Minister at Bruderheim

EIPS board hears passionate pleas at meeting

BY JANA SEMENIUK

Parents gave passionate pleas during the Aug. 26 Elk Island Public School Board meeting both for and against the most recent mask mandate for back to school, implemented as a means of protecting children from COVID-19.

As of Sept. 1, all Kindergarten to grade six students, must wear masks at school as well as ages 12 – 19 if their rate of vaccination is below 70 per cent.

“While not all families support the continued mask mandate, the Board had to weigh the risks for students, staff and family members, and consider how many students are either ineligible for the vaccine or are not vaccinated in the communities in which the Division operates,” said a statement issued to parents from EIPS by email on Aug. 18.

One parent who spoke at the Aug. 26 meeting, and does not support the mask mandate, is mother of three Courtney Liddle. Liddle, who is also a teacher, contends that daily use of masks has a negative effect on many children.

“After receiving a high volume of stories from parents, grandparents and staff members, I can say with confidence that there are many students here in Elk Island Public Schools who have experienced negative physical and psychological effects, including anxiety, migraines, ear aches, depression, rashes, breathing difficulties, and even in one instance lung infections leading to permanent asthma, among other ailments correlated with daily mask use,” she said.

In addition to physical effects, Liddle said the impacts were also social.

“We also need to consider the social impacts. I have heard devastating stories and cried with parents. While masks can make some students feel safe or protected and I respect that very much, others are really struggling,” she said. “I've heard stories of kindergarteners not being able to make friends because they have difficulty communicating with peers. Students crying in their seat unnoticed because their tears are falling into their masks. Children being scolded for trying to take a drink or steal a breath of fresh air. There are instances of medically exempt students being severely segregated and treated with contempt.”

Liddle concluded that masks should remain optional.

“The only way to meet all of the needs of the students is to provide them a choice,” she said.

Another parent of two children, D’Arcy Vermette, a professor with the faculty of Native Studies at the University of Alberta, spoke out in favour of the masking mandate.

“While schools have a vested interest in providing a safe learning environment without a vaccine mandate, schools have no control over how quickly their eligible students can get vaccinated and even less control over how quickly ineligible students will be able to get vaccinated. However, the science also shows us repeatedly that proper fitting masks protect both the wearer and those around them,” he said.

Vermette said that without the mask mandate children would be at risk.

“Removing or not deploying a mask mandate necessarily means that we are sanctioning the transmission of disease within schools. To

VILLAGE OF CHIPMAN

Public Works Employment Opportunity

The Village of Chipman is accepting applications for a Public Works Personnel.

Duties involve all aspects of Village Operations including operation of heavy equipment.

Under the direction of the Village Foreman, will assist with various maintenance activities on and roads, water and sewer utilities and all municipal facilities including buildings, grounds and equipment.

QUALIFITICATIONS:

• Experience operating and maintaining equipment • Preferably Class 3 Drivers license with air endorsement • Experience dealing with the public and able to effectively manage multiple tasks • Willingness to take courses as required • Wages based on qualifications.

Please submit your resume to:

The Village of Chipman P.O. Box 176 Chipman, AB T0B 0W0 Fax: (780) 363-2386 Email: chipmanab@mcsnet.ca Applications will be received until a suitable candidate is selected.

Only Candidates who most closely fit our needs will be contacted for interview. not have a mandate is to dehumanize children. This is done by arguing that COVID is no different from the flu. It's very different. Dehumanization is done by arguing that kids don't get sick with COVID. This is false,” he said.

Vermette concluded that a mask mandate was the best decision.

“Children don't deserve to be neglected at school and that is why I applaud the creation of a mask mandate for K to six and implore the board to keep that mandate, at least until such a time that most school aged children have been fully vaccinated,” he said.

Meanwhile, a number of parents have written emails to the Minister of Education, Adriana LaGrange complaining about mandatory masking. During a press conference Aug. 13, Chief Medical Officer Deena Hinshaw noted that masking would be optional for children in the upcoming school year, however LaGrange added that school divisions would be left to decide for themselves. Nicole Sparrow, press secretary for the minister, commented on the situation by email.

“If school authorities decide to go beyond the expert medical advice of the Chief Medical Office of Health, part of their accountability to their communities is to explain why this is necessary in their local contexts. Trustees are ultimately accountable to their constituents,” she said.

Alberta’s Minister of Justice and Solicitor General Kaycee Madu, also had some words for parents opposing the mask mandates.

“Politically speaking, I would say this; parents have an important role to play in the education of their children. And they should make their voices heard on this particular issue with that school board,” he said during a short interview Aug. 26.

In their statement to parents Aug. 18, EIPS said the decision for masking mandates would be revisited on or before Jan. 20, 2022.

STOLEN DUCKS

To the person or persons who stole the ducks, bring them back immediately or the RCMP will be notified!

YOU SHOULD HAVE SMILED

YOU WERE ON CAMERA!

PUBLIC NOTICE

Brandon Dey WATER ACT NOTICE OF APPLICATION

Notice is given that Brandon Dey has filed an application under the provisions of the Water Act for a Licence for 2292 m3 annually from a well with a production interval of 50 – 70 feet below ground level located at NW 16 057-17-W4 for the purposes of stock watering. Any person who is directly affected by this application may submit a written statement of concern to within 30 days of the date of this notice to: Environment and Parks Regulatory Approvals Centre 5th Floor, South Petroleum Plaza 9915 108 Street Edmonton, Alberta T5K 2G8 Phone: 780-427-6311 Fax: 780-422-0154 Email: aep.waapplications@gov.ab.ca The written statement of concern should include the following: • the application number: 001-00477032 • describe concerns that are relevant to matters regulated by the Water Act • explain how the filer of the concern will be directly affected by the activity and/or diversion of water proposed in the application • provide the legal land location of the land owned or used by the filer where the concerns described are believed to be applicable • state the distance between the land owned or used by the filer and the site in the application • contact information including the full name and mailing address of the filer. Please provide the telephone number and/or email address for ease of contact.

Environment and Parks will review each written statement of concern, seek more information if needed, and notify each filer by letter of the decision to accept or reject their written submission as a valid statement of concern. The Public Notice of this application will also be posted on the Department’s website at:

https://avw.alberta.ca/PublicNoticesViewer.aspx

Please quote file number: 00477032

Statements of concern submitted regarding this application are public records which are accessible by the public and the applicant. Failure to file a statement of concern may affect the right to file a Notice of Appeal with the Environmental Appeals Board.

Copies of the application and additional information can be obtained from:

Brandon Dey PO Box 132 Andrew, AB T0B 0C0 Phone: 780-887-4049

Minister explains proposed provincial police force at Bruderheim

BY JANA SEMENIUK

Alberta Minister of Justice and Solicitor General Kaycee Madu, spoke with local municipal representatives during a round table discussion on rural crime Aug. 26 in Bruderheim.

Attendees included the mayors of Lamont, Bruderheim, Chipman, town councillors, RCMP members as well as government officials including Fort SaskatchewanVegreville MLA Jackie Armstrong-Homeniuk.

As the discussion centred around the possibility of a provincial police force in lieu of the current RCMP model, questions arose as to how a provincial force might be funded.

“With all due respect it's going to end up costing more if we privatize because there's the federal funding that's being injected into Alberta. It's going to cost the smaller communities more,” said one of the attendees.

Minister Madu went on to explain.

“That really isn't true. I am looking at a more cost-effective policing (model) that focuses on community policing with boots on the ground, local presence to our people and communities that deploy innovation and technology for 21st century modern policing. Those costs upon which you are talking about, the federal government contribution to municipal policing, I have been clear from day one, that is a cost that the province is prepared to absorb. That cost would not be shifted to municipalities,” he said.

Bruderheim councillor Pat Lee questioned the use of funds to support a separate police force.

“Minister, once again, I question taking monies for a separate force, why not utilize those monies to enhance what we already have?” she said. “I struggle with trying to justify starting something basically from scratch.”

Minister Madu said a provincial police force would utilize what is currently being used.

“We are not starting new; it is a transition. We have the architecture and the infrastructure. It’s a negotiation with the federal government if we decide to go that particular path. As I said, I will be the first person to rehire every single RCMP officer in our province back into our Provincial Police Service,” he said.

Madu went on to describe what he said are problems with the current policing system.

“If I need to find 20 RCMP officers right now, all I can do is to make that particular request (to the Federal Public Safety Officer), and I release the money. But at the end of the day, Ottawa gets to decide when we get to see that. And that has been a sticking point for me and the federal government,” he said.

“Another issue I have struggled with in our current policing model is the fact that mental health and addiction social workers are not a mandated part of policing in our province. Sometimes the root causes of crime deal with some of those behaviors in a way that doesn't necessarily result in the criminal justice system. We suffer for the system that we don't control and we have to have the political courage to fix it.”

Minister Madu added that a few provinces already have their own provincial force in place.

“Ontario can afford their own Provincial Police. Quebec subsidizes their programs and policies largely as a consequence of $20 billion from this province,” he said. “If Newfoundland and Labrador can stand up their own police, and they have not called upon the federal government to come and take over their police and we see more provinces actively looking at establishing their own police, I think Alberta can as well.”

A provincial policing transition feasibility study, conducted by Price Waterhouse Cooper, was completed in April of this year. Minister Madu said that while the results are in, the report is not ready to be shared publicly.

“We have a responsibility as a government and as an elected leader to pursue what is in our province’s best interest. So hence, the reason why we have embarked on that particular study,” he said. “It's a government cabinet process. Once that process is complete, there will be a full report that will remain public. I can tell you that you can expect that report between now and the end of September.”

Shifting away from provincial policing, Bruderheim Mayor Karl Hauch asked the Minister about combatting the incidence of community crimes repeated by the same perpetrators.

“This system is a revolving door for the five per cent that continue to commit all the crimes. They are in (prison) then they’re out. And they're constantly coming back to communities causing problems. How are we going to correct that so moving forward, we have a system that brings spirit justice to folks that cause 90 per cent of the crime?” he asked.

Minister Madu explained the federal government’s role.

“There are things that the federal government is responsible for. By and large, they are all embedded in the Criminal Code. I have no mechanism to change the Criminal Code. It's a federal legislation, all I can do is to publicly call upon my counterpart to work with us to make some good amendments that would help us address these problems. Again, I don't think it should be a surprise to anyone here that we have a federal government that will not listen.”

The round table lasted for an hour before Minister Madu and MLA Jackie ArmstrongHomeniuk headed for their next meeting in Vegreville.

Lamont County mulls fresh Covid restrictions

BY JOHN MATHER

At its last Committee of the Whole meeting, Aug. 24, Lamont County council mulled over whether to add new Covid restrictions in the face of rising numbers across the province.

Executive Assistant Jessica Post updated council, telling them the county had reopened all offices to the public as of June 19, and all testing measures had been removed as part of the province's “Alberta’s Open for Summer” plan. “Effective September 27, all public health measures will be removed. This includes all testing and isolation requirements. “

She added this was to have happened Aug. 16, but the Chief Medical Officer for the province, Deena Hinshaw, had prolonged them to the Sept, 27 date.

Post further told the council that as of Aug. 18, Lamont County had eight active cases, but by Aug. 24, that had increased to 10 cases.

She further reported to council that 56.9 per cent of the Lamont County population had received a single vaccination. Those over age 75 had the most vaccinations at 89.3 per cent; ages 60-74 were at 82.9 per cent; ages 40-59 were at 64.4 per cent; ages 20-30 were at 45.7 per cent; and ages 12-19 were at 53.6 per cent.

Residents who had received both shots were at 88.3 per cent for those over 75; ages 60-74 were at 77.7 per cent; 60-74 were at 56.9 per cent; ages 20-39 were at 36.1 per cent; and 12-19 were at 43.1 per cent. The Countywide percentage for residents with both shots was 50.9 per cent.

Reeve David Diduck didn’t think the 56.9 per cent was a very high percentage with just one shot.

“With the Delta variant raising its ugly head and and number of cases going up I’m concerned. I believe we rescinded our last Covid policy at the last meeting. I guess I have to reach out to council … do we want administration to develop a new policy? Do we want to reinstall screens at desks throughout the building?”

Continued on Page 13 Alberta Minister of Justice and Solicitor General Kaycee Madu speaks to municipal leaders about rural crime during a round table discussion in Bruderheim on Aug. 26. Photo: Jana Semeniuk

Help Wanted

P/T Caregiver Needed

Will Train, Flex. Hours. Driver’s Licence and transportation required.

• $17 starting • 30 minutes East of Fort Sask • Serious applicants only.

Email Resume: 511kmCARE@gmail.com

We're Hiring!

Certified staff in Early Childhood

Working with children 12 mo to 12 yrs. For more information please contact Allison at 780-764-2272 or email your resume to:

Funshine.CDC.Mundare@gmail.com

HELP WANTED

LAMONT COUNTY HOUSING FOUNDATION LODGE MANAGER

Lamont County Housing Foundation (LCHF) invites applications from suitably qualified persons for the position of a Lodge Manager at the Beaverhill Pioneer Lodge in Lamont Alberta.

The ideal candidate must have completed Post Secondary Education in Management, Human Resources, Finance &/or the ASCHA/Red Deer College Site Manager Certificate Program and must have a passion and interest in working with Seniors.

A suitable combination of education and experience will also be considered.

LCHF offers a competitive remuneration and benefits package.

The Manager is accountable to the Chief Administration Officer (CAO) and will be responsible for all aspects of day-to-day operations of the Lodge and the Self-Contained Units. For detailed description of this position, visit our Website: www.lamontchf.ca

For application: Email your resume and a cover letter to info@lamontchf.ca Or mail to: Lamont County Housing Foundation PO Box 479, 5216 53rd Street Lamont AB T0B 2R0

Closing date for this position is September 17th, 2021