The February 2003 Bugdet announced the following:

Beginning on January 4, 2004, Employment Insurance Compassionate Care Benefits will allow eligible workers to provide temporary care to a gravely ill or dying family member without fear of sudden income or job loss. For more information on Employment Insurance Compassionate Care Benefits, visit: www.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca

Beginning in March, 2004, low-and modest-income families with disabled children will be eligible to receive the Child Disability Benefit supplement through the Canadian Child Tax Benefit. For more information, visit: www.ccra-adrc.gc.ca/benefits.

Improved access to early learning and quality child care programs will help ensure Canada’s children get a good start in life. For more information, visit: www.socialunion.gc.ca

Under the Action Plan for Official Languages, Human Resources Development Canada will spend $22 million over five years on new early childhood initiatives in minority official language communities. For more information, visit: www.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca

Through the National Child Benefit Supplement of the Canadian Child Tax Benefit, a low-income family with two children could receive maximum benefits of $5,055 per year, increasing to a maximum of $6,259 per year by July 2007. For more information on the National Child Benefit, visit: www.nationalchildbenefit.ca

People can get West Nile Virus if they are bitten by an infected mosquito. While it is important to remember that the risks of being bitten by an infected mosquito are low and the chances of becoming seriously ill are even lower, anyone who is exposed to mosquitoes in an area that has West Nile virus has the potential to become infected.

To avoid being bitten by mosquitoes, you can take action on two fronts:

1. Minimize your exposure to mosquitoes:

When going outdoors, use insect repellents that contain DEET or other approved ingredients.

Try to avoid spending time outdoors at dawn and at dusk when mosquitoes are most active.

Wear protective clothing such as long-sleeved shirts, long pants and a hat. Light coloured clothing is best because mosquitoes tend to be more attracted to dark colours.

Make sure that door and window screens fit tightly and have no holes that may allow mosquitoes indoors.

2. Eliminate Mosquito Breeding Sites Around your Home and Cottage:

Mosquitoes lay eggs in standing water and it takes about four days for the eggs to grow into adults that are ready to fly. Even a small amount of water, for example, in a saucer under a flower pot, is enough to act as a breeding ground. As a result, it is important to eliminate as much standing water around your property as possible by:

Regularly draining standing water from items like pool covers, saucers under flower pots, recycle bins, garbage cans, etc.

Remove old unused items from around your property including old tires that tend to collect water.

Change the water in wading pools, bird baths, pet bowls, and livestock watering tanks twice a week.

Cover rain barrels with screens.

Clean out eaves troughs regularly to prevent clogs that can trap water.

If you have an ornamental pond, consider getting fish that will eat mosquito larvae.