News Briefs

Fat reducing injections still up for questioningWith the holiday season fast approaching, accompanied by massive meals and decadent treats, gaining weight seems to be a concern on everyone's minds. Those concerned with gaining weight need not worry, as new fat dissolving injections are becoming increasingly popular - but not without risks.
The problem with the new procedure using chemicals originally aimed at treating medical conditions such as liver disease and fatty tumours - is that medical benefits, or concerns, have not been reported. However, the procedure has grown significantly more popular - 1,000 per cent more - and is being performed all over Europe, and North and South America.
Individuals looking to easily lose a few pounds with the use of the injection will have a difficult time finding information on the procedure, which is a concern for many doctors.
The Canadian Plastic Surgery society has no official stance on the procedure, but the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery released information in May of this year denouncing the procedure due to lack of information.
While the effectiveness of the procedure is still not known, what is more troubling is the fact that the execution of the exact procedure has not been properly documented as well as whether or not the doctors performing the surgery have gone through enough training to execute it safely.
According to the Food and Drug Administration, it will still be up to five years until the product's safety and exact formula will be approved for the general market.
Canada is standing in the world's way

According to Liberal Leader Stephan Dion, Prime Minister Stephen Harper is creating a bad name for Canada in the name of climate change.
The Prime Minister opposed the wording of a new climate change proposal, claiming that the term "binding commitment" in relation to the dedication by developed nations to reach certain emission targets would leave out other countries with just as large of emissions. Countries, according to the Prime Minister, such as India have equal gas emissions, but would be excluded from the new proposal because they are not considered developed. Harper, because of this, was reluctant to sign.
Dion, however, believes that Canada should be setting an example for the rest of the world, despite Harper's misgivings.
Harper believes that climate change should be combated as individual countries rather than as collective, as different countries have different goals as set by two previous international meetings, APEC and G8.
Prime Minister Harper believes that specific and attainable goals should be set for all countries, rather than all of them as a collective.
According to Dion, by not agreeing with the guidelines of the new climate change proposal, Canada is standing in the way of a positive change.
Explosives left on Native reserves
It seems as though the Canadian Military has a problem cleaning up after themselves, as abandoned explosives left from military exercises have been scattered over a dozen Native reserves across the nation.
The explosives that have been left date back to World War II, and could be anything from bombs to anti-tank mortars and, potentially, even torpedoes. For the 25 reserves affected, the weapons that are laden throughout the land are classified as unexploded ordnance (UXOs), meaning that they have yet to detonate.
The land that is affected was originally leased from the reserves to be used mostly during World War II. After the war was over, the land was returned, but not all of the weapons were taken away. According to the report, no affected land can be conclusively reported safe.
After a contractor inspected the land in 2005, there were 731 sites that still contained UXOs, but recent investigation shows that there could be even more.
While most areas have been made aware of the potential UXOs that are still there, the danger is always present for many First Nations, as much of the land has weapons still present that have been there since 1910.
Starting in January, the Defence department plans to begin a process of determining which land still contains explosives. By sifting through archival records from Indian and Northern Affairs and National Defence, conducting airborne geophysical surveys and interviewing local residents, as well as using an advanced version of a metal detector, the department hopes to free the land of UXOs. The process, however, could take many years.
Toronto families the poorest in Ontario, study shows

In a document released Nov. 26, The United Way of Greater Toronto reports that the largest city in Ontario has the greatest number of families living in poverty.
According to the report, approximately 30 per cent of Toronto's population - 93,000 households - live below the poverty line, a drastic increase from 16 per cent in 1990.
Within the city, approximately one in five two-parent families currently live in poverty, earning less than $27,000 - which is 50 per cent less than the median income of $41,000 that an average Toronto two-parent family would raise.
The report also takes into consideration family size, as well as the age of the children within the family.
Though there are many in need, the poverty rates in Toronto have seen a slight decline in the last year, thanks to yearly increases to the national child benefit, minimal increases in welfare rates and a rising provincial minimum wage.
In an effort to further combat the poverty rates in Toronto, the Ontario government is currently drafting a new poverty reduction strategy, which includes feasible goals and time-lines.