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WET ZONE High River residents survey the damage.
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CENTRAL ALBERTA’S DAILY NEWSPAPER
BREAKING NEWS ONLINE AT WWW.REDDEERADVOCATE.COM
FRIDAY, JULY 5, 2013
FULL STEAM AHEAD
Extendicare workers may strike by Monday EXTENDICARE CANADA INC. PULLED OUT OF MEDIATION BY MURRAY CRAWFORD ADVOCATE STAFF Workers at Michener Hill Extendicare in Red Deer may join with more than 1,200 seniors care workers in a provincewide strike. Alberta Union of Provincial Employees members at eight worksites in Alberta could legally strike by Monday morning. According to AUPE, Extendicare Canada Inc. cancelled mediation scheduled for Tuesday and pulled out of the planned Thursday mediation session. The union represents 358 staff at Michener Hill Extendicare. That is the most staff of any of the eight locations in a strike position. “We were told this morning that Extendicare pulled out of mediation,” said AUPE president Guy Smith on Thursday. “That’s added pressure to an already volatile labour dispute.” Strike notice could be served as early as today and with a 72-hour notice period, pickets could be up by Monday. The union was scheduled to meet on Thursday night to discuss the next steps and then the union and bargaining committee will meet this morning at 10 a.m. to finalize plans. “Our goal is always to come to a fair agreement without job action,” said Smith. The current collective bargaining agreement expired on Dec. 31, 2012. Michener Hill Extendicare workers voted 99 per cent in favour of strike action. The Red Deer location consists of 220 continuing care beds and 60 supportive living beds. In a press release, Smith said Extendicare is trying to manipulate the government into arbitration and their position is out of line with industry standards. At the heart of the issue, according to AUPE, is that Extendicare is implying funding discrepancies with Alberta Health Services are dictating their position. But, contracts between AHS and Extendicare are kept secret, leaving AUPE skeptical about the claim.
Please see STRIKE on Page A2
Photo by ASHLI BARRETT/Advocate Staff
The Red Deer Senior Womens Rugby Titans tried to impede the progress of their opponent, the Calgary Saracens at the Red Deer Titans Rugby Park on Thursday evening. The Titans won 28-10. Please see related story on page B3.
Energy regulator auditing Plains Midstream after problems found BY THE CANADIAN PRESS CALGARY — The Canadian wing of a U.S.-based pipeline company responsible for several large recent spills in Alberta is being audited and its future plans subject to a higher level of scrutiny. The Alberta Energy Regulator has told Plains Midstream the moves are in response to the company’s failure to follow the province’s safety regulations. “Plains Midstream Canada has failed to follow rules that are in place to ensure energy development in Alberta takes place in a safe and responsible manner,” Jim Ellis, CEO of the regulator, said in a statement issued Thursday afternoon. “As a result, all of Plains Midstream Canada’s operations will be subject to additional regulatory scrutiny until we are satisfied it can operate in compliance with AER requirements.” The regulator cited 19 deficiencies in the company’s operations since 2011, including some it con-
sidered high risk. Plains Midstream already faces environmental charges for a 2011 spill of 4.5 million litres of oil near the community of Little Buffalo. Its pipes were also involved in large spills in 2012 into the Red Deer River and one earlier this year near Manning in northwest Alberta. The regulator says it will conduct a full audit of all the company’s operations in Alberta. Any new plans from the company will be fully reviewed and must be approved by the regulatory board’s head. “This action seriously restricts the ability of Plains Midstream Canada to obtain further approvals for operations in Alberta,” Ellis’ statement reads. “Until the company can demonstrate that it can operate within Alberta’s rules and requirements, every single interaction with the Alberta Energy Regulator will be subject to extra scrutiny while we conduct a full audit of its operations.” Messages left with the company seeking comment were not immediately returned.
Centenarians dine with mayor to mark milestone BY CRYSTAL RHYNO ADVOCATE STAFF
Photo by CRYSTAL RHYNO/Advocate staff
Marjorie Waterman, 100, enjoyed a special birthday lunch with Mayor Morris Flewwelling at West Park Lodge on Thursday. Waterman turned the big 100 on June 27. Flewwelling is dining with residents who turned 100 this year as part of the centennial celebrations.
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FORECAST ON A2
Red Deer’s newest centenarian, Marjorie Waterman, says the key to longevity is living a healthy life. That means cutting out all the “good things that people like to do.” “No smoking, no drinking,” laughed Waterman, who never smoked but enjoyed the odd glass of wine with her late husband, Benjamin. Waterman turned 100 years old surrounded by family and friends at the West Park Lodge on June 27. On Thursday, Waterman enjoyed a belated birthday lunch with Mayor Morris Flewwelling. As part of the Red Deer’s centennial celebrations, the mayor is reaching out to citizens turning 100. Waterman was the first to answer the call but admitted she was a little overwhelmed with all the attention. “My birthdays always just came and went,” laughed Waterman. “I never thought about (turning 100) ... I feel great. I could be a lot younger. I would think someone 100-years-old would feel old and tired and weary. Not me.” Waterman was born and raised in Donalda. She went to Olds College and worked as a caregiver at Deer Home, now Michener Centre. She met her husband in 1944 and married shortly after the Second World War. They raised three children.
Please see CENTENARIAN on Page A2
CANADA
ADVOCATE VIEW
WAR ON TERROR TACTICS QUESTIONED
HEAVY SHREDDING
Just what triggered a five-month investigation involving the country’s national terrorism unit into two recent Muslim convert now accused of a Canada Day terror plot in B.C. A5
It may not seem so, but destroying stuff is therapeutic. And if destruction could be morphed into a half-hour of television, it would be ‘Shred!’ The original Canadian series premieres with back-to-back episodes on Monday, July 8, on Discovery Canada.