EXPAND YOUR WINE HORIZONS/A11
LITTLE BUSES AND BIG IDEAS IN OPERATING BUDGET PAGE A4
Red Deer Advocate TUESDAY, JAN. 14, 2014
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Photo radar grows BY CRYSTAL RHYNO ADVOCATE STAFF Speedsters beware. Red Deer city council gave the green light to a third
photo radar van in a 5-4 split decision on Monday. The new radar will be nabbing heavy-footed drivers as early as April. Councillors Tanya Handley, Dianne Wyntjes, Buck Buchanan and Lawrence Lee voted against adding the third van. In favour were Mayor Tara Veer and
The price of defeat
Councillors Paul Harris, Frank Wong, Ken Johnston and Lynne Mulder. Council heard the photo radar is missing the mark for projected revenue but is making some headway in improving safety.
Please see RADAR on Page A2
FREEZE RAY!
EX-CENTRAL ALBERTA MLAS RECEIVED HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN TRANSITION ALLOWANCES BY MYLES FISH ADVOCATE STAFF A defeated Central Alberta MLA received $870,000 through a governmental transition allowance program that has now been scrapped. Some 33 departing MLAs received a total of $12.5 million following the 2012 provincial election, with ex-Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House-Sundre MLA Ty Lund’s share the third highest of all at $870,000. The allowances are based on the equivalent of three months of salary per year of service, based on a member’s three highest-paid years in office. A six-term MLA who held a variety of cabinet positions between 1994 and 2006, Lund was defeated in the 2012 election as the Wildrose Party swept Central Alberta ridings outside of Red Deer. His post-election payout trailed only former Speaker Ken Kowalski’s ($1.18 million) and ex-Premier Ed Stelmach’s ($995,000). Other former Progressive Conservative MLAs who received the allowance were ex-cabinet minister Luke Ouellette (Innisfail-Sylvan Lake), who earned $517,318, Ray Prins, who served two terms representing Lacombe-Ponoka and earned $281,362, and Drumheller-Stettler’s Jack Hayden who hauled in $226,362. Richard Marz, who represented OldsDidsbury-Three Hills before resigning in early 2012, received $551,745 last year. The transition allowance program was scrapped following the 2012 election as part of a major reform of MLA compensation by the government. However, sitting MLAs elected before 2012 will still receive the payouts based on what they had accumulated under the program. The finance report detailing the transition payments also breaks down compensation for all sitting MLAs for the year ending March 31, 2013. The numbers show that only Premier Alison Redford cost taxpayers more during those 12 months than Red Deer South MLA Cal Dallas. Dallas, Minister of International and Intergovernmental Relations, earned $231,285 in salary and benefits for the year, the same total earned by two other cabinet ministers. Redford earned $252,911.
Please see COMPENSATION on Page A3
Photo by SCOTTY AITKEN/freelance
Laurence Rooney and his wife, Barbara, of Parkland Beach, work on their minion ice sculpture. A minion is a popular character featured in the hit animated movies Despicable Me and Despicable Me 2. The Rooneys started on the near three-metre-tall sculpture on Dec. 20. The body is carved from solid ice, the glasses are made from Lego boxes, his hair is telephone wire and his overalls are made from a blue tarp. Laurence flosses the minion’s teeth regularly to help them stand out and when the yellow paint fades, and Barbara touches things up with food colouring. The couple have been building sculptures for years, to the delight of their neighbours.
Burke seeks big bruising roster BY HARLEY RICHARDS ADVOCATE BUSINESS EDITOR
BURKE HAS THREE GOALS FOR TEAM A8
One of the most colorful and outspoken figures in professional hockey shared his insights at a Red Deer Chamber of Commerce luncheon on Monday. And Brian Burke didn’t disappoint. The Calgary Flames’ president of hockey operations described how his team needs to get bigger, and his affinity for players who can hit and fight. He talked about his misgivings — albeit temporary — about drafting Daniel and Henrik Sedin when he was general manager of the Vancouver Canucks. And he took a few shots at Edmonton Oilers fans, but also defended the efforts of the Flames’ northern Alberta rival to rebuild. Burke, who joined the Flames in September after serving as general manager of the Toronto Maple
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FORECAST ON A2
INDEX Two sections Alberta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A3 Business. . . . . . . . . . . . . A8,A9 Canada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A6 Classified . . . . . . . . . . .B8-B10 Comics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B4 Entertainment . . . . . . . . . . .A12 Sports. . . . . . . . . .B5-B7,B11
Leafs, the Anaheim Ducks (where he won a Stanley Cup in 2007), the Vancouver Canucks and the Hartford Whalers, said he’s pleased with the Flames’ work ethic and their willingness to follow a game plan. What the team lacks is size. “Our junior team, the Calgary Hitmen, is bigger than our team. That’s not good.” Burke pointed out that the St. Louis Blues, which beat the Flames 5-0 last Thursday, averages 208 pounds a player. The Ducks team that he led to the Stanley Cup had a big bruising roster, and every subsequent champion has followed suit, he said. “I think you can really impose your will on a team if you’re physically strong enough to do it. “We need to get bigger.”
Please see BURKE on Page A2
Photo by JEFF STOKOE/Advocate staff
Brian Burke, Calgary Flames president of hockey operations speaks to a Red Deer Chamber of Commerce luncheon Monday at the Sheraton Hotel
Ramo earns first shutout as Flames blank ’Canes The Calgary Flames were looking for a positive when they visited the Carolina Hurricanes. Karri Ramo delivered it. Story on PAGE B5
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