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D6
Mushroom confit can inspire meals
IT’S NEVER A BAD TIME FOR A PROVINCIAL ELECTION PAGE A4
Red Deer Advocate TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 2015
www.reddeeradvocate.com
Your trusted local news authority EGGSTRAVAGANZA
Double fatal near Sundre BY MARY-ANN BARR ADVOCATE STAFF
Photo by JEFF STOKOE/Advocate staff
With his sister Valentina looking on Luis Aristizabal puts some finishing touches on an Easter egg during an Eggstravaganza activity that took place at the Red Deer Museum and Art Gallery. Several children and their parents took in the Easter Monday activities at the museum. The movie ‘Hop’ was playing in the Capital Theatre venue in the museum, while a scavenger hunt and egg decorating kept others busy.
Atwood critical of Bill C-51 ANTI-TERRORISM BILL GOES TOO FAR, AUTHOR WARNS BY LANA MICHELIN ADVOCATE STAFF
PERSPECTIVES
Renowned Canadian author Margaret Atwood added her voice to a growing chorus opposing the federal government’s anti-terrorism bill. All Canadians should be concerned about Bill C-51 — “it’s not only about where you live, but what you had for breakfast,” said Atwood, who spoke at Red Deer College Monday as part of its Perspectives: Canada in the World series. The new bill, introduced in January by Prime Minister Stephen Harper, would grant greater powers to the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, and allow federal institutions to access
all information government departments have on any Canadian. There are concerns this could curtail internationally-guaranteed human rights such as liberty, privacy and freedom of expression. “You are more likely to die in a hospital from a super bug than be blown up in a terrorist attack. Where is the research money for super bugs?” Atwood said, to enthusiastic applause from the audience. The Booker Prize-winning author of The Blind Assassin and other novels, books of poetry, short stories and essays, told a full-house crowd to “keep your eyes open” for power grabs. As
someone who lived through the Second World War as a young child, the 75-year-old said she’s not a fan of governments that seek to control all information and speech. “Why not? Because they shoot people like me . . . unless they write propaganda for the regime . . .” Canada’s most famous author was asked to speak on the creative process — and she did. But she also addressed political topics at a question and answer period after her lecture. Alluding to criticism about Harper’s government suppressing scientific research, Atwood suggested citizens have the right to see the results of studies done at the taxpayers’ expense.
Please see ATWOOD on Page A2
Easter Sunday was marred by tragedy when two people died and two others received serious injuries after a truck crashed near Sundre. The single-vehicle rollover of the pickup truck occurred at about 10 p.m. on Hwy 22, near Township Road 340, about 10 km north of the town. There were four occupants — two men and two women. Both men died at the scene. RCMP said the vehicle appeared to have left the highway, rolled and then came to a rest upright. Adam Loria, a paramedic and public education officer with Alberta Health Services in Calgary, said that Emergency Medical Services (EMS) paramedics from Sundre, Didsbury, Caroline and STARS Air Ambulance responded to the rollover. They found an extensively damaged pickup truck and four people. Paramedics determined the two men to be deceased on scene as a result of their injuries. There was no resuscitation attempted on the two men, Loria said. Paramedics then turned their efforts to the two other occupants. The driver, a woman believed to be in her mid-30s, had multiple injuries and was unconscious. She was given advanced life support treatment by ground paramedics while she was still trapped in the wreckage. She was subsequently airlifted to the Foothills Medical Centre by STARS and her condition at that time was considered critical and life-threatening, Loria said. The second woman, believe to be in her late 40s, was transported to the Foothills Medical Centre by ground paramedics in non-life-threatening condition. She was ejected from the truck at the time of the collision and suffered serious multiple soft-tissue injuries.
Please see CRASH on Page A2
Central Albertans reminded to leave baby wildlife alone BY SUSAN ZIELINSKI ADVOCATE STAFF It’s baby bunny season and, as always, Medicine River Wildlife Centre recommends a hands-off approach. Executive director Carol Kelly said people should leave baby bunnies alone unless they are injured or you know that the mother is dead. “I’m expecting the next phone call to be about the first wave of baby bunnies,” said Kelly on Monday about the babies born from the first breeding of the spring season. She said from April to late August, the jackrabbits that people see in urban areas will breed four times. Each wave could bring one to four dozen bunnies to wildlife centre. And many don’t need to be there. “There are tons of babies that will be born. Unless there is a bad situation that you need our help with, leave
WEATHER 30% flurries. High 7. Low -3.
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them where they are. The mother bunny knows what she’s doing.” She said one exception is if a baby bunny is spotted on the road. In that case, people should carefully and quickly pick it up in their hands and put it under the nearest bush. “The only defence they have is to sit absolutely still so because they sit still, people mistake that they like them.” Petting or handling a wild baby bunny causes it extreme stress and they can die of capture myopathy, she said. Kelly said a few years ago she heard from a woman who stopped worrying about baby bunnies in her yard after she saw how a mother hare took care of her babies. “(The mother hare) put out this call we can’t hear. All five babies ran to her, scooched underneath her, nursed for a few minutes, then they all ran away again,” Kelly said.
Please see WILDLIFE on Page A2
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Carol Kelly, executive director of the Medicine River Wildlife Centre, said people should leave baby bunnies alone unless they are injured or you know that the mother is dead.
Duffy counter-attack to focus on PMO Suspended senator Mike Duffy won’t be the only person to see their motives and actions dissected in the coming weeks. Story on PAGE A5
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