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CENTRAL ALBERTA’S DAILY NEWSPAPER
BREAKING NEWS ONLINE AT WWW.REDDEERADVOCATE.COM
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 10, 2012
Alberta in the driver’s seat PROVINCE’S OIL RICHES TO FUEL CANADA’S ECONOMIC GROWTH THIS YEAR BY LAUREN KRUGEL THE CANADIAN PRESS CALGARY — Canada’s economic growth is being driven by resourcerich Western provinces, according to a Bank of Montreal report released Tuesday. Alberta leads the pack, with the bank predicting 3.5 per cent real GDP growth this year, falling back a bit to 2.9 per cent in 2013. “The energy sector remains the key driver of economic activity in the province, with crude bitumen production up 16 per cent year-over-year through the first half of the year, and the Energy Resources Conservation Board expecting oilsands output to more than double by 2021,” said economist Robert Kavcic. The energy sector’s strength has attracted workers from elsewhere in Canada to Alberta, which has the coun-
try’s lowest unemployment rate at 4.4 per cent. But BMO Kavcic says the industry faces some risk. “Cost pressures could again pick up, though oilsands operations are generally viewed as economical at prices above US$80 (per barrel),” he said. “Also, wrangling over new pipeline capacity continues.” Production from the Bakken, a massive oil deposit that stretches through parts of Montana, North Dakota and Saskatchewan, is filling up existing pipelines and causing Canadian producers to get a lower price for the heavy crude they produce. “Estimates suggest that production in Western Canada could be negatively impacted by 2015/16 if there is not enough new pipeline capacity put in place.” BMO says Canada’s overall real GDP growth is expected to be 2.2 per cent in 2012, with the Western provinces all
ECONOMY topping that rate. Saskatchewan, where oil and gas extraction and potash and uranium mining are big economic drivers, is expected to see growth of 3.1 per cent this year. For British Columbia, it sees real GDP growth of 2.5 per cent and for Manitoba, growth of 2.6 per cent. Further east it’s a different story. BMO sees Ontario posting growth of two per cent and the economies of Quebec and the Atlantic provinces growing at less than two per cent in 2012. The report says fiscal restraint, the high loonie and sluggish U.S. demand are putting a damper on growth in Central Canada. Kavcic noted some cause for optimism in Ontario’s auto sector. “Auto producers continue to invest
in North America and, despite a strong currency and higher labour costs compared to the southern U.S. and Mexico, Ontario is no exception,” he said. “Toyota, for example, is expanding production at its Woodstock assembly plant — a project worth about $100 million and 400 jobs. Plus, the CAW and Big Three automakers recently reached new four-year contract agreements. Output in the auto sector was up a solid 20 per cent year-over-year through August.” Also Tuesday, the International Monetary Fund trimmed its global growth forecasts in its quarterly economic outlook. The IMF predicts the global economy will expand 3.3 per cent this year, down from the estimate of 3.5 per cent growth it issued in July. Its forecast for growth in 2013 is 3.6 per cent, down from 3.9 per cent three months ago and 4.1 per cent in April.
CLOWNING AROUND NORMANDEAU
TEQUILA APPEAL
Nightclub owner appeals to stay open LICENCE REVOKED OVER VIOLATIONS BY LAURA TESTER ADVOCATE STAFF A nightclub owner appealed to a City of Red Deer committee on Tuesday over why his business should remain open despite law enforcement concerns over violence, overcapacity, and underage customers. Quan Diep of Calgary, along with his lawyer Dana Carlson of Red Deer, appeared before the Red Deer Appeal and Review Board because they were appealing Inspection and Licensing’s decision to permanently revoke the nightclub’s business licence in September. The downtown Tequila Nightclub has remained open since the appeal was filed. Erin Stuart, permits and licensing supervisor with the city, said the city believed the operator had put the public’s safety, health and welfare at risk. “In our opinion, the issues are clearly outlined in the history which indicate that since this establishment opened in 2011, there have been constant non-compliant issues with this establishment,” said Stuart. Concerns included a stabbing that occurred across the street from the club on Jan. 22. Other security footage showed various problems, including patrons being permitted to enter through the exit door. An airport-style metal detector was turned off prior to the closing of the premises. Due to public and police concerns, a team of 18 officers from the Red Deer Public Safety Compliance Team entered the nightclub late on Aug. 21 and into the early morning of Aug. 22. Twelve minors were found. Two members of Red Deer Emergency Services, part of the compliance team, did a head count and determined that around 225 people were inside, when the maximum allowed is 100.
Please see NIGHTCLUB on Page A2
PLEASE RECYCLE
Photo by JEFF STOKOE/Advocate staff
Jasmine Christensen and Bailey McCagherty look on as balloon artist Missy of the Giggle Gang in Didsbury fashions a dolphin for outside Normandeau School on Tuesday after school. The City of Red Deer hosted the Normandeau Park Refresh Harvest Celebration in the school yard celebrating the enhancements to the park. A family BBQ, mini golf, a bouncy castle, disc golf, and harvest-themed games were featured at the event as was an opportunity to for residents to give the city feedback on the plans for the Northside Regional Community Centre planned for the area.
Lacombe church becomes Affirming Ministry ST. ANDREWS UNITED SUPPORTS, ACCEPTS ALL SEXUAL ORIENTATIONS BY MURRAY CRAWFORD ADVOCATE STAFF A Central Alberta church has opened its doors a little wider by welcoming gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people. St. Andrew’s United Church in Lacombe officially became an Affirming Ministry, one that supports and accepts all sexual orientations and performs same-gender weddings. It is the first church in Central Alberta to take the step. The only other Affirming Ministries in Alberta are in Calgary, Edmonton and Lethbridge. For Marg Linklater, a member of the St. Andrew’s congregation and of the church’s Pathways support group, which mostly consisted of people who had relatives who were lesbian, gay or bisexual, the decision to become an Affirming Ministry meant. “The church I have always belonged to and have worshipped in is recognizing that we have to do what we’re called to do, which is to be inclusive,”
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Four sections Alberta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A3 Business. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B1-B3 Canada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A6 Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D1-D5 Comics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C4 Entertainment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C6 Sports. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B4-B8
FORECAST ON A2
through was pretty extensive and so we kind of knew that there was a very strong majority in favour of it,” said Smillie. The process started after same sex marriage became legal in 2005 as a result of Bill C-38, the Civil Marriage Act. In 2006, St. Andrew’s initiated a consultation and study process discussing the biblical, ethical and pastoral questions involved and whether the church would perform same-sex marriages. “At that time the whole idea was new, so there was some more hesitancy about that,” said Smillie. “Five years later, more people had come to a level of comfort with that. Waiting that four or five years was probably a good idea for us in terms of developing a stronger consensus around what we were able to do.” The Pathways support group was created out of the initial talks as a place for members of the congregation to talk about their experiences.
said Linklater. “I’m really very proud of a church that will take a stand and say yes, we’re doing our very best to be inclusive of anyone who wants to come and worship with us and be a part of our organization.” Linklater and her husband have two gay children and to be in a church community that accepts them has a positive impact for the couple. Rev. Ross Smillie said the feeling from the congregation was there was a need to have a church that would stand up on the issue and be publicly affirming of sexual minorities. “As a church, we’ve come to the conclusion that it is perfectly acceptable for gay and lesbian people to enter into partnerships and to be accepted and we should encourage and celebrate that,” said Smillie. When it came time for the church to vote on becoming an Affirming Ministry, the congregation gave overwhelming support for the move with 85 per cent in favour. “The consultation process we went
Please see CHURCH on Page A2
ALBERTA
CANADA
ACTIVIST LEADS ENERGY DELEGATION
BEEF PLANT OWNERS SAY PROBLEMS FIXED
A woman who won a leading a delegation from the oilsands to get a perspective on development. A3
Noble Peace Prize is of woman on a trip the coast of B.C. to energy and pipeline
The owners of an Alberta plant behind a massive recall of beef products say they have fixed the problems that forced food safety officials to shut the meat packer down over E. coli concerns. A6