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Wednesday, January 18, 2012 1937 - 2012 · Celebrating 75 Years Orono Weekly Times - 5 Province enables Region to elect Chair at large The Province has given the Region of Durham the goahead to elect its next chairperson. Municipal Affairs Minister Kathleen Wynne signed a regulation on Tuesday, January 10, that will allow Durham Region residents to determine if they would like to elect their Regional Chair. The Regional Council and at least five of the Region's eight municipalities must pass resolutions supporting the change before it can take effect. Minister Wynne was responding to a letter sent by the Region following the 2010 municipal election, which included a Region wide referendum. The question on the ballot across the Region of Durham was: "Are you in favour of the Council of the Regional Municipality of Durham passing the necessary resolutions and by-laws to change the method of selecting its Chair from appointment by the members of Regional Council to election by general vote of all electors in the Region? Yes or No." Overwhelmingly, the response to the question was "yes." However, the referendum was not binding because less than 50 percent of Regional voters participated in the election. Currently, the Regional Chair is elected at the first Regional Council meeting following a municipal election, by a majority vote of the 28 newly elected Regional Council members. Regional Councillors adopted a motion at their December 22, 2010 Regional Council meeting, requesting the province change the Region of Durham Act, allowing them to change the method of selecting future chairpersons. All five of the councillors who voted against the motion represented the Region's northern municipalities. There is a sentiment among the northern, less-populated municipalities that they will have less of a voice in a Region chaired by an elected representative from one of the Region's more populated, lakeshore municipalities. The change must still receive a triple majority before it can become law. It has to receive Regional Council support, and five of the Region's eight municipalities must approve of the change at the local council level. The supporting municipalities must represent 51 percent of the Region's population. The Region's current Chair, Roger Anderson, is serving his fifth term. Clarington's former Mayor, John Mutton, who challenged Anderson in December 2010 for the position, ran an ambitious campaign in 2010 to change the way the Region selects its Chair. Anderson, who is the longest serving Durham Region Chair, received his latest mandate with 22 out of 28 votes. Mutton received four votes, and the third challenger, Clarington resident Louis Bertrand, received two votes. The Regional Municipality of Durham Region reports season's first case of influenza With the first case of influenza in Durham Region for the 2011-12 season now confirmed, the Health Department reminds all area residents that there's still time to be vaccinated against the flu. On Nov. 1, 2011, Health Department kicked-off its annual community influenza vaccination campaign for all residents over the age of six months, as part of Ontario's universal influenza immunization program. Influenza vaccine is still available from most family health care providers, walkin clinics or by calling the Health Department at 905-6687711, ext. 3366 or 1-800-8412729, ext. 3366 for information on receiving the flu shot. "I would encourage all Durham Region residents to get their flu shot if they haven't already done so," said Dr. Robert Kyle, Durham Region Medical Officer of Health. "Influenza is a serious acute respiratory illness; it's worse than the common cold and can affect anyone at any age. "The flu shot is considered the most effective way to protect you and your loved ones from the flu. We especially encourage individuals who are considered to be at high risk of complications from the flu to get the flu shot." Getting sick with the flu can lead to complications such as pneumonia and even death, especially in the elderly and those with chronic health conditions. This year, the seasonal influenza vaccine contains three strains: A/2009 H1N1, A/2009 H3N2 and B/Brisbane/2008. The vaccine helps your body to build protection against influenza and this protection can last up to one year. The influenza vaccine does not contain any live virus, so it cannot give you the flu; it's safe for everyone, including pregnant and breastfeeding women. The Health Department is offering influenza vaccinations by appointment at the Regional Municipality of Durham Headquarters, 605 Rossland Rd. E., Whitby and at the Health Department's Port Perry office, 181 Perry St., Port Perry. To make an appointment for either office, or for more information about influenza or the influenza vaccine, please call the Health Department at 905668-7711, ext. 3366 or 1-800841-2729, ext. 3366. Information about influenza and the influenza vaccine is also available at www.durham.ca.