CHIEFS SET SIGHTS ON ESSO CUP
WINTER IS COMING But only when the book is ready, says George R.R. Martin
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Red Deer Advocate WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 2015
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County mum on donation COUNCILLORS WANT MORE INFORMATION BEFORE CONTRIBUTING TO ATHLETICS FACILITY BY PAUL COWLEY ADVOCATE STAFF
RED DEER COLLEGE
Red Deer College made a pitch to Red Deer County for a $5-million contribution towards a proposed $88-million Centre for Health, Wellness and Sport on Tuesday. “This is not a donation. This is an investment,” said Michael Donlevy, the college’s vice-president of enterprise and community relations, said in his presentation to council. The centre, to be built in time for the 2019 Canada Winter Games, will feature an Olympic-sized hockey rink, performance gymnasium, sports administration centre, as well as health and teaching facilities. College president Joel Ward said the facility is integral to the institution’s goal of a becoming a de-
‘I BELIEVE THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT INVESTMENT THE COUNTY HAS BEEN ASKED TO MAKE. I DON’T THINK IT’S WISE TO MAKE A RASH DECISION TODAY.’ — JIM WOOD MAYOR, RED DEER COUNTY
gree-granting polytechnic university, and to reverse the “brain drain” siphoning Central Alberta’s young talent from their communities and into big cities.
“We believe this is a necessary facility.” The college is also working with Alberta Health and Wellness to turn the centre into more than an athletics-focused building, but as an important resource for the whole community. College representatives did not walk away with a county commitment. Several councillors expressed reservations at the size of the request and wanted more information on what contributions other communities were making. Mayor Jim Wood agreed that more time was needed to discuss the financial implications and consult with county ratepayers. “I believe this is a very important investment the county has been asked to make,” said Wood. “I don’t think it’s wise to make a rash decision today.”
Please see COLLEGE on Page A2
READY TO RIDE
FENTANYL
Six deaths in city linked to illicit drug BY CRYSTAL RHYNO ADVOCATE STAFF Known as “greenies” on the street, illicit fentanyl is raising alarms across the province. More than 100 deaths were linked to fentanyl last year compared to only six deaths in 2011. Six deaths were recorded in Red Deer between 2011 and 2013. Last week, Alberta Health Services, Alberta RCMP and the Chief Medical Examiner released a joint statement expressing concern over the rising number of deaths linked to the illicit drug. It is 100 Photo by ADVOCATE times more potent than mornews services phine and 20 times more poF e n t a n y l i s 1 0 0 tent than OxyContin. Prescribed by a doctor and times more potent taken in appropriate doses, than morphine and fentanyl is used to treat acute 20 time more potent pain. than OxyContin. But when the painkiller is produced in clandestine labs and combined with other drugs or toxins, it can cause death. “In these cases, you really have no idea how much fentanyl you are getting,” said Dr. Mark Yarema, an emergency medicine physician and the medical director of Alberta’s Poison and Drug Information Service. The amount or dosage in illicit fentanyl varies from pill to pill. For example, Yarema said, medical staff have identified a veterinary drug in the street fentanyl. It is used on animals and has similar effects of fentanyl, including a lowering of heart rate and blood pressure. “I think you are seeing the additive effects of many of these drugs causing these fatalities,” he said. Just last weekend, two more deaths linked to illicit fentanyl in Southern Alberta were added to the tally. The toxic substance is often sold as OxyContin because of its similar green colour and identification marks on the streets and at parties. Yarema said AHS is partnering with local groups that work with the homeless, street people, and people who have chronic addictions. The Central Alberta AIDS Network Society runs a small drug overdose prevention clinic out of its downtown office that it hopes to one day expand. Jennifer Vanderschaeghe, AIDS network executive director, said the key to preventing drug overdoses is sharing information and educating the first responders, who are typically the family and friends of the people who are using drugs.
Please see DRUG on Page A2
WEATHER Sun and cloud. High 5. Low -4.
FORECAST ON A2
INDEX Four sections Alberta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A3 Business. . . . . . . . . . . . . B1-B3 Canada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A5-A7 Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . D1-D4 Comics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C4 Entertainment . . . . . . . . C5,C6 Sports. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B4-B8
Photo by JEFF STOKOE/Advocate staff
Although the year-round riders and owners of Fat Bikes have been cycling through the winter months most of those who ride bikes in Red Deer are waiting for warmer weather and ice-free trails and roads before getting on their rides. Rod Savy of Savy Cycle in Red Deer is busy doing tune ups, getting many of those bikes ready for the season. Savy recommends anyone interested in road riding or mountain biking in the Red Deer area to get involved with the Central Alberta Bike Club (CABC). Club members are looking to grow both the road and mountain bike aspects of the club says Savy. The club is also involved in trail building and maintenance and hosting races in the city including the Woody’s RV World Kids of Steel Triathlon along with the Red Deer Triathlon Club in June and a the Comfortec Duathlon in July. Anyone interested in the CABC can go to www. ridecabc.ca for details.
Province to bring in health-care levy to address revenue shortfall BY THE CANADIAN PRESS
PRENTICE TV ADDRESS
EDMONTON — Premier Jim Prentice says Albertans will face a new health-care levy to help fill a multibillion-dollar revenue hole in the provincial budget. Prentice made the announcement in a provincewide TV address just two days before Thursday’s budget. “We will be asking Albertans to begin to contribute directly to the costs of the health system,” Prentice said in the pre-taped address. “This revenue will start small but it will grow over three years.” Prentice did not elaborate on the cost or what form the health contributions will take, leaving it to Finance Minister Robin Campbell to address in the budget. However, last month, both Campbell and Prentice said they were looking at a “different model” from
the old Alberta Health premiums. Those premiums, cancelled in 2009, were direct, flat-rate levies on families ($1,056 a year) or individuals ($528 a year). They brought in about $1 billion to the treasury annually. Many Albertans had those fees covered by their employers. Campbell and Prentice have said they were looking at adding the fee directly to income tax bills and perhaps making it progressive so that the more one earns the more one pays. Alberta is on track to spend $18 billion this fiscal year on health, about 46 per cent of the province’s $40-billion budget.
Please see LEVY on Page A2
Crash site a ‘picture of horror’ Pulverized pieces of debris were strewn across mountainsides after a jetliner crashed, killing all 150 people on board. Story on PAGE D5
PLEASE
RECYCLE