Sorenson named junior finance minister in Harper’s cabinet Crowfoot MP Kevin Sorenson was one of eight fresh faces to join Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s cabinet Monday. As minister of state for finance, Sorenson takes over the post from fellow Albertan Ted Menzies, who earlier this month announced he would not seek re-election in 2015. Sorenson joins a cabinet featuring four other Alberta MPs, along with Harper. That group includes Michelle Rempel, who is also new to cabinet, and Jason Kenney, Rona Ambrose and Tim Uppal.
Rempel is minister of state for Western economic diversification. Kenney is minister of employment and social development. Ambrose is minister of health and Uppal is minister of state for multiculturalism. Sorenson, 54, was first elected in 2000 and was re-elected in 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2011. Currently, he’s the chairman of the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security. Sorenson has previously chaired the Special Committee on the
Canadian Mission in Afghanistan and the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development. He was also vicechair of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade. Prior to being elected, Sorenson owned and operated his family farm near Killam and a small auction company. Sorenson’s posting marks the first time Central Alberta has been represented in a Harper cabinet. — Black Press
RICHARD FROESE/Independent reporter
Crowfoot MP Kevin Sorenson (left) was promoted to Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s cabinet in Monday’s shuffle. Sorenson is the minister of state for finance.
Serving the Heart of Central Alberta for 106 years
VOLUME ONE-HUNDRED SEVEN
PM40011853 R08546
NUMBER TWENTY-NINE
STETTLER, ALBERTA
July 17, 2013
PRICE — $1.09 Plus GST
JOHN MacNEIL/Independent editor
In the heart of summer, hailstones fell during a flash of thunderstorms last Thursday afternoon in the Stettler region. Hail accumulated outside the Stettler curling club.
Wacky weather strikes Stettler region Rain, wind, thunder — and even hail — take turns in past week Summer storms with thunder and lightning, rain and hail knocked down crops and knocked out power last week in the Stettler area. Some crops east of Stettler were damaged during a storm last Thursday that swept through the area for about 10 minutes just before 5 p.m. “It looks like we had 22 claims east of Stettler,” said Brian Tainch, manager on farm inspection for the Agriculture Financial Services Corporation regional office. “It wasn’t a huge number, and we haven’t been out to look at the damage.” Hailstones were from pea to marble size, he said, and the crops in that area are mainly canola and cereal. Vehicles in low-lying areas stood in a few inches of water and motorists drove through “small ponds.” Lightning was identified as the cause of a brief power
outage in downtown Stettler on Friday during noon hour. “It was related to lightning,” said Allan Gano, ATCO Electric’s east-central district manager. Electricity was knocked out just before noon on the west side of Main Street, and extended to 54 Street between 51 Avenue and the railway tracks. Power was restored at 1:15 p.m. An ATCO employee called to the scene said the cause might have been lightning, “as someone reported that they saw fire dancing on the wire,” Gano said. Wires were struck on the lines in an alley. “We were fortunate that our protections worked the way they were designed and we were able to repair the service promptly,” Gano said. “Throughout the summer months, our staff often works long hours to restore power safely.” — Richard Froese
Photos by RICHARD FROESE/Independent reporter
An early-summer rainstorm, with hailstones included, hit the Stettler area last Thursday afternoon for about 10 minutes. Vehicles like those above and below sat in a few inches of water as motorists trekked through puddles.
Bashaw home away from home for flood victims Page A2
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