Red Deer 1913 — 2013 Create Celebrate Commemorate
IN IT TO WIN Kevin Martin ready for the Brier B6
WILD WEST ADVENTURE Cornerstone Youth Theatre B1
CENTRAL ALBERTA’S DAILY NEWSPAPER
BREAKING NEWS ONLINE AT WWW.REDDEERADVOCATE.COM
THURSDAY, FEB. 28,2013
Big rig parking at issue BY RANDY FIEDLER ADVOCATE STAFF
CITY PLANNING
City council must examine the lack of semi-trailer truck parking in Red Deer, the municipal planning commission unanimously recommended Wednesday. “We have to look at the issue on a communitywide basis,” said Mayor Morris Flewwelling. “With this development, there’s been some focus drawn to this unintended outcome.” The issue was raised from Scott Builders’ appli-
cation on behalf of developer Bradley Gabrielson to build a sports bar and 17-room hotel at 6852-66 St. The application was tabled last month in part so a traffic impact assessment could be done on area street parking. The new application contained a lengthy letter from Gabrielson objecting to the study’s $20,000 cost, its “unknown justification” and that MPC had ap-
proved other similar developments without such a study. City councillor and commissioner Buck Buchanan said he’s monitored the area consistently and found parking wanting. “On the Family Day weekend, I counted 60 rigs parked in that area,” he said, adding that number included the nearby Flying J truck stop. “It’s not the developer’s fault. We’ve got an issue, we have to deal with it.”
Please see PARKING on Page A2
NO BULLYING ALLOWED
EDUCATION
Better working conditions key to any deal: ATA locals BY LAURA TESTER ADVOCATE STAFF Teacher working conditions played a key role in why the Alberta Teachers’ Association flatly rejected Education Minister Jeff Johnson’s four-year provincewide deal, says the president of a union local. Kelly Aleman, president of ATA Local 60 for Red Deer Public Schools, was reacting to Tuesday’s announcement that the ATA provincial executive council, comprising teacher representatives from across Alberta, had voted unanimously to reject an offer. However, collective bargaining continues locally and across the province. Aleman was not surprised the Education minister’s offer was rejected, “There’s been ongoing conversations with the minister along this whole three-year process in general,” Aleman said on Wednesday. Aleman said it’s never really been about money, particularly when teachers understand the provincial government is facing financial challenges. “It’s really about teacher workload issues and I think what the association and what teachers are concerned with are deteriorating classroom conditions,” said Aleman.
Please see CONTRACT on Page A2
Photo by JEFF STOKOE/Advocate staff
Sporting pink T-shirts to support Anti-Bullying Awareness Day at Ecole Camille J. Lerouge, almost all staff and students looked good in pink Wednesday during an assembly. Here students end off the assembly dancing Gangnam Style and then working the moves to the Queen song Y.M.C.A. Students at the school have been selling pink T-shirts all this week at lunch hour, sending the message to others that it’s not OK to bully or to stand by not say something when others bully or are bullied.
Let Us Vote to push for plebiscite on ward system BY CRYSTAL RHYNO ADVOCATE STAFF A newly formed group is pushing for a plebiscite on a ward system on the Oct. 21 civic ballot in Red Deer. Let Us Vote is comprised of about seven city-wide residents who want to give city residents an opportunity to their say on Red Deer city council representation. Member Lloyd Johnson, who has lived in north Red Deer since the early 1990s, said the bike lane controversy was one motivation for the petition but it is one of many issues where there is not enough public consultation. “I am not saying the councillors are doing a bad job but there has got to be a change on how they operate with the public,” said Johnson, 54. “Part of
PLEASE RECYCLE
their job is to work at ways to involve the public.” Earlier this month, city council rejected a motion by Councillors Chris Stephan, Frank Wong and Buck Buchanan to add a ward question on the next civic election ballot. Council also turned down Stephan’s motion to include a ward question on the next Ipsos Reid Survey. Johnson said the at-large Lloyd Johnson system is good but it is not being used properly by the current council because council is overlooking the involvement of public. Johnson said some councillors endorse an atlarge system so they can represent everyone but he
WEATHER
INDEX
Clearing. High 1. Low -8.
Four sections Alberta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A3 Business. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C5,C6 Canada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A5,A6 Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D1-D4 Comics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C4 Entertainment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C3 Sports. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B6-B8
FORECAST ON A2
does not see them representing more than a few people. “It’s an ideal that they represent everybody but they clearly don’t,” said Johnson. “I think more public involvement makes a healthier city and a healthier council. There wouldn’t be so many angry people if they could be involved. People complain when they feel left out of the process.” Garfield Marks Garfield Marks, the man behind the petition, said there is mounting support to switch to a ward system.
Please see PETITION on Page A2
ALBERTA
ENTERTAINMENT
MAN JAILED THREE YEARS FOR DEATHS
‘EPIC’ BIBLE STORY
An Alberta judge choked back tears as he told a packed courtroom how he struggled to decide a just punishment for a driver who caused a crash that killed four high school football players. A3
Filming in the Moroccan desert with hundreds of extras, dozens of horses and carriages, burning buildings and firebombs made for an ‘epic’ experience on the set of the new miniseries ‘The Bible,’ say creators. C3
MARK YOUR CALENDARS! Red Deer HOME SHOW MARCH 8, 9 & 10, 2013 Show Hours: Admission: For more info call 1.888.346.5329 or visit www.RedDeerHomeShow.ca Adult $10 | Student $8 (w/valid ID) | Seniors $8 (+55) | Under 12 Free (w/adult)
30826B26-C5
Friday: 12pm - 8pm | Saturday: 10am - 6pm | Sunday: 10am - 5pm