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Red Deer Advocate MONDAY, MAY 4, 2015
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Your trusted local news authority ADVANCED POLLS
Extra day boosts turnout BY MURRAY CRAWFORD ADVOCATE STAFF After three days of advanced polling, turnout was expected to outpace last election’s benefiting from an extra day in the 2015 campaign. In the 2012 Alberta election, there was a total of three days of advanced polling. This election there are four days available for voters to cast their ballots ahead of the May 5 voting day. In Red Deer-South, turnout was anticipated to surpass 2012’s numbers. The first three days of advanced polls were comparable to the three days of 2012 and with the fourth day it is expected that the number of advanced votes cast will surpass last year. In 2012, Red Deer-South had a total of 1,598 advanced poll voters. For the first three days of the 2015 election they had 1,426. There are a total of 34,361 eligible electors in Red Deer-South “They’re happy to be voting and exercising their right to democracy,” said Jim Taylor, Returning officer. For Red Deer-North, returning officer Brenda Williams noted it had bee a good turnout with a steady pace so far. She said over the three days during the 2012 election they had 1,256 people cast ballots early. In the first three days of advanced polls this time around is 1,317. Without Saturday numbers, that will far surpass 2012’s advanced poll turnout. Red Deer-North has 31,988 eligible electors this time around. Out in Lacombe-Ponoka, returning officer Margaret Devries said they have had more than 1,700 people show up to advanced vote at the two locations in the rural riding over the first three days. She said that was about equal to all three days from last election and with the fourth day, and it being a busier Saturday, she said this election’s advanced poll turnout should far surpass last election’s. Lacombe-Ponoka has about 26,905 eligible electors. Taylor encouraged voters to bring the Election Alberta card they received in the mail to the polling station on election day.
Please see POLLS on Page A2
Photo by MURRAY CRAWFORD/Advocate staff
Steve Woolrich, owner of SeCure Consulting Solutions a crime prevention and security consulting firm, shows a narrow alcove that is conducive to criminal activity in Red Deer. Woolrich led a Jane’s Walk Saturday highlighting the presence of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design practices in downtown Red Deer.
An eye-opening walk JANE’S WALK OFFERS INSIGHT INTO CRIME PREVENTION BY MURRAY CRAWFORD ADVOCATE STAFF Meandering around downtown, but viewing it through a different lens offered perspective on how design concepts can also be an approach to crime prevention. Steve Woolrich, owner SeCure consulting solutions — a crime prevention and security consulting firm, lead a Jane’s Walk through downtown Red Deer Saturday. Jane’s Walk is a global movement of free local walking tours, inspired by Jane Jacobs. Jacobs was a Toronto based journalist and urban planning theorist who argued for livable cities. Woolrich was one of the people who helped bring Jane’s Walk to Red Deer and has been leading the Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design walk since the start. On the walk he highlights some basic principles of CPTED and points out where it is in use in the down-
town and where some improvement could make a difference. Businesses that have store fronts that come right up to the sidewalk make a difference. Woolrich pointed out that the creation of alcoves or nooks can lead to needle debris or urine and create little areas to hide in. Another highlighted feature was the use of windows. The transparency they provide can help reduce crime by facilitating more witnesses — allowing more people to see. However, Woolrich noted some windows that are tinted and only allow for one way view, which affects the ability to create witnesses. The same goes for the promotion of arts and culture. Referencing the Ross Street Patio, Woolrich said by bringing arts and culture to the city’s core it also brings more people. The positive activity can displace potential crime.
Please see WALK on Page A2
Election winds down in dogfight THREE-WAY RACE IN FINAL DAYS BY THE CANADIAN PRESS EDMONTON — Alberta voters deliver their verdict Tuesday in an election campaign born out of faith, now climaxing in fear. It was supposed to be a 28-day victory lap for Premier Jim Prentice, who called the election a year earlier than mandated by law with 70 of the 87 legislature members in his Progressive Conservative tent. But campaign polls have the Tories in a three-way dogfight, their four-decade dynasty threatened by the rival Wildrose on the right and the surging NDP to the left. Political analysts say if Prentice wins majority government it will not be because of his campaign, but despite it. “It really has become a campaign plagued by gaffes and process stories rather than vision and platform,” says Bob Murray, vice president of research at the Frontier Centre for Public Policy. Prentice called the election last month to gain a mandate on his proposed budget, which he called a paradigm-altering, 10-year blueprint to diversify revenue and lessen dependence on volatile oil royalties. It hiked dozens of taxes and fees while freezing or cutting spending across government and running up a debt for infrastructure that will hit $30-billion by the end of the decade. On campaign doorsteps the budget galvanized the Opposition Wildrose party and its new leader Brian
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‘IT REALLY HAS BECOME A CAMPAIGN PLAGUED BY GAFFES AND PROCESS STORIES, RATHER THAN VISION AND PLATFORM.’ — BOB MURRAY VICE PRESIDENT OF RESEARCH FRONTIER CENTRE FOR PUBLIC POLICY
Jean, who criticized Prentice for not cutting deep enough while hiking taxes. And it galvanized the NDP party and Leader Rachel Notley, who criticized Prentice for cutting too deep while hiking taxes. “It was a budget that had something for everybody to hate,” says Lori Williams, a policy studies professor with Mount Royal University in Calgary. “Even though it has some very good elements and was good for working families, I think the number of increases in fees and the cuts made it a pretty unpopular budget.” Prentice has also had to deal with scandals, setbacks and rollbacks. He promised to stay the course on the budget only to announce two major changes to it on the campaign trail. He pledged deeper cuts to boards, agencies, and commissions while reversing a $90-million cut to charity tax credits. He has also had to ask Justice Minister Jonathan Denis to resign from cabinet over a court action
involving Denis’s estranged wife and was forced to address leaked text messages suggesting his party forced out Calgary-area candidate Jamie Lall before the campaign began. Political analysts say win or lose, Notley has been the story of the campaign. The NDP won just four seats and 10 per cent of the popular vote in the last election. Under Notley, the polls suggest the New Democrats could dominate Edmonton this time around and a even make a breakthrough in the Tory fortress that is Calgary. Notley, a lawyer and daughter of former provincial NDP leader Grant Notley, soared in popularity after the leaders debate. Williams says Notley’s success has been her ability to trade barbs while keeping her message upbeat and optimistic. “People just like her. They’re calling her Rachel,” says Williams. The NDP rise has led to the re-launch of the Progressive Conservative fear campaign. Political scientist Duane Bratt noted in the 2012 election, the PCs wooed progressives back to the fold by warning of how a Wildrose government would be intolerant of minorities and indifferent to the environment. This time, Bratt says, the Tories seek to woo fiscal conservatives back by suggesting that an NDP administration would mean an economic apocalypse for Alberta. “The PCs’ job is to keep putting doubts in the minds (of voters),” says Bratt, with Mount Royal University. “It worked in 2012. It worked before.”
Curfew lifted in Baltimore Six days after riots sparked by Freddie Gray’s death, Baltimore’s mayor lifted the citywide curfew. Story on PAGE A7
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