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th ei fp .c a Th e IF P -H al to n H ill s | T hu rs da y, Ju ly 4, 20 19 | 4 gal or legal," he said. "This (test kit) is a means of pre- venting death up until they reach out for help on their own." He said the kits, which usually cost $1 to $2, could be distributed through places such as pharmacies or nee- dle exchange programs. "I, for one, argue that a human life is worth that much," he added. Halton commissioner and Medical Officer of Health Dr. Hamidah Megh- ani said the health depart- ment shares Kinkade's con- cerns. "Deaths related to opioid overdoses are preventable and we take this work very seriously," she told council. Currently, Halton oper- ates a harm reduction pro- gram with two community outreach workers who pro- vide provincially-funded safe drug equipment for lo- cal users, along with educa- tional materials and neces- sary referrals. The fentanyl test kits are provided by the province - at no cost - to health units that offer overdose prevention/ safe injection sites, but Hal- ton doesn't have one, ex- plained Meghani. Halton staff will now ex- amine the feasibility and fi- nancial implications of hav- ing the region provide the kits and report back to council at a later date. Oakville Coun. Jeff Knoll deemed the kits a decent stop-gap measure and said he hopes the region can ex- pedite the initiative. Councillors also re- ceived a report with an up- date on how the region is us- ing $150,000 in provincial funding for harm reduction programming, which in- cludes community nalox- one distribution, opioid-re- lated surveillance and a plan for local opioid re- sponse. For more informa- tion visit www.halton.ca. COUNCIL Continued from page 1 'DEATHS RELATED TO OPIOID OVERDOSES ARE PREVENTABLE' A fentanyl test kit can detect the powerful opioid in samples of other drugs. Torstar file photo Forty-seven schools of the Halton District School Board have been certified by the Ontario EcoSchools program for the current school year. The EcoSchools pro- gram recognizes and cele- brates schools for their en- vironmental learning and action. Within the board, 13 schools achieved plati- num status, 16 schools were awarded gold level, 10 schools silver level and eight, bronze status. The schools include 42 ele- mentary and five second- ary. Of note, Abbey Park Secondary School, Haw- thorne Village, River Oaks and Ethel Gardiner public schools have been certified for 11 consecutive years. "We congratulate all members of EcoTeams, staff, students and com- munity members who have learned about envi- ronmental and sustaina- bility issues in and around their schools and taken action to address them," said Suzanne Burwell, the board's environmental sustainability co-ordina- tor. "Not only are students learning in the classroom, they are extending that learning beyond the walls of the schools." COMMUNITY 47 HALTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS EARN ECOSCHOOL STATUS August 23rd - 25th 2019 SEASON Nov. 23rd - Dec 1st globeproductions.ca Charge throughout the NIGHT Wear throughout the DAY And love what you HEAR Call to book your complimentery assessment today Armstrong Ave Delrex Blvd 905.877.8828 360 Guelph St., Unit 44 Georgetown (In the Knolcrest Centre) Cell: 416-996-9338 jay@hilltoptreecare.ca www.hilltoptreecare.ca It's Lonely at the Top!