33,15

VOLUME 07.15

BELUSSO AT MERCEDES BENZ SWIM 2015 PAGE 17

The Alberta Enigma

Seeing the province’s political landscape through the eyes of a Conservative with Scott Cowan- page 6

How Not To Get Fired

By Your Lawyer

I QUIT

Its never an easy road overcoming substance addiction but professional guidance from seasoned pharmacists can help make it better. - page 5

Yes! Your lawyer can fire you but we have tips to make sure it never happens to you. - page 11

Photos by Joan Bateman PHOTO: Joan Bateman - Gainsboro Studio

Cover Models; L-R Lori Livingston, Liga Freimane 1

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THIS ISSUES

CONTENTS Cover Photo: Gainsboro Studio - Joan Bateman

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HEALTH

6

EDITORIAL

I QUIT

Consulting pharmacists talk about the ups and downs of trying to quit a substance addiction. Its never an easy road but professional guidance can make it better - Solution’s Pharmacy

THE ALBERTA ENGMA

An examination of the changing political climate of Canada and the province of Alberta, through the eyes of a Conservative - Scott Cowan

8 FINANCE

‘MILLENIALS’: THINKING ABOUT YOUR MONEY

Professional advice on how to become financially

prudent and secure by BMO expert - Dan Hein

11 LAW HOW NOT TO GET FIRED BY YOUR LAWYER

An insightful piece into the world of a lawyer and

how the sometimes careless navigations through it

by their clients, can create relationship destroying collisions.

SPOTLIGHT MAGAZINE

Photo: Joan Bateman

EDITOR

PHONE

SCOTT COWAN (403) 504-7092

(403) 504-7092 EMAIL

ART DIRECTOR

JOAN BATEMAN

GRAPHICS DIRECTOR

12

POLITICS

..AND THE MORAL OF THE TALE IS.

Brent Dunstan tries to highlight the lessons every voter should learn from the recent poll outings in Alberta and Canada as a whole.

\ 13 OPINION BACK AT WORK STANDING UP FOR ALBERTA

Drew Barnes talks about making a difference in the

political landscapes of Alberta as a elected official.

ABIM OYAD

PHOTOGRAPHY

GAINSBORO STUDIOS

scott-cowan@live.com ADDRESS

377 - 4 Street SE Medicine Hat, AB T1A 0K4 For a complimentary subscription to Spotlight, forward your email to: info@spotlightmagazine.ca

Published and Printed by Spotlight Magazine

Disclaimer: No responsibility can be taken by Spotlight Magazine for any errors or omissions contained herein. Furthermore, responsibility for any losses, damages or distress resulting from adherence to any information made available through this magazine is not the responsibility of Spotlight Magazine. The opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Spotlight Magazine. Comments are welcome.

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“I

I QUIT

quit,” not a phrase we usually associate with a positive mental picture, unless we’re talking about an unhealthy habit like tobacco usage. If you are a smoker, before you flip the page, stay with me here for another minute. The thing you need to know about us at Solutions Pharmacy is that we are not judging you or anyone. Because guess what? We too have habits and behaviours we’d like to change or are working on modifying.

S

o in the course of gathering health information, we may ask if you are a smoker, but don’t worry, you don’t need to defend yourself and you’re not going to receive any lectures or pressures. If you want them you will receive support and unconditional encouragement.

Tobacco Use In Canada; Patterns and Trends 2014 Edition tells us that: “63% of Canadian smokers had seriously considered quitting in the next 6 months, and 29% had considered quitting in the next month….Almost half of smokers (48%) tried to quit in the past year, and many had tried more than once. Quit attempts were more common among males than among females, and among young smokers compared to older smokers.”

So if you are a smoker, we know there is more of a chance that you’re thinking about quitting than not. So we will most likely simply state that the best way to stop smoking is with a combination of medication and support. From there it is up to you. That might be the end of the conversation. If you want more than that, it might be the time to schedule an appointment to chat more about smoking cessation options and support.

Perhaps you would like us to recommend or prescribe pharmaceutical options (nicotine patch, nicotine gum, nicotine inhaler, nicotine lozenge, nicotine spray, bupropion or varenicline).

We can also provide access to smoking cessation resources including smokers’ helplines and websites. Edu-

cating yourself can help you understand what is happening in your body. The Alberta Quits Website does a great job of describing the Nicotine addiction cycle: ● You smoke a cigarette ● Nicotine reaches your brain within 7 to 10 seconds with each puff ● Your craving has been satisfied – dopamine is released in the brain and you experience feelings of pleasure ● The level of nicotine in your system quickly falls after smoking a cigarette ● You start to crave another cigarette (nicotine) ● You think “I want to smoke” and feel restless or anxious without it ● You smoke a cigarette and the cycle starts again If you are thinking of quitting or are in the midst of quitting here are some tips.

If you want more great tips, stop by and we’d be happy to assist.

COPING WITH WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS (Adapted from: RxBriefCase) Withdrawal symptom Suggestion Tenseness/irritability Go for a walk. Take deep breaths. Soak in a warm bath. Meditate. Try yoga.

Have a cup of herbal tea. Use a sauna or hot tub to help you detoxify. Exercise.

Depression

Use positive selftalk.

Speak to a friend or family member.

Seek medical advice if depression is intense or does not go away. Headaches Use mild pain relievers. Drink plenty of water. Relax and rest. Book a massage.

Appetite Changes Follow a well balanced diet. Choose healthy snacks such as fruit or vegetables.

Constipation Drink plenty of fluids. Eat lots of fruit, vegetables and high fibre cereal. Exercise.

Insomnia Avoid beverages containing caffeine before bed. Try relaxation exercises before bed. Use essential oils at bedtime.

Difficulty concentrating Break large projects into smaller tasks.

Take regular breaks.

Cough,Dry Throat & Mouth, Nasal Drip Drink plenty of fluids. Use lozenges.

Use saline nasal spray or a prescription nasal spray if needed.

Dizziness Sit down and rest until it passes.

Can’t make it into the pharmacy? Get support immediately to start your journey:

5

Scott Cowan Scott Cowan Editorial

The Alberta Enigma

A

s we approach another Federal election, most Albertans are recovering from the recent Provincial surprise. I remember clearly NDP Bob Rae being interviewed after he won Ontario. When asked what his next step would be, he answered; “I don’t know, I didn’t think I would win.”

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hey went on to bankrupt the Province in four years. Bob being an optimist became a liberal so he could get a shot at the Prime Minister’s chair. Ever wonder why no one asked, how he could just, “Change?”

After four decades of power, the Conservatives assassinated a full majority, capitulating to the NDP. Many politicians are about power, position, ego, and money.

The evidence was clearly displayed. Most are not, so how did this happen?

to true conservatives.

“Being one,” involves accepting a set of principles and values and voting based on those guidelines. Not because you always have, you vote for the candidate and leader who embody those principles. Evan if the party is called Wildrose. Clearly, the party that walked the walk was not the Conservative (in name) party. I say this as a person who voted PC all my life, as did my ancestors back 250 years of recorded family history.

The majority of Alberta conservatives, I use the word loosely, were not what they claimed to be in practice. Joining the party does not make you a conservative.

Recognizing the gravity of the awesome responsibility of voting, its power, and consequences for apathy, is or was critical

The Premier called an election that if not illegal, was certainly immoral. He enjoyed a massive majority. He had sucker punched the opposition. Half the Wildrose crossed the floor, including their leader. Only a month before, Prentise claimed he’d respect legislated fixed elec-

tion dates. He raised 59 taxes, the biggest grab in budget history. He said they’d bring forward cuts in spending and delivered less than 1% of, “future spending.”

Finally, the Premier told Albertans that if they wanted to see the problem, “look in

Arrogance lost the election. Leadership so consumed with the perception of entitlement, they could not imagine losing. the mirror.”

Well they did, and said adios. Then Prentice childishly quit, because he couldn’t be Premier. Arrogance lost the election.

Leadership so consumed with the perception of entitlement, they could not imagine losing. Conservative voters so mired in the past were unable to distinguish true Wildrose conservatism over 40 years of PC rhetoric and platitude. They rejected a name, a label, the conservative party saying to hell with it, let’s try the NDP. We’ll teach those conservatives a lesson. Well, now we’re seeing the result.

It was the electorate that was negligent, more so than a tired, irreverent party.

But that’s not the whole story. With combined PC and Wildrose votes, there would still be conservative style majority

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BMO Nesbitt Burns

“Millennials” Thinking About Your Money Budgeting – Critical First Step Track your expenses for three months using a cash flow worksheet, then estimate how much you spend and on what. There are many online apps and websites that can help you set-up a budget and monitor spending.

Planning for the Unexpected An emergency fund covers the cost of surprise expenses. 3 to 8 months’ worth of living expenses in your emergency fund is recommended. Put aside a set amount of money on a regular basis – this reduces your need for credit cards, loans or personal savings when unplanned events occur.

The ‘Big 3’ Financial Priorities A recent BMO Wealth Institute Report1 reveals, like your baby boomer parents, Buying a Home, Funding your Kid’s Education and Saving for Retirement are Millenials top three financial priorities.

1. Buying a Home – The real cost of home ownership in Canada has increased significantly since your parents purchased their first home.

In the past 17 years, incomes are up just over 50% (2.6% annually). Yet, according to the Canadian Real Estate Association, average home prices have more than doubled in this same period (5.4% annually)2.

• Tax-Free Savings Accounts (TFSA) provide terrific flexibility – such as saving for your down payment.

Contributions aren’t tax deductible BUT investments grow tax-free and withdrawals are not taxable.

Canadian adults can contribute $10K per year, and unused contribution room is carried forward to be used in any future year. Withdraw funds at any time, for any purpose. So, if 1

8

allows tax-free withdrawals from your RRSP to finance training and education, including postgrad degrees. You may withdraw up to $10K a year, to a maximum of $20K. LLP withdrawals must be repaid to your RRSP within 10 years.

– HBP and LLP may look attractive – but the opportunity cost to your RRSP is the growth potential of the loan amount and the compound income it would earn over time.

The younger you are, the greater the loss to your RRSP. Also, repaying the funds with regular annual amounts may prove difficult to manage.

you withdraw $25K from your TFSA in June for a down payment on a house, starting the following year you can re-contribute that $25K in addition to your $10K annual limit.

2. Education Funding - Take advantage of the Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) to help cover the cost of your kid’s post-secondary education.

RESP contributions aren’t tax deductible, but investments grow taxdeferred and are eligible for Canada Education Savings Grant (CESG) from the federal government. You can contribute a maximum of $50,000 per child, and each child may qualify for up to $7,200 in CESGs. Withdrawn funds are taxed in your child’s hands.

3. Retirement - RRSP contributions are tax deductible and grow taxdeferred until withdrawal. Your RRSP contribution amount shows on your Notice of Assessment from Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).

• If you contribute $10K each year to your RRSP from age 50 to 65 and earn 6% annually, you would accumulate $246,725. By starting at age 30, your RRSP would be worth $1,181,209 at age 65. The extra $200K plus 20 extra years of compounding creates an extra $934,484!

• 2 federal programs may allow you to make tax-free withdrawals from your RRSP before retirement

If your cash flow is insufficient to maximize both your RRSP and TFSA contributions, discuss the choice with your trusted Wealth Advisor how to best achieve your goals.

It’s never too early for a financial plan Balancing saving priorities while paying for everyday living expenses and establishing an emergency fund may seem overwhelming, but by starting early and developing a financial plan that addresses your unique needs and goals, it will ensure you live comfortably, provide your children with the opportunity for a great education and enjoy your retirement.

Lets Connect:

– The “Home Buyers’ Plan” (HBP) allows you to withdraw up to $25K tax-free from your RRSP to purchase or build. First-time home buyers qualify as defined by CRA, and RRSP funds must be repaid over a 15-year period.

– “Lifelong Learning Plan” (LLP)

Wealth Generation: The Financial Challenges for Generations X&Y, BMO Wealth Institute, Jan 2014,

2

Dan Hein, BRE Investment Advisor BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc. 606 2nd St SE Medicine Hat, AB T1A 0C9

403-528-6771 Dan.Hein@nbpcd.com www.bmo.com/nesbittburns

Carrick, Rob - Why Canadian homes are more unaffordable than ever. Globe & Mail, Nov 25, 2013

BMO Wealth Management is the brand name for a business group consisting of Bank of Montreal and certain of its affiliates, including BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc., in providing wealth management products and services. “BMO (M-bar Roundel symbol)” is a registered trade-mark of Bank of Montreal, used under licence. “Nesbitt Burns” is a registered trade-mark of BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc. BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bank of Montreal. If you are already a client of BMO Nesbitt Burns, please contact your Investment Advisor for more information. The comments included in this publication are not intended to be a definitive analysis of tax applicability or trust and estate law. The comments contained herein are general in nature and professional advice regarding an individual’s particular tax position should be obtained in respect of any person’s specific circumstances.

Member-Canadian Investor Protection Fund and Member of the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada

Scott Cowan Continued from page 6

The Alberta Enigma

governance in Alberta. We need to define what’s Conservative, and do we want it at all? The Wildrose and PC need to decide if they want to win, or allow the NDP to strangle Alberta as they did Ontario. After the NDP castrates the oil companies and pays off unions Alberta will say, well let’s try the Liberals. They can’t be worse. I point to the Premier of Ontario for that explanation.

I call on the Wildrose and PC’s to work out a compromise. Unite the right before the next election. The riding association’s closets have been swept clean. There is no arrogant leadership or whipped backbenchers left to ignore you anymore. The grass roots can speak again! Nominate responsive listening candidates. Now show us if you are really conservative or something else. Nominate free enterprise capitalist tax saving budget minded business loving profit motivated defenders of freedom.

Those principles define conservative.

The LIB /NDP stand for basically the same thing. Government

Can you imagine baby Justin staring down Putin over his hostile takeover in the Ukraine? Harper famously told Putin, “I’ll shake your hand, but I only have one thing to say. Get out of the Ukraine.”

Trudeau would probably ask for a selfie, and an autograph. should be in charge of basically everything. The unions should be overly compensated and protected while adding civil servants to government. Business should be ever more regulated and taxed. Electricity should be constantly increased to subsidize expensive unsustainable green power. We should implement carbon taxes because pipelines and oil companies are evil.

Increase the rich’s fair share, every election. True, some of these comments are simplistic, but in the big picture frightfully accurate. Remember only the demonized rich open businesses and employ people.

Every government worker is paid for by the taxes of those profit hungry companies.

The great Winston Churchill said, “Socialism is the velvet glove covering the iron fist of communism.”

Now let’s look at Justin Trudeau. He says Harper’s bad. We should get along with the most Liberal USA President in history. We need a carbon tax and the USA would build Keystone pipeline. Remember Justin’s daddy, and his National Energy Continued on page 10

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Scott Cowan Continued from page 9

The Alberta Enigma

Policy? That’s exactly what the son is proposing. He claims a special affection for China, because he admires their basic dictatorship. Is that what you want in Canada? He cozies up to the Muslim community because of their votes, even visiting mosques that promote radical Islam in Canada (according to Canadian Intelligence Agencies). Can you imagine baby Justin staring down Putin over his hostile takeover in the Ukraine? Harper famously told Putin, “I’ll shake your hand, but I only have one thing to say. Get out of the Ukraine.”

Trudeau would probably ask for a selfie, and an autograph.

He forces all candidates to vote pro choice or be thrown out of the party. If his last name was not Trudeau, would even the liberals nominate an out of work substitute drama teacher?

Don’t be a “Sheeple,” following the crowd. Exercise wisely the greatest privilege in the world, your vote.

He’s never run a business, paid employees, or gained success of any kind. He lives wealthy off a trust fund. Trudeau says, ISIS shouldn’t be fought, even when they drown prisoners in cages, blow them up in cars by RPG, and put bombs around their necks. All documented and celebrated on the internet.

Recall our CF-18 jets.

The federal NDP would spend us into a category of say, Greece economically. Lib/NDP want day care, and racial reparations, green everything, expand social services, and keep voters broke and dependant. Don’t be fooled.

For all of the Prime Minister’s faults there is a reason Canada has the lowest tax rates, one of the most stable economies, is respected worldwide, fights terrorism, is one of Israel’s best friend, and tough on crime at home. Stephen Harper!

Since he’s been in charge the ice caps have not melted, New York isn’t under water, nor have millions died from global warming, as predicted by liberals for 2015. Truthfully, our oil sands are world leaders in environmentally friendly oil production.

You don’t vote for any change for change sake. You vote to remove problems. Don’t be a “Sheeple,” following the crowd.

Exercise wisely the greatest privilege in the world, your vote.

Comments scott-cowan@live.com

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How Not To Get Fired

By Your Lawyer

he title is a bit extreme, something better would probably have been, “how to keep a good relationship with your lawyer.” But I wanted an attention grabber. In the 16 years I’ve been out of law school practicing divorce and family law, and litigation, I can probably still count on both hands the number of clients I have had to fire.

w

I

’m very mindful of my duty to the public and to my clients. But lawyers are still human beings. In any locale, when you get down to lawyers that practice exclusively in the areas that I have significant experience and expertise, you always end up with a small subset very sought after. Thus we get pretty busy. You spend time and money getting your lawyer to know your situation. It’s always easier to represent someone when there is mutual trust and understanding. Here’s a couple ways to help that along.

Don’t blame your lawyer for the state of the legal system. There are some things in the law that just don’t seem fair.

In divorce and family law that happens a lot. But turning your lawyer angrily and saying, “I had that asset before the marriage! Now I have to split it just because I put it in joint names ?!?! How can that be right? Why does the system allow that?” That’s like turning to a basketball coach and demanding to know why the three point line is... where it is. It just is. I don’t make the rules. It’s just my job to communicate what they are, and help a client make an informed decision. I don’t mind explaining the history or rationale behind things occasionally. But at a certain point clients waste legal fees by having me teach history lessons rather than advance their case. Believe me, if I could, I would change a lot of things.

It’s only human nature because lawyers are the entry or contact point for the legal system. Directing frustration and anger towards them is really pointless.

That leads me to my next observation.

Don’t use your lawyer as your punching bag for your frustration. After years of divorce and litigation practice, I’ve developed pretty thick skin. I know that I’m always going to soak up some of a person’s frustration, and I don’t mind.

With the areas of law I practise, clients aren’t coming to me because of a happy event, or because they’re at a high point in their life. Usually I talk about what is going on, hear a person’s frustration with the situation. Then in order to help them, I need to move to the strategy of making the situation better. Again, I get that a person is angry, that they have been treated so unfairly that they even need a lawyer in the first place. But I ask that people remember the lawyer is hopefully the solution to the problem, not the problem. We don’t get angry at the dentist because of a cavity. Or curse a mechanic because of a blown transmission. There are sometimes that I have to remind a person, I’m not the one who wronged them.

Try to make appointments before coming into your lawyer’s office.

Firstly, a lawyer that practices in the areas that I do, I’m often not in the office.

Rather, I’m in court or in a questioning.

Continued on page 14

Secondly, there’re a lot of tasks I perform such as drafting an affidavit, or a statement of claim, or researching an issue. These require a couple of hours of straight concentration. With every unscheduled interruption, it becomes almost like starting over. If a lawyer had sixty clients and each person dropped in and needed “just ten minutes.” That would equate to 600 minutes, ten hours, more than the full work day. I encourage people to just call or come in when there is an emergency. Otherwise, it actually slows down my ability to com-

11

Brent Dunstan Brent Dunstan Columnist

...And the Moral of the Tale is...

O

nce upon a time, there was a man named Preston. He was raised in a politically active family; his father even held the office of Premier of Alberta. (I shared this detail in case you might be unsure as to which Preston I am referring.)

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lmost 30 years ago, Preston, along with several others, looked upon the Federal Progressive Conservative Party with concern. They felt that the PC’s had lost their way and had strayed from their conservative roots - too heavy on progressive, too light on conservative. Power had jaded the PC’s, and there was, at least in Preston’s circles, a feeling that the ruling PC’s had a certain sense of entitlement, and were out of touch with the people.

Their course of action (they, being Preston and his cohorts), was to form a new political party, a solid small “c” conservative party, a grass roots, populist, one member, one vote kind of party. A par-

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ty that disenchanted social and fiscal that neither the Reform or PC’s could conservatives could get behind kind agree with was elected. More than once. of party. And Preston was their leader.

Now Preston, being a pretty bright guy Well, they didn’t do all that well at first, but (and possessing the ability to do basic subsequent elections saw this new party math) quickly concluded that if the peodo better, eventually having more seats ple who voted PC, and the people who than the old PC party, after a stunning voted Reform, all voted for the same fall from power on the PC’s part. How- candidates, they had a shot at winning ever, their base of support was somewhat elections, instead of allowing other parregional, and never really took hold in ties to run up the middle. So he began other parts. (If you see a more than vague to support the idea of a united alternaresemblance to the current state of polit- tive for right leaning voters. As leader, ical affairs in Aberta, you’re beginning he was partially successful in uniting to pick up where I’m headed.) Howev- the right under the banner of the newer, an entirely unintended circumstance ly named Canadian Alliance Party, resulted from there being two “conser- but ultimately he lost the leadership vative” options on the ballot - a party of the party he founded. It wasn’t until after Preston retired from federal politics that the PC and Alliance Parties finally merged as a single Conservative Party of Canada. And a funny thing happened. Preston’s math was proven right; it wasn’t too long and Conservatives started winning elections again.

Albert Einstein said that insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. George Santayana said that those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it. Churchill often paraphrased Santayana’s quote as “Those who fail to learn from history are destined to repeat it.” If ideological conservatives in Alberta failed to see the results of the recent provincial election Continued on page 15

Drew Barnes 403-528-2191

MLA for Cypress-Medicine Hat. cypress.medicinehat@assembly.ab.ca

W

Back At Work Standing Up for Alberta

ildrose is back at work in the legislature, standing up for Alberta jobs, growth and economic prosperity. The Wildrose Official Opposition caucus was sworn into the legislature on June 1. This was a very proud moment for myself, my colleagues and our families, but it was also a very proud moment for our supporters across the province, who worked tirelessly to make this day possible.

We know our job is to hold the new government to account and fight for what matters most to Alberta families, and that’s exactly what we’re going to do. Albertans trusted Wildrose to ensure the NDP doesn’t have a blank cheque, and this is a trust we take very seriously.

Our top priority is to build a strong integrated economy where we respect Albertans, remembering that the people of this province are the economic engine. Albertans have worked earnestly to provide for their families and spur growth in our economy. It is time to respect their hard earned taxpaying dollars and build our savings instead of increasing our debt.

It is time to create jobs thru less government interference and less taxation. It’s time to get the Alberta Advantage back!

We’ve managed to guide the NDP into enhancing Alberta’s democracy.

Our caucus supports a proposed bill to ban corporate and union donations from Alberta provincial politics. This is a core Wildrose idea, and we’re glad to see the NDP adopt it. We think the bill could be even stronger yet, and we will be presenting our ideas in debate shortly.

While we’ve made progress on the democracy file, we have many concerns regarding early NDP spending.

The NDP just passed a ‘mini-budget’ worth $18 billion. We asked about how much revenue the province hopes to take in and how much debt it plans to borrow, but we never got an answer. The money was passed after the NDP restricted debate to only three hours. We are hoping in the coming weeks the NDP will be more open and transparent about the state of Alberta’s finances.

We’re trying to help the government make the right decisions for our energy industry, which is struggling under the weight of low oil prices right now, but we have many concerns on this file too.

The government has shown a disinterest in advocating for pipelines going in all directions outside of Alberta. They just hired one of North America’s leading anti-pipeline activists to run the Energy Ministry. And they’re pressing ahead with a royalty review that is already causing investment to leave the province in a bad re-run of 2007.

edly the safest means of transporting oil.

We’ve had an extremely productive first week in the legislature, and we’re looking forward to finishing strong, but we have a lot of work ahead of us. We will continue to oppose bad NDP decision on the economy and propose positive solutions.

Through hard work, determination and commitment to our core Wildrose values principles, we will be a dynamic and effective Official Opposition.

Drew Barnes is the MLA for Cypress-Medicine Hat. You can follow him on facebook, twitter, email him at cypress.medicinehat@assembly.ab.ca, or call 403-528-2191.

We asked the NDP some tough questions on these issues in the legislature. We don’t support their plan to bring in a royalty review for industry, especially when the province is teetering on the brink of recession. We support safe pipeline infrastructure to get Alberta’s energy products to market and we will fight for pipelines in every direction because they are undoubt-

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Continued from page 11

How Not To Get Fired

By Your Lawyer plete tasks for clients. It makes everyone’s case take more time. We would never walk into our dentist or doctor’s office and expect to be seen right away. We would never walk into an operating room and interrupt a surgeon with a question. I may not have someone unconscious on a table in front of me with their abdomen open. But when I am drafting a ten page affidavit and have a person’s life history in paper spread out on a table in front of me, it takes my full concentration to do the best job I can.

Don’t ask your lawyer to engage in sharp practice.

There are rules that govern our profession, and one is that we are not to engage in sharp practice against another lawyer. Part of which is not being difficult purely for the sake of being difficult. A common example is agreeing to adjournments in court. I may bring a court application for a client, and serve their former spouse. Maybe I file the application on June 11, they get served on June 12, and the application goes to court the first time on June 25. I get a call on June 18 from another lawyer, who says that they have just been hired by the spouse that I served. They need an adjournment of two weeks to make a response. Unless the subject matter of the application is extremely urgent, for example say a child has been taken for an access visit and not returned. I am expected by my governing body and the court to just agree to a reasonable adjournment. This is not as a result of lawyers being buddies with one another, or any kind of deal, or a lawyer not being “aggressive enough.” I have seen many times that a junior lawyer just out of law school has refused reasonable requests like this, and been humiliated in court by a judge scolding them right after granting the request anyway. We are expected to explain to our clients, look it took a week for your ex to get a lawyer.

Then it takes that lawyer some time to read the application I served. That other lawyer has a practice and a schedule to keep just like myself. It may take a few days for that lawyer to have the chance to draft a response. Then their client has to read the response and corrections have to be made.

Then hopefully I’m going to get the response and I can read it before court. I don’t like delays either, but a two week adjournment the first time our application is in court is not unreasonable. If I don’t consent the judge will just grant it anyway. Part of this is hiring a lawyer that you trust. Then trusting that they are going to advance your case properly, and that they won’t agree to delays or other things unless strictly necessary. Trusting your lawyer to do this saves you time and money, because the lawyer isn’t in court opposing reasonable requests that are going to be granted anyway.

Don’t ask a question unless you can handle the an-

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w

swer. One of my core beliefs in terms of my duty to a client is to give honest, forthright, un-sugar-coated answers to questions and issues. I am not being paid to be a “yes-man.” It’s wrong for me to let a client go ahead with action and let them think they have a likelihood of success that they don’t. If a client asks me about taking a course of action or making a claim, I believe I have a responsibility to them to tell them what my true opinion is as a legal professional. As to the validity and chance of success of that action or claim. Sometimes that honest opinion is the course of action a client wants to take has little or no chance of success. Sometimes my opinion is there may be a chance of success, but the time and costs involved outweigh the value of taking the action. I try to convey my thoughts in a way that is empathetic and explain the reasons why I’m giving that opinion. But I cannot in good conscience let a client think that the action requested is assured of success if in fact there is little chance of prevailing. That doesn’t mean I won’t necessarily take the action or make the claim for the client. But I have a responsibility to make sure the client understands the chances of success, and that the decision is an informed one.

Brent Dunstan ...And the Moral of the Tale is...

Continued from page 12

coming, they can’t blame Albert, George, and Winston for not warning them. The parallels with what took place with the political right on the federal political stage are eerily similar. The shift on the part of the PC party toward the political center.

The formation of a new political party by disenchanted social and fiscal conservatives. Leadership changes on the part of the PC’s. An evident anti-incumbency sentiment among voters.

Votes split between two right of center parties. The election results were all too predictable. If you don’t agree, with all due respect to Preston’s math, I offer some numbers of my own.

28. - The number of ridings in the recent Alberta Provincial Election where the combined PC & Wildrose votes would have altered the result. Which means 28 NDP MLAs owe their seat in the Legislature, and their MLA salary, to the coexistence of the PC and Wildrose Parties.

59 - The number of seats a combined Conservative Party would have won, based on combining the votes cast for the PC and Wildrose candidates in each riding, as if they were one candidate, under one banner.

26 - The number of seats the NDP would have won, based in the same combining.

4 - The number of NDP seats won out side of the Greater Edmonton area, in this scenario.

2 - The number of NDP seats won in Calgary, in this

scenario.

1 - The margin of victory in Calgary Varsity by the

NDP candidate, in this scenario.

The obvious criticism of these numbers is that it’s too simplistic to conclude that every vote cast for either the Wildrose or the PCs would automatically fall to a combined party. I would answer such criticism this way; it’s difficult to conclude that any Wildrose votes would land elsewhere other than the Conservative Party of Alberta (to float a name out there, using the precedent set federally). Given the palpable anti-incumbent sentiment in this past election, particularly toward the PCs, any votes cast for the PC candidates were cast by tried and true Tories, and pretty certain to be retained. Any votes that might bleed to the left would likely be replaced by votes cast elsewhere as a means of protest expressed toward the past PC government. Another indication that these numbers are pretty safe; in the vast majority of cases, the margins of victory would be substantial - in the thousands of votes in most ridings, either way.

If history has taught the political right how elections are lost, history can also teach conservatives how elections are won again. Peter MacKay, in the remarks he made during his recent retirement announcement said that uniting conservatives “restored competitive democracy” in Canada. If Progressive Conservatives and Wildrose Party members in Alberta aren’t sure what the next step should be, go ask Preston. I’m sure he can explain it to them, so that they can all live happily ever after.

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Belusso at

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ercedes Benz Miami Fashion Week Swim,� is the epicenter for swim wear fashion. Emerging and seasoned designers compete for the adoration of invited guests, and the buyer, manufacturers. The Raleigh Hotel and its beautiful pool area and beach host this all star event.

Models grace the runway wearing the latest creations. The audience is struck by the sheer magnitude of diversity in fabric as miniscule as a bikini.

Our featured designer Kirsten Ehrig-Sarkisian of Belusso, found her inspiration by scattering feathers all over her ofPhotos by Gainsboro Studio

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Photos by Gainsboro Studio

fice as she solidified the designs. She featured extensive sailor’s knots and tassels in her creations. The swim wear shimmered with the appearance of oil on the water.

The brand “Belusso,” originates from the two words beautiful luxury. Nothing could better describe this brand and the final product models showcased on the runway.

It is hard to say one line is superior to another. However, if there was only one show I could attend this year it would be “Belusso.”

-Spotlight Editor, ScottCowan

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Left, Kirsten Ehrig-Sarkisian of Belusso, the lead designer of the collection, makes an entrance.

Photos by Gainsboro Studio

Various fabulous models displaying the Belusso collection.

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Spotli g ht is Cutti n g Ed g e.

The eclectic mix of editorial enhances our demographic. People read us because they love and appreciate our tell-it-as-it-is content. Medical, financial, celebrity interviews, we cover it all.

We are excited to unveil our next transformation. We have partnered with a TV Station with 24 hour live programming, streaming Canada wide with a huge presence in Alberta. Our links are featured prominently on the main page and throughout their programming which increases visibility to 1.2 million impressions per week.

What’s incredible is; with Spotlight, you now have TV, Web, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram exposure. No other magazine can offer millions in distribution and affordability for emerging companies as well as the giants.

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VOLUME 7.14

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Talks with Spotlight page 28

NOTES FROM N’KENGE: Tony Nomine

page 14

CHARL BROWN

SPOTLIGHT COVERS

The Tony Awards in

NEW YORK CITY page 22

spotlightmagazine.ca Cover photo Joan Bateman / Gainsboro Studio

What People are Saying about Spotlight Magazine We’ve heard directly and indirectly from a growing chorus of our readers. Not only is Spotlight great for our business, it turns out our column is engaging and useful for others. Many new customers we previously had not met. We applaud Scott and his team for ongoing format improvements and increased distribution - great job! Shine on Spotlight!!!

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BELUSSO RESORT 2015 AT MERCEDES BENZ 24