Police Release Suspect – no charges laid in shooting of German tourist.

From Cochrane RCMP

Cochrane RCMP investigate shooting incident – Highway 1A – Investigation continues

The investigation continues into the shooting incident which occurred on August 2. The RCMP released the male who was arrested on August 3, and no charges have been laid. The German victim who was shot remains in hospital, still in critical, but stable condition. His family is very appreciative of support received.

The driver of the R.V. did contact the Cochrane RCMP and the media is thanked for getting the message out.

The Cochrane RCMP with Calgary General Investigation Section continue to follow up on leads and are pursuing all avenues. An update to this investigation will not be provided until the RCMP have confirmed information to relay to the public.

“We know how much the public is interested, and wanting an update on this terrible incident, but we are mindful of not compromising our investigation” says Inspector Lauren Weare, Officer in Charge of Cochrane Detachment. “A solid investigation which will stand the tests of the court is methodical and takes time. We thank the public for their patience while our members focus on their tasks.”

BACKGROUND

Cochrane RCMP investigate shooting incident – Highway 1A – UPDATE – Arrest made and vehicle seized

As a result of public tips, the Cochrane RCMP have located and seized a vehicle believed to be associated to yesterday’s shooting incident on Highway 1A. Friday afternoon at 3:20, intelligence gathered led the RCMP to a residential location where a black 4-door Chrysler Sebring was seized and secured for forensic examination. One adult male who was at the property has been detained. His involvement in this incident remains under investigation by the police.

Police are working through several theories about this shooting. Information to this point strongly suggests that this was not a case of road rage, nor a random incident. None of the occupants of the Durango were the intended targets of the shooting.

RCMP are extremely thankful for the numerous tips from the public, and acknowledge a significant outpouring of support for the victims of this shooting.

This is an extremely complex and dynamic investigation. Further updates will be provided when available. The Cochrane RCMP are asking for cooperation in allowing them to focus on their investigation.

Cochrane RCMP investigate shooting incident – Highway 1A – UPDATE – Investigation continues

Cochrane, Alberta – The Cochrane RCMP continue to investigate a shooting incident which sent one male to the hospital.

The 60-year-old male, identified as a German visitor to Calgary, is recovering from surgery in a Calgary hospital in critical but stable condition. The three other occupants in the vehicle were not seriously injured and have received support from various agencies. Several tips are coming in and the RCMP are following up on all leads. The RCMP General Investigation Section (GIS) from Calgary, Forensic Identification Section, Collision Analyst and Police Dog Services have all been deployed to assist in this investigation.

The RCMP believe that a small black sedan may be in involved in this incident, with a male in the vehicle being described as Caucasian, with long dark hair.

An R.V. was driving eastbound on Highway 1A, through Morley, between 11:45 and 11:55 a.m., and the male driver witnessed this collision which prompted him to call 9-1-1. The R.V. stopped at the collision, and departed shortly after. The RCMP are asking that the citizen associated to the R.V. please contact the Cochrane RCMP.

The shooting incident which occurred shortly before noon on August 2, 2018 on Highway 1A near Morley, Alberta.

The 60 year-old male visiting Canada sustained what appears to be a head wound from a firearm. The male was in a vehicle, driving west on Highway 1A when he received this injury, causing his vehicle to leave the roadway. Three occupants in the vehicle sustained minor injuries in this crash.

Duane Rolheiser

After 15 years as a TV reporter with Global and CBC and as news director of RDTV in Red Deer, Duane set out on his own 2008 as a visual storyteller. During this period, he became fascinated with a burgeoning online world and how it could better serve local communities. This fascination led to Todayville, launched in 2016.

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Business

Broken ‘equalization’ program bad for all provinces

Published on November 21, 2024

Todayville

From the Fraser Institute

By Alex Whalen and Tegan Hill

Back in the summer at a meeting in Halifax, several provincial premiers discussed a lawsuit meant to force the federal government to make changes to Canada’s equalization program. The suit—filed by Newfoundland and Labrador and backed by British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Alberta—effectively argues that the current formula isn’t fair. But while the question of “fairness” can be subjective, its clear the equalization program is broken.

In theory, the program equalizes the ability of provinces to deliver reasonably comparable services at a reasonably comparable level of taxation. Any province’s ability to pay is based on its “fiscal capacity”—that is, its ability to raise revenue.

This year, equalization payments will total a projected $25.3 billion with all provinces except B.C., Alberta and Saskatchewan to receive some money. Whether due to higher incomes, higher employment or other factors, these three provinces have a greater ability to collect government revenue so they will not receive equalization.

However, contrary to the intent of the program, as recently as 2021, equalization program costs increased despite a decline in the fiscal capacity of oil-producing provinces such as Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Newfoundland and Labrador. In other words, the fiscal capacity gap among provinces was shrinking, yet recipient provinces still received a larger equalization payment.

Why? Because a “fixed-growth rule,” introduced by the Harper government in 2009, ensures that payments grow roughly in line with the economy—even if the gap between richer and poorer provinces shrinks. The result? Total equalization payments (before adjusting for inflation) increased by 19 per cent between 2015/16 and 2020/21 despite the gap in fiscal capacities between provinces shrinking during this time.

Moreover, the structure of the equalization program is also causing problems, even for recipient provinces, because it generates strong disincentives to natural resource development and the resulting economic growth because the program “claws back” equalization dollars when provinces raise revenue from natural resource development. Despite some changes to reduce this problem, one study estimated that a recipient province wishing to increase its natural resource revenues by a modest 10 per cent could face up to a 97 per cent claw back in equalization payments.

Put simply, provinces that generally do not receive equalization such as Alberta, B.C. and Saskatchewan have been punished for developing their resources, whereas recipient provinces such as Quebec and in the Maritimes have been rewarded for not developing theirs.

Finally, the current program design also encourages recipient provinces to maintain high personal and business income tax rates. While higher tax rates can reduce the incentive to work, invest and be productive, they also raise the national standard average tax rate, which is used in the equalization allocation formula. Therefore, provinces are incentivized to maintain high and economically damaging tax rates to maximize equalization payments.

Unless premiers push for reforms that will improve economic incentives and contain program costs, all provinces—recipient and non-recipient—will suffer the consequences.

Authors:

Alex Whalen and Tegan Hill

National

Liberals, NDP admit closed-door meetings took place in attempt to delay Canada’s next election

Published on November 12, 2024

Todayville

From LifeSiteNews

By Anthony Murdoch

Pushing back the date would preserve the pensions of some of the MPs who could be voted out of office in October 2025.

Aides to the cabinet of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau confirmed that MPs from the Liberal and New Democratic Party (NDP) did indeed hold closed-door “briefings” to rewrite Canada’s elections laws so that they could push back the date of the next election.

The closed-door talks between the NDP and Liberals confirmed the aides included a revision that would guarantee some of its 28 MPs, including three of Trudeau’s cabinet members, would get a pension.

Allen Sutherland, who serves as the assistant cabinet secretary, testified before the House of Commons affairs committee that the changes to the Elections Act were discussed in the meetings.

“We attended a meeting where the substance of that proposal was discussed,” he said, adding that his “understanding is the briefing was primarily oral.”

According to Sutherland, as reported by Blacklock’s Reporter, it was only NDP and Liberal MPs who attended the secret meetings regarding changes to Canada’s Elections Act via Bill C-65, An Act to Amend the Canada Elections Act before the bill was introduced in March.

As reported by LifeSiteNews before, the Liberals were hoping to delay the 2025 federal election by a few days in what many see as a stunt to secure pensions for MPs who are projected to lose their seats. Approximately 80 MPs would qualify for pensions should they sit as MPs until at least October 27, 2025, which is the newly proposed election date. The election date is currently set for October 20, 2025.

Sutherland noted when asked by Conservative MP Luc Berthold that he recalled little from the meetings, but he did confirm he attended “two meetings of that kind.”

“Didn’t you find it unusual that a discussion about amending the Elections Act included only two political parties and excluded the others?” Berthold asked.

Sutherland responded, “It’s important to understand what my role was in those meetings which was simply to provide background information.”

“My role was to provide information,” replied Sutherland, who added he could not provide the exact dates of the meetings.

MPs must serve at least six years to qualify for a pension that pays $77,900 a year. Should an election be called today, many MPs would fall short of reaching the six years, hence Bill C-65 was introduced by the Liberals and NDP.

The Liberals have claimed that pushing back the next election date is not over pensions but due to “trying to observe religious holidays,” as noted by Liberal MP Mark Gerretsen.

“Conservatives voted against this bill,” Berthold said, as they are “confident of winning re-election. We don’t need this change.”

Trudeau’s popularity is at a all-time low, but he has refused to step down as PM, call an early election, or even step aside as Liberal Party leader.

As for the amendments to elections laws, they come after months of polling in favour of the Conservative Party under the leadership of Pierre Poilievre.

A recent poll found that 70 percent of Canadians believe the country is “broken” as Trudeau focuses on less critical issues. Similarly, in January, most Canadians reported that they are worse off financially since Trudeau took office.

Additionally, a January poll showed that 46 percent of Canadians expressed a desire for the federal election to take place sooner rather than the latest mandated date in the fall of 2025.