The beginning of sunny waves » Highlights of the swearing-in of the new government Jerrison Oracion _jfim Senior Columnist ovember 4, 2015 is a day that : many people will remember : for generations to come. That day is the day that Justin Trudeau was sworn in as the 23rd Prime Minister of Canada. He is the first prime minister who is the son of a former prime minister. The entire day included many historical moments throughout it. The ceremony took place in Rideau Hall. For the first time in history, the public was allowed to watch the ceremony in person from outside of the hall on video screens, since the hall itself was reserved for officials, the new cabinet, and their families. Crowds filled the grounds of Rideau Hall to witness history in the making, and also try to see Trudeau and his new cabinet. Before the ceremony began, Trudeau; his wife, Sophie Gregoire; his children; and his cabinet walked through the road to the hall. Moments later, Trudeau took the : : oath of office to officially become : : the Prime Minister of Canada. Most of the ceremony : consisted of swearing in : the new cabinet. Trudeau’s : cabinet consists of 15 men : and 15 women, keeping his : promise of gender parity. : When questioned on why this : parity was important, Trudeau : responded: “Because it’s 2015.” Trudeau also assumed the roles of Minister of : Intergovernmental Affairs and : the Minister of Youth. He is the : first Prime Minister to do so. Some of the notable : members in his cabinet include: : Bill Morneau as the Minister : of Finance, family physician : Jane Philpott as the Minister of : Health, former Edmonton City : Councillor Amarjeet Sohi as : the Minister of Infrastructure : and Communities, and Maryam : Monsef as the Minister of : Democratic Institutions, Additionally, three of : the cabinet members are : from British Columbia. Vancouver Granville’s Jody : Wilson-Raybould (a lawyer and : the Chief of the BC Assembly of : First Nations) is the Minister of : Justice and the Attorney General. : Vancouver South’s Harjit : Sajjan (a former Lieutenant- : Colonel and detective : for the Vancouver Police : Department) is the Minister : of National Defence. Delta’s Carla Qualtrough : (a Paralympic medalist in : swimming and a human rights : lawyer) is the Minister of Sport : and Persons with Disabilities. Some of the other returning MPs who are back : in cabinet are former Liberal : Party leader Stéphane Dion : (Minister of Foreign Affairs), : former astronaut Marc Garneau : (Minister of Transport), : Ralph Goodale (Minister of : Public Safety and Emergency : Preparedness), John McCallum : (Minister of Immigration, : Refugees and Citizenship) : and Dominic Leblanc (Leader : of the Government in the : House of Commons). When the ceremony ended, : Trudeau and his cabinet left ona : bus to Parliament Hill to conduct : their first cabinet meeting. Leblanc announced that the : House of Commons will be back in session on December 3, witha : Throne Speech the following day. Preventable launches new campaign against distracted driving » A partnership with Eagle Ridge Hospital to prevent future accidents Mercedes Deutscher News Editor © news@theotherpress.ca The Eagle Ridge Hospital Foundation in Port Coquitlam is partnering with the Community Against Preventable Injuries (known widely as Preventable) in an effort to reduce the number of accidents that occur as a result of distracted driving. For Dr. Mike Mostrenko, a doctor at Eagle Ridge Hospital with 19 years’ experience, raising awareness for distracted driving comes not only from tending to patients involved in distracted driving accidents, but also from being in one of these accidents himself—ironically, on his way to work a shift at the Royal Columbian Hospital. Monstrenko is currently the Head of Emergency at the hospital, as well as being a director with the Eagle Ridge Hospital Foundation for the past five years. “I was in a motor vehicle crash that was the result of a distracted driver on the phone,” recounts Monstrenko. “The worst part of it is that she was so close to home when the crash : occurred that her boyfriend : arrived at the scene before : any emergency personnel did : because he heard the crash : on the phone... She must have : been no more than a block or : two from home... It seemed so > unnecessary that the discussion : would have had to happen two : blocks from home and result : in her injuries and mine.” According to a press release : by Preventable, 88 deaths are : caused in BC every yearas a result : : of distracted driving—more : : than those killed in drunk- : driving accidents. The release : also points out that texting for : five seconds (at highway speed) : is similar to driving the length : of a football field blindfolded. Monstrenko is urging : students to think critically in : “the age of the smartphone,” and : asks all drivers to think twice : about immediately responding : toatext ora call while driving. “Distracted driving is not : just talking ona cell phone, : texting, or eating,” Preventable : spokesperson Dr. Ian Pike said : ina press release, “It includes : allowing your attention to : wander to things away from the : road. These distractions can have devastating results, and : are completely avoidable if you : havea word with yourself” Monstrenko adds that : distracted driving can still : happen if the driver doesn’t : touch their cell phone or perform : : a task other than driving. : : He explains that roadside : advertising and billboards : can be distracting as well, and : criticizes local municipalities. “I think it’s really a matter : for municipalities to recognize : these things, and perhaps create : some safe guards within... city council. Just try to discourage : these sorts of things [roadside : advertising] from happening... : [think municipalities should Image via thinkstock : be aware of this and should : see the warning signs.” Driving on the defensive is : encouraged, and Monstrenko : suggests that all drivers be ? precautious on the road, and : contact local authorities should : distracted driving be witnessed.