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Red Deer Advocate TUESDAY, SEPT. 1, 2015
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City puts brakes on Tour BY PAUL COWLEY ADVOCATE STAFF City of Red Deer will take a pass on hosting the 2016 Tour of Alberta cycling event. While council expressed their support for the event, there were concerns that the city and its volunteers already have too much on their plates considering the upcoming 2016 Memorial Cup and 2019 Canada Winter Games. Coun. Lawrence Lee said he was concerned that adding another event would put too much stress on volunteers at this time, although he hoped the city
would be considered as a host community for future tours. Other councillors shared similar sentiments and the motion to not seek an opportunity to host was unanimously supported. A report to council from the city’s Recreation, Parks and Culture Department says the hosting rights fee and partnership investment would cost $250,000. Add in other costs related to the event and a local festival and the price tag climbs to around $340,000. Most of that would likely have to come out of the city’s coffers. The 2016 Tour is focused mostly on southern Alberta. While Red Deer had not been formally asked
Alberta faces $5.9B deficit
there was an opportunity to host the Prologue, comprised of time trials on a course within the city. In other council news: Council voted to leave the downtown outdoor patio as a summer venue only. The Greater Downtown Action Plan Steering Committee recently recommended that council take another look at leaving the patio in place all year. Coun. Lynne Mulder was in favour, noting having more outdoor areas available would fit in well with the 2019 Canada Winter Games.
Please see COUNCIL on Page A2
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
MINISTER SAYS THAT MAY GROW IF OIL STAYS LOW BY THE CANADIAN PRESS EDMONTON — Alberta’s finance minister says the province is on track for a record $5.9-billion deficit this year as the oil crunch hits families and businesses. And Joe Ceci says the worst may not be ‘IF CURRENT over if low oil prices CONDITIONS persist and the province continues in reCONTINUE, THE cession. “If current condi- FINAL DEFICIT WILL tions continue, the fiBE IN THE RANGE nal deficit will be in OF $6.5 BILLION . the range of $6.5 bil. . . WE ARE LASER lion,” Ceci said Monday as he released FOCUSED ON first-quarter figures for TAKING POSITIVE the 2015-16 fiscal year which began April 1. STEPS TOWARD Ceci said the NDP ECONOMIC government will continue to look for effiRECOVERY.’ ciencies, but will not engage in large-scale — JOE CECI layoffs or deep cuts to FINANCE MINISTER erase the red ink. “We are laser focused on taking positive steps toward economic recovery.” Opposition Wildrose finance critic Derek Fildebrandt calculated the hit to Alberta’s treasury is actually $9 billion when $3 billion drained from the contingency fund and new borrowing for capital projects are added in. “This is the largest hit that our province has taken to its net wealth in the history of the province, and that should be concerning,” said Fildebrandt. Monday’s numbers are based on the budget introduced, but never passed, by former Progressive Conservative premier Jim Prentice’s government before it was defeated by Rachel Notley and the NDP in May. That budget estimated a $5-billion deficit. The new estimates reflect changes made by the NDP, including higher corporate and personal taxes, and more than a billion dollars in new spending for health, education and social services. Ceci is to bring in a fully revised budget after the house resumes sitting Oct. 26. Revenue is forecast at $44.3 billion — about $1 million higher than the Prentice budget. The increase is driven mainly by higher-than-expected oil revenue in the spring, more revenue from personal and business taxes and a lower Canadian dollar. The benchmark North American price for oil, West Texas Intermediate, was originally expected to hover around US$55 a barrel, but in the first three months instead delivered almost $58. But the revenue figure might shrink in the next update as the WTI price dropped below $40 a barrel in August before rebounding to almost $49 on Monday. It’s also a long way from the dizzying heights of US$100 a barrel reached in the summer of 2014. Total government expenses are expected to be $50.2 billion, which is about $1.8 billion higher than projected in the Tory budget. The increase is due mainly to $1.4 billion added by the NDP to health, education and social services, as well as to extra costs fighting drought and wildfires.
Please see DEFICIT on Page A2
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Photo by JEFF STOKOE/Advocate staff
Brandon Rees hands off to Alex Suguru during a Hunting Hills High School senior team practice on Monday. The HHHS Lightning open their football season this Friday at Great Chief Park against the Notre Dame Cougars.
Men charged after violent gun fight to stand trial for aggravated assault BY MURRAY CRAWFORD ADVOCATE STAFF Two people accused of a violent gun fight east of Red Deer will stand trial on several charges, but will not be prosecuted for attempted murder. Bradley Voykin, 26, and Joshua Cusler, 29, of Red Deer, were committed to stand trial in Red Deer Court of Queen’s bench after a lengthy preliminary inquiry. Though only five witnesses were called in total, the length of their evidence stretched the preliminary inquiry over more than a year. Originally scheduled for four days, the inquiry started on May 5, 2014 and ran until May 9. Further preliminary inquiry continuation dates were added on May 21, 2014, Nov. 20, 2014, May 4, 2015 and Monday, when it concluded. Preliminary inquiries are held to test the strength of the Crown’s case against the accused before heading to trial. A court-ordered publication ban protects the evidence given at the inquiry to ensure a fair trial. Only one witness was called Monday before judge John Holmes in Red Deer provincial court. Nicole Sissons, defence counsel for Cusler, and Andrew Phypers, defence counsel for Bradley Voykin, consented to the committal to stand trial on some of the charges. The two will stand trial on aggravated assault and robbery with a firearm. Furthermore, Voykin will be
tried on breaching a firearms prohibition and pointing a firearm. Cusler will be tried on the additional charge of breaching a recognizance. The Crown will not proceed on three charges. Originally, the two men were charged with attempted murder. Now they will be tried for aggravated assault. The Crown also will not proceed on two charges: robbery with a firearm and extortion with a firearm. The two have been out of custody since May 4, 2015, and after the inquiry, curfew conditions in their recognizances were removed. The charges will proceed to Red Deer Court of Queen’s Bench for arraignment and setting a trial date on Oct. 5. Voykin and Cusler previously elected to be tried by judge and jury. On March 19, 2013, Blackfalds RCMP were called to a residence in Balmoral Heights to a report of a male suffering gunshot wounds. On scene, police found a male victim suffering gunshot wounds, but the suspects had fled. He was taken to Red Deer Hospital in serious but stable condition. Shortly thereafter, Red Deer RCMP were called to a report of a collision in the Northwood Estates trailer park in north Red Deer. Officers found two males who had been in the vehicle suffering from gunshot wounds. Through their investigation, police believe the wounds were suffered during the gun fight. Police said the three parties were known to each other. mcrawford@reddeeradvocate.com
Wrongfully convicted man seeks damages The wrongful conviction of a B.C. man who spent nearly three decades behind bars hinged on a flawed police investigation. Story on PAGE A5
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