Red Deer Advocate, February 05, 2013

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Red Deer 1913 — 2013 Create Celebrate Commemorate

POLISHED CUISINE

MAKE EVERY SECOND COUNT Erin McLeod B6

Polish food coming into its own B1

CENTRAL ALBERTA’S DAILY NEWSPAPER

BREAKING NEWS ONLINE AT WWW.REDDEERADVOCATE.COM

TUESDAY, FEB. 5, 2013

Smoking bylaw passes BY CRYSTAL RHYNO ADVOCATE STAFF

CITY COUNCIL

Red Deerians will now have the right to tell smokers to butt out in some outdoor spots in the city. By a vote of 7-1 council adopted its revised smokefree bylaw that bans smoking within 10 metres of playgrounds, sports fields, spray parks, skating rinks, toboggan hills and skate parks on Monday. The new bylaw also expands the definition of smoking to include other lit substances like cannabis

that generate second-hand smoke. “I don’t think it’s enforceable,” said Coun. Buck Buchanan, who voted against the bylaw. “I believe the concept is right but when the initial bylaw was in 2005, I wasn’t around. To put it out and say here. You set a whole group of problems for people who try to enforce them.” Coun. Paul Harris unsuccessfully tried to expand the bylaw to ban smoking along parade routes, pub-

lic markets and children’s festivals. Harris said it makes sense to add these amendments while adopting the bylaw as opposed to putting it on the shelf for another six months. But councillors felt they did not feel comfortable adopting a bylaw “on the fly” without allowing administration to fully vet the proposed amendments. At its last meeting on Jan. 21, council passed a resolution to consider expanding the bylaw at a later date but no specific time line was determined.

Please see BYLAW on Page A2

Plebiscite on ward system rejected

ALARMING SWING

TIMING NOT RIGHT, BIGGER ISSUES THAT NEED ATTENTION BY CRYSTAL RHYNO ADVOCATE STAFF

leased. In 2010, a total of 5,526 Albertans died from the disease and cancer accounted for 27 per cent of deaths — the second leading cause of death after circulatory system disease. Grundy said people sometimes wonder if the money they keep donating towards cancer research is making a difference. “Actually, there’s a lot happening and here’s some bottom-line proof. Fewer people are dying of cancer and people are living long who do have cancer. That’s got to be encouraging.”

Red Deer city council voted against holding a plebiscite on a ward system during this fall’s civic election. By a vote of 5-3, council rejected on Monday a motion brought forward by Councillors Frank Wong, Buck Buchanan and Chris Stephan to put a question about a ward voting system on the Oct. 21st municipal election ballot. Councillors said the timing is not right and there are bigger issues that need attention. “Bigger picture issues have been put on the back burner because our community has been divided over issues like bike lanes and chickens,” said Coun. Tara Veer. “I think there is some community sentiment for a ward system or go to a plebiscite for a ward system.” Veer said the city has received some letters in support and against ward systems but there has not been an compelling response in either direction. She would rather the city steady its focus to crime prevention, safety and financial sustainability. Stephan, however, said there is an appetite in the community and the issue will come back in another six months becoming an election issue. Stephan said residents should have a right to decide how they want to be governed which is an essential part of democracy. Stephan unsuccessfully tried to put a ward question on this spring’s Ipso Reid Survey after the motion was defeated. Stephan said by not consulting the public, council is not keeping in the spirit of the dialogue charter. “The struggle I see is people’s personal feelings have entered into the decision-making of why you support it and why you don’t,” said Stephan. “I think we need to remove that.” Coun. Dianne Wyntjes questioned what has changed since council affirmed keeping the existing at-large system in April 2012. “If we ever go to plebiscite, that should be an issue that our citizens and voters decide,” said Wyntjes. “Is this the time? Yes in four or five years we may be there. If we go to a plebiscite, I will show citizens my card . . . I prefer representation at large.” Buchanan said he has heard from the citizens that they are under represented and are not satisfied with the representation. “People have said the question is how do we get better dialogue or better communication ?” said Buchanan.

Please see CANCER on Page A2

Please see PLEBISCITE on Page A2

Death from cancer on a steady decline: report BY SUSAN ZIELINSKI ADVOCATE STAFF Mortality rates for cancer fell 2.8 per cent yearly between 2004 and 2010, according to new reports from Alberta Health Services. “That, I think without a doubt, is due to our improved treatment and care that we’ve been able to offer. I think that’s a huge source of hope as well,” Dr. Paul Grundy, AHS Cancer Care senior vice-president and senior medical director, said on Monday when the 2010 Report on Cancer Statistics in Alberta and the Alberta Cancer Registry Report were re-

PLEASE

WEATHER

INDEX

Mainly cloudy. High -2. Low -8.

Four sections Alberta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A3 Business. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C3,C4 Canada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A6 Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D1-D4 Comics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D5 Entertainment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C5 Sports. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B6-B8

FORECAST ON A2

RECYCLE

CANADA

SPORTS

FEDS PROMISE VICTIMS’ BILL OF RIGHTS

REBELS HEAD WEST ON BIG ROAD TRIP

Promises to give victims a formal role in Canada’s criminal justice system and to stiffen penalties for child sex predators were welcomed by two abused for hockey players on Monday. A6 †

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Photo by RANDY FIEDLER/Advocate staff

Dance instructor Amanda Fleet reacts with alarm as Dusty Smith swings her around in a Red Deer College studio Monday. The local realtor and dancing novice is in rehearsals with Fleet for the second annual Celebrity Dance-Off fundraiser for the Red Deer Hospice Society. The Mar. 15th event with a Viva Las Vegas theme features eight couples who’ve already raised about $110,000 in pledges, which can be taken on the www.reddeerhospice.com Web site.


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