission on court or tribunal decisions on the accommodation of environmental sensitivities. We are looking for information on legal proceedings that have been initiated because of a lack of accommodation or decisions of tribunals/courts on environmental sensitivities. We would like to invite individuals who have initiated such legal proceedings or are aware of relevant decisions to forward them to Cara Wilkie's attention at cwilkie@bakerlaw.ca. We ask that all of this information be provided by August 31. 

Tell the federal pesticide assessors what pesticides do to you.
 
August 2006

Several pesticides that are commonly used on lawns are under review at the federal Pest Management Regulatory Agency.

Human health is part of the assessment, so it is important for anyone who has an adverse effect from a pesticide spraying to email or mail John Worgan (Director of Reassessment) and to copy Dr. Karen Dodds (Executive Director) to tell them about it. Stories from across the country about reactions to neighbours' spraying should enter into the reassessment somehow. People could comment on weed and feed, and smells in stores as well.
 
Mr. John Worgan, Director, Reassessment Management Division: john_worgan@hc-sc.gc.ca
Dr. Karen Dodds, Executive Director: Karen_Dodds@hc-sc.gc.ca
 
Mailing Address:

 

Health Canada
Pest Management Regulatory Agency
2720 Riverside Drive
OTTAWA, ON
K1A 0K9

New Bulletin Board

We are proud to announce that we now have an online Bulletin Board.
Check it out by clicking here: Bulletin Board

Action alert:

Canadians are concerned about toxic chemicals in our environment causing EI/MCS and are writing Stephen Harper. For details, click here (external website)  

 

This web site is possible because of the generous sponsorships from businesses and organizations. All of these businesses and organizations provide services and/or products that may be of value to those dealing with environmental sensitivies and related illnesses and syndromes. We encourage you to show your support for the AEHA by visiting the web sites and locations of our sponsors.

Disclaimer

The contents of this EHA website, (i.e. text, graphics, images, and any other material) are for informational purposes only. The contents are thus not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other professionally accredited, qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Do not disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read or seen on the EHA site.

EHA does not recommend or endorse any treatment, test, procedure, product, opinion, service or other information appearing on this site or any other site to which it may be linked. Reliance on any of the aforementioned is solely at your own risk.

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