UNDERWOOD HITS HER STRIDE/C4
CENTRAL ALBERTA COMPETITORS MAKE STRONG SHOWING IN INNISFAIL PAGES B1, C1
Red Deer Advocate MONDAY, JUNE 15, 2015
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Wage plan panned BY CRYSTAL RHYNO ADVOCATE STAFF A $15 minimum wage for low-income earners is not winning praise from the Central Alberta small business community. Reg Warkentin, Red Deer Chamber of Commerce policy co-ordinator, said bottom lines will take a hit if the minimum wage is bumped to $15 from $10.20 by 2018. The Alberta NDP government promised the hike as part of its election campaign as a means to combat poverty. On Oct.1, the first of the phased increase will be implemented. The initial increase amount will be announced in July.
The Alberta Chambers of Commerce recently adopted a policy that looks at the concerns from the business community including potential staff reductions. It includes recommendations such as assessing the wage annually and only revise by a percentage equal to the percent change in the Alberta Consumer Price Index and alternative poverty reduction strategies. Warkentin said there will Reg Warkentin likely be a shift in the demographic where workers such
as students may see the brunt of the layoffs. He said it would also cause a domino effect with staff costs where employees making $16, for example, would want a $3 increase too. A boost to the wage is not a remedy for the poverty problems facing some Albertans, he said. “If you are trying to get rid of poverty you cannot put it entirely on the backs of small business,” said Warkentin. “There are a lot of players that need to get involved.” An estimated 25,700 employees or 1.5 per cent in the province make the minimum wage compared to 6.8 per cent nationally and 9.1 per cent in Ontario based on 2014 numbers.
Please see WAGE on Page A2
BLACKFALDS DAYS
SYLVAN LAKE
Rain fails to stop 1913 Days BY CRYSTAL RHYNO ADVOCATE STAFF A little rain or wind does not scare off the average Sylvan Laker. Saturday’s intermittent rain showers may have had residents ducking for cover in nearby shops but it did not damper spirits for 1913 Days. Denise Sanderson and her family never miss a parade or community event. Her family, including her children — Brock, Taylor and Patric — secured a great spot to watch the parade go by. Sanderson said the 1913 Days always offer a lot of fun for the whole family. “We’re glad the rain stopped for the parade,” she laughed. But like many others they were sporting rain gear and armed with umbrellas should the skies opened up again. Sylvan Lake Mayor Sean McIntyre said the crowds were a little smaller than usual years but there were many toughening it out for a good time.
Please see 1913 DAYS on Page A2
Photo by ASHLI BARRETT/Advocate staff
Brayden Dobbin, 2, goes for a ride on child-sized airplane at the Wildrose Amusement Carnival Midway during the 2015 Blackfalds Days festivities on Saturday morning. A parade, farmers market, and a street dance were just some of the family-focused activities in the town.
Antipsychotics, restraints used more often in Central Zone BY SUSAN ZIELINSKI ADVOCATE STAFF
LONG-TERM CARE
Potentially inappropriate use of antipsychotics and the use of daily restraints in long-term care was at a higher than average rate in Alberta’s Central Zone for 2013-14, according to the Canadian Institute for Health Information. The latest data available for antipsychotics showed Alberta had the lowest provincial rate at 25 per cent and was on the decline, but Central Alberta climbed to almost 35 per cent. The national rate was 30 per cent. National data was calculated from about 57 per cent of long-term care facilities. Results were based on full coverage in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario and Yukon and partial coverage in Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador. No data was available for Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Northwest Territories and Nunavut. CIHI looked at how many long-term care residents were taking antipsychotic drugs without a diagnosis of psychosis. The drugs are sometimes used to manage behaviours in residents who have dementia. CIHI says the inappropriate use of antipsychotics in long-term care is associated with side effects like sedation and movement disorders and even premature death.
WEATHER Sun and cloud. High 19. Low 7.
FORECAST ON A2
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‘IT’S POSSIBLE (ANTIPSYCHOTICS) ARE BEING USED MORE AS A CHEMICAL RESTRAINT THAN TO TREAT SOMETHING THAT IS ACTUALLY MENTALLY WRONG WITH AN INDIVIDUAL AND THAT’S WHAT PEOPLE ARE WORRIED ABOUT.’ — KIRA LEEB CIHI DIRECTOR OF HEALTH SYSTEM PERFORMANCE
“It’s possible (antipsychotics) are being used more as a chemical restraint than to treat something that is actually mentally wrong with an individual and that’s what people are more worried about,” said Kira Leeb, CIHI director of health system performance, on Friday. Consort Hospital and Care Centre had a rate of 65 per cent, Stettler Hospital and Care Centre was at 44 per cent, Rimbey Hospital and Care Centre was at 37 per cent, Bethany CollegeSide was at 34 per cent, Olds Hospital and Care Centre was at 30 per cent, Extendicare Michener Hill was at 29 per cent, and Bentley Care Centre was at 10 per cent. It’s the first time CIHI has publicly released data
on the long-term care sector. In Central Alberta, data as from 40 long-term care facilities. Central Alberta only did better than the Alberta and national rates for two out of nine indicators — the rate of residents who fell and improved physical functioning. “Of the picture we can paint of long-term care facilities, there are definitely areas where the Central Zone could improve,” Leeb said. The rate of residents in physical restraints in Central Alberta was high. It dropped to 18 per cent, compared to the declining rate of nine per cent for both Alberta and Canada. Restraints are sometimes used to manage behaviours or prevent falls, but is not considered best practice. CIHI says research shows restraints can lead to injury and falls, and can increase confusion and agitation and raises concerns about safety and quality of care. Bentley Care Centre had a rate of 41 per cent, Innisfail Health Centre was at 35 per cent, Rimbey Hospital and Care Centre was at 32 per cent, Good Samaritan Clearwater Centre in Rocky Mountain House was at 25 per cent, Bethany CollegeSide was at seven per cent, Bethany Sylvan Lake was three per cent, and Extendicare Michener Hill was at two per cent.
Please see RESTRAINTS on Page A2
Lindhout grateful for arrest Amanda Lindhout crumpled to the floor, crying, as the RCMP broke the news to her about the arrest of her alleged kidnapper. Story on PAGE A5
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