Alberta

Local Wildrose Party team committed to the cause

The Progressive Conservative Party of Alberta is on its way to becoming the longest running provincial government in Canadian history, however, roughly three and a half years from now Alberta may finally see a changing of the guard if the upstart Wildrose Party continues to attract voters.

Defeated by 699 votes in the Banff-Cochrane constituency while still gaining 37 per cent of the popular vote during the spring election, the local Wildrose team is now prepared to work with official opposition status and focus on attracting Albertans fed up with a lack of conservative politics. Read the full story at the Rocky Mountain Outlook.

Alberta Liberal candidate set to create political diversity

The Liberal Party is looking to bounce back from a dismal performance in last year’s federal election and, according to local candidate Harvey Locke, that resurgence starts with a win in the newly vacant seat of Calgary-Centre.

A well-known figure in the Bow Valley through his environmental efforts as well as having resided in Banff for numerous years, Locke secured the nod to represent the Liberals to contend for the seat left open by Lee Richardson, who is now the principal secretary for Premier Alison Redford.

Running on a campaign that emphasizes redefining what a 21st century Liberal is, the newly-chosen candidate is confident his party’s values are what the majority of Albertans want to see within their government. Read the full story at the Rocky Mountain Outlook.

Small business in Alberta crippled by bureaucracy

Small businesses are widely regarded as the backbone of Canada’s economy, but the amount of red tape and regulations affecting entrepreneurs in the province is increasing on a more frequent basis, says the Alberta director of provincial affairs for the Canadian Independent Business Foundation (CIBF).

Richard Truscott of the CIBF was guest speaker at last week’s Bow Valley Builders & Developers Association (BOWDA) luncheon, where he outlined some of the difficulties both local small business owners and others across the province face, such as an unnecessary “death by paper cuts.” Read the full story at the Rocky Mountain Outlook.

Council not regulating public smoking

Canmore council confirmed its support for the Provincial Tobacco Reduction Act, which prohibits smoking inside public buildings/vehicles, workplaces and within five metres of doorways and windows, but it will not proceed with creating more smoke-free outdoor spaces at this time.

At its regular meeting on Tuesday (Oct. 16), council voted 5–2 in favour of upholding the existing Smoking Control Bylaw with respect to non-regulation of smoking in outdoor spaces.

A presentation delivered at the meeting by manager of protective services, Greg Burt, indicated the Town recently received a request from Action on Smoking and Health to increase the number of smoke-free outdoor spaces. Read the full story at the Rocky Mountain Outlook.

More transparency for Alberta’s governing bodies

The provincial government is making strides to be more transparent in how its politicians are spending taxpayer dollars in hopes of influencing municipal members to do the same.

In Canmore, however, that has already begun with the detailed online publication of the contract given to the Town’s chief administrative officer, Lisa de Soto, after she was hired this past July.

The issue of providing all details online was somewhat contentious when the public learned former CAO Don Kochan was paid out over $400,000 after leaving the position in November, 2011. Read the full story at the Rocky Mountain Outlook.

Tougher penalties in place for drinking and driving

Impaired driving is often cited as the largest single criminal cause of death in Canada and tougher penalties introduced by Alberta Transportation aim to curb that, however, the legislation has its fair share of critics.

On Sept. 1, the second stage of the modification surrounding Alberta’s Traffic Safety Act laws came into effect – which provides tougher penalties handed out to those caught driving with a blood alcohol level of between .05 and .08.

Under the new legislation, drivers face a three-day licence suspension and vehicle seizure if they blow between .05 and the legal limit, as opposed to a 24-hour suspension that has been in place since 1999. Read the full story at the Rocky Mountain Outlook.

Black bear moved out of the valley

A black bear spotted in multiple backyards near Elk Run Boulevard last weekend has been relocated out of the valley after it was tranquilized by Fish and Wildlife officers.

Around 16 calls were received on Saturday (Sept. 15) of a bear, which was brown in colour and originally mistaken as a grizzly, seen roaming backyards and eating fruit from trees, predominately crab apple trees.

“It was going from yard to yard, deck to deck,” said Fish and Wildlife Officer Dave Dickson. “It was obviously habituated to fruit trees. The guys were one step behind that bear for most of the day.” Read the full story at the Rocky Mountain Outlook.

Speed traps to continue in Bow Valley

A total of 434 motorists travelling in the Bow Valley were charged with speeding over the Labour Day weekend and police say they will continue to be aggressive in their enforcement over the next few weeks.

Throughout August, 2,096 people were charged with speeding, compared to 770 charged in July. Speeding enforcement efforts were part of a promise members of the Bow Valley Integrated Traffic Unit (BVITU) made to catch those driving too fast. Read the full story at the Rocky Mountain Outlook.

Prescribed fire projects set to commence in K-Country

Four prescribed fire projects are set to commence in the Kananaskis area over the next few weeks, as long as weather and on-the-ground forest conditions provide the appropriate circumstances.

The four initiatives include the Buller Creek prescribed fire, McLean Creek research prescribed fire, the Boundary Douglas-fir restoration project and the Old Baldy project, according to an update provided by Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development (ESRD).

“With these prescribed fires what we’re looking for is for it to increase diversity in habitat,” said Geoffrey Driscoll, a wildfire information officer. “When you don’ t have a fire in a landscape and there hasn’t been wildfires for a long time, then you get a forest that’s old.” Read the full story at the Rocky Mountain Outlook.

Death triggers safety review for bylaw officers

The death of a 62-year-old peace officer near High River earlier this month has triggered Alberta’s solicitor general to conduct a safety review to determine whether or not bylaw officers should carry firearms.

However, local bylaw supervisors indicate officers in the Bow Valley may not need to carry such weapons since situations involving violent subjects don’t often occur.

A retired Mountie with 35 years of experience, Foothills peace officer Rod Lazenby died on Aug. 10 after investigating a dog complaint at a property near Priddis. Read the full story at the Rocky Mountain Outlook.