This study documented how the impacts of globalization are experienced at the individual farm level and explored the potential implications that these experiences may have for on-farm sustainability. I selected 12 farms based on how they were exposed to global markets (determined by the distance from urban markets and whether the farm was oriented towards fresh or processed markets). Using interview and statistical census data, I explored the lived experiences and perceptions of farmers concerning the drivers for, and the nature of ecological, economic and social change amongst vegetable farms in Ontario. Amongst the many individual findings, three dominant themes stand out: (1) how globalization has affected the processing industry (economic sustainability) (2) how globalization affects crop diversity (ecological sustainability) and; (3) how globalization affects farmers’ autonomy (social sustainability). When these themes are viewed together they can be categorized by productivist and post-productivist stages of agriculture. These definitions can help characterize common findings (trends) that will likely influence on-farm management strategies and determine the implications these trends may have on sustainability.

Governments use the Internet as another means to offer services to the public. One such service is to deliver GIS over the Internet, also known as webGIS. While some Ontario municipalities provide webGIS services, its level of deployment across Ontario is unknown. Further, the mechanisms behind implementation and its effects on public engagement in planning issues are uncertain. This thesis attempts to answer some of these questions. All known Ontario municipal websites were surveyed to determine the level of webGIS provision. These webGIS were then benchmarked using a set of criteria from four categories (Accessibility, Data Availability, Functionality, Presentation/Utilities). A secondary set of criteria was also used to analyze related areas about webGIS provision. Interviews were conducted with nine municipal officials about the development and implementation of their municipality’s webGIS. Issues discussed include rationales, funding, implementation, webGIS technology, data issues, positive effects, obstacles to development, and user effects. Of the 445 Ontario municipalities, 41 offered webGIS services to their community. The municipal webGIS showed a wide range of services from basic visualization to more advanced editing tools. The scores within each category and from the secondary criteria were discussed. The interviews revealed a variety of reasons for developing and implementing webGIS. The major positive effect from webGIS was an increase in efficiency for municipal officials and greater access to municipal data for everyday users. Municipal webGIS has benefited both municipal employees and public users as an information tool. However, further research was required on adapting techniques for two-way interaction into municipal webGIS. Finally, this thesis offers recommendations to municipalities on effective ways to implement a municipal webGIS system as well as important issues to consider during implementation. / Thesis (Master, Urban & Regional Planning) -- Queen's University, 2007-05-18 11:15:38.358

The demand for home care increased dramatically in Canada in the past decade. This was because more patients were discharged from hospital, more emphasis was put on health care at the home and community levels, the continuing aging of the population, advancements in technology, and the adoption of a more cost-effective strategies. Though home care is still not a part of Canadian Health Act (CHA) and there are no national regulations for home care, people value the significance of home care. Home care is now one of the fastest growing sectors in Canada’s health care system. With a focus on the elderly population in the province of Ontario, this thesis uses data from the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS cycle 1.1, 2.1 and 3.1) to examine utilization patterns of home care considering social and geographical factors, the variation within home care service provision, and unmet home care need. The major findings of the thesis are that seniors with poorer health status, older age, female, with lower household incomes, marital status widowed/separated/divorced/single/never married, and living in urban areas are more likely to use home care. At the same time, seniors who are older, with poorer health status, and suffering from chronic condition are in a more vulnerable position to receive the home care they need. A large amount of responsibility was shifted to informal caregivers due to the budget constraints and the policy bias of the government. Access to home care is unequal on a geographical scale. Seniors living in rural and remote areas tend to have more unmet home care needs than seniors living in urban areas. People living in rural northern regions in Ontario have the least access to home care. Also, seniors living in urban areas have a greater chance of getting government provided care than those living in rural areas. Overall, under the current managed competition model of home care in Ontario, unequal accessibility, insufficient services, an excessive burden on informal caregivers are observed. / Thesis (Master, Geography) -- Queen's University, 2011-05-21 00:10:26.287

A two-year field study was carried out in eastern Ontario to investigate the effects of water table management (WTM) on water quality and crop yields. Corn (Zea mays L.) and soybean (Glycine max Merr.) were planted in alternate strips across the three treatments of 50 cm controlled water table (CWT), 75 cm CWT and free drainage (FD). Drainflow volume and nitrate-N concentration of the drainage water were measured. Soil samples were collected and analysed for total N, P, K, available N, soil moisture and organic matter levels. Chlorophyll-meter readings and plant harvest parameters were also measured. Rainfall, soil and air temperatures were recorded throughout the growing seasons. / The obtained data show that in 1995, the CWT plots significantly increased total drainflow, as compared to FD. In 1996, overall drainflow and nitrate concentrations were significantly reduced. Both the corn and soybean yields were higher with WTM than with FD for both years. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)

This study examined the use of language in the development and implementation of mental health policy. It focused on the current discourse of mental health reform in Ontario as it related to individuals with a mental illness and who are in conflict with the law. Using a qualitative design, informed by critical inquiry and a postmodern perspective, the researcher explored administrative perceptions of the accomplishments and challenges faced at different levels of the mental health and criminal justices systems in Ontario. The participants' understandings of the provincial mental health reform policy, Making it Happen, and the extent they felt that their organizations and related policies were able to create positive change in the lives of service users were also examined. While the language of mental health policy encompasses an empowerment, community integration approach to providing services, findings indicated that a biomedical-model, public safety discourse appear to inform both policy and practice. A number of questions and apparent inconsistencies in the manner in which the mental health and criminal justice systems deal with the needs of this population were also identified. This thesis concludes with recommendations for future research.

Access arrangements for birth parents of crown wards are a concern for child protection workers. Data on 84 crown wards were collected from 11 in care workers at a Children's Aid Society in Ontario, to determine whether best practice guidelines were being observed. Best practice derived from literature was operationalized as: (1) inclusion of birth parents and others in decisions affecting the child, and (2) connectivity ---maintaining family ties. Regression analyses were performed to identify predictors of inclusion and connectivity scores. Results showed three significant predictors of inclusion---worker knowledge, years in child welfare, and birth parents' source of income---and two predictors of connectivity---worker knowledge and parents' source of income. Findings suggest that agency training and support of workers can have a positive effect on implementation of best practice. The effect of income source is a puzzle, as income from employment was associated with lower inclusion scores, but higher connectivity scores.

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Thesis (Ed. D.)--University of Toronto, 2005.