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HP OPINION MAKING HEALTH CARE MORE ACCESSIBLE The new year, comes with a change in Ontario's health care, andI'm excited to let you know that Onta- ‘ing it easier for you to connect to care clos- er to hom As of Jan. 1, Oakville residents can stop in at their local pharmacy and eceive prescriptions pink eye, insect bites and urinary tract infections, with just their health card. This serv: STEPHEN CRAWFORD Column nient for you. In addition to providing more convenience, phar- macy pl ribing so helps free up doctors’ band- width to provide care for more complex needs, help- rice makes it ing toreduce wait times for more convenient to access these services. y Phar i beable office visitand willcomeat _ to offer prescriptions for: no extra cost to Ontarians. + hay fever (allergic rhi- You won't need a doc- tor's appointment there's no chal visit. You can easily get your prescriptions filled on Pharmacy prescribing is just one of the ways we're making care more conve- nitis); + oral thrush (candidal stomatitis); + pink eye Cconjunctivi tis; bacterial, allergic vil . dermatitis (atopic, 20. zema, allergic tact); nstrual cramps (aysmenorthesy; + acid reflux (gastro- esophageal reflux disease (GE + hemorrhoids; . cold sores (herpes labi- alis ee bi ites and hives; + tick bites (post- expo- is to pre- vent Lyme disease); + sprains and strains conusctlosksea and tract infec- tions (UT! ‘un Ts)” Expanding the anes of pharmacist care is one more cre wel te putting people at the centre of our health-care system. More people now have fas- ter access to medicine and health care in our commu- nity. Stephen Crawford is the MPP for Oakville. He can be reached at ste- phen.crawford- co@pc.ola.org. r | WW CHARTWell retirement residences MB LETTERS & COMMENTARY FAITH LEADERS CONCERNED ABOUT GREENBELT Fifty religious leaders and _ organizations signed the following ne letter — organized by the David Suzuki Foundation — including the Anglican Diocese of Toronto, Mardi nificent web of forests, riv- ers and farms — is vital if we are to address the cli- mate emergency, protect local food growers and pro- vide opportunities for nat- ural healing and rejuvena- that incentivize additional traffic. Rather, we need ex. pansion of public transit — including GO. tains, ¢ clee- tric buses and light ré paint, r doneag aillAyeo | 2 Tindal (past moderator of _ tion. communit the United Church of Cana- We are concerned, The $6 to $10 billion re- 8 da), EnviroMuslims, the particular,aboutthethreat quired to build Highway 413 8 8 Noor Cultural Centre,and posed by Highway 413. uld be spent on pressing 8 Order of Canada members This freeway would community needs, not an Rabbi Arthur Bielfeld and _ slice through the Green- expressway that deepens Rev. 4 Cheri DiNovo. belt, destroying nearly six _ the climate crisis and paves are concerned kilometres of forest and 75 _ our Greenbelt. about the future of south- wetlands. It would pave ern Ontario's Greenbelt. 2,000 acres of farmland and We raise this concern threaten dozens of at-risk out of our love for nature animals. and the beauty of creation. Congestion will not be —_guR WEEKLY NEWSLETTER AT The Greenbelt—amag- solved by new highways INSIDEHALTON.COM SEND US YOUR LETTERS TO THE EDITOR = zoss on We do not publish anon- The Oakvil Weask that lettersbeno ymous letters. Letters will values the opinions of its more than 275 words, and _ be edited or rejected for of- we welcome your letters to the editor on all matters that impact area residents. JANUARY 17-20 | 10AM-5PM CHARTWELL OAKVILLE 180 Oak Park Boulevard, Oakville include the full nam town of the writer. Your address a and tele- number must also be included for verification fensive content, factual er- rs, legal issues or space restrictions. Send your let- ters to insidehalton@metro- Jand.com. Drop in to any Chartwell retirement residence, where \olU mer-]alu (exe) .ar-] cele late mmel—14 your questions answered lave m=).40)(0)4-m ale\WAN=Mere]a) make your life better. Virtual options also available. CHARTWELL WATERFORD 2160 Baronwood Drive, Oakville woo"uoy|EYyapIsUt