New Brunswick's child and youth advocate has delivered a mostly failing grade to the provincial government's work on recommendations in 2021 to address mental health issues among First Nations youth. In a report released Monday morning, Kelly Lamrock calls the government's efforts "lacklustre," concluding that it took no action on 12 of the 20 recommendations and only "somewhat implemented" the eight others. He told reporters that the response has been "profoundly underwhelming." Lamrock called for a "nation-to-nation" approach to the issue, including co-management by the province and First Nations governments of funding for mental health services. "At some point one either accepts that we need a distinct process to deal with the crisis in First Nations communities or we do not," Lamrock said. "And that dividing line really animates the report. My submission respectfully to the legislature is we do, and we have not had one." He noted that young Indigenous people are almost eight times as likely to take their own lives as other New Brunswick youth. "Anybody that thinks you can simply attack this problem by saying 'take the strategy for the whole province and add Aboriginal people' probably has not reflected long enough on the very unique causes and very unique challenges in First Nations communities." Lamrock asked government departments for an accounting of their work on the proposals submitted by a First Nations advisory council to his predecessor Norm Bossé, as part of the advocate's broader review of suicide prevention and youth mental health services. He said the responses "do not meaningfully address the substance of the recommendations," often equating the creation of committees — or just the discussion of who might sit on committees — with concrete actions. "In several cases it appears that authorities are providing unrelated or tangential responses as a means to avoid rejecting the recommendations," he wrote. "This indicates both a failure of the authorities to address the issue and a failure to take accountability for their inaction." Lamrock's report makes five new recommendations that he says are intended to "kickstart this process after three lost years," including a "nation-to-nation" agreement with First Nations for the co-management of funding for youth mental health services. Roxanne Sappier, who co-chaired the advisory council for Bossé's report, said she was hopeful the proposals would spark movement. "The lack of action means that our youth are suffering, that we're not meeting the needs of our families in our communities, and that has huge, huge costs," she said. In a statement, Rob McKee, the Liberal minister responsible for mental health and addiction services, said "a number of initiatives are underway ...and are in various stages of implementation" — the kind of phrasing that Lamrock's report criticized.. McKee's statement said that includes creating programs that are "culturally safe" for Indigenous people, but he did not mention the idea of co-managing funding. Lamrock also called for clearer accounting of federal funds transferred to the province for First Nations mental health to ensure it's being spent properly and the creation of clear indicators for measuring progress. He was reluctant to discuss whether the previous Progressive Conservative government of Blaine Higgs was to blame or whether the new Liberal government of Premier Susan Holt would make a difference. His job, he said, was to report to the legislature — meaning 49 MLAs from three different parties — and leave it to them to hold specific politicians accountable. "My job is to say what has come out of the department, and it's nothing." Roxanne Sappier, who co-chaired the advisory council for Bossé's report, says they've been waiting 'a long, long time' for gains to be made. (Mikael Mayer/Radio-Canada) But Sappier said she believes the attitudes of those holding political power can't be ignored. "It's been very challenging without that support from the top. So we're really hopeful that now that we do have mandates from this government supporting this work, that we will make some gains that we've been waiting for for a long, long time," she said. Progressive Conservative MLA Rob Weir, who was first elected in October and who worked as a political assistant in the PC government, was reluctant to say why so little progress had happened. "I can't answer that because I was not in the room," he said. PC MLA Rob Weir, who was first elected in October, was reluctant to say why so little progress had happened. (Jacques Poitras/CBC) "I will guarantee that moving forward, I will be an advocate for paying attention to the issues that we have and solving the problems moving forward." Green Party leader David Coon said the Higgs government was clearly responsible for the inaction, "but they're gone," and he called on the legislature's social policy committee to be given a mandate to monitor the implementation of the recommendations. Among the 2021 recommendations where Lamrock found no action was taken: The launch of a separate review by the provincial government of Indigenous youth mental health services. Changes to health care structures and processes with a long-term goal of "cultural safety" for Indigenous youth and better outcomes. A forum that includes federal and provincial governments and Indigenous leaders to develop a framework for "culturally appropriate, competent and safe" mental health services. Improving the transparency of how federal government money transferred to the province is spent on Indigenous mental health services. Cultural training for judges and Crown prosecutors. Among recommendations that Lamrock said were "somewhat" implemented: Formal support and recognition of the Mi'gmaq, Peskotomuhkati and Wolastoqey languages through provincial legislation and programs. The offering of "culturally relevant" mental wellness, health and addiction services for Indigenous youth, with an emphasis on Indigenous-led services. A more culturally inclusive education policy.
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BRITS will watch five hours of telly a day over Christmas and 'lie' to loved ones to avoid socialising for a boxset. As Christmas officially kicks off, many will embrace the slow, relaxed pace of the Twixmas period between December 26th and 31st, indulging in some guilty pleasures while avoiding the social demands of the festive season. A recent survey from Sky and Now has revealed that, during this in-between lull, Brits will engage in some surprising habits, with a focus on binge-watching TV, staying in their pyjamas, and even skipping showers. According to the poll, a quarter will avoid showering for three days or more during Twixmas, while half admit to wearing the same pair of pants for longer than a day. Even more surprising, 21 percent of respondents will go up to five days without leaving the house, making the period a time for ultimate relaxation and avoidance of any unnecessary errands or social obligations. In fact, it seems that getting dressed is not a priority for many, as over half of respondents - at 55 percent - will spend at least one day lounging around in their pyjamas, with some spending the entire period in their most comfortable attire. The trend of taking it easy continues with the discovery that 64% of Brits said their favourite activity during Twixmas is staying at home and watching TV. With family and friends often still lingering from Christmas, some will take the opportunity to lie about being busy to avoid socialising beyond December 25th. Around 22 percent of people admitted to fibbing to loved ones so they can stay home, binge-watch boxsets, and simply unwind without any obligations. It’s no surprise, then, that Brits are setting aside considerable time for television, with the average person watching five hours a day. Over the six days of Twixmas, this adds up to an impressive 30 hours of TV viewing, and across the UK, it amounts to a staggering 1.8 billion hours of collective screen time. During this period, many will start and finish a new TV series in just a few days, with 52 percent of respondents committing to new shows. Two-fifths will go so far as to binge-watch TV all day without ever getting up, cementing the idea that this is a time dedicated to indulgent relaxation. Rewatching old favourites is also common, with 51% of Brits revisiting beloved series they've already seen multiple times. With Gavin and Stacey's final ever episode set to air, it's perfect timing for fans to re-watch the entire series from the beggining. The Twixmas period also serves as a time for many to catch up on all the Christmas specials and festive-themed TV shows they missed during the chaos of the holiday. More than half of those surveyed - at 52 percent - will spend their time revisiting these programmes, and over a fifth - 22 percent - will make it a point to rewatch their favourite Christmas classics. This trend reflects a broader shift towards embracing comfort and relaxation in the days following Christmas. Jamie Morris, Executive Director of Content Strategy and Performance at Sky, said that this period of rest is the ideal time to relax, snack on leftovers, and enjoy some great television. Whether it's watching nostalgic favourites, diving into thrilling new series, or simply revisiting Christmas classics, Sky and NOW have ensured that Brits have access to everything they need for the perfect Twixmas.Hilda Baci launches new location for ‘My Food By Hilda’ in Lagos
Sri Lanka is known as a country that provides labour. It’s our most enduring national export. But we are also known as the nation that encourages any type of foreign remittances. A massive number of Sri Lankans — perhaps a majority — would give anything to settle down abroad with family in a Western country, or in South Korea perhaps. We in Sri Lanka have taken these proclivities for granted. We have encouraged them. Reason being that these nations have large populations of the Sri Lankan diaspora so-called, that remit money that keeps our economy ticking. But this expectation of being bankrolled by a diaspora is a sellout. Yes, we are glad the money comes in at a time we most need it. But we should target to rid our country of the bad reputation as the nation that everyone wants to leave. Any country that can live with such a bad rap is not self-respecting. This narrative of cheap labour has become the story of Sri Lanka, and no doubt there are two sides to it. Our political parties get a boost from diaspora support, and the Sinhala diaspora so-called was extremely engaged in this year’s elections. HARASSED Their support was mostly for the same party that Sri Lankans overwhelmingly voted for this year. This was a happy coincidence. Those abroad saw things the same way those who are toiling here back at home did. One reason may be that in a strange way a large number of those who are here, are also trying their best to leave, so they too could hopefully contribute to the national effort from abroad. But it’s delusional to think that all Sri Lankans want to contribute to the national effort from overseas. Most are merely ensuring that the relatives back home get a fair share. They are in effect remitting money to whom they think are less fortunate. This is not a state of affairs we should hanker after. It is why this country should plan on replacing remittances as the number one foreign exchange source of the country. Previous Governments largely didn’t lend their minds to it. If people went abroad and sent money, they were considered assets. The fact that national pride was in tatters was never considered. That no country should be proud of the fact that its citizens for the most part want to live overseas, was not considered relevant. That most of the manpower “exported” abroad in this fashion is harassed, or feels harassed and exploited in their new domiciles, was also never considered. Our national narrative cannot and should not be that we provide labour and know-how to the world. It is true that we have also exported brain-power with our doctors and engineers and scientists contributing to the GNP of Uber-rich nations. But that’s a small part of the equation. Most Sri Lankans who go abroad are low-paid workers or immigrants who provide low-cost labour to do the work that the citizens in rich countries are loathe to do themselves. It is true that a magic wand cannot be waved and revenue sources created to replace the tidal wave of citizens leaving for better opportunities abroad, while incidentally helping to earn the much needed foreign exchange to fund our purchases of fuel and other essentials. But, we cannot be a country that didn’t try, or didn’t consider it necessary to stem this tide. Singapore’s founder premier Lee Kwan Yew famously said that if his country was rife with corruption, Singaporean women would have to work as housemaids in the kitchens of Middle Eastern countries. The gentleman was concerned about the collective dignity of Singaporeans, and the effect that would have on the nation’s psyche. In contrast, successive Sri Lankan Governments couldn’t care less. It was as if the poor were encouraged to work for a pittance abroad so that the rich could make merry on the spoils that were remitted back to the country. That’s not stated in jest. Sri Lankan Embassies in the Middle East notoriously couldn’t care less about the plight of some workers who were mistreated. But they made sure that every facility was made available to remit the money that was realised by these servants to the Sheiks. All of the above should make clear that dependence on foreign remittances should be a last and not first resort. We were forced to sell our labour abroad because of the dearth of employment and business opportunities within the country. It is as simple as that. Powers Once it was clear that the powers that be didn’t mind if the poor toiled abroad, and were salivating for the money they brought in, the system became institutionalised. The ruling cabals didn’t want to think of policy solutions that would help grow the economy. They could lord it over the toiling hordes, as long as they could ensure that there would be enough of a labour-force that could be forced to go abroad and effectively sell their souls for a mess of pottage that would sustain the corrupt ruling classes back home. It’s time to regain national dignity, and eschew the selling of cheap labour as a source of national revenue. The policymakers must generate alternative sources of income for the country if this ideal is to be realised. But it’s the psychology that matters too. If the rulers are intent on retaining the status quo in which the sale of cheap labour is considered our primary source of national income, the country would continually languish in the doldrums. People should consider themselves as something more than domestic servants, nurses for old people, drivers and hospital attendants, if they want to envision a country that offers dignity, opportunities, and a standard of living that makes people want to stay back, and not leave the country. But, foreign remittances have been the opium of the masses. The rulers have ensured that the revenue earned from selling the people’s labour cheap, helps keep our heads just above water. The people in turn have got used to existing on the barest minimum and not aspiring to anything more. They have cultivated a fatalism about their general plight and that’s not surprising as the rulers have always “showed them their place” as the servants and odd job men for foreigners. SHORING As outlined earlier, it doesn’t mean that all Sri Lankans abroad are menial workers. There are top-echelon scientists and other professionals. But these are in the minority. The vast majority have forgotten what it is to hail from a country that is interested in keeping the dignity of its average citizen intact. It’s not the work ethic of the Singaporeans that helped the country make that quantum leap from backwater to Asian Tiger. It was also the mindset. If people buy into the mythology that they are only suited to be domestics abroad or odd-job men to rich foreigners, they cannot envision a better country for themselves. In other words, they cannot make the mental leap towards considering themselves worthy of comfortable living conditions. As of last month, however, we should make that mental leap. We seem to be in a place where we can at least try to stop wallowing in our plight. But the policymakers cannot be satisfied with the status quo. They cannot be satisfied with shoring up our two major revenue streams, foreign remittances and tourism-earnings. They have to ensure that the nation grows out of this two-track mindset. There could be a blowback. People could say that our revenue earners abroad are being maligned, that the dignity of their labour is not being appreciated. The problem is that they don’t have dignity of labour in the first place. They are for the most part doing jobs that foreigners won’t do in their own countries because those jobs don’t offer dignity of labour. Their foreign employers seldom offer them the dignity they deserve. That’s the truth for the most part, and there is no point glossing over it.
(TNS) — It’s a new Lizzo and she clearly isn’t afraid to bare it all and show off the hard work she’s put in to shed the weight. On Nov. 22, the “Pink” singer took to Instagram and shared a flurry of snap shots where the star can be seen showing off her noticeable new frame, even though she’s seated in a car. She wrote in the caption, “Last night I wore milkmaid braids.” The new pictures clearly took fans aback as they flocked to the comments to share their disbelief. “How you get skinny so fast??” one user wrote. “Yo Lizzie lost mad weight,” another user chimed in. Others also mentioned the fact that the singer was quite open about her hard work in the gym. “Can yall go one post without mentioning how ‘skinny she’s getting’ or how she’s ‘using ozempic’??” one user wrote. “She’s been documenting her fitness and healthy eating journey this whole time. In another photo, the “Truth Hurts” singer shared pictures and videos of herself and her mother rocking the same braided hairstyle. Regardless, on Monday, the star opened up on the social media platform and said that she’s more than her weight, whether she chooses to shed the extra pounds or not. “S/O to everyone that just found out im lowkey cool as hell welcome to the club,” she quipped. Last year, the singer turned to TikTok and shared her love of being physically fit, despite how fans might perceive her. “I’ve always loved moving my body. I’ve always loved working out,” she said in a TikTok in May 2023. “I’m very holistically conscious—like I am very hippie-dippie and woo woo when it comes to food and supplements and just thinking about my body and the environment ... I’m not tryna be thin. I don’t ever want to be thin.”
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With seconds left in the clock, often the most critical moments of any game, who can police the officials' actions if they make a mistake? That will likely be one question for NFL owners to consider during their next Competition Committee meeting, the league's body which "reviews all competitive aspects of the game, including (but not limited to) playing rules, roster regulations, technology, game-day operations and player protection." Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Thanks for the feedback.Key Pimozide Tablet Market Driver 2024-2033: Rising Healthcare ExpenditureNone