THE SHOW MUST GO ON
OILERS SEE STARS IN SEVENTHSTRAIGHT LOSS
For one night on a Florida stage, Bill Cosby regains revered status
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Red Deer Advocate WEDNESDAY, NOV. 26, 2014
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Hurry up and wait VETS NEEDING PTSD BENEFITS FACE DIZZYING PAPERWORK, LENGTHY DELAYS BY THE CANADIAN PRESS
AUDITOR GENERAL’S REPORT
OTTAWA — Many of Canada’s battle-scarred veterans wait up to eight months to find out if they are eligible for long-term, mental-health disability benefits and the department responsible for their care has no idea if its treatment programs are effective, the auditor general said Tuesday. For a handful of those ex-soldiers, the cumbersome application process is only the beginning of a battle for care that can rage for years. Michael Ferguson’s fall report takes Veterans
Affairs Canada — and to a lesser extent, National Defence — to task for saddling psychologically battered veterans with a dizzying array of paperwork and for making them wait an unnecessarily long time for help. “The department doesn’t really seem to have spent time looking at the process from the point of view of the veteran,” Ferguson said. “And we think the department needs to put themselves in the shoes
of the veterans who are trying to access these services, in order so they can understand the experience of trying to navigate through that whole process just to get an answer.” The Harper government has tried in the last few days to get ahead of the scathing report by announcing an additional $200 million in funding over the next five years, much of which is to expand the department’s system of operational stress injury clinics, where soldiers can get a formal diagnosis.
Please see VETERANS on Page A2
Capital budget approved
HAMMING IT UP
BY CRYSTAL RHYNO ADVOCATE STAFF
10-minute response time 90 per cent of the time. Current processing time (the time it takes from receiving a call until a vehicle is dispatched) is two minutes and 20 seconds, leaving emergency vehicles seven minutes and 40 seconds to arrive on scene. “It is unfortunate that there will be areas in Red Deer that will be disadvantaged due to new fire station relocations,” said Kimberly Streit, Bower Community Association president, in an email. “It is expected that the City of Red Deer will implement positive strategic pursuits to ensure all areas of Red Deer will receive a proper and provincially mandated emergency response time.”
City council gave the green light to a $173.3-million capital budget for 2015 after a 10-hour session on Tuesday. The 105 single-year and multi-year projects range from the small-ticket items such as $42,000 for a market feasibility study in Riverlands, to the $21.5 million to replace the Red Deer Arena. Mayor Tara Veer said the budget is highly responsive to community feedback on several fronts. She said the budget accommodates some of the core infrastructure challenges but also moves the community forward in a cost efficient manner. “In our new economic normal we need to find new ways of moving the community forward in a financially responsible manner,” said Veer. She said this was established with the capital budget savings plan and a stronger emphasis on community partnerships that were established in the budget. This budget takes in consideration pressures of growth alongside the necessary amenities for the city. Councillors said the 2015 budget offers a great balance between investing in core infrastructure like roads and underground work and community amenities. Council heard the roof on Red Deer Arena is reaching its lifespan and a decision must be made on its future. Council reasoned it makes better financial sense to knock down the building and build a new one than to renovate and pay more in the long run. Some councillors said building a new arena will open up the possibility to new partnerships and sponsorships including securing naming rights. Other items approved in the budget included $15.2 million towards roadway construction and crown paving, and $15 million for the relocation of two city fire halls. Coun. Tanya Handley was most vocal during the debate as she unsuccessfully tried to trim the budget by questioning items like the $4.9 million for the street light conversion to LED project.
Please see RESPONSE TIME on Page A2
Please see BUDGET on Page A2
Photo by JEFF STOKOE/Advocate staff
Penny the Pig Hams it up on stage at the Scott Block during a dress rehearsal Tuesday as the cast takes to the stage in preparation for the Tree House Youth Theatre production of ‘Ho, Ho ... Huh?’ a new nervous seasonal comedy by Matt Gould. For tickets and performance dates and time go to www.treehouseyouththeatre.ca.
Fire response time slower in southeast corner of Bower after fire hall relocation BY MURRAY CRAWFORD ADVOCATE STAFF Residents in a two-block section of Bower may have to wait just a little bit longer for a fire truck to arrive with the relocation of two fire halls. City of Red Deer staff said technological advances are being put in place to help increase the efficiency of dispatch and travel time to an incident. However, a map developed for city council’s consideration shows sections of Barrett Drive and Bannerman Close in the southeast corner of Bower fall outside a residential response time of seven minutes and 40 seconds. Provincial guidelines require a
60% flurries. High -5. Low -9.
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Serious personal misconduct New information has emerged about the explosive allegations of misconduct made by two female New Democrat MPs.
PLEASE
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Story on PAGE A5
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