Metro Edmonton - January 23, 2009

57.8 MB·English

by  Metro International

TORIES TAB BUDGET DEFICIT AT $64B, PG 6
Celebrity Buzz
Police
look into
Travolta
extortion
EDMONTON • WEEKEND, JANUARY 23-25, 2009 metronews.ca pg 22
Cops say Lack of
EPSTrue colours
there’s a link
BEN appeal
in two deaths LEM
PH
CwReIMreE gTuwnon epde odpolwe nw hino two ERS/FOR M upsets
neighbourhoods in the ETRO
city’s southwest overnight ED
M
Wed nesday knew each ON parents
other though a drug con- TO
N
nection, city cops said
Thursday.
Cody Lee Johnson, 29,
was identified as the city’s VICTORIA HANDYSIDES
first homicide victim of the [email protected]
year after he was found in
an Escalade that crashed in- COURTSJosh Hunt’s
to a house near 156 Street bereaved parents say the
and 77 Avenue late Tuesday decision not to appeal his
night. killer’s acquittal is like
Fernando Alberto watching their son lay mo-
Vasquez, 24, was found tionless in a hospital bed all
dead in the middle of a over again.
road in McAllister Loop on “It’s very, very difficult,”
Wednesday morning, about said Gary Hunt. “It’s like
45 minutes after Johnson’s Sgt. Chad Tawfik, left, and Const. Tony Golab display new colours after the EPS Presentation of Colours ceremony at city hall on Josh died again, to us.”
death. Detectives believe Thursday morning. The colours honour the memory of police officers who have been killed in the line of duty.Story, pg 4 Following a thorough re-
both cases are linked, but view of the Dec. 17
no arrests have been made. A tale of two cities decision, the Crown decid-
The investigations con - ed it would not appeal the
tinue, police said. ruling that determined a
METRO EDMONTON then-teenage boy killed the
16-year-old Hunt in self-de-
fence.
The 81stAnnual In a written decision, Jus-
tice Terry Clackson stated
Academy
Calgary and Edmonton seem to differ on violent crimes that the accused, who can-
Awards not be named, lawfully
used the knife against
• Button, missing people who just Hunt, to “prevent an
Slumdog lead KRISTA SYLVESTER Gang problems haven’t been found.” assault or the repetition of
Metro Canada Cathy Prowse, a Univer- it.” Hunt and another teen
way, page 14
(cid:129) Both crime experts agree monton’s increasing — are on sity of Calgary crime ex- were in an altercation with
• Quotes,
A man pretending to be a the gang problems — with the forefront of the cities’ pert, said one possible rea- the accused in the
page 14
woman on the Internet al- Calgary’s surging now and Ed- crime trends. son for the difference in accused’s home, following
• Rick legedly lures a middle- the types of murders be- a party on Oct. 14, 2006.
McGinnis, aged man to his garage gary tends to have a lot of imitating life, but those tween the two cities could Though Gary and Patricia
page 20 before killing him, imitat- shootings, but Edmonton types are so statistically be that Edmonton has Hunt wrote a letter to Pre-
ing a screenplay he wrote. has had quite a few head- rare,” Pitt said. more transients. mier Ed Stelmach and
Music pg 19 If it sounds like the line-stealing ones — like But what about the se- “I’m not suggesting tran- pleaded with the Crown to
scene from a movie, that’s Twitchell and Thomas ries of missing prostitutes sient people commit the appeal, the decision will
Alan Cross’ because it practically is. Svekla, the man who was found dead and the four crimes, but having more stand.
But this is what allegedly found guilty of killing two men charged with cutting transients means people “We’re very shocked. It’s
Sound Check happened in Edmonton prostitutes. a man into pieces in a can go missing and people a sad day, not just for us,
when 29-year-old Mark Edmonton criminologist bloody apartment? won’t notice right away,” but for all Canadians,” Gary
Twitchell was charged in Bill Pitt acknowledges a “People cutting up bod- Prowse said. Hunt said, expressing his
Sports pg 12 the disappearance and mixture of bizarre inci- ies, well that happens in And Pitt agreed, adding, disappointment in the jus-
murder of a man police say dents last year, but insists every city everywhere and “Calgary has more white- tice system.
Two girls, he lured to his garage to even in Edmonton, they Calgary is no different. collar, head-office type,
kill. are unusual. These guys just got sloppy and Edmonton has more ShareYourViews
one dream While both cities boast “The film director was a and got caught,” Pitt blue-collar, labour-work-
their share of crime, Cal- case of life imitating art added. “Calgary has a lot of ing type.” [email protected]
NEW FINANCING
Starting at
490 $0 $0 0% FREE Consultation
$
780-702-2020
Down Payments Interest
LASER VISION CORRECTION /eye* UNTIL JANUARY 2010†
* Prices are subject to change without prior notice. Prices vary based on prescription EDMONTON:
strength. Applicable to surgery on both eyes only. † Subject to Desjardins Card Edmonton City Center Mall, 10200 - 102 Avenue, Suite C107 Dr. Richard Leger
Services credit approval. No payments, no interest until January 2010.
MD, FRCSC
Halifax | Montréal | Toronto | Winnipeg | Calgary | Vancouver www.lasikmd.com 40 000 procedures
Free Daily News Group Inc., operating as Metro Edmonton. 10123 - 99 Street NW Edmonton, Alberta T5J 3H1. Publisher: Steve Shrout
metro metronews.ca
Weekend, January 23-25, 2009
2 Woman dies in Highway 21 collision
A 25-year-old woman is dead following a collision on Highway 21 on Thursday morning. The 2007 Nissan Versa the victim was driving crossed the
centre line, and collided with a northbound Lexus and a Chevrolet pickup truck. The name of the victim was not released. METRO EDMONTON
EPCOR to buy treatment plant
Local
The city will go ahead with plans to sell its Gold Bar Wastewater Treatment
Plant to EPCOR after a 7-6 vote Wednesday night. The city will be selling the
plant to EPCOR for about $190 million that will be collected over the next 10
years, including a $75-million transfer fee and dividend payments.
METRO EDMONTON
Third man charged Youth smoking down, BEN
in Nov. murder LEM
PH
HOMICIDE After spitting on ERS/FO
the ground in Calgary on but not enough: Group R M
Wednesday, a man found ETRO
himself in cuffs, slapped ED
with a second-degree mur- MO
N
der charge in relation to the TO
N
death of an Edmonton man.
Get rid of flavoured cigarettes, raise taxes, ASH says
Joseph Sunchild Lagrelle,
Bryce Gruwell, a cast member,
23, is the third person to be
leads young Edmonton skaters.
arrested in connection with
the death of 22-year-old DA High School
A
Quentin L’hirondelle. KRISTA SYLVESTER AN
to Ld’heairtohn adte al ldeo wwanst sotwabnbed Metro Canada METRO C Musical on ice
hoAu s2e2 p-yaeratyr- oolnd N moavn. 8 a.nd a Dtinesgp aitne a slml-toimkien glo rwat iens Ahli-t- NISKI/FOR ShHaOdW toT IsMkEip T shcohuogohl ttoh edyo it,
21-year-old man were also bertans over 15 years old, N KU a few area kids got the
charged following the there is still concern over OBI thrill of a lifetime yester-
homicide. METRO EDMONTON youth smoking, according R day morning, taking to the
to a provincial anti-smok- ice with stars of their
ing organization. favourite Disney
A national study released production.
by Health Canada on Mon- The cast of High School
WHAT’S ONLINE TODAY day showed that 19 per Musical: The Ice Tour glid-
cent of Albertans over 15 ed on the ice at West
VideoPeter Lougheed takes were smokers during the Edmonton Mall’s Ice
recent Alberta governments first half of 2008, marking Palace with mini-figure
to task at metronews.ca the first time statistics in skaters, showing them the
/canada Alberta reached under 20 tricks of the trade.
VideoLog Driver’s Waltz per cent. Smoking is at an all-time low in people aged 15 and up, but some anti-smoking groups say they’re Nine-year-old Madison
among short films National But Action on Smoking still concerned with the number of teens lighting up. Moore could barely sit still
Film Board of Canada makes and Health Calgary while waiting for her turn
available online at spokesperson Robyn calling for another tax hike to skate with the stars.
metronews.ca/canada Hauck said they are still on smokes. Comparisons “I really like their songs
VideoVancouver Taser concerned about the num- According to 2007 Health and skating is really fun,”
inquiry hears from victim’s ber of teens smoking. Canada statistics, 20 per (cid:129) Alberta’s smoking rate is Less than one in five Albertans she said.
mother at “Smoking rates among cent of Alberta teens 15 to slightly higher than the nation- are current smokers, com- Star of the show, 19-
metronews Alberta teens remain dis- 19 were current smokers. al rate of 18 per cent for Cana- pared to one in three 20 years year-old Brittany Heath,
.ca/canada turbingly high despite the ASH Edmonton spokes- dians aged 15 years and over. ago, according to the ASH. said: “Skating has always
gains that have been made person Karlee Stevens been my passion. This job
in reducing tobacco use called for an outright ban doesn’t feel like a real job.”
among adults,” said Hauck, on flavoured cigarettes to aging. They look like lip “I didn’t even start smok- The show runs this week-
drastically reduce that num- gloss and youth are more ing until just a year ago. I al- end at Rexall Place. Tickets
ber. prone to try them and get ways said I never would, but are available through Tick-
MRL CAPITAL TRUST “They are absolutely hooked,” she added. I caved in to peer pressure,” etmaster from $20 to $55.
geared towards youth be- But 15-year-old Michelle, the teen said, who didn’t VICTORIA HANDYSIDES
Invest in the Canadian and cause of the taste and pack- of Calgary, agrees. want to use her last name. /METRO EDMONTON
U.S. Real Estate Markets
Minimun Investment $1,000.00
R.S.P Eligible
Tax Free Savings Account Eligible
GCORMOPUAPNIOEFS In Non-leveraged Investments
Bringing You to the Front Line
of Real Estate Investment
From The Comfort Of Your Armchair
Agent Inquiries Welcome
“In both Chinese & Japanese, “CRISIS”
is written with two symbols, the first
meaning “DANGER” the second
“OPPORTUNITY.”
For information and seminar registration call
877-399-8886 or go to www.mrlcompanies.com
EDMONTON
CENTRAL
10176 109 St.
[phone]
12302 Stony Plain Rd.
[phone]
Westgrove Shopping Centre HOT SMARTPHONES FOR
14822 Stony Plain Rd.
[phone]
Edmonton City Centre
10200 102 Ave.
[phone]
EAST HOT SMART PEOPLE
Capilano Mall , .
[phone]
6839 83 St. (Argyll Rd.)
[phone]
SOUTH
65M5i8ll w6208o3 (oA71d8 vGs0e a)M. t(4eba4wiy0n -aT 2Syi8mt rB1e 2lHevdto .rMtoanlls) N E S T BLACKBER
[phone] N R
Southgate Centre HI Y
[phone] C
Southgate Centre T U
[phone] R
South Edmonton Common V
[phone]
E
3120 Parsons Rd.
(977810N5) O1730R72T -HA60ve01. B L A CKBERRY
(780)W 4E5S6T-5339 AR FIRST B
West Edmonton Mall Phase I L
(lower level near L A
Galaxy Land entrance) U C
[phone] P K
West Edmonton Mall Phase II O BE
WWeset sEt dE(bm(db(y(m7o7 yL88n oos00tnkon))a t nd44ot o41inMn33n g-M- a93D lr80alri,5n4l ulC50 kgPh)shi)naaseto IwIIn BFF P TOOSOLLCCUZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBLLLMMMMMMMM OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL BBRRBBBBBT AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK RRLYF
(next t(o718 0T00&)1 T34 8S137u-0p8 e8Srt3m.8arket) LLOOLL M PIRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLOFF
Ma(7y8fi0e)l d4 0C8o-8m9m17on MMMMMAAAOOO L
10608 170 St.
[phone]
GRANDE PRAIRIE
Prairie Mall
[phone]
Gateway Power Centre BBFF
11020 100 Ave.
[phone] U
FT. MCMURRAY C
Peter Pond Mall
[phone]
LEDUC
6104 50 St.
[phone]
RED DEER
Southpointe Common
[phone]
Bower Place
[phone]
ST. ALBERT
Inglewood Town Centre
[phone] UNOWN GETLIMITED
740 St. Albert Rd.
[phone]
SHERWOOD PARK
993 Fir St.
[phone]
SPRUCE GROVE
#112( 718803) H96ig2h-3w9a8y0 16A TXT, EMAIL & IM*
EDMONTON ONLY FOR A LIMITED TIME
Kingsway Garden Mall
[phone]
Londonderry Mall
[phone]
Northgate Mall
[phone]
Bonnie Doon Mall
[phone]
Millwoods Town Centre
[phone]
North Town Mall
[phone]
10660 82 Ave.
[phone]
7629 38 Ave., PO Box 199
[phone]
11204 Jasper Ave.
[phone]
6570 28 Ave. NW
[phone]
Jasper Gates Shopping Centre
[phone]
Heritage Village Shopping Centre
[phone]
Clareview Towne Centre
[phone] EXCLUSIVELY FROM ROGERS
Trail South Corners
[phone]
Lakeside Landing Shopping Centre ALL NEW
[phone] BLACKBERRY® CURVETM 8320 BLACKBERRY® CURVETM 8900 BLACKBERRY® PEARLTM FLIP 8220
5818 Terrace Rd. NW
[phone] • Full keyboard • 3.2 MP camera with video capture • Easy SureType® keyboard
FT. MCMURRAY • Built in Wi-Fi • Thinnest full QWERTY BlackBerry • Available in black or pink
Thickwood Shopping Plaza • Integrated camera and media player • Built-in GPS and Wi-Fi (TalkSpotTM enabled)
[phone]
Northern Lights Shopping Centre
[phone] $9999† $19999† $4999†
RED DEER $54999 $59999 $39999
Parkland Mall
no term no term no term
[phone]
Village Mall
[phone]
GRAND PRAIRIE
9521 100 St. rogers.com/unlimited
[phone]
SHERWOOD PARK
Sherwood Park Mall CANADA’S MOST RELIABLE NETWORK;
[phone]
Lakeland Ridge Shopping Centre FEWEST DROPPED CALLS, CLEAREST RECEPTION
[phone]
Sherwood Centre
[phone]
SPRUCE GROVE
Grove Plaza
[phone]
ST. ALBERT
St. Albert Centre
[phone] †On select 3-year plans. Offers subject to change without notice. *Available with any BlackBerry device with subscription to select plans and activation with BlackBerry Internet Service. Includes unlimited personal e-mail (up to 10 accounts) while using BlackBerry on the Rogers Wireless
Inglewood Centre network. See rogers.com/unlimited for plans and details. Usage subject to Rogers Terms of Service & Acceptable Use Policy available at rogers.com/terms.
[phone] TMRogers & Mobius Design are trademarks of Rogers Communications Inc. used under license. All other brand names and logos are trademarks of their respective owners. © 2009 Rogers Wireless.
metro metronews.ca
Weekend, January 23-25, 2009
local
4 Tuque Tuesday coming to West Edmonton Mall
Head to West Edmonton Mall or Jasper Avenue on Feb. 3, and buy a tuque for Tuque Tuesday, an initiative to support chari-
ties combating homelessness. For more information, visit www.homewardtrust.ca/raisingtheroof. METRO EDMONTON
Cancel Indy blank EPS unveils new colours V
ICTO
cheques, says CTF RIA
H
A
N
M nm’Otil NbliEeoY nsTa dadexdbpleta dtyh ewaristt wshh aaos u$ l5led.f3t- JjeEfFf.Fc [email protected] wlwiciiellll bobefef idwcaeorrkr n ibn lb uyteh eewv iestrehyr vepimcoe-- yPeo“alIirtcs e iiCsn h atieh fev M emriyka ek hBiniosgtyo,d r.si aciadl DYSIDES/M
by last summer’s Rexall In- broidered wild roses and very significant ETRO
dy race, says the Canadian Edmonton’s police service and maple leafs in- day in the history of ED
M
Taxpayers Federation. unveiled its new colours side a gold fringe. our police service,” ON
Scott Hennig, an Alberta and crest at city hall Thurs- Seven names of said Boyd. “This is TON
director with the feder - day — colours that honour fallen officers who important for our
ation, says the city should those officers who paid have died in the line police service.”
cancel the “blank che - the ultimate sacrifice of duty since 1918 The colours were
ques” it gives to North - while fighting crime. are embroidered designed and ap-
lands and the Indy Racing In a police ceremony in around the new crest Mike Boyd proved by the Cana-
League to cover their loss- front of roughly 80 politi- of the Edmonton Po- dian Heraldic Au-
es for the next two years. cians, police officers, and lice Service with the new thority in 2004 and it had
“IRL and their drivers the public, officers un- motto, “Integrity, Courage, to be granted approval by
rake in mil lions upon mil- furled the new flag — re- Community,” in the new Queen Elizabeth II.
lions of dollars a year. If ferred to as colours — in colours that reflects Ed- “We have a lot of new re-
their race loses money, front of the crowd that was monton’s history. cruits and we want them
perhaps IRL or their driv- later blessed by Chaplain The police service has to join in on those tradi-
ers should be cove ring the Kurt Schmidlin and pre- never had its colours tions and to carry on the
losses, not taxpayers,” said sented to Lt.-Gov. Norman changed to pay tribute to traditions of the Edmon-
Hennig in a statement. Kwong. fallen officers until now, ton Police Service,” Boyd Dez Melenka is affectionately mauled by two female terrier-mix
METRO EDMONTON The new colours that something that was 12 said about the colours. puppies, Joe and Shanna. The puppies were flown from Hay Riv-
er, N.W.T., to Edmonton two nights ago, and will be available for
adoption in a week.
Adoptable puppies flown
in from Hay River, N.W.T.
not have its own animal
VICTORIA HANDYSIDES shelter, orphaned dogs are
[email protected] placed with foster families.
Bylaws prevent surrogate
SPCA Joe, a scruffy mixed- parents from housing
breed puppy, would have more than two at a time,
surely frozen to death with and few families are will-
her brothers and sisters ing to foster as it is.
under a porch, were she Four-month-old suspect-
not rescued in the nick of ed siblings Joe and Shanna,
time. along with two-month-old
She and two other home- Faith, a Rottweiler-Husky
less puppies were flown to mix, were flown to Edmon-
Edmonton in search of ton where there is a little
new homes, as their birth- more room at the inn.
place of Hay River, NWT, is All expenses for the trip
overrun with orphaned were covered by the Hay
dogs and not enough River SPCA.
places to put them. Though they arrived at
“They were found freez- the shelter two nights ago,
ing and starving to death, the puppies won’t be
and were they not found, ready for adoption for an-
they would have died,” other week, so that they
said Edmonton Humane can first be spayed and
Society spokeswoman vaccinated.
Shawna Randolph. Currently, the shelter is
Because the small, housing around two dozen
northern community does adoptable dogs.
2006 Smart Cabrio
19,888
$
#P06-6254, air, fully serviced,
only 2,000kms
DIESEL
David Morris 780.484.9000
Fine Cars Ltd.
PLEASE ASK FOR DEAN OR IAN
17407 - 111 Ave, Edmonton
[email protected]

metro metronews.ca
Weekend, January 23-25, 2009
6 Rising temperatures killing trees: Report
Trees in western North America are dying twice as quickly as they did 30 years ago, with rising average temperatures almost certainly to blame, researchers reported Thursday.
These thinner and weaker forests will become more vulnerable to wildfires and may soak up less carbon dioxide, in turn speeding up global warming, they said. REUTERS
Blowin’ in the wind
Canada
The government of Ontario was expected to announce Friday
another $1.3-billion worth of renewable-energy projects, most
of it wind, as part of its ongoing effort to green up the
province’s power mix, Torstar News Service has learned. Ontario
expects to have 1,200 megawatts of wind power capacity in op-
eration this summer. TORSTAR NEWS SERVICE
Tories plan to Hormone therapy
Stem cells
Waiting for a match
fears baseless: MDs
BRIA HEALTHHormone therapy
N
TO is a safe and viable option
WIE/METRO go $64B in red fwfloahrs osh oewmsa, enn tCi grahenltia esdwfi afernao tmws oa hmnodetn
CAN other severe symptoms of
A
DA menopause, a panel of ex-
perts said Thursday.
Canada will post $64 billion The Society of Obstetri-
in deficits over the next two One surplus left cians and Gynecologists of
fiscal years to stimulate a Canada said new research
flagging economy, but it (cid:129)The official said government economic slowdown but, as has found short-term use
will return to surplus in five revenues — including corpo- far as he knew, the budget for of hormone therapy by
years, a senior government rate and personal taxes — the current fiscal year would women early in meno -
official said Thursday. have been declining with the remain in surplus. pause is most effective and
The deficits will mark an has “little appreciable ef-
end to 12 straight years of fect on risk.”
surpluses for Canada, which spending would be short- avoided, but as the global TORSTAR NEWS SERVICE
had been the only member term so as to prevent a per- economy worsened he
of the Group of Seven lead- manent deficit from emerg- agreed at a summit in News in brief
ing industrialized nations ing, he said. Washington the next
still in the black. The aide was briefing re- month to join in concerted SASKATCHEWAN A second
The aide said Ottawa porters ahead of the minori- international stimulus ef- man has been charged in con-
would run a deficit of $30 ty Conservative govern- forts. nection with a shooting that
Other Half co-chairs Susan Go, left, and Amy Tam get the word out billion in the following fis- ment’s budget, which it will The figure of $34 billion injured a six-year-old girl in
about stem cell donations Thursday in Toronto. People of Chinese cal year, starting April 1, deliver Tuesday. represents roughly two per Saskatoon last week, CBC
descent are under-represented in the stem-cell donor pool to the 2010, and deficits would In the campaign ahead of cent of the value of the News Online reports. The girl
point that the chance of finding a match is less than 10 per cent. keep getting smaller there- the Oct. 14 election, Harper Canadian economy. is listed in stable condition.
after. Most of the stimulus had said a deficit could be REUTERS METRO NEWS SERVICES
TELUS AUTHORIZED
DEALERS
EDMONTON
Kingsway Garden Mall
TELUS Plaza North
Bonnie Doon Mall
Londonderry Mall
Clickalicious
.
Northgate Mall
South Edmonton Common
Southgate Mall
West Edmonton Mall
Downtown
9915 108A Ave. NW
11315 104th Ave.
WEST END
5 - 14220 Yellowhead Trail
14903 118th Ave.
10429 178th St.
NORTH
9624 165th Ave.
12714 137th Ave.
13034 50th St.
SOUTH
5912 104th St.
10309 34th Ave.
5926 99th St.
8708 51st Ave.
4515 Gateway Blvd.
Fort Saskatchewan
9542 86th Ave.
9914 103rd St.
$249 99* Leduc
.

BlackBerry® StormTM 9530 smartphone 6B - 5904 50th St.
5205 50th Ave.
Meet the Storm – the fi rst-ever touchscreen BlackBerry smartphone. It feels better than anything you’ve Sherwood Park
held before, because the screen actually clicks like a button when you press it. Feel it for yourself at TELUS. 162 - 26 Strathmoor Dr.
(Road King)
Sherwood Park Mall
Get the 3G BlackBerry Storm on Canada’s largest 3G network.
Spruce Grove
Westland Market Mall
30 - 96 Campsite Rd.
St. Albert
St. Albert Centre
30 - 200 St. Albert Rd.
20 Muir Dr.
For more details on these great offers, visit your TELUS authorized dealer or retailer, visit telusmobility.com or call 1-866-264-2966.
Phone availability and price may vary. Prices are subject to change without notice. *Available until March 31, 2009. Effective net price after in-store discount at time of activation. Available for clients (new and renewal) who activate voice and data service with a combination of a voice rate plan and a data add-on totalling $45 or more
on a 3 year term. TELUS reserves the right to modify eligible rate plans with this offer at any time without advance notice. TELUS, the TELUS logo and the future is friendly are trademarks used under licence from TELUS Corporation. BlackBerry®, RIM®, Research In Motion®, SureType®, SurePressTM and related trademarks, names and
logos are the property of Research In Motion Limited and are registered and/or used in the U.S. and countries around the world. Used under license from Research In Motion Limited. © 2009 TELUS.
metro metronews.ca
Weekend, January 23-25, 2009
8 37.8 million inauguration viewers still lower than expected
Almost 37.8 million Americans watched the full day of television coverage of U.S. President Barack
Obama’s inauguration from their homes — less than the record numbers expected.REUTERS
Looking through Galileo’s eyes
World
Italian and British scientists want to exhume the body of 16th century as-
tronomer Galileo for DNA tests to determine if his severe vision problems
may have affected some of his findings. “If we knew exactly what was
wrong with his eyes, we could use computer models to recreate what he
saw in his telescope,” said Paolo Galluzzi, director of the Museum of Histo-
ry and Science in Florence, the city where Galileo is buried. REUTERS
U.S. House panel approves $304B stimulus Obama focuses on
FUNDING A House panel ap- which provides $275 bil- vious tax years. Currently
proved Thursday a $304- lion in tax breaks, on a businesses can write off
tarnished U.S. image
billion US package of busi- largely party-line vote. losses against two previous
ness and individual tax The package includes a years. The bill also pro-
breaks and aid to the un- temporary refundable tax vides money to help the
employed that is to be part credit for workers, up to unemployed keep health
of the huge $825 billion $500 per individual and insurance coverage. KEV
economic stimulus sought $1,000 per couple. It also The package will be com- IN LA
by U.S. President Barack includes tax incentives for bined with other elements MA
Obama. renewable energy and al- of the proposed stimulus, RQU
WteeTa yhasep apntraodxv Mewde ratihntiesn gCp aocHmkomaugsiete,- lcroeownmts p loabsnusieeilssd ateogra sw inrasintte df io vfeof tpchureerr-- wedh itcoh vthotee H oonu snee ixs te RxwEpUeeTeEckRtS.- E / REUTERS
News in brief
CHURCH Pope Benedict will ed four bishops without resent her for books and
soon lift the excommunication permission from the late Pope lecture appearances. The deal
on four traditionalist bishops, John Paul, resulting in self-im- includes representation for
in his latest attempt to heal a posed excommunication. philanthropic initiatives, as
20-year-old schism in the well as business initiatives in
Roman Catholic Church, an Ital- POLITICS Former secretary of media, sports and communica-
ian paper said Thursday. In state Condoleezza Rice has tions, an agency repres -
1998, the late Archbishop Mar- signed on with the William entative said Thursday.
cel Lefebvre illegally consecrat- Morris Agency, which will rep- REUTERS
PRACTICAL NURSE DIPLOMA
U.S. President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton chat Thursday after remarks at
the State Department in Washington, D.C.
INFORMATION NIGHT
U.S. President Barack Oba-
Clinton vows new
ma ordered Thursday the Iraq prepared
practically closing of Guantanamo era in diplomacy
It’s prison and named foreign (cid:129) Iraq’s military is “prepared
policy troubleshooters for for the worst” if Obama or- FOREIGN POLICYHillary
the Middle East and Iran as ders a swift withdrawal of Clinton took the helm at
time! he moves to repair Ameri- U.S. troops, its defence min- the State Department
ca’s tarnished image. ister said. Thursday, promising a
Obama set a one-year new era in U.S. diplomacy,
deadline for shutting but tough times ahead.
Guantanamo and barred engagement overseas than About 1,000 employees
harsh treatment of terror- the Bush administration, cheered when Clinton ar-
ism suspects held there. which was criticized for rived for her first full day
The prison in Cuba — go-it-alone “cowboy diplo- as secretary of state.
where prisoners have been macy, and refocusing the “I will do all that I can
Tuesday, January 27, 2009 detained for years without fight against terrorism working with you to make
charges, some subjected away from the Iraq war to- it abundantly clear that ro-
6 to 7:30 PM what human rights groups ward Afghanistan. bust diplomacy and effec-
say amounted to torture — He yesterday named tive development are the
had damaged America’s George Mitchell, a former best long-term tools for se-
· Visit NorQuest’s new campus moral standing. senator, as an envoy who curing America’s future,”
Obama waded further in- will try to jump-start Arab- Clinton said.
· Learn about the career, funding to his foreign policy plans Israeli peace talks. He also Clinton won Senate ap-
by paying a visit to the tapped former ambassador proval Wednesday despite
and prep
State Department to wel- to the UN Richard Hol- concerns about the fund-
come Secretary of State brooke as a special envoy raising activities of her
· Ask questions
Hillary Clinton. for Afghanistan and Pak- husband, former president
His foreign policy goals istan, and related issues. Bill Clinton.
· Apply on the spot without
include pursuing broader REUTERS REUTERS
paying a fee
UN launches Gaza relief efforts
Edmonton Downtown Campus
Health Education Centre – 106 Street MIDDLE EAST The UN is
10232 – 106 Street launching a major aid ef- “We are scaling up our humanitarian sup-
fort to help tens of thou- port ... The situation is very dire.”
For more information sands of children in the af-
Sigrid Kaag, UNICEF
termath of Israel’s military
call 780-644-6300
campaign in Gaza, a top
aid official said Thursday. Kaag said children, who ing amputations or severe
www.norquest.ca “We are scaling up our form the majority of the burns.
humanitarian support and 1.5 million Palestinians in UNICEF aims to offer
looking to expand signifi- the Gaza Strip, bore the mass counselling and first
cantly our psychosocial brunt of the onslaught. aid. UN technical teams
support. The situation is More than 400 children are aiming to open schools
very dire,” said Sigrid Kaag, were among the 1,314 by mid-February and to re-
UNICEF Regional Director Palestinians killed and pair quickly key water sup-
for the Middle East and more than 1,800 children ply systems damaged by
North Africa. were injured, many suffer- the bombing. REUTERS
metronews.ca metro
Weekend, January 23-25, 2009
world
48 whales die in beaching in Tasmania 9
A pod of 50 sperm whales beached themselves on Australia’s southern island
state of Tasmania overnight Thursday, but only two survived.REUTERS
Disasters cost
China
A mother’s grief
JA
SON China $110B
LEE / REU
TERS
Natural disasters caused
nearly $110 billion US of Most worldwide
damage in China last year,
a warning to other emerg- (cid:129) China also had the high-
ing economies ill- est number of disasters last
prepared for potential year, with 26 recorded. The
hazards, the United Philippines was next with
Nations said on Thursday. 20, followed by the United
A May earthquake in States with 19, Indonesia
Sichuan and extreme with 16, and Vietnam and
weather made China the India with 10 each.
most disaster-affected
country in economic terms years, the Sichuan quake
in 2008, said the Interna- and Cyclone Nargis that
IICCEEON
tional Strategy for Disaster hit Myanmar in May made
Reduction (ISDR). 2008 the most deadly since
The UN body said the 2004, when an Indian
world economy suffered a Ocean tsunami devastated
$181 billion blow from nat- Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India
urally-occurring events and Thailand.
such as floods, storms, vol- A total of 235,816 people ice carving festival
canic eruptions, wildfires were killed by disasters in WHYTE
and droughts in 2008. 2008, compared with
Much of the devastation 16,871 the year before..
was avoidable, said ISDR The costs were more than
Director Salvano Briceno. double the 2007 damages
“These losses could have of $75 billion.
been substantially reduced The centre which com-
A woman, whose child died from drinking tainted milk, holds a if buildings in China, par- piled the data released by
january 15 to 25 . 2009
sign reading “Give me back my child” outside Shijiazhuang in- ticularly schools and hospi- the ISDR said China’s costs
termediate people’s court on Thursday. Two men were tals, had been built to be should serve as a lesson to
sentenced to death for their role in the scandal that killed six more earthquake-re- India, Iran, Turkey, and monday - friday 2 pm - 10 pm
children, while the woman most widely blamed for the tragedy silient,” he said. other middle-income na- saturday & sunday 10 am - 10 pm
got life in jail. Though disasters were tions which are building in-
less frequent than in past frastructure rapidly. REUTERS festival park . old strathcona
85 avenue & 104 street . edmonton . alberta
Obama’s top-spy
choice sees
opportunity in
$15
Iran, Middle East check
out the
GROUP
SECURITYU.S. intelligence
agencies should seek ways PASS
of working with Islamic
leaders and countries such
as Iran on issues of mutual
interest, President Barack
Obama’s choice for spy
chief said Thursday. ice carving competition
Retired adm. Dennis
Blair also urged a break
children’s play area
with the Bush administra-
tion intelligence policies
live music
in a Senate hearing for his
nomination as director of
ice castle & ice slide
national intelligence. This
includes applying
van houtte café
standards for humane
treatment of terrorism
suspects. REUTERS for more information
or to volunteer check us out @
Russia, Georgia
must probe war WWW.ICEONWHYTE.CA
crimes: Group
CONFLICTA leading rights
watchdog urged Russia
and Georgia on Thursday
to investigate indiscrimi-
nate attacks and human
rights violations,
including possible war
ICE ON WHYTE
crimes, committed during CHARITY OF CHOICE
their war last year.
Human Rights Watch re-
leased a report document-
ing attacks on civilians in
the five-day conflict when
Russia repelled a Georgian
assault on South Ossetia.
REUTERS
metro metronews.ca
Weekend, January 23-25, 2009
10
LOCAL NATIONAL Assoc MngingEditor, Tarin Elbert Art Director, Laila Hakim
Publisher, Steve Shrout Group Publisher, Bill McDonald Assoc Night MngingEditor, Jim Reyno National Sales Director, Susan Courtney
Acting Mnging Editor, Darren Krause Distribution Manager, Jim Hillman Editor-in-Chief, Dianne Rinehart Enter/Lifestyle Editor, Dean Lisk Interactive/Mrktng Director, Jodi Brown
Comment & Views
M
Comment ICH
A
EL D
Ringing the cellphone alarm E A
D
D
ER
New study suggests increased brain tumour risk for kids
Market alarm bell. risk of brain tumours. Some nerable to cellphone radia-
place
I’ve been following the de- scientists say that this is tion. This year, a Swedish sci-
bate about cellphone safety cause for concern. Others entist released preliminary
for 15 years. During that say the data is flawed. data that shows kids who
Wendy
time, there have been two This isn’t fringe science. start using phones in their
Mesley huge studies that were sup- The new data teens have a five times high-
posed to get to the bottom of comes from a er risk of developing brain
the question, “Can cell- World Health cancer.
phone radiation cause brain Organization In the last two years, warn-
I
cancer?” The first study was study. It’s the ings about kids using cell-
t’s the dream toy of to- inconclusive, and largely first of its kind phones have been issued in
day’s kids. Something funded by the compa- to take a look Germany, the U.K., France,
they can use to play nies that make at what hap- Belgium, Israel, Russia, India
games. Text best friends. phones. I’ve pens when peo- and Finland. But in Canada?
Download the latest reported ple use cell- Even though this new evi-
Jonas Brothers ringtone. And on the phones over a dence is out, Health Canada
call mom. That’s right, kids fact that long period. still says; “there is currently
today want cellphones. A most of The final re- no convincing evidence of se-
survey we did of 1,000 Cana- the re- port was due rious health effects.”
dian tweens shows that al- search three years So, until the answer is
most half of them already money ago, but it still clear, what should parents
have a cellphone. was spent hasn’t been re- do? Cellphones are a useful
Parents like the idea, too. on public leased because the tool, but kids could limit
Companies are keen to mar- relations, not scientists involved their use. Make shorter calls.
ket cellphones as a security science, allow- are deeply divided. And remember that phones
tool, a way to stay on top of ing companies to And of course the do emit radiation, so try to Letters
children’s whereabouts. stand behind a wall repercussions are hold it a few centimetres
Some even come with GPS of inconclusive stud- huge. Billions of from your head. Until we
tracking. ies showing phones are dollars are at know more, a little bit of Obama’s good looks too ridiculing politicians and
Today’s kids are set to be- safe. stake. caution can’t hurt anyone. good for humour other figures, while ne-
come the longest-term users But now, there are And that’s why glecting to provide practi-
of cellphones, starting at cracks in that wall. Re- there is concern Wendy Mesley is a co-host of CBC News: Re: Obama too handsome cal suggestions for change,
younger ages than ever be- sults from a second big about kids. They Marketplace, Canada’s award-winning to inspire biting satire, ever contributed positively
consumer affairs show, and a regular back-up
fore. Great for the phone study are trickling out, are a growing cell- host with CBC News: The National. says Belgian news cartoon- to our society in any non-
business, but some scientists and some data suggests phone market, and CBC News: Marketplace airs each Friday night ist, Jan. 21 superficial way.
at 8:30 p.m. (9 p.m. NT) on CBC Television.
are ringing a cautionary there is an increased possibly more vul- What great news that, If these cartoonists and
according to this article, humourists constantly be-
satirical political cartoons lieve that politicians main-
Views about Obama will be diffi- ly serve to be criti-
cult to make. cized, I suggest that
EPCOR is a tremendous success story
However, I’m glad not they should try to get
because of the specific elected and enter
point about Obama, but governments, and
Urban needs to continue to be a is simple; it was given the n’t involved in the day-to- because I hope this news show me how com-
Compass
success. freedom to act at arm’s day-business decisions of will reflect and herald petent and skilled
EPCOR makes money, length from the city. Though EPCOR. Heaven only knows increasing world- they would be
and as a result, it consistent- you and I are still owners of what we would be paying wide decline of in politicians’
Terence
ly provides the city with EPCOR, it can make the for water and power if it satirical political shoes.
Harding revenue from its opera- right business decisions free were. content. Perhaps it’s
tions. But lest you think the from the misguided machi- Now comes the fun part. I’ve never time to consider
only way EPCOR can be nations of the city council The message spin emanat- thought television closing down
profitable is by reaching and administration. ing from city council is shows and cartoons this biting satire
ever deeper into your pock- So, why is the increased meant to make you feel all that primarily (or “industry.”
This week provided good et, keep in mind that much ability of EPCOR to contin- warm and toasty about that even purely) aim to STRATYOS IESKYR,
and bad news for Edmon- of its revenue comes from ue to do what it does well loss. According to Indy sup- create humour by EDMONTON
ton taxpayers. outside the city where it and to continue to con- porters, the event generat-
The good news? The competes on a level playing tribute to the city coffers so ed economic spinoffs in ex-
transfer of the Goldbar field with private sector important? Well, that’s cess of $80 million and
Quote of the Day
waste treatment plant to companies. When it comes where the bad news comes worldwide exposure for Ed-
EPCOR is a done deal. You to holding the line on cost in. City council is going to monton. Apparently, that
may not realize it, but EP- increases, EPCOR consis- need more money to make makes it worthwhile for the “I would love for them to be
COR is one heck of an Ed- tently outperforms the city. up for the bad decisions it city to cover the $5.3 mil-
monton success story. It’s a So how did the sleepy lit- seems intent on making. lion. right, but I think they’re wide-
well-run company with a tle utility once known as Ed- Case in point, the Indy. Ed- I’d like to see them prove
eyed optimists right now.”
tremendous reputation, monton Power become such montonians are on the that with more than words.
provincially, nationally and a player in the generation of hook for $5.3 million.
internationally. That’s one electricity and the provision That’s a lot of sidewalks, my Terence Harding is a corporate communi- — Derek Holt, economist at Scotia Capital reacting to a sugges-
of the reasons it’s able to of drinking water and waste friends. We can all be cator and a keen observer of all things tion by the Bank of Canada that the recession will be harsh,
Edmonton.
hire and retain the talent it water services? The answer thankful that city council is- but short-lived. REUTERS
It’s your turn to tell others what you think. E-mail your thoughts and opinions to: [email protected]
Letters must include sender’s full name, address and phone number –street name and phone numbers will NOT be published. We reserve the right to edit letters.
METRO Edmonton 10123 – 99 Street NW, Edmonton, AB T5J 3H1, Tel: [phone]; Advertising: [email protected]; [email protected]; News: [email protected]