In brief

JENELLE PETRINCHUK STAFF

Medical mysteries in 5% of Canadians: StatsCan

Around five per cent of the Canadian population suffered from one of numerous medical conditions that could not be identified by professional physicians in 2003, according to Statistics Canada. Conditions such as chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and chemical sensitivity cannot be discovered through medical testing, nor reliably identified once a patient starts feeling the symptoms. These problems affect about 1.2 million Canadians, more commonly lower-income individuals.

Twenty-seven per cent of those affected with medically unexplained symptoms had such severe health problems they required assistance with tasks such as cooking, housework and errands. “This was four times the proportion of only 7% among people who did not report any of the conditions,” states the report.

Disorders such as depression, bipolar I disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder and agoraphobia seemed to be linked to 21 per cent of those who reported unexplained symptoms. This can be compared to the eight per cent of those who did not experience unconfirmed symptoms and still had a psychiatric disorder.

Drought research shows initiative

TANIN REFAHI

From Jan. 11-13 the Second Drought Initiative Workshop was hosted by the Drought Research Initiative (DRI) in Winnipeg at the Forks. The workshop included such participants as Manitoba Hydro and the Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration, both of which were co-sponsors of the event.

The workshop hoped to use the results of the research conducted by the DRI and scientists across Canada to discuss new ways to predict and prepare for droughts.

Scientists from across Canada attended the workshop to become informed and get involved with the current drought research and planning.

According the U of M research website, the DRI has been analyzing the recent drought (1999-2004) in order to find patterns, characteristics, and effects it has had on Canadian agriculture. In addition to the features and characteristics of the drought, they observed the process in which it occurred, and used the data they compiled to find better ways of predicting droughts.

The DRI was established in 2005 after the 1999-2004 drought. It is funded by the Canadian Foundation for Climate and Atmospheric Sciences.

CanWest expands again

TANIN REFAHI

CanWest Global Communications Corp. and Goldman Sachs Capital have partnered up to buy Alliance Atlantis Communications. At an estimated $2.3-billion price tag with each individual share costing $53, CanWest and GS Capital will have the majority ownership of Alliance Atlantis stocks.

The change in ownership will be executed with an official Plan of Arrangement after a vote is taken among shareholders on whether or not to accept the change. The vote will be taken in the spring of 2007 during a shareholders’ meeting. Approximately 80 per cent of the Class A (publicly traded) stockholders are expected to vote in favour of the arrangement, according to a CanWest press release.

Among the Alliance Atlantis assets that will be divided among GS Capital and CanWest is the very popular CSI: Crime Scene Investigation franchise that will be going to GS Capital. CBS will remain the distributing network for the series.

The Chemistry Centre of Excellence

The U of M will soon be getting a new laboratory, dubbed “the Chemistry Centre of Excellence.” The $1.03 million project is being funded by the university and through in-kind as well as Western Economic Diversification Canada, a federal government institution that works towards developing Canada’s West through investments and financing.

Western Economic Diversification Canada will be providing $555,000 to the project, according to a press release from the department.

The new lab will have state-ofthe- art equipment, and according to Rod Bruinooge, MP for Winnipeg South, “will educate students, train professionals and conduct research which is critical for the next generation of biotech professionals.”

The new equipment that will be provided will enable research capabilities for local industry as well.

Western Economic Diversification has invested millions of dollars in the U of M, including more than $1 million for engineering labs and over $2 million for SmartPark.





Volume 94 Issue 18	The Official University of Manitoba Students' Newspaper Website	January 17, 2007

Home About Us Advertise Contact Staff Current Issue PDF Employment Letters to the Editor Meet the Staff Online Archives Personals Volunteer	Font Size Respond Email Print-Friendly In brief JENELLE PETRINCHUK STAFF Medical mysteries in 5% of Canadians: StatsCan Around five per cent of the Canadian population suffered from one of numerous medical conditions that could not be identified by professional physicians in 2003, according to Statistics Canada. Conditions such as chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and chemical sensitivity cannot be discovered through medical testing, nor reliably identified once a patient starts feeling the symptoms. These problems affect about 1.2 million Canadians, more commonly lower-income individuals. Twenty-seven per cent of those affected with medically unexplained symptoms had such severe health problems they required assistance with tasks such as cooking, housework and errands. “This was four times the proportion of only 7% among people who did not report any of the conditions,” states the report. Disorders such as depression, bipolar I disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder and agoraphobia seemed to be linked to 21 per cent of those who reported unexplained symptoms. This can be compared to the eight per cent of those who did not experience unconfirmed symptoms and still had a psychiatric disorder. Drought research shows initiative TANIN REFAHI From Jan. 11-13 the Second Drought Initiative Workshop was hosted by the Drought Research Initiative (DRI) in Winnipeg at the Forks. The workshop included such participants as Manitoba Hydro and the Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration, both of which were co-sponsors of the event. The workshop hoped to use the results of the research conducted by the DRI and scientists across Canada to discuss new ways to predict and prepare for droughts. Scientists from across Canada attended the workshop to become informed and get involved with the current drought research and planning. According the U of M research website, the DRI has been analyzing the recent drought (1999-2004) in order to find patterns, characteristics, and effects it has had on Canadian agriculture. In addition to the features and characteristics of the drought, they observed the process in which it occurred, and used the data they compiled to find better ways of predicting droughts. The DRI was established in 2005 after the 1999-2004 drought. It is funded by the Canadian Foundation for Climate and Atmospheric Sciences. CanWest expands again TANIN REFAHI CanWest Global Communications Corp. and Goldman Sachs Capital have partnered up to buy Alliance Atlantis Communications. At an estimated $2.3-billion price tag with each individual share costing $53, CanWest and GS Capital will have the majority ownership of Alliance Atlantis stocks. The change in ownership will be executed with an official Plan of Arrangement after a vote is taken among shareholders on whether or not to accept the change. The vote will be taken in the spring of 2007 during a shareholders’ meeting. Approximately 80 per cent of the Class A (publicly traded) stockholders are expected to vote in favour of the arrangement, according to a CanWest press release. Among the Alliance Atlantis assets that will be divided among GS Capital and CanWest is the very popular CSI: Crime Scene Investigation franchise that will be going to GS Capital. CBS will remain the distributing network for the series. The Chemistry Centre of Excellence The U of M will soon be getting a new laboratory, dubbed “the Chemistry Centre of Excellence.” The $1.03 million project is being funded by the university and through in-kind as well as Western Economic Diversification Canada, a federal government institution that works towards developing Canada’s West through investments and financing. Western Economic Diversification Canada will be providing $555,000 to the project, according to a press release from the department. The new lab will have state-ofthe- art equipment, and according to Rod Bruinooge, MP for Winnipeg South, “will educate students, train professionals and conduct research which is critical for the next generation of biotech professionals.” The new equipment that will be provided will enable research capabilities for local industry as well. Western Economic Diversification has invested millions of dollars in the U of M, including more than $1 million for engineering labs and over $2 million for SmartPark.


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