News

Fire Advisories, Heat Warnings & Kim Mitchell In Red Deer

Published

7 years ago

6 minute read

3:48 pm – Officials with Westerner Park in Red Deer have announced that Kim Mitchell, the iconic Canadian rocker, will co-headline the second night of Westerner Days alongside Chilliwack on Thursday, July 20th. Mitchell will replace Kenny Shields and Streetheart who recently had to cancel their entire 2017 tour due to illness.

12:19 pm – Some road closures to make note of in Sylvan Lake over the next couple of days. They include a southbound lane closure along 46 Street between 47 Avenue & 49 Avenue on July 7. Also, Lakeshore Drive will be closed to vehicular traffic on Friday, July 7 from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM for a special event, but remains open for pedestrians. Finally, 37 Street will be closed on Saturday, July 8 from 4:00 PM until 10:00 PM for a special event.

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12:08 pm – After years of planning and development, an entrepreneurial Lacombe area family and a Red Deer-raised, award-winning California architect have launched an innovative residential community in Lacombe County. Read More.

12:01 pm – Lacombe County Council has adopted revisions of two of it’s most important documents that will provide guidance on how the County will develop over the next decade. Details Here.

11:51 am – The Abbey Centre Super Kids Triathlon in Blackfalds takes place on Saturday, July 8th! Click Here to register or find out more!

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11:37 am – The Benalto Fair & Stampede continues today through Sunday (July 6 – July 9) It’s the 100th anniversary of the Pro Rodeo! Read More.

11:09 am – A Red Deer couple plan to enjoy their future very much after winning $726,341 on the June 2nd Lotto Max draw. Robert Mansell couldn’t believe his good fortune and says “We’re going to pay off the house and the rest of our bills,” adding “We also want to go on a holiday, and I’ll probably buy a new truck and trailer.” Mansell purchased his winning Lotto Max ticket at Shoppers Drug Mart, located at 7 Clearview Market Way in Red Deer.

10:58 am – 30 year old Cheyenne Ashley Yellowface faces 16 charges in connection with an armed robbery at the Mac’s convenience store on Jewell Street in Red Deer shortly after 9 am on July 6th. Read More.

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9:10 am – From Art Exhibits, to live music and dancing, there’s lots going on in and around Red Deer over the next few days. Click Here to check out the City’s Community Events Calendar!

9:03 am – Tickets are on sale now for Red Deer County’s 2017 Rural Beautification Tour. The tour takes place on Wednesday, July 26th and departs from the Cross Roads Church. There will also be a pickup location in Innisfail. Tickets are only $30 each, with cash, debit, or cheque accepted for payments.

8:53 am – Avoid traffic tie-ups in Red Deer over the next few days by knowing where the road closures and traffic disruptions are. Details Here.

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8:47 AM – Ponoka RCMP are thanking the public for their help in finding 25 year old Ryan Roman who was previously reported missing.

8:40 am – Red Deer RCMP are looking for four or five suspects in a stolen Buick Lucerne after they robbed a man at gunpoint in a convenience store parking Thursday afternoon. Details Here.

8:25 am – The Comfortec Red Deer Duathlon is a premium run-bike-run race event taking place at the Penhold Regional Multiplex and in the beautiful Red Deer County countryside, on the morning of Saturday, July 8th. To register or find out more, click here!

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8:15 am – Get into weekend mode by enjoying some live music on the Alexander Way Parklet in downtown Red Deer today! 11:30 – 1:00 pm. Read More.

8:03 am – Fire Advisories remain in place for many parts of Alberta as conditions dry up under the current heat wave of sorts. Advisories are in place for Lacombe County, Ponoka County, Town of Rimbey, Town of Rocky Mountain House, the Rocky Mountain House Forest Area, Clearwater County, Village of Caroline and the Summer Village of Burnstick Lake. Read More.

7:49 am – Today is day two of Heat Warnings being issued for Red Deer and surrounding areas. We’re expecting a High of 30 this afternoon. Read More.

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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.