• Abstract and Figures
• Public Full-text

RALU News Volume 12 number 3 August 2020 ews RALU N 2020 THE YEAR OF THE LIBRARY p.1 2020 THE YEAR OF THE LIBRARY DYING WITH DIGNITY. MAID AND “Sometimes just to survive is a victory” BILL C-7: THE CURRENT STATE Dr. Ernst Zimmermann Sheila Noyes p. 3 Libraries are in survival mode EVENTS p. 4 everywhere today and remote regions like the northwest of Ontario are virtually PENSION REPORT AND UPDATE without service. The situation is even more JUNE 2020 dire than in the Harper era. In these perilous Abdul Mamoojee p. 5 times, it is salutary to look back to the stalwarts who built the university and to RALU ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING recall their courage and perseverance. Those 2020 p. 7 who knew Dr. Ernst Zimmermann should remember a fierce academic warrior, who A BOOK: PATRICIA M. NINGEWANCE’S defended academic freedom with word and TALKING GOOKOM’S LANGUAGE. deed. He fought for the funding needed to LEARNING OJIBWE p. 8 build a real academic library, insistently and tenaciously in the Senate and faculty RALU BOOK EXCHANGE association. He and a small band stood on Lynn Barber p. 8 the picket line in extreme cold, as he once said wryly, wearing “Finlander Ballerina” and WOLVES SPORTS a big parka, to force the first contract and the Margot Ponder p. 9 beginnings of a pension fund. RALU members of today and past were in that EDITORIAL p. 10 beleaguered band. It is well to recall that librarians were CURAC/ARUCC NON-MEDICAL initially part of faculty in every sense. The roll BENEFITS SURVEY of the faculty of the precursor of LU included Dr. Ian MacLachlan p. 12 a librarian. In the Friends of the Lakehead University Library’s history of the university, BIKING AT THE CROSSROADS p. 14 there is listed one Douglas M. Fisher, among seven teachers and researchers. Doug Fisher 1 RALU News Volume 12 number 3 August 2020 would go on to represent the Port Arthur Also library-related, we offer a riding of northwest Ontario as MP in the service of a prototype “Book exchange” as a House of Commons. He pioneered television diversion during these distanced days. While in Canadian politics in defeating CD Howe. the mechanics and details are yet to be He was one of a number of communication worked out to comply with any protocols geniuses from the northwest. related to COVID-19, the exchange is It has been another busy summer intended to generate funds for RALU and at between RALU affairs and “one thing and the same time cull members’ libraries of another” as Clem Kent says. Like everyone unwanted titles. A win-win-win. else trying to keep in touch, learning video I look forward to wrapping up my communication software has been a term as your president at the upcoming consuming endeavour, taking time and AGM and moving along to other projects and energy. The gardening project, aka “food even finishing a few started and remaining security” project, is continuing to gather unfinished. momentum despite strictures imposed by Our most fundamental problems as the COVID-19 pandemic and a host of other an association remains first, as described by problems. Dave Kemp in his report to the members This issue of the newsletter features when he left this position: to develop a an introduction for members to medically- succession plan that will encourage younger assisted dying, focusing on legislation and members to take up the work needed to with links to resources to help members produce a wonderful organization as learn. This is to provide germane, up-to-date envisaged by the founding members. The information on a topic that is of obvious second is that we have no standing with LU, importance. It is also a way of celebrating although numbering 124 strong. the lives and honouring those people who For the future you are urged to choose to plan their own death by way of participate. All members have something to medical assistance. give in energy, talents and wealth of The update on pension issues covers knowledge. It is clear from the example of the period to June 2020. people like Peter H. Russell that There is an introduction to the latest chronological age on its own is not a bar to CURAC/ARUCC Survey of Non-Medical productivity. Benefits. The report and survey are It has already been a year since the produced triennially by the Benefits passing of Bonny, who is fondly remembered Committee, which is chaired by RALU and sorely missed. As she said, “There is only member Bev Stefureak. time for optimism”. There is a review of Talking Gookom’s Language. Learning Ojibwe, Ian Dew written by Patricia M. Ningewance and published by Mazinaate Incorporated. This presents a treasure trove of culture and useful tool with which to begin the journey to reconciliation. 2 RALU News Volume 12 number 3 August 2020 DYING WITH DIGNITY and that cannot be relieved under the MEDICAL ASSISTANCE IN DYING (MAID) conditions that they consider acceptable. AND BILL C-7: THE CURRENT STATE OF AFFAIRS Thousands of Canadians were denied an assisted death and have suffered because Bill C-7 was tabled on February 24, their natural death was not reasonably 2020, to amend the legislation on medical foreseeable or because they could not give assistance in dying (MAID). In September the required final consent due to loss of 2019, the Superior Court of Quebec found it capacity. Bill C-7 removes the 10-day unconstitutional that a person seeking MAID reflection period between the request and was eligible only if natural death was the administration of the procedure. It also reasonably foreseeable. The government removes the requirement that patients, did not appeal this ruling and had six months already assessed and approved for MAID, to respond. An extension until July 11 was give final consent. granted; because of the COVID-19 Health Canada just released its First pandemic, this has been moved to Annual Report on Medical Assistance in December 18, 2020. Dying in Canada. Since MAID was legalized The federal government consulted in 2016, 13,946 Canadians have availed with Canadians through a series of ten cross- themselves of their constitutional and legal country roundtables with experts and right to an assisted death. Cancer was the stakeholders, and an online questionnaire most cited underlying medical condition, that received over 300,000 responses. It followed by respiratory and neurological was clear, Canadians value autonomy. Bill C- disorders. The majority (82.1%) were 7 is a fair, balanced, and compassionate reported to have received palliative care approach that will give Canadians greater services. access to a peaceful death. Palliative care and disability support All the eligibility requirements of services are vital offerings for Canadians Canada’s present law (Bill C-14) remain, who are suffering. However, there is some except for the requirement of a reasonably suffering that only death can end, and foreseeable natural death. The request is Canadians have made it clear that they want always initiated by the patient. A person choice and control over their suffering and must have a grievous and irremediable dying. illness, disease, or disability. For a condition David Lametti, Minister of Justice, to be considered grievous and irremediable said that the proposed amendments to the person must meet the following criteria: Canada’s medical assistance in dying regime represent a fundamental policy shift, with * Have a serious and incurable illness, the regime becoming less about end-of-life disease, or disability care and more about autonomy and * Be in an advanced state of decline in alleviating intolerable suffering. capability that cannot be reversed A mandated parliamentary review of * Be enduring physical or psychological Bill C-14, which was to be started in the suffering from the illness, disease or summer of 2020, has been delayed. In the disability that is intolerable to the person review, three types of requests for MAID will 3 RALU News Volume 12 number 3 August 2020 be examined: advance requests, requests by Other Resources mature minors, and requests where mental illness is the sole underlying medical Here is a recent CBC interview with federal condition. justice minister David Lametti Those opposed to MAID should not use this option; but they must not impose https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/maid- their views on others. assisted-dying-lametti-1.5607681 The human rights charity, Dying with Dignity Canada has made available at no Health Canada website dealing with MAID cost, Advance Care Planning Kits for each province. To learn more and to download a https://www.canada.ca/en/health- kit: www.dyingwithdignity.ca canada/services/medical-assistance- dying.html https://www.dyingwithdignity.ca/download _your_advance_care_planning_kit Hospice Northwest Services is a local source of information and services beyond The right not to suffer against our will is our palliative care. last human right. https://www.hospicenorthwest.ca/ Sheila Noyes 63 Carrie Street, Thunder Bay, P7A 4J2 Phone 807 626-5570 Sheila is a former co-president of the charitable organization Dying with Dignity Canada. For 30 years she has been an EVENTS advocate for the right to an assisted death. In 1993 she was a presenter to the Special All regular Association events Senate Committee on Euthanasia and (meetings in person) remain cancelled for Assisted Suicide and was quoted in the final the foreseeable future while the emergency report Of Life and Death. In 1995 she was is on. In the meantime, members are asked one of five Canadians honoured by Dying to experiment with and learn video with Dignity Canada for her work in the right communication software, like Skype, to die movement.

Load more

  18

Copy Link