ALBERTA Redford says public ready to move on BY THE CANADIAN PRESS CALGARY — Alberta Premier Alison Redford says she believes the public wants to move on from questions surrounding her expenses. Redford has apologized for the $45,000 spent to send her and her executive assistant to South Africa in December for Nelson Mandela’s funeral. That was followed by revelations that her executive assistant has billed the province more than $9,000 to stay at one of Edmonton’s ritziest hotels since he assumed the job last spring. “I’ve offered my apology to Albertans. I wouldn’t say that Albertans haven’t raised the issue with me, but from my sense, people have accepted the fact that we do have to move on,” Redford said at a media availability Thursday. “We have to keep opening new markets. We have to keep making the decisions that will allow the economy to grow and we’ll move on from there.” Redford has said if she had known how much the South African trip would cost, she wouldn’t have gone. She also has said that while her staff didn’t follow travel protocol, she takes responsibility for what happened. But
Court upholds bylaw ban on pot paraphernalia store EDMONTON — Alberta’s highest court has upheld a community’s bylaw that bans businesses from selling marijuana paraphernalia. The city of St. Albert passed the bylaw in 2012 after the Chad Smoke Shop opened its doors. A Court of Queen’s Bench judge in Edmonton struck down the bylaw. Justice Terry Clackson ruled the city didn’t have the legal power to pass or enforce what amounts to a criminal law. The city appealed the decision and the Alberta Court of Appeal has ruled the bylaw is valid. The Appeal Court says the bylaw has both federal and provincial components. “In this case, there is significant overlap between the provincial and federal aspects of the bylaw,” says the
she has refused to pay back any of the money, saying she was on government business at the request of the prime minister. On the other matter, travel receipts posted online indicate that Brad Stables has billed the province more than $9,000 to stay 42 nights at the Fairmont Hotel Macdonald since last spring. Most nights, it cost $201.06 to put him up in the provincial capital, although the bill for Oct. 29 was $399 without explanation. “We do our best to make sure we are ensuring there is always value for taxpayer dollars,” Redford said Thursday. “As we move forward, we have to accept the fact that there will be costs associated with managing a government, with working in a government and doing the work that Albertans asked us to do.” The premier said she has no doubt that the opposition parties will continue to raise her government’s spending when the legislative session resumes next week. But she suggested the government has made a concerted effort to let the public know what is going on. “We’ve come forward. We’ve talked about this. We’ve been quite frank. We’ll continue to be open with respect to how government works and how money is spent,” she said. court decision released Thursday. It says the federal government has power over criminal law, while the provinces dictate business licenses and regulations. “Having concluded that these aspects are of roughly equal importance, we apply the double aspect doctrine for judicial restraint to uphold the validity.” The city’s lawyer, Gene Klenke, said officials are weighing their options about whether or not to enforce the bylaw and charge the owner of the shop. He said the owner still has the option of asking the Supreme Court to hear the case. The bylaw restricts businesses from displaying or offering for sale three or more “restricted products.” The items include bongs, vaporizers, pipes or products that display pictures of marijuana plants. If convicted, a person faces a fine up to $10,000 or a year in jail.
FRIDAY, FEB. 28, 2014
Talks between province and AUPE break down MONEY ISSUES DERAIL BARGAINING THE CANADIAN PRESS EDMONTON — Talks between Alberta and its largest public sector union have hit the ditch again over money. Negotiations broke off this week after the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees rejected a four-year deal that would have offered more one-time lump sum cash. AUPE President Guy Smith said Thursday those hikes need to be made permanent, especially in a province where rising oil prices are expected to deliver an extra $2.2 billion this year alone. “(We) need those increases on the (pay) grid,” said Smith in an interview. “The province is doing well financially, and our members need to see some decent increases which are fair and reasonable. “A lump sum disappears very quickly. It doesn’t translate into long-term wage increases.” Smith said his side has also made offers in the current round of bargaining that have been rejected by the government. Deputy Premier Dave Hancock, who is spearheading the issue for the province, said the offer was the fairest compromise to ensure the workers get the extra money they deserve while not tying the hands of the government if oil and natural gas revenues fall precipitously. “(The offer) does provide fair compensation but also meets the objective that we set out of maintaining the public sector salary grid,” said Hancock. He said government studies show Alberta’s public sector workers earn comparable or higher wages compared with other provinces. “It’s OK to be a little bit ahead, but we don’t want to be a lot ahead,” said Hancock. The AUPE and the province have been talking on and off for a year to reach a new contract. Premier Alison Redford has made it clear she needs the union to sign a similar wage restraint deal inked by doctors and teachers. Those deals have included wage freezes. Redford has said while the economy
is doing well, restraint is needed to keep costs in line while the province builds roads, schools, and hospitals to meet the needs of a growing population. Talks with the union have been lurching off and on for more than a year, but stalled last July. AUPE then invoked its legislated right for binding arbitration. Redford’s government responded in December by passing the Public Service Salary Restraint Act. The law ruled that if the two sides could not reach agreement, a deal would be imposed that included wage freezes in the first two years followed by one per cent hikes in each of the following two years. The law also revoked the right of the union to go to binding arbitration in this round of bargaining. The AUPE challenged the law in court, saying it unjustly undercut its charter right to fair bargaining given that its members also cannot legally strike. Two weeks ago, a Court of Queen’s Bench judge agreed with the union and took the unusual step of suspending the law pending a full hearing on whether it violates the charter. The government is appealing that decision, and arguments are expected to be heard in April. Along with the wage freezes and one per cent hikes, the contract in the Public Service Salary Restraint Act would also have given workers a lump sum payment of $875 in the first year. The revised deal rejected by the AUPE this week would have increased the lump sum payment to $1,550 in each of the first two years, retroactive to 2013, with another $775 lump sum in the third year. The wage freezes would have remained in the first two years, followed by the one per cent hike in the third year, but a new two per cent hike in the fourth. The two sides did make headway by agreeing on other issues such as vacation leave, overtime, and harassment language. The next steps are unclear. Hancock said he hopes the AUPE reconsiders the last offer, while Smith said they’re open to striking a deal on a different offer.
Meet Alberta’s Voice of Fairness If you would like to meet Alberta’s Ombudsman, Peter Hourihan, or book a meeting with investigators to discuss how you were treated by an Alberta government department, agency, board, commission, designated professional organization or the patient concerns resolution process of Alberta Health Services, visit us in Red Deer and Lacombe.
Peter Hourihan
March 11 Parkland Community Living and Supports Society 6332 Orr Drive, Bay 2, Red Deer 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. Individual consultations with investigators 2 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Individual consultations with investigators 7 p.m. Meet the Ombudsman
March 12 Lacombe Legion Branch #79 5138 - 49 Street, Lacombe 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Meet the Ombudsman & individual consultations with investigators
To book a consultation with an investigator, call toll-free 1-888-455-2756
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