News

Highway 20 Fatal, Rocky Cougar Shooting, Red Deer’s Emergency

Published

7 years ago

9 minute read

11:45 am (Jun 24) – As of Friday night, about 50 homes remained without power in Red Deer. However, City officials say those properties are expected to be reconnected by mid-day Saturday, June 24th. Parks crews will also be continuing to clean-up trees and debris on trails, parks and roadways. Read More.

11:39 am (Jun 24) – On Friday, June 23, 2017 at 5:45 pm, Sylvan Lake RCMP along with Lakeside EMS, Stars Air Ambulance and the Sylvan Lake Fire Department responded to a fatal two vehicle collision at the intersection of Highway 20 and Highway 12. Read More.

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3:20 pm – The Red Deer Symphony Orchestra (RDSO) is preparing for the conclusion of the pilot phase of their education and outreach program Music + Explorers at G.H. Dawe Elementary School. A Pop Up Percussion performance from the Grades 2-5 students involved will take place on Tuesday, June 27th. Read More.

3:03 pm – The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has declared the Red Deer River Watershed infected with Whirling Disease. Read More.

2:57 pm – The City of Lacombe has released an update on it’s Main Street project which has now advanced into Stage 2. Read More.

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2:46 pm – Rocky Mountain House RCMP put down a cougar with a single shot after it was spotted near an elementary school within town limits early this morning. Police say a 9-1-1 report indicated it was initially spotted walking down Main Street in Rocky and eventually climbed up a tree near École Rocky Elementary School. After consulting with Alberta Fish and Wildlife, the officers were instructed to put the big cat down. No people were hurt.

11:44 am – With the 2019 Canada Winter Games less than two years away, The City of Red Deer provided an update today on the capital projects that are underway as the community prepares to host the Games. The new facilities will leave Red Deer with new and improved recreational and cultural amenities, increasing the City’s sport hosting capabilities and benefiting the overall community. Capital Project Details Here.

11:30 am – Daddy and Me Year-End BBQ in Penhold on Saturday, June 24th! Read More.

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10:56 am – From Live Music, to Dancing, a Show & Shine and 5K Foam Fest at Heritage Ranch, there’s lots of fun things to do in the City of Red Deer this weekend! Check them out here!

10:45 am – The Quarter Horse Association of Alberta continues it’s Chinook Show at Red Deer’s Westerner Park today through Sunday (June 25)! Read More.

10:38 am – If you’re interested in giving back to your community in meaningful ways, volunteering with the Red Deer RCMP Victim Services Unit (VSU) may be just what you’re looking for. Join VSU staff and volunteer victim advocates at one of two volunteer information events to learn more: Wednesday, June 28 at 9:30 am, or Thursday, June 29 at 7 pm. Both events are held in the Community Room off the lobby at the downtown Red Deer RCMP detachment at 4602 – 51 Avenue.

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10:27 am – Power is back on in Vanier Woods, Glendale and Normandeau with crews working through the night in these three major areas. Approximately half of Riverside Light Industrial was also restored. Read More on the latest updates from Red Deer’s Windstorm Cleanup.

10:21 am – Red Deer RCMP are asking for public assistance to locate 60 year old Elaine Tirrell. She was last seen in Red Deer on June 21st and RCMP wish to verify her well-being. Read More.

10:13 am – Giant Tiger will celebrate the official opening of its first store in Red Deer on Saturday, June 24th! Speeches and a Ribbon cutting will kick-off the event at 7:30 am. The new Giant Tiger will be located at 6751 50th Avenue and will have approximately 15,500 square feet of selling space. The grand opening will be a fun-filled day with gift card and promotional giveaways, a charity BBQ with funds going to the Central Alberta Women’s Emergency Shelter, face painting and a visit from Friendly, the Giant Tiger.

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10:00 am – On Friday, June 30th, over 150 newcomers to Canada from all over the world will be coming together at Eastview Estates Park (120 Ellenwood Drive) for a day of sports, family and fun. With many helping hands, youth and their families will be given instruction and the chance to play slo-pitch, volleyball, tennis, basketball, football, disc golf and lawn games. All this activity will be followed by a BBQ supper for all the participants and volunteers to enjoy. The event runs from 1- 5 pm.

9:52 am – Ponoka RCMP would like to thank the public for their assistance in the apprehension of Blair Hinkley. Hinkley was arrested on warrant in Wetaskiwin.

9:44 am – The first ever triathlon for kids is being held at the Abbey Centre in Blackfalds on Saturday, – July 8th. Read More.

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9:36 am – Here’s where Red Deer’s road closures are over the next few days as crews continue their road rehabilitation work.

9:25 am – The Grand Opening of the new Eagle’s Nest Rotary Lodge and the completion of the Camp Alexo Master Plan will be celebrated at Camp Alexo near Nordegg on Saturday, June 24th. There will be a BBQ, Cake and some light refreshments served from 11:00 am – 4:00 pm and Camp Tours conducted by Counsellors in training and Alumni. Read More.

9:10 am – It’s Track and Fun Day at St.Patrick’s Community School today! Elementary students will participate in a fun day of games and events on the playing field at the school.

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9:00 am – Lacombe County invites you to attend the Lacombe County Farm Safety Day, which will be held on Friday, June 23, 2017 at the Lacombe County Operations Building. The event will run from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., when the County will be hosting 250 Grade 5 students from across Lacombe County. A barbeque lunch will also be served from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.

8:53 am – It’s Field Day today at Mountview Elementary School in Red Deer. From 1 – 3 pm, students will celebrate an awesome year outside doing fun things no doubt! Elsewhere, it’s Alternative School Graduation tonight starting at 6 pm at the Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites – Red Deer South. Students will be celebrating their graduation with family and friends.

8:30 am – Grade 9 students from École Camille J. Lerouge School are working in conjunction with Kevin Traptow, owner of the “Cool Beans Coffee Company” to launch an initiative called “Pay Ahead for Daily Bread.” The aim of the project is to encourage Red Deerians to pre-pay for various food or drink items at the Cool Beans Coffee bus so that when someone in need stops by the coffee shop, there is a cup of warm coffee or a small snack available for them to have free of charge. The event runs today from 11:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

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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.