Author: Melinda Gately

Teeth Grinding - Bruxism

Posted on by Melinda Gately

Bruxism, or teeth grinding, is a condition wherein the affected person clenches or grinds his/her teeth unconsciously or involuntarily, either during sleep or while awake. People with bruxism are often not aware that this habit has developed until damage to the teeth, and other parts of the mouth, has been done. It is speculated that this habit develops due to the psychological effects of daily stress. In fact, the teeth can be so severely damaged that they become quite useless. About 5-20 percent of adults experience nocturnal teeth grinding, which is particularly problematic since it is generally not noticed until the damage has been caused to the teeth, which can take years.

What are the Symptoms of Bruxism?

 

The surface area of the lower and upper teeth, known as occlusal surface, is usually ground down to such an extent, that it creates an imbalance in the closure between the right and left sides of the mouth. This can lead to structural stress to the roots and tissues of the teeth and periodontal disease.

 

One of the effects of the teeth grinding in bruxism is tempromandibular joint syndrome, TMJ, wherein the cartilage surrounding the joints of the lower and upper jaws get irritated. This, in turn, can result in pain in the ears and jaw. Headaches due to muscle and joint strain are one of the common symptoms of bruxism.

 

In a nutshell, some of the symptoms of bruxism are :

  • abrasion of the teeth
  • damage caused to the tooth enamel
  • the inside part of the tooth, the dentin, being exposed
  • over-sensitivity of the teeth
  • pain in certain areas of the face
  • tense muscles of the jaw and face
  • jaw dislocation
  • headaches
  • indentations on the tongue
  • damage caused to the inside part of the cheeks
  • a clicking or popping in the temporomandibular joint

Like other sleep disorders, it is the other people that live with the person affected by bruxism who feel the brunt of the disease. This is because the teeth grinding sound can be fairly loud and thus disrupt the sleep of partners or roommates. As a matter of fact, it is usually the partner of the affected person or a member of the family who detects the condition.

 

Since many of the above symptoms occur in other conditions, it is best to consult a physician or dentist for an accurate diagnosis.

 

What are the Causes of Bruxism?

 

It is still not known what exactly causes bruxism, although it is thought that it occurs due to the presence of a number of factors preceding it. These are stress, oral or facial trauma, malfunction of the nervous system, and so on. It seems that certain types of personality traits may also be the root cause of teeth grinding, for example, those who are susceptible to nervous tension which cause frustration, pain, or anger. It also tends to affect people who are very competitive, have less patience, and are aggressive.

 

What is the Treatment for Bruxism?

 

The treatment for teeth grinding is based on two objectives: reducing the stress that is causing bruxism, and taking care of the teeth to prevent them from being damaged and acquiring a better smile.

 

Stress reduction can be achieved by the patient learning relaxation techniques. Activities that calm the body and the mind such as yoga and meditation can help in reducing the psychological stress which seems to exacerbate bruxism. The patient can also learn how to relax the facial muscles and jaws.

 

Behavioral responses leading to teeth grinding can be changed with the help of biofeedback. People affected with bruxism can learn to control the effects of their involuntary nervous system by learning how to respond properly to the changes of the conditions that affect the body.

 

A mouth-guard or splints can be worn at night which can help in absorbing the force of the teeth clenching or grinding, thus preventing the teeth from getting damaged.

 

The treatment for bruxism will be based largely on the affected person’s ability for tolerating the above methods. The trouble is, treatments like mouth-guards and splints usually cause disturbance in sleep, thus exacerbating the stress, which can worsen the condition instead of alleviating it. If you do suffer from teeth grinding, it is best to decide upon the treatment after consulting with your dentist.

Tips to ensure a quick home sale

Posted on by Melinda Gately

Performing a few simple changes on your home before selling it can make a huge difference between a selling your property hassle free and a disappointment. Here are a few tips to remember if you want to ensure a quick home sale.

Finish all your do-it-yourself fixes before putting your house or flat up for sale. Many houses have their own list of unfinished minor repairs like a broken window, a squeaking door, a cracked floor or an unpainted corner that needs to be fixed.Getting these repairs done will make your home more attractive to buyers.

Organize your home space and do not leave any clutter lying around. Having a lot of things in your home space makes it look smaller which puts off buyers. Experts recommend that you remove at least one-third of the things in your home to make rooms look bigger which shows your home at its best. 

Clean your home and make every corner spic and span. Sweep the floors, vacuum them, wash your carpets, remove all cobwebs, and wipe all surfaces. Focus on the kitchen and bathrooms because these are the areas that usually contain the most dirt. Buyers usually spend more time checking these rooms because they reflect how well you take care of the entire home.Make your home look less personalized and make it appear more neutral. Remove your family portraits and all of your personal collections. If you need to repaint your walls, do so. This is a psychological approach which gives prospective buyers a feel that they can own the home.This increases the probability of selling your home

Make your home look more appealing by including decorations to emphasize certain spots in a room. Redesign as needed to make every room look eye-catching. Make your home appear comfortable to live in.

Hire an RICS valuer and have a pre-sale inspection for your home. This can help you find the areas that need to be repaired which you might have missed. Additionally, if your home is in perfect condition, the inspection results can attest to it which makes your home more saleable. Have a look at our

section to find the right surveyor for you.Set the appropriate price and advertise through a reliable person or estate agent. Marketing your home is key to selling your home so that you can have a greater chance of getting your advertisement to the right buyer. Make sure they advertise on the internet on sites like Rightmove.Try ringing round a few estate agents first as if you are a purchaser. Do they seem interested and take your details ?

When you found a buyer make sure that they are reputable, honest and really able to buy. Ensure that they have proof of finance and/or letters of reference.

Finally, if you are also going to a new place and want to know more about the moving process, check Busy Beez Movers for an easier and stress-free move..

Ontario’s Poverty Reduction Plan Unveiled

Posted on by Melinda Gately

Ontario Government to Reduce Child Poverty by 25% in 5 Years

The Ontario Government’s new poverty-reduction plan has attracted both praise and criticism as it aims to reduce poverty in children by 25% over the next five years.

On December 4, 2008, the Ontario government released its long-awaited $1.4 billion poverty reduction plan as promised. Entitled “Breaking the Cycle”, the timing of this release was unfortunately overshadowed by the so-called “crisis in federal Parliament” and the threat of a non-confidence vote.

Fortunately, it was still business as usual for the Ontario government. As the plan was released, it drew praise from organizations such as the Toronto United Way and the province-wide 25in5 network, a coalition of organizations that lobbied for the plan and pushed for a target of 25% reduction in poverty over the period of 5 years.

In response to concerns of organizations, the Ontario Government agreed to the 25% in five-year target, although this target was narrowed to families with children. Organizations responding to these announcements felt it was the right start and everyone looked forward to its implementation. However, the plan was short on specifics and some organizations expressed concerns about poverty affecting individuals outside of families.

While the proposal itself held few specifics, it did promise to increase the Ontario Child Benefit from the proposed maximum of $1,200 per child per year to a new maximum of $1,350. Further, it promised to create a Community Opportunities Fund that will provide resources to community groups to provide services in low-income neighborhoods, as well as to undertake an extensive review of the myriad of regulations affecting people receiving Ontario Works (OW) or Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) income.

Three small but significant changes will be immediately introduced. First, persons receiving OW/ ODSP who are enrolled in post-secondary education will now be able to keep all of their earnings and savings without it counting against their income supports, or that of their parents (if they are over the age of eighteen and still living at home). This change is significant, as currently, when students living at home are enrolled in college or university studies and receive their OSAP monies, this often puts the family’s asset levels above what is allowed, thus impacting on their parents’ continued eligibility for social assistance and/or social housing.

Second, participants who are engaged in employment assistance activities, such as looking for work or involved in a work-related course, will now be entitled to up-front child care costs. This is significant as this benefit is currently available only when one actually starts paid employment. The final change is administrative, giving those appealing benefits 30 days to ask for an internal review of their case, as opposed to the present 10 days.

While the government has not ruled poverty-reduction strategies out for other stakeholders, such as new Canadians and persons with disabilities, specific proposals for these groups were notably absent, which led to concerns expressed by the Ontario Coalition of Social Justice, ODSP Action Coalition and others, such as the Alliance for Equality for Blind Canadians.

While support for families with children is a good start, it was noted that 86% of ODSP recipients are individuals or couples without children. Other groups, such as new Canadians, aboriginals and senior citizens receiving only the public pension are also vulnerable to poverty.

With significant hikes in housing, utility and grocery costs, the real incomes of low-income persons have significantly declined. According to the ODSP Action Coalition, the maximum amount of money an individual receiving ODSP is given for housing is $454 per month. The average cost of housing in Ontario for a bachelor is $677 and for a one-bedroom, $812. This is very difficult for single individuals with disabilities to make ends meet, particularly as most of them are either unable to work or have significant barriers to the paid labor force.

Regional Development Agency For Ontario

Posted on by Melinda Gately

Targets Province’s Southern End For Economic Improvement

It was announced the formation of a Regional Development Agency for Ontario by Stephen Harper - the Prime Minister. The agency’s goal is to help with the province’s economic recovery.

The new agency is to be headquartered in Kitchener, Ontario. Its goal will be to improve the fortunes of Southern Ontario because it was one of the areas hardest hit by the economic downturn.

Ontario Regional Agency Promised In January Budget

The agency named FedDev (Federal Development) Ontario was promised in January’s federal budget. It’s been given $1 billion in funding over the next five years to primarily help the area’s manufacturing industry, which has lost 200,000 jobs over the last few years.

FedDev’s purpose is to help economic development, innovation, and diversify the economy. In comments published by CBC.CA Prime Minister Stephen Harper said it was going to help area businesses take advantage of new opportunities: “The goal of this agency is helping the communities from southern Ontario, as well as the businesses and workers,  to take advantage of the new opportunities that will arise from the economic recovery.”

Minister of State Garry Goodyear is going to take responsibility for the agency. He will soon begin a tour of the area.

Kitchener Waterloo Considered Neutral Location for Headquarters

A lot has been made of the choice of Kitchener as for the agency’s headquarters, with many asking why not Toronto or elsewhere in the GTA (Greater Toronto Area)?

According to Prime Minister Stephen Harper, the point of the agency was to have as little money tied up in bureaucracy as possible.

To do that, Harper desired it to be outside the Toronto area. Kitchener being around an hour west of Toronto is centrally located and connected to major area roads including the 401 filled the description. In comments published by the Canadian Press, Harper said the goal was to centrally locate the agency without using Toronto for its base: “The goal was quite simple- to have a fairly central location that wasn’t in the (Greater Toronto) area.”

The designation of holding the agency’s headquarters brings with it some prestige, although not as much as Waterloo regional chair would like. Waterloo Region Chairman Ken Seling cautioned the public to take it with a grain of salt. He wondered about the municipality’s role in the agency pointing out provincial regulations against bonusing a process in which municipalities could give financial incentives to companies who enter the area.

Premier Dalton McGuinty applauded the agency’s formation. Meanwhile, federal Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff named Guelph MP (Member of Parliament) his critic for Southern Ontario. Speaking in a party news release, Valeriote wondered why the announcement took so long: “Southern Ontario has waited six long months since it was first announced in the budget to get this agency underway- the government has wasted precious time determining a site for it while thousands of more jobs have been lost.”

 

Developing An Internet Marketing Campaign: The Five Phases

Posted on by Melinda Gately

Developing an internet marketing campaignBuilding an internet marketing campaign for startups takes a lot of effort for it to be successful. It must target the right user, at the right place, at the right time. Just having a high quality product or building a better mousetrap does not guarantee success. Rather it is the successful implementation of a well developed startup marketing plan that promotes that great product that will bring long term success. To spend time doing anything less is not only a waste of money, but a waste of time as well

Internet Marketing Begins with Planning

A well defined marketing campaign may contain many parts but in general they can be categorized into five phases. These phases are both sequential and circular. To be successful, each part must be addressed and for long term success they must be continuously revised. The goal here is outline the five phases.

Research Phase – Marketing the Product

It is in this phase where the foundation for marketing a product will be developed and where the decisions for the implementation will be designed. This phase will consist of understanding what the product is, who it is to be sold to, and how the customer is to find the product.

A product today can come in many forms. It can be defined as a physical object that is sold, but it can also be something less tangible like an email address that is provided that can be used to provide communication between a company and a customer, it can be to click on a link on a website that provides the company with affiliate revenue, or it can be literally anything else that provides a desired response from the customer.

A successful product must be well defined so that the desired outcome can not only be determined, but measured for success. To do this requires an understanding of the both the competition in the marketplace, as well as how the competition is able to successfully attract customers. This is done through analyzing competitors, keyword research, and market understanding.

Line of Attack Phase – Targeting the Customer

Developing an internet marketing campaign - targeting the customerWhen it is understood what the product is and who it is to be sold to, it is time to develop several strategies to attract your most desired customer. What is the Most Desired Customer (MDC)? This is the person who will buy the product, click the link, provide the email address, or perform an action or a desired response. This is done by understanding who the MDC is, what they are looking for, and what it will take for them to generate the desired response.

This phase is where content is developed. Usually this is to maintain a strong online presence. Some call this the free stuff phase, others call it pre-sales marketing, but what it comes down to is customer support marketing. The site is providing a honey pot to attract the MDC. It is setting up the infrastructure to help the MDC come to a conclusion for the problem they are trying to solve.

Sometimes partnerships are formed for the sharing of links so that when a potential customer arrives and is given the solution to a problem – even if that solution is not the product in question, they will appreciate the help and return to the site in the future. It is in this phase that the use of social media is defined for generating buzz about the product and the line of attack with regard to the search engines is finalized.

Action Phase – Implementing the Marketing Strategy

Now that the foundation has been built, it is in this phase that the plan is put into action. For online media, this means building a base of operations. This is usually based from a website although it can be from a blog or even through the use of the social media sites like Facebook and Instagram.

For a website, this would include building or enhancing the site, creating internal optimization using keywords, and external optimization techniques for making sure the site does not hinder the MDC from finding the product. This is where the use of tracking would be implemented to measure success.

Ongoing Maintenance Phase – The Reality of the Internet Marketing Strategy

This phase revolves between monitoring what is happening and re-evaluating the reality of the marketing plan compared to what was expected during the research and line of attack phases. Monitoring requires research in to website referrals, search engine rankings, traffic, and just how many MDCs are generating the desired response.

Re-evaluating means re-assessing the assumptions that were made during the research and line of attack phases and seeing if anything has not worked as planned. Perhaps something in the market has changed and so new variables must be addressed and further action must be taken.

Internet Marketing Strategy as an Ongoing Process

Developing an internet marketing campaign - marketing agencyAn internet marketing strategy is an ongoing process and must be addressed vigilantly. As the market continually shifts, changes must be made and monitored. Even if everything is moving forward quite well, you can’t afford to allow your business to be stuck in a single marketing channel. You can still double your strategy’s effectiveness by hiring a firm to help diversify your marketing efforts. Monitoring is a must, but keep in mind that making a change because a competitor made a change can be just as disastrous as can trying to do too much too quickly. Understanding the goal and making decisions to reach that goal will make your online marketing efforts work.

Simple Steps for Locating an Eye Specialist

Posted on by Melinda Gately

Simple Steps for Locating an Eye Specialist

Having problems with vision is something that everyone will at a certain age experience and when they do, it’s important that swift action is taken by visiting an eye specialist also known as an ophthalmologist. The expertise of ophthalmologists or eye specialist will include anything from consultations to prescribing affordable contact lenses and eyeglasses, and even performing eye surgeries.

Thus, for those who who are looking for an eye care professional, here are some guidelines to follow:

Locating an Eye Specialist

  1. When looking for ophthalmologists, it’s important that people will look for those who are board certified.What this means is that those professionals will have already passed exams that are written by the ABO or American Board of Ophthalmology. They are knowledgeable in the most sophisticated eye procedures and prescription eyewear such as those innovative, water gradient daily contact lenses recommended by leading eye specialists.
  2. Asking for referrals from other offices, like those from neighbors, friends and optometrists is recommended. If the individual will follow this strategy, it’s important that he or she will get at least three references.
  3. When reviewing ophthalmologists people should also check if they have won any annual awards through the AAO. This means that their skills are superior to those of the regular ophthalmologists and that they can offer higher quality services for their clients.
  4. To verify a medical license people can check their specific Department of Consumer Affairs to do so. But this is not the only place they can go in order to check this, as people can also do it through the Association of State Medical Board Executive Directors.
  5. The Better Bureau Business is an important factor when choosing ophthalmologists. This will tell people if the eye specialist they are considering is worth their time and money or not.
  6. Last but not least, people can look for ophthalmologist through the physician tools provided by AAO and other websites. By entering specific information, like zip code, city name, ophthalmologist names, they will be able to quickly locate an eye doctor in their area.Locating an Eye Specialist

Public Funding for Arts and Culture in Canada

Posted on by Melinda Gately
Federal funding for Canadian arts and culture continues to be a contentious issue with arguments in support of funding battling a call for greater autonomy.

Early themes characterizing the arguments for publicly funded government support have shifted away from an emphasis on national and cultural identity, anti-Americanism, and anti-commercialization, to the recognition that the private and public sectors of the arts and cultural industries are interrelated and, as a result, the state still has a role to play in facilitating the success of these industries. The extent of that role is still being debated by contemporary writers.

The History of Public Funding for Arts and Culture in Canada

Early proponents of publicly funded government support for Canadian cultural institutions and programs called for state intervention in the arts and cultural sectors based on three broad arguments: the need to establish and maintain a national identity; defend Canadian culture from “cultural imperialism,” especially in the form of Americanization; and preserve and develop the country’s artistic and cultural heritage while avoiding its wholesale commercialization.

Although public funding for arts and culture grew steadily following World War II, government support for these institutions and programs began in the late 19th century with, for example, Governor General Lord Lorne’s lobbying for a national artists association and national gallery. These early efforts paved the way for the Aird Commission in the late 1920s which, driven primarily by American dominance of Canada’s airwaves, recommended a nationally-owned broadcasting system to defend against Americanization and provide a means of developing and encouraging Canadian cultural identity.

Many later initiatives continued with these early themes, such as the Massey-Levesque Commission in the 1950s which positioned cultural activity within the sphere of national identity and the Charlottetown debates of the 1990s which argued for multi-level government funding in the arts and cultural sectors.

Support for Public Funding for Arts and Culture

Contemporary writers have argued both for and against publicly funded government support for Canadian cultural institutions and programs. In “The Essential Role of National Institutions,” for example, Joyce Zemans suggests that only national cultural agencies have been capable of providing the resources and networks necessary to address problems of scale, market, and distribution in Canada. In addition, it is these national agencies that have attempted to curb the Americanization of Canada’s communication network. Zemans also notes that the private sector in Canadian cultural industries has succeeded primarily on the basis of public policy initiatives, and therefore the arts in Canada will only flourish with public support and a public-sector strategy.

Arguments Against Public Funding for Arts and Culture

However, in “From Sacred Cows to White Elephants: Cultural Policy under Siege” Michael Gasher challenges arguments for state intervention in the arts and cultural sectors. He suggests that federal funding of the cultural sphere may no longer be viable due to the high cost of promoting and protecting cultural activity; the technological complexity of cultural activity in the modern era; and the changing attitude toward state involvement with cultural production. Gasher draws upon the recommendations of the 1982 Applebaum-Hebert report, which represented a significant shift in thinking compared to earlier reports, such as those produced by the Aird and Massey-Levesque Commissions.

In essence, the Applebaum-Hebert report avoided the anti-commercial and anti-American focus of its predecessors and shifted the role of the state in the arts and cultural sectors from the promotion of a national identity to the facilitation of an autonomous and self-directed cultural sphere. As Gasher points out, the Applebaum-Hebert report’s suggestion that “the essential task of government in cultural matters is to remove obstacles and enlarge opportunities” may be the key to reframing Canadian cultural policy in the future.

What Ontarians Need To Know About HST

Posted on by Melinda Gately

Controversial Policy Takes Effect July 1, 2021

Ontario is harmonizing its sales taxes. This article will tell people what they need to know about the controversial new policy before it takes effect on July 1, 2010.

The current government first floated the idea prior to the last provincial budget in March 2009. The policy would see Ontario combine its Provincial Sales Tax (PST) with the federal Goods & Service Tax (GST). The PST rate is 8% while the federal G.S.T. is sitting at 5%, meaning the combined total will be a 13% tax.

New Harmonized Sales Tax To Make Ontario More Competitive

The federal government has been pressuring various Ontario governments to take this step for some time. Provincial officials within the finance ministry argue the new combined sales tax will make Ontario more competitive around the world as a place to do business. They say it will also reduce the cost of Ontario-made goods, and because of this, it is going to give the manufacturing sector a much-needed boost.

A second part of the argument is it will reduce business costs. Right now, business owners can’t deduct PST from the cost of products purchased for business, so they end up passing it onto consumers. Under the new Harmonized Tax (HST) business will be able to deduct it, and ideally, pass on the savings to consumers. Estimates place savings for business at approximately $1.6 billion annually.

Progressive Conservatives, Building Industry Oppose HST

Traditionally, the HST is Conservative economic policy. But Ontario’s Progressive Conservatives (PC’s) are leading the fight against the HST, placing them in direct conflict with their federal counterparts. In recent remarks to the Canadian Press, their leader, Tim Hudak said they were “on the side of Ontario families and businesses who see it for what it is: a calculated tax grab.” In the same article, his New Democratic Party (NDP) counterpart Andrea Horwath agreed, calling it: “the wrong tax, at the wrong time.”

It isn’t just the political parties at Queen’s Park who are opposing it. The new policy is facing some stiff opposition from the building industry. Estimates say the new harmonized sales tax will add: $46-58 thousand to the cost of a house.

$10.6 Billion Tax Relief Incentives To Help With Harmonization

The Provincial government is going to offer some tax relief to help Ontarians with the new tax. Over the next three years, the McGuinty government plans to offer a total of $10.6 billion in incentives.

According to CBC.CA, these incentives include:

  • $1.1 billion in personal income tax cuts
  • An exemption for new homes under $400 thousand
  • Cash payments of $1,000 for families earning less than $160, 000
  • A permanent, non-refundable tax credit for low to middle-income adults and children
  • An enhanced property tax credit for low and middle-income homeowners and tenants

What Goods Are There Going To Be HST On?

Goods ranging from rent and condo fees to resale homes, prescription drugs, and medical devices will remain exempt from both PST and GST. New items being taxed include everything from haircuts and gasoline to taxi fares, newspapers, and magazines. Those who provide professional services such as lawyers and real estate agents will have to charge HST on their commissions.

The Harper government has offered $4.3 billion to aid in the policy’s implementation. Ontario will become the fifth province to harmonize its sales taxes, when the policy comes into effect July 1, 2010.

Ontario Reveals $8 Billion in Green Energy Projects

Posted on by Melinda Gately

Ontario has revealed plans for $8 billion in Green Energy Projects. The additional money will fund projects in 86 communities, and create 20 thousand jobs.

The funding is the latest step towards the McGuinty government’s plan to introduce greener forms of energy to Ontario’s power grid. In January 2010 the Premier signed a $7 billion deal to give a consortium led by Samsung preferential treatment.

Green Energy Projects to Create 20 Thousand Jobs

The money will fund 184 approved projects, including 86 community and aboriginal communities. All of this is in addition to the 510 medium projects announced in March 2010. Combined the projects will create 2500 megawatts of power for the power grid. One of the major wind projects is located on-shore in Clarington Ontario, and three solar projects in the Cornwall area.

The advancements will make the province a green energy leader according to Premier Dalton McGuinty’s comments to CBC.CA that:

“We have practical, aggressive policies to secure green energy generation, research, and manufacturing, which will create good jobs in a growing industry.”

The projects are intended to create 20 thousand jobs. The addition of green energy is expected to add an additional $5 to Ontarian’s hydro bills by the end of this year. Energy Minister Brad Duguid in comments published by CTV.CA urged us to look to the future, “Right now, and in the past, we’ve been producing energy at the expense of ourselves and our children. This is an opportunity for us as a generation to help clean up our air, to help provide a healthier future for our children. The provincial government argues the green energy plan can create up to 50 thousand jobs.

New Democratic Party Responds to Green Energy Announcement

The New Democratic Party (NDP) responded to McGuinty’s Energy plan. They argue the province can create more jobs if they bypass nuclear and gas-fired technology in favor of more green technology.

In comments published by the Canadian Press, Energy Critic Peter Taubins urged the government to move away from it:

“That’s where the action has to come, moving away from those sources, and putting a lot more of our eggs back into the efficiency and conservation basket.”

The NDP argues it would be cheaper to do this as well. In order to afford its Green Energy initiatives, the Liberals have passed some measures of their own. Recently the McGuinty government passed a measure adding an additional $4/ year to hydro bills. Additionally, Ontario Power Generation (OPG) is seeking a rate increase to 9.6% or an additional $2.75/month. The measures are intended to reduce the $53 million cost of the strategy.