By Stacey Lolacher
I read an interesting study the other day, and then watched news services light up their opinions on it. The study wanted to know whether there was a nutritional difference between organic and non-organic produce. This study was carried out over almost fifty years, and included numerous doctors, scientists, and researchers from around the world. One of their most widely discussed results was the following – in 7 of the 10 nutritional factors that were examined, there was almost no difference in nutrition between organic and non-organic produce. Read more »
By Greg Hluska
Yesterday, I talked about a controversy that has erupted around Saskatchewan’s unemployment numbers. Since unemployment is such a major factor in poverty, I felt it was important to give some more statistics about unemployment in Saskatchewan.
The Saskatchewan Party and the Provincial N.D.P. are looking at the same basic numbers and coming to two dramatically different conclusions. The Saskatchewan Party says, “Regina and Saskatoon have the two lowest unemployment rates in the country. Our future is bright.” And the Provincial N.D.P. says, “But wait a minute, unemployment may be low, but more people are seeking unemployment benefits now than one year ago. Things are not as bright as they seem, in fact, the sky is falling.” Read more »
By Greg Hluska
First Nations youth commit suicide at five to eight times the Canadian rate. The suicide rate for Inuit youth is six times as high as in the rest of the country.
By Greg Hluska
High school graduation rates for First Nations youth are half the Canadian rate.
By Greg Hluska
Aboriginal children are drastically over-represented in the child welfare system
By Greg Hluska
Among First Nations children, 43 per cent lack basic dental care.
By Greg Hluska
One Aboriginal child in eight is disabled, double the rate of all children in Canada.
By Greg Hluska
More than half of First Nations people are not employed.
By Greg Hluska
First Nations people suffer from Third World diseases such as tuberculosis at eight to 10 times the rate of Canadians in general.
By Greg Hluska
More than 100 First Nations communities are under boil water advisories right now, meaning they have little or no access to clean water for drinking and sanitation.