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Red Deer Advocate TUESDAY, OCT. 13, 2015
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FEDERAL ELECTION
Campaign gets noisy in final week BY THE CANADIAN PRESS
Photo by ASHLI BARRETT/Advocate staff
Volunteer farmers work to harvest wheat during the annual Central Alberta Foodgrains Bank Project Harvest Day on Saturday at a field just east of Lacombe. About 150 people showed up for the barbecue at noon, before nine different combines took to the field.
FOODGRAINS BANK HELPING AFRICAN, SYRIAN REFUGEES BY MURRAY CRAWFORD ADVOCATE STAFF Families across the country sat down to the Thanksgiving dinner over the weekend, but a group of volunteer farmers were hard at work harvesting grains so families in Africa and Syrian refugee camps could have some food too. On Saturday, the Lacombe Foodgrains bank took to the 130 acre field and harvested the grains. Doug Maas, Lacombe Foodgrains committee member, said they grew Canadian Prairie Spring wheat, the same crop they grew last year. “Based on what some of the farmers who have looked at it indicated to us, it appears to be an average crop,” said Maas. “Sometimes we get surprised. It’s when you harvest it, you find out it was above or below average. It’s difficult to say. Until we actually get it into the combine and grain truck and take it to the elevator.” The field was swathed last week so the farmers could combine it on Saturday. This is the 20th year for the Lacombe Foodgrains project, one of about 30 across Alberta. Though the harvest was originally scheduled for Oct. 3, the September rain and a miserable day on Oct. 3 delayed the producers. “We rely on volunteer farmers, they do all the work,” said Maas. “It’s been difficult for them to har-
vest their own crops.” This isn’t the first time the Lacombe Foodgrains project has harvested on Thanksgiving. Maas said in some ways it was kind of fitting. “It sure helps reinforce our purpose,” said Maas. “The people who have the ability to produce food and produce large quantities of food, should help those who are not capable of that.” Through the years, the project has drawn about seven to 10 combines come out to help with the harvest. With that kind of turnout, Maas said it takes a few hours with that kind of farm equipment on the field. Aid from the Foodgrains Bank goes primarily to Asian and African nations, including Ethiopia and Kenya. “In the last several years, we’ve given assistance to Syrian refugee camps,” said Maas. The Canadian government matches what the Foodgrains bank raises at a rate of four dollars for every one dollar the bank raises. South of Ponoka, the Ponoka Foodgrains project went on Oct. 2. Close to 165 acres of oats was harvested. The money raised from the sale of the oats will go into the Foodgrains bank. Jordan and Lebanon are also areas where the money will help people get food or food vouchers. For more information visit www.foodgrainsbank. ca. mcrawford@reddeeradvocate.com
OTTAWA — There weren’t any whistles, but there were more than a few bells, as the marathon federal election campaign entered its final week Monday. Stephen Harper launched a game-show style attack — complete with clanging cash register — aimed directly at front runner Justin Trudeau during a campaign event in Waterloo, Ont., in an attempt to portray the Liberal leader as a threat to the pocketbooks of Canadian families. Harper was assisted by a local woman — a married mother, with two jobs — who slapped down $20 bills as he rhymed off the various tax credits for families that he said the Liberals would roll back. The focus on Trudeau, almost to the exclusion of Tom Mulcair, came as the Liberal leader appeared to be gaining momentum in some polls, while they had the New Democrat leader tracking third. “For some families, that could be a Liberal tax hike of up to $2,000 a year,” Harper said. “These are real benefits. Only the Conservative party in this election is committed to keeping these dollars where they belong — in the pockets of hard working Canadians.” But Trudeau fired back at the Conservative leader, saying he wouldn’t be clawing back any of the boutique tax credits for families that Harper was warning about. He said it was one more example of Harper engaging in the politics of fear and telling “untruths” to voters about his platform. “He is desperate to try and frighten Canadians away from voting for a vision that is going to put more money in the pockets of nine out of 10 families and cut taxes for the middle class,” Trudeau said. He said the Conservatives don’t have a record to run on, so they’re resorting to “scare tactics and fear mongering,” which includes “micro-targeting” specific communities to pit them against one another. “We will call out fearful and divisive tactics, wherever they are used but we will stay focused on bringing Canadians together because that’s the job of any leader,” Trudeau told a boisterous rally in the Ottawa suburbs. “I’m going to let my opponents continue to focus on me. I’m staying focused on Canadians.” Mulcair told his supporters in Maple Ridge, B.C. that his party was the only credible choice for beating the Conservatives on Oct. 19. But he was repeatedly forced to deflect questions about his party’s slide in recent polls. “In 2011, I saw the same pollsters say we’d be fourth in Quebec, so I don’t pay attention to that,” Mulcair said.
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Central Albertans not immune to Blue Jays fever BY MURRAY CRAWFORD ADVOCATE STAFF It’s been 22 years, but it’s not just Toronto that’s excited to see the Blue Jays back in the post season. Canada’s only baseball team boasts fans coast to coast, and Red Deer is no exception. Jersey City in Bower Place Shopping Centre started seeing a trend early on in JAYS FORCE GAME FIVE B1 the season, said Gina Omilon who was worked there for five years. It all really started when third basemen Josh Donaldson started putting up impressive offensive numbers. His jerseys have tough to keep around and are the most popular item. “We have been timing from when we get his jerseys in to how quickly we can sell out of them,” said Omilon. “The longest was 24 hours and that was because there was only medium sizes left. Usually it’s within the hour that the jerseys are gone.” It has gotten to the point where the store is ordering products from American distributors, because the Canadian distributors can’t keep up with demand for Jays gear across the country. It’s all the store can do to get Jays attire in. “When people realized there was hope they would make the playoffs, people jumped onto the bandwagon then,” said Omilon.
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WEATHER A mix of sun and cloud. High 14. Low -1
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INDEX Four sections Alberta . . . . . . . . . . . . A3 Business . . . . . . . . . C2-3 Canada . . . . . . . . . . A5-6 Classified . . . . . . . . D1-2 Comics . . . . . . . . . . . . D4 Entertainment . . . . C5-6 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . B1-6
Photo by JEFF STOKOE/ Advocate staff
Chris Boese and his brother Chad raise a glass at the Canadian Brewhouse in Red Deer as they watch the Toronto Blue Jays take on the Texas Rangers in game one of the American League Division Series last Thursday.
A new view of McMorris New film In Motion shows a different side of champion snowboarder Mark McMorris. Story on PAGE C6
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