Metro Edmonton - January 7, 2009

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by  Metro International

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Celebrity Buzz
Noel says
he was a
soccer
hooligan
pg 14 EDMONTON • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2009 metronews.ca
New trial in
Home prices
Snowboard Riding the rails
fall, condo
BEN Courtepatte
sales rally LEM
PH
HOUSINGPrices for single- ERS FO
family homes are on the de- R M
cline, but condo prices in ETRO murder
Edmonton surprisingly ral- ED
M
lied through the worldwide O
N
economic downturn, TO
N
according to figures from
the Realtors Association of
Edmonton. Witnesses claimed during
The average price for a VICTORIA HANDYSIDES the 2007 trial that Laboucan
single-family dwelling [email protected] was the ringleader of the vi-
dropped three per cent to olent murder. The group al-
$351,870 after negligible A man found guilty of the legedly lured Courtepatte
change for two months. But brutal slaying of 13-year- and a friend from West Ed-
condo prices, which had old Nina Courtepatte has monton Mall with a prom-
dropped more than eight won an appeal of his ise of a bush party. When
per cent in the two pre - conviction. they arrived, the 13-year-
vious months, were up 1.2 The Alberta Court of Ap- old was allegedly raped
per cent in November 2008. peal released a decision yes- multiple times, stabbed,
“Sellers resisted the mar- terday that states Joseph and beaten to death with a
ket and global forces that Laboucan will face another sledgehammer.
dragged prices down, but trial for the April 2005 rape Laboucan claimed he was
they will eventually discov- and murder of Courtepatte, unaware the party was a
er that buyers will not buy who was found dead on a ruse, and has maintained
at last year’s prices,” said west-end golf course. his innocence since his ar-
outgoing association presi- Two of the three judges rest.
dent Marc Perras. who heard the appeal deter- Defence lawyer Laurie
METRO EDMONTON mined the trial judge erred Wood said yesterday that
in assessing Laboucan’s she is thrilled with the deci-
Travel pg 11 credibility as a witness. sion.
“The error played an es- “In the interest of justice,
sential part in the reasoning I think that this is a good
process ... For these reasons, day,” she said. “I never saw a
we allow the appeal and or- side of (Laboucan) that was
der a new trial on the indict- anything less than polite,
Layne Treeter of Edmonton slides down the handrail of a long staircase in Louise McKinney Park ment as framed in the soft-spoken, gentle and nev-
on his snowboard yesterday afternoon. Court of Queen’s Bench,” er saw a violent side to
Day trip to the written decision stated. him.”
Chernobyl?
Half of surveyed EPS personnel wanted to quit: Report
World pg 5
have “seriously consid- “Workplace morale was Edmonton Police Service ly considered quitting their
Egypt’s Gaza JEFF CUMMINGS ered” quitting in the past the primary consideration said they were dissatisfied jobs in the last 12 months,
[email protected] year, according to a new re- for leaving, followed by or extremely dissatisfied 69 per cent said low morale
truce studied port. pay, work-life balance, oth- with workplace morale and in the service was a factor.
SURVEY More than half of Meyers Norris Penny LLP er job opportunities and 41 per cent felt the same Police spokesman Dean
all employees with the Ed- completed the 58-page re- career development oppor- about their benefits. Parthenis says the service
ShareYourViews monton Police Service who port, commissioned by the tunities,” cited the report. And of the 51 per cent of will be following up with
responded to a survey on Edmonton Police Service, About 46 per cent of the responding employees all of the concerns revealed
[email protected] work satisfaction say they in December. sworn-in employees of the who said they were serious- in the survey.
Free Daily News Group Inc., operating as Metro Edmonton. 10123 - 99 Street NW Edmonton, Alberta T5J 3H1. Publisher: Steve Shrout

metronews.ca metro
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
More drunk drivers caught in 2008 holiday season 3
Results from the Christmas checkstop campaign are in, and show that drunk driving is on the rise in Edmonton.
Police nabbed 1,993 impaired drivers this season, compared to 1,947 caught in 2007.METRO EDMONTON
Red Cross seeks volunteers
Local
The Canadian Red Cross will be holding an open house on Jan.
14 to advertise and recruit volunteers for various positions.
Head to 9931 - 106 Street between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. for more
information or to apply. METRO EDMONTON
Local winger brings back gold Onus on adults
News in brief
to find out age
BREAK-IN A police dog helped
officers track and arrest a of dates: Expert
teenager who allegedly broke BEN
into a north-end home yester- JEFF CUMMINGS LEM DATINGAdults seeking
dtwayo. sPuoslpiceec rtes cberievaekdi nregp ionrttos voef- [email protected] PHERS / M douatte fso or nteliennea ngeeresd w toh olo foakl-
hanicdle 1s6 i8n Athvee naureea. Aofft 1e1r 6tr Satcrkeientg Sthtiell a tiirrpelda anfet eart wthael kEidnmg oonff- ETRO ED smifuyc thh eaisr c ihdielndtrietnie ns,e aesd to
footprints and tire marks in the ton International Airport MO protect themselves from
snow, officers found the yesterday, hometown for- NTO predators, an expert says.
N
suspects’ car abandoned and ward Tyler Ennis says he’s “It can be a tricky thing,
on fire near 104 Street and Cas- still thrilled as his fellow because some teenage girls
tledowns Road. Officers found Canadian juniors took can look older than they
a 17-year-old suspect in a near- gold in an exciting and really are and lie about
by home, and charged him emotional hockey tourna- their age,” said Beyond
with several theft and posses- ment in Ottawa. Borders spokeswoman
sion of stolen property The 19-year-old winger Corey Martell.
offences. METRO EDMONTON only spent a few hours with Michael Hoffart, 27, of
family in Edmonton yester- Sherwood Park, met a girl
day, as he laced up his online who allegedly
skates for his Medicine Hat claimed she was 20, and
Tigers at Rexall Place last he’s now facing charges
night against the Oil Kings. because the girl is under
WHAT’S ONLINE TODAY And that’s after not get- the age of consent.
ting much sleep from all It wasn’t until the two
VideoNanotechnology cre- the celebrating as Canada were allegedly caught by
ates smell-free socks and beat Sweden 5-1 on Mon- police while engaging in
germ-free toilets at day night for its fifth Edmontonian Tyler Ennis, a member of Canada’s world junior hockey team, arrives at the Edmon- sexual activities in
metronews. ca/ straight world junior gold ton International Airport after his team’s 5-1 gold-medal win over Sweden in Ottawa. Hoffart’s car near Gibbons
canada medal. on Saturday that he
VideoJim Flaher- “It was awesome, espe- Ennis says communicat- ref blow the whistle a lot night, Ennis says he was learned the girl was 15.
ty previews budget cially being in Ottawa — ing to his fellow players of times, it was so loud,” thinking about growing up “I was disgusted with
measures to the fans were crazy,” he was a difficult task as loud said Ennis. “There was so in Edmonton playing hock- myself beyond mortifica-
boost the said. “It was a pretty emo- fans packed into the rink many people painted in ey. tion when the arresting of-
economy at tional night and it was the every game, especially in red and white.” “When I listen to the na- ficer told me how old she
metronews. best time ever to have it Canada’s final tilt against As the flags were raised tional anthem, it just gives was,” Hoffart told Metro.
ca/canada happen for the fifth time Sweden. for the national anthem af- me chills right now,” said VICTORIA HANDYSIDES
in a row in Ottawa.” “You couldn’t hear the ter the game Monday Ennis. / METRO EDMONTON
metro metronews.ca
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
4 Canadians stuck in Gaza for at least one more day
A number of Canadians will have to wait at least another day in the Gaza Strip because of unsafe conditions before they can make their
way into Israel , officials said. Canadian officials and Israeli authorities are working to find a safer departure time. CBC NEWS ONLINE
Drive-thrus hit speed bump
Canada
City council in St. John’s, N.L., has passed a bylaw making it
harder for restaurants to open new drive-thrus in that city. The
onus will now be on restaurant operators to prove to the city’s
traffic department that lineups from any new drive-thru will
not spill out onto city streets and cause traffic problems.
METRO NEWS SERVICES
Military hearing told
New group created to
tackle credit crunch
of alleged shooting
ECONOMY A new working omy and certainly the gov-
group of bank and govern- ernment has a role to play
ment officials is being in that. I encourage the
asked to immediate- heads of banks, the
ly begin looking at CEOs, to work with
A witness reported seeing recovered. ways to make loans the government,” he
Capt. Robert Semrau fire The prosecution believes more accessible to said before heading
at a severely injured, un- Semrau fired both shots, Canadian con- into pre-budget con-
armed Taliban fighter af- killing the wounded insur- sumers and busi- sultations.
ter an ambush in October, gent without lawful justifi- ness, Finance Minis- It was Flaherty’s
a military hearing was cation, Trudel said. This is ter Jim Flaherty said first comment on a
told yesterday. the first time a criminal yesterday. Jim Flaherty meeting he and Bank
A synopsis of events in- charge has been laid “We all have re- of Canada governor
troduced at the hearing against a Canadian soldier sponsibilities to ensure Mark Carney held behind
and agreed upon by the in Afghanistan involving that the financial system closed doors with bank
military prosecution and the death of an alleged en- functions properly in sup- CEOs in Toronto Monday.
defence lawyers provided emy fighter. port of the Canadian econ- TORSTAR NEWS SERVICE
the first detailed glimpse The hearing was held in
of the circumstances that a nondescript room at CFB
CUPE proposal called anti-Semitic
led to the 35-year-old Petawawa, Ont., where a
Canadian Forces officer be- life-and-death battle half-
ing charged with second- way around the world was BOYCOTT A proposal by the president of the Friends of
degree murder. described in terms most president of the largest Simon Wiesenthal Centre.
It was read at a hearing people would only recog- union in the province to “It goes against the grain of
into whether Semrau, a nize from a “Hollywood boycott Israeli academics academia.”
member of the 3rd Battal- movie,” as the defence at Ontario univer- On Friday, CUPE
ion of the Royal Canadian lawyer said. sities is being la- Ontario president
“CUPE has
Regiment, should be re- As the statement was belled as anti-Se- Sid Ryan called for
leased from custody until read out, Semrau’s 35- mitic and an af- no business the boycott of Is-
he stands trial. Military year-old wife, Amélie front to civil liber- boycotting raeli academics
Judge Lt.-Col. Louis-Vin- Capt. Robert Semrau, front, is escorted by military police after a Lapierre-Semrau, a kinder- ties by prominent and educators who
academics.”
cent d’Auteuil reserved his bail hearing at Canadian Forces Base Petawawa in Ontario yes- garten teacher in nearby members of Cana- do not condemn
decision until today. terday. Semrau is charged with second-degree murder in the Pembroke, tried unsuc- da’s Jewish com- Avi Benlolo the Dec. 29 bomb-
The charge has pro- death of an unarmed man in southern Afghanistan last October. cessfully to keep their 7- munity. ing of the Islamic
voked controversy because month-old daughter, Cam - “CUPE has no business University in Gaza and
it was laid more than two ly soldier in the “proximi- who had already been dis- ea Michelle Semrau, from boycotting academics, “the assault on Gaza in
months after the death of ty” of the wounded insur- armed. crying out. whether they are Israeli or general.”
the Taliban fighter in gent when two shots were Prosecutor Maj. Mary- TORSTAR NEWS SERVICE Jewish,” said Avi Benlolo, TORSTAR NEWS SERVICE
Afghanistan’s Helmand heard. The hearing was lene Trudel said the Tal-
province Oct. 19. told that a witness will tes- iban fighter’s body was ShareYourViews Hospital report leads to lawsuit
According to the state- tify later he saw Semrau left behind as the soldiers
ment, Semrau was the on- fire at the Taliban fighter, moved on, and was never [email protected] HEALTH A former patient is were outlined in this
suing a Toronto hospital that month’s Journal of Infec-
published a study describing tion Control and Hospital
News in brief how sinks were responsible Epidemiology.
for the spread of a drug-resis- Ronald Sherman, 69, the
SETTLEMENT The B.C. Human NEGOTIATIONS Employers ex- the year, but the employers’ P.E.I. An ivory gull, normally tant bacteria in its intensive- plaintiff, was one of those
Rights Tribunal has ruled in pect to respond Friday to the bargaining group remains cau- seen only in the far north, has care unit. who became sick. He was
favour of a woman whose su- union’s latest contract offer in tiously optimistic a deal can be settled in on P.E.I.’s north shore Researchers at the Toron- admitted to Toronto Gener-
pervisor offered her marijua- talks aimed at avoiding a reached before any job action for the past week, CBC News to General Hospital found al in November 2005, with
na, lingerie and truck tires in strike or lockout of dock fore- begins, a spokesman said yes- Online reports. Ivory gulls, the the location and design of severe pneumonia, which
return for sex. Kori Harrison, men at Canada’s Pacific Coast terday. The two sides would only all-white gulls, usually do sinks in the ICU led to the worsened, according to the
27, was awarded $32,000 yes- ports. The threat of a work have to issue a 72-hour notice not venture even as far south spread of pseudomonas claim, when he became in-
terday at the conclusion of the stoppage has hung over the before launching a strike or as Newfoundland. aeruginosa in the ward. The fected with pseudomonas.
three-year hearing. ports since the beginning of lockout. METRO NEWS SERVICES details of their discovery TORSTAR NEWS SERVICE
AtparticipatingMcDonald’s®restaurantsinCanada.Useofthe
McDonald’s®Cardisgovernedbytermsandconditionsfoundon
thebackofthecardandatwww.mcdonalds.ca.
©2008McDonald’s
metronews.ca metro
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Ex-Nepali ‘slave girls’ demand rehabilitation 5
Hundreds of girls, rescued after being sold off by their poor parents as domestic help, marched
in Kathmandu yesterday demanding rehabilitation-like jobs and an education. REUTERS
World
Truce plan studied
Egypt proposes Gaza ceasefire as deaths mount
Israel and Hamas studied rael by Islamist militants.
an Egyptian proposal for a In an attack that wound- Aid corridor
ceasefire in the Gaza Strip ed dozens of civilians, the
yesterday that won instant Israeli army accused (cid:129) Israel will set up a “hu-
backing from the U.S. and Hamas of using civilians as manitarian corridor” to
Europe, hours after Israeli “human shields” and said counter a crisis caused by its
shells killed 42 Palestini- its troops had fired at the offensive in the Gaza Strip.
ans at a UN school. premises after gunmen Periodic access would be
However, Israeli officials mortared their positions granted to parts of the strip
also said a major escalation from inside the school. to allow Palestinians to
of their 12-day-old offen- The attacks prompted stock up on vital goods.
sive would be discussed. U.S. president-elect Barack
Troops would be pushed Obama to break his si- that only the current ad-
deep inside Gaza’s cities lence, saying civilian ministration will speak on
and refugee camps in a bid deaths were “a source of U.S. foreignpolicy until he
to end rocket salvos into Is- deep concern” for him, but is sworn in. REUTERS
Mexico Awareness tour
H
EN
RY RO
M
ERO
/ REU
TERS
Antonio Tomaselli, 30, rides his bike yesterday in Mexico City. Tomaselli started a bike tour eight
months ago in northern Alaska, making his way through Canada and the United States, to bring
attention to violence against women.
Indian PM slams Site makes inaugural style easy
Pakistani inaction
STYLE Andrew Jones con- in conjunction with Barack
NEW DELHI Indian Prime fesses he is the last person Obama’s swearing in as the
Minister Manmohan Singh you would turn to for fash- next U.S. president.
accused Pakistan yester - ion advice, but his new Jones, who has a bank-
day of acting irrespon - website launched last ing background, said he
sibly, saying November’s month allows women to got the idea for dressreg-
Mumbai attacks must have register which gown they istry.com several years ago
had support from some of will wear to dozens of din- from his more fashion-con-
Pakistan’s official agen- ners and balls being held scious wife. REUTERS
cies. Pakistan rejected the
accusation, saying India
had begun a propaganda News in brief
offensive and such charges
jeo pardized chances of co- ASIA China faces surging Xinhua news agency.
operation. protests and riots this year, a
Singh’s comments show state-run magazine said in a ILLNESS China has confirmed
New Delhi’s growing frus- blunt warning of the hazards that a 19-year-old woman died
tration at what it sees as to Communist Party control be- of the H5N1 bird flu virus in
Islamabad’s slowness at cause of a sharp economic Beijing, the World Health Or-
iden tifying and arresting downturn. Faltering growth ganization said yesterday. Chi-
the attack’s planners. In - could spark anger among mil- na recorded three cases of bird
dia blames Pakistan mili- lions of migrant workers and flu last year, all fatal.Experts
tants for the organized university graduates left fear that the disease could mu-
strikes by 10 gunmen in jobless, said a report in tate into a form strong enough
November that killed 179 Outlook (Liaowang) Magazine, to kill millions worldwide.
people. REUTERS run by the country’s official REUTERS
metro metronews.ca
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
6
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
Comment
Give banks some credit M
ICH
A
EL D
E A
D
D
ER
Despite war of words, stats show loans are still flowing
Money sustained throughout the
Matters Even the Bank of Canada admitted in its
crisis.”
December financial system review that Banks could be forgiven
if they were a whole lot
Charles “credit growth ... has generally been
tighter. Ironically, Ottawa’s
Davies sustained throughout the crisis.” bank regulator, the Office
of Superintendent of Fi-
nancial Institutions, has
Veteran Business Writer governor Mark Carney, the Bank of Canada’s own sta- been signalling that it may
A
banks are shutting off the tistics, Toronto Dominion raise regulatory capital re-
s a onetime in- lending taps just when we Bank argued recently that quirements this year, a
mate of the Cana- need credit most. The loans have kept flowing good reason to hoard cash.
dian banking sys- banks are charged with through the crisis. From Besides, in a weak econo-
tem, I can tell sopping up the liquidity September to November, my, banks normally be-
you from first- that Ottawa and the Bank household credit was up come more scrupulous
hand experience that of Canada has provided to more than 12 per cent year lenders and boost reserves
bankers are prone to ex- stimulate lending and us- to year while business because there’s a greater
cesses and lapses in judge- ing it to strengthen their credit rose 13.4 per cent — likelihood of loan defaults.
ment. The bank I worked own balance sheets. A war hardly suggesting a credit That’s only prudent, given
for — one of the Big Five — of words has been waged squeeze. It’s also been not- that the banks’ first re-
has long had an eerie profi- between the two sides ed that Canadian banks sponsibility is to assure vi-
ciency at messing up, find- since early December, and made up some of the dif- able operations in order to
ing itself covered in goo af- this week Flaherty and Car- ference as foreign banks protect depositors’ funds.
ter the bursting of every fi- ney called top bankers in and auto financing arms Staying healthy also helps
nancial bubble in recent for a meeting to apply di- fled the market. preserve shareholder value
decades. Banks are also the rect pressure. Even the Bank of which affects a majority of
institutions we love to On the evi- Canada ad- Canadians who, directly or Letters
hate. We may need them, dence, Fla- mitted in indirectly, own bank stock.
but there’s always that herty and its Decem- What’s good for them is at
sense that, like the unre- Carney ber finan- least partly what’s good for Lives cut short in Gaza about dropping bombs and
constructed Scrooge, they don’t cial sys- most of us. missiles on these innocent
are gouging us. have tem re- The Israelis have been people, especially the chil-
But are they turning us much of view Charles Davies is a veteran business writer bombing the Gaza Strip con- dren?
away in our hour of eco- a that and editor who has worked for news organi- tinuously and at such a rap- These children still
zations and publications including Business
nomic crisis? If you believe case. “credit Week, Canadian Business, Report On Business id rate that everyone is just haven’t had a chance to see
Finance Minister Jim Fla- Using growth ... has magazine, Reuters, and Financial Post. in utter shock. anything in the world.
herty and Bank of Canada the generally been How can they even think EMAN KADRI, CALGARY
Word on the street: What’s your new year’s resolution — and have you already broken it?
Simon Vanessa Jen Zach Michelle Jamie Sasha Karl Rick
Kursa Backman Galligan Pipes Richardson Hunter MacWhirter Brook Park
age 31, age 31, age 43, Calgary age 19, Calgary age 36, Ajax, Ont. age 36, age 20, Ottawa age 21, Ottawa age 27, Halifax
Edmonton Edmonton Vancouver
A: Mine is to A: I didn’t really A: To save a heck A: I’m just trying A: I haven’t bro- A: I’m going to
A: I wanted to A: I didn’t make hopefully drop make any this of a lot more A: To take salsa to live a healthy ken it yet. My run a marathon.
make sure I do a new year’s res- 20 pounds. So year. I never than I have in the dancing classes. lifestyle every resolution was to Today, I’m going
yoga or go to the olution this year, far, I’m sticking went along with past. I started I’ve paid my day, but I guess I work out once a to the gym with
gym at least because I knew I to it. That’s one it for the last two over the holi- money so I’ll just broke it by week and I’ve my friends – it’s
three times a would break it. resolution I can years I made days, putting a have to go. My eating French still got two my fourth day at
week, and I say I didn't them ... so what's limit on each girlfriend won’t fries. more days to get the gym.
haven't broken it break. the point? gift. I’ve stuck to let me skip out. a workout in.
yet. that.
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]
metronews.ca metro
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
New year’s detox — for your cellphone 7
Maybe it’s time for a post-holiday detox?An Australian survey commissioned by Virgin Mobile shows 86 per cent of cell-
phone users collect numbers of people they don’t really know, usually when tipsy or at work-related functions. REUTERS
Business
EDITOR: FERMIN DESOUZA, [email protected]
Markets buck that Obama says
deficit could
reach $1T US
gloomy feeling
ECONOMYU.S. president-
elect Barack Obama said
yesterday that he expects
Despite a seemingly end- the same day Canadian au- to inherit a U.S. budget
less tide of bad economic More U.S. rallies tomakers said sales had deficit approaching $1 tril-
news and forecasts, Cana- plunged 21.2 per cent. lion US and that his
IICCEEON
dian stocks experienced a (cid:129) Strength in the tech sector Monday’s gains on the administration would
sixth straight day of gains boosted U.S. stocks yester- TSX showed a growing pat- have to make some tough
yesterday. day, overshadowing data tern in recent weeks on budget choices.
The recent rally on the showing slumping factory both Bay and Wall Streets: Speaking after meeting
TSX has raised the index orders and dismal pending the markets seem to be ral- members of his economic
14 per cent from its pre- home sales. lying on days filled with team, Obama said it was
Christmas woes. poor economic data. possible that trillion-dollar ice carving festival
Having closed yesterday David Rosenberg, econo- deficits could stretch into WHYTE
at 9,472.09 points, the point of view, we do still mist with Merrill Lynch in coming years and that he
market lows of November have job losses ahead of us New York City, said in a re- and his team want to
(when the TSX dropped to and we’ll certainly see the port: “As economists keen instill a “sense of responsi-
7,724.76 points) seem to be Canadian economy strug- on assessing the markets, bility” about future budget
fading into the past. gle throughout the first we have to say that we find choices.
But with war in the Mid- few months of 2009,” says it absolutely fascinating Obama is contemplating
dle East and the national James Marple, economic that since equities bot- large tax cuts of about
january 15 to 25 . 2009
economic outlook even forecaster with TD Eco- tomed on Nov. 20, the Dow $300 billion and potential-
grimmer today than three nomics. has managed to rack up ly as much, if not more, in
months ago, many remain On Monday, Canadian 1,482 rally points. And infrastructure projects and monday - friday 2 pm - 10 pm
weary of branding this re- bank and commodity they all managed to come other spending to try to saturday & sunday 10 am - 10 pm
cent rally as a return to the stocks led the way for a on days when the data jolt the economy out of re-
bullish days of yore. modest gain in the index. could hardly have been cession. festival park . old strathcona
“From a macroeconomic But those gains came on worse.” TORSTAR NEWS SERVICE REUTERS 85 avenue & 104 street . edmonton . alberta
Rogers wireless strong,
Apple Musical evolution
$15
but cable falters in Q4
REU check
TcEaLtEioCnOsM IRnoc.g epros stCeodm smtruonnig- Market reaction TERS/ROBERT G G o Ru t Ot h e UPAPS S
wireless subscriber growth A
yesterday, but said its weak (cid:129) Rogers’ shares slid $1.44, LBRA
cable results point to a or 3.9 per cent, to $35.75 in ITH
tough economy. Toronto yesterday.
Rogers said it added
199,000 net wireless sub- data devices and services,” ice carving competition
scribers in the traditionally Rogers Chairman and act-
strong fourth quarter, up ing Chief Executive Alan children’s play area
from 183,000 a year earlier. Horn said in a statement.
Rogers said it sold about Horn took over the com- Philip Schiller, senior vice-president of worldwide product mar- live music
130,000 of Apple Inc.’s pany’s reins from founder keting at Apple Inc., announced at the Macworld Convention
iPhones in the three Ted Rogers, who died late and Expo 2009 in San Francisco yesterday that the company’s
ice castle & ice slide
months ended Dec. 31. It al- last year at age 75. The com- iTunes music service will now be digital rights management
so said that of the total pany has yet to announce a (DRM) free and available through its iPhone. van houtte café
wireless subscribers it permanent successor.
added, 158,000 were in the Horn added, however:
postpaid market, matching “Our fourth quarter cable
for more information
year-earlier results. subscriber additions reflect Business in brief
or to volunteer check us out @
“Overall, we think the the challenging economic
wireless result met the mar- backdrop.” PRAY The Church of England as I cry out in confusion, help
ket’s expectations,” Nation- Rogers added just 4,000 published prayers to help com- me think clearly, and calm my WWW.ICEONWHYTE.CA
al Bank Financial analyst basic cable subscribers, fort Britons who lost their jobs soul,” says the Prayer on Being
Greg MacDonald wrote in a down from 20,000 in the in the financial crisis. “Hear me Made Redundant. REUTERS
note to clients. year-earlier period, and
“Our wireless subscriber gained 61,000 digital cable
results reflect our success in subscribers, flat from a year
Career Finder
driving greater penetration earlier.
of more advanced wireless REUTERS
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metro metronews.ca
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
8 Brees named AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year
New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees won The Associated Press 2008 NFL Offensive Player of the Year award yesterday. Brees threw for 5,069 yards
and 34 touchdowns this season, coming up 15 yards short of Dan Marino’s all-time single-season record for passing yardage.METRO NEWS SERVICES
Beckham makes AC debut
Sports
David Beckham made his AC Milan debut yesterday in a friendly
against Hamburg SV in Dubai. Beckham has joined the Serie A
club on short loan from the Los Angeles Galaxy to keep in shape
and stay in contention for the England team during the MLS
off-season. METRO NEWS SERVICES
[email protected]
Economy strikes NBA
NHL
Taking a bite out of Buffalo
Q
uietly, but sure- YorkReport is upsetting Rick Adelman RICK STEW
ly, NBA clubs these days. The Rockets’ A
have been dis- coach suspects the 6-foot-8 RT/G
cfooru tnhteinirg gasmeaetss Marty gouna rodc chasaiso nb.e e“nTr adcoyg’sg inbge eint ETTY IMA
G
in recent weeks. York very unaggressive at times,” ES
It’s a delicate, unprece- Adelman said. “He can’t
dented strategy — created, keep playing like this or we
of course, by the economic [email protected] just won’t be any good.”
crisis — and it’s become (cid:129) The CFL’s first major
commonplace throughout what they’ve paid in the surprise of the year has
the NBA, including Canada, past for tickets. So next come in the first week of
where the Toronto Raptors week’s meeting is critical.” the year.
are suffering through a lam- Best guess: The NBA soon Toronto native Mike
entable losing season. will announce a decrease in Benevides— despite receiv-
Despite the discounts, at- ticket prices across the ing a multi-year head coach-
tendance figures through- board. ing offer that sources fig-
out the NBA are plummet- (cid:129) The NBA’s problems ured he would gladly accept
ing. Empty seats are some- here are unquestionably from the beleaguered Arg-
times outnumbering those complicated by the fact that onauts — has elected to stay
with kiesters in them. And some of the Raptors’ games on as the B.C. Lions’ defen-
NBA executives are so con- are carried on TSN2, which sive co-ordinator. “Can’t fig-
cerned, sources tell Metro, is not available on the coun- ure it out,” an Argos source
they’ve called an emergency try’s — and Toronto’s — said yesterday. “The guy
meeting, to be held in largest cable carrier. Rogers (Benevides) all but officially
Phoenix next week. is depriving Canadian bas- signed. We’re puzzled. Are
NBA commissioner David ketball fans by excluding we this undesirable?”
Sternhas issued a gag order TSN2 from its menu, and in- (cid:129) CFLers such as B.C. de-
on the meeting but a league dustry sources suspect its fensive lineman Cameron
exec told Metro: “There’s a motive is at least partly at- Wake, Edmonton Eskimos
fear that our fans can’t af- tributed to its desire to see offensive lineman Patrick Buffalo Sabres Andrew Peters winces in pain last night after allegedly being bitten by the Ottawa
ford or won’t keep paying less competition for its own Kabongoand Calgary Stam- Senators’ Jarkko Ruutu. After the game, which Buffalo won 4-2, Peters said Ruutu bit his thumb,
all-sports network, Rogers peders long snapper Pat which Ruutu denied.
Camby to NY? Sportsnet. MacDonald have been im-
Whatever, it’s a sad and pressing NFL types during
(cid:129) NBA sources tell Metro silly situation. Last Friday, recent workouts and may Bowl advertisers think twice
sports columnist Marty York TSN2 drew a mere 18,000 be close to bolting to the
that a three-way trade could viewers for a Raptors-Hous- bigger and better-paying
be imminent, with ex-Rap- ton Rockets game. league.
tor Marcus Camby return- That’s pathetic, consider- And Greg Marshall has The Super Bowl is always NBC’s broadcast of the Na- about $1.8 million for a 30-
ing to the New York Knicks ing that many Raps games jumped from his longtime high pressure for tional Football League’s second spot.
from the Los Angeles Clip- on the main TSN network position as defensive co-or- advertisers. But this year, championship game on Still, NBC sold most of
pers and the Knicks sending attract audiences of around dinator of the Winnipeg expect more nail biting, Feb. 1 even more conspicu- its advertising time for the
forward David Lee to the 200,000. Blue Bombers to become pacing and hand ous than usual. Commer- Super Bowl by the end of
Portland Trail Blazers. (cid:129) Speaking of Houston, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats’ de- wringing than ever cial prices for the Super the summer at prices
ex-Raps star Tracy McGrady fensive co-ordinator. before from chief market- Bowl are always eye-pop- around the $3 million
ing officers. ping, far above what is mark. At the moment, it
They have good reason paid for any other TV has about 10 per cent of its
Sports in brief to be anxious. A recession event, partly because it commercial time left to
that has companies closely draws more than 95 mil- sell.
NHL St. Louis Blues forward since Nov. 5 against Anaheim. three to four weeks after a visit watching expenses — and lion U.S. viewers. This year, General Mo-
Paul Kariya underwent success- He has two goals and 15 points with a hand specialist cutting everything from Ads during the Academy tors and FedEx decided
ful hip surgery yesterday and this season. confirmed he has a non- staffing to travel costs — Awards, another major ad- against running commer-
will be sidelined indefinitely. displaced metacarpal fracture makes the $3 million US vertising event which cials during the Super
Kariya, 34, has played in only NBA Denver Nuggets forward on his right hand. price tag for 30 seconds of pulled about 32 million Bowl, citing the recession.
11 games this season, and not Carmelo Anthony will miss METRO NEWS SERVICES commercial time during U.S. viewers last year, run REUTERS
metronews.ca metro
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
9
New Cadillac at auto show
Metro Drive
General Motors announced this week that the 2010 Cadillac
SRX will go on display at the 2009 North American Internation-
al Auto Show in Detroit later this month. The foundering firm is
hoping the car’s new design and improved features will help it
better compete with other luxury rivals.
METRO NEWS SERVICES
EDITOR: KUMAR SAHA, [email protected]
Great things in small package
BMW’s compact sports coupe makes room for more fun
BMW’s 135i coupe may be its smallest
’09 BMW 135i coupe
JIM KERR model, but the features are anything but
for Metro Canada
pint-sized.
Type:Compact sports car
BMW’s 1-series is a Price:$41,700 MSRP
compact 2+2 sports car Engine:3.0L twin turbo inline
available in both coupe 6 cylinder
and cabriolet form. This is HP:300 hp @ 5,800 rpm
the smallest BMW but
great things can come in Highlights
small packages and the 1-
series certainly fits that •Sport seats
description. •Automatic dual zone
Two models are offered. climate control
Both the 128i and the 135i •Stability control
come with a 3.0-litre 24- • Tilt/telescopic steering
valve DOHC inline six cylin-
der engine, but the 135i grated into the trunk lid
gets a little boost in horse- design.
power with the addition of Inside, front seat room is
twin turbochargers and an great but rear seat and
intercooler. headroom are limited. The
I took a 135i coupe out front bucket seats slide for-
for a drive to experience ward for rear seat access,
the power and came back but entry is best left for ag- speed shifter between the
smiling about the complete ile friends. seats.
package. Our coupe came with The six-cylinder twin-tur-
Outside, the 135i has the optional sport bucket bo engine comes to life with
BMW’s traditional twin kid- seats. This $800 option a muted rumble and gets
ney shaped grille but in a gives 12-way adjustment to the adrenaline flowing.
smaller form, putting more both front buckets, with Maximum torque starts at
emphasis on the large air manual control of height, only 1,400 rpm, so the car
intakes across the bottom tilt, fore/aft, recline and pulls smoothly away from a
of the front facia. thigh support. Power side stop sign and doesn’t tire
A sharp bodyline starts bolsters allow the seat you out in stop-and-go driv-
at the headlights between sides to adjust to the dri- ing.
the junction of the hood ver’s profile. Step firmly on the gas
and the front fender and A cup holder is attached pedal and the engine feels
runs straight back the to the passenger side of the like it would pull strong
length of the body sepa- console. Although it may forever. Stability control
rating the car’s green- work well, this is the most and traction control help
house area from the lower ridiculous cup holder I have keep the rear 245/35R18
body. ever seen and it would be inch rubber under con-
A chrome strip runs above the first thing I would have trol.
the frameless door glass and removed from the car. This is a performance car
rear side glass, highlighting The dash gauges are large with 300 horsepower in a Find your savings number by
the coupe’s roofline. and round while the rest of 1,530 kg body and has
going to InsuranceHotline.com
Black trim on the B-pillar the dash is conservative and brakes to match the power.
provides the illusion of a uncluttered. It is nimble on corners and
longer side glass, but when A navigation system with feels effortless to drive even
viewed directly from the idrive control is optional. when pushing it hard. It is
side, the short rear win- The important features for also surprisingly economi-
dow and trunk lid are obvi- the driver are the start but- cal on fuel, which is good
ous. A rear spoiler is inte- ton on the dash and the six- because it likes to sip premi-
um grade. The direct fuel in-
Your Search Engine for the Lowest Insurance Rates
jection and variable cam
timing enable 7.9 litres/100
km on the highway.
In this time of economic uncertainty, you need to save your hard earned dollars.
A six-speed automatic The best and easiest way to save lots of money is to shop for the lowest rate on
transmission with paddle your car insurance.
shifters is available for driv-
InsuranceHotline.com can help you fi nd the best price by quoting over
ers that don’t want to shift 30 major insurance companies and arranging them by the 3 lowest rates.
the manual gearbox, but I
It’s fast, safe and FREE.
found the manual shifter ex-
Annual savings shown based on actual consumer quote data and results on InsuranceHotline.com
cellent and the clutch has a
nice progressive engage-
ment.
GET THE 3 LOWEST RATES FROM OVER 30 MAJOR INSURANCE COMPANIES
Introduced in Canada in
2008, the 1-series BMW has
been sold in Europe since Go online to InsuranceHotline.com
2004. It’s a shame we didn’t
Inside, the dash gauges are large and round while the rest of the get it here sooner because it
dash is conservative and uncluttered. is so much fun to drive.
metro metronews.ca
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
metro drive
10
AWD returns in
Makes sense to plug in
2009 Toyota Matrix
Auto relieved and cars don’t
Pilot
(GM’s Larry Murphy) believes the automo- crash into each other any
sole design. more, then you can take
tive DNA is about to change, to one based
LORNE DRURY Similar to the Corolla, en- even more mass out of the
for Metro Canada gine choices are the 1.8- Michael around electrical drivetrains, and to one car — because you won’t
litre and the 2.4-litre four- also based on the notion that vehicles will need all the on-board safe-
Goetz
The Cambridge, Ont.- cylinder powerplants. Stan- ty systems we need today.
be connected to each other on a grid.
built Toyota Matrix be- dard is a four-speed manual (cid:129) If all the above works
gins its second generation with an available four- as advertised, and safety
Veteran auto journalist
in 2009 with the return of speed automatic. and the future aren’t entire- of electrical; fuel cells con- and environment issues
the all-wheel drive (AWD) The AWD system is the I ly a done deal, but that’s a vert hydrogen to water and are under control, then the
option. same as the one in the recently completed my business story, this is more electricity.) “automakers” will be able
In addition to the rein- RAV4 and works on-de- first test drive in an all- of a technical one.) Not everyone agrees to concentrate more on
troduction of the AWD op- mand. electric vehicle. He noted that the DNA with Murphy, but the argu- the fun side of personal
tion (it was dropped in When slippage is detect- I have no idea how many of the automobile hasn’t ments for shaping cars transportation. He figures
2007), the 2009 model also ed on the front wheels, up kilometres were possible changed much in 100 around this model are they could eventually oper-
brings back the sporty XRS to 45 per cent of the torque with a full charge, because years. Internal combustion compelling, even if you go ate more like the fashion
model. can be transferred to the half way through my test engine. Fuelled by some beyond the obvious one of industry, and bring out
The new generation has rear wheels to ensure the salesman took the keys kind of petroleum prod- sustainable and clean ener- fashionable exteriors and
a lower stance than the smooth performance. away. He also said if I ever uct. Lots of on-board me- gy consumption. interiors almost on a sea-
previous model, but not at came back to Toys “R” Us, chanical and hydraulic sys- (cid:129) Electric motors are sonable basis.
the expense of interior carguidemagazine.com and got on that pink Bar- tems. This type of vehicle small and do not need Before we get there,
space. Inside, many bie Escalade again, he also operates independent- transmissions. This re- there are a few technology
changes have been made For the latest road would call security. ly of other vehicles — you duces weight and complex- bits to work out. Battery
including redesigned seats tests, vehicle evalua- I wish this guy had spo- have to pay attention to ity. This also means less technology, for example, is
tions and more, visit:
for added comfort, the in- carguidemagazine.com ken with Larry Murphy, as I the car and to the traffic. maintenance, not more. acting like that four-year-
troduction of a three- had. Then he might have “A relatively dumb ma- (cid:129) Electric cars have less old kid that refuses to keep
spoke tilt/telescopic steer- better understood my de- chine,” says Murphy. inherent design con- up with the group. But he’ll
ing wheel and a new con- sire to experience the elec- He believes the automo- straints. Designers will be come along, surely. And
trical movement. Murphy is tive DNA is about to change, free to re-think what vehi- when he does, I’m sure
best described as GM’s fu- to one based around electri- cle shapes are possible, we’ll all be singing our hap-
THE GOLD STANDARD ture strategist. His job is to cal drivetrains, and to one and where to put people py little electric song.
predict what personal trans- also based on the notion and their cargo.
portation will look like in that vehicles will be con- (cid:129) Electric cars can go re-
Michael Goetz has been writing about cars
the future and how GM nected to each other on a ally fast. and editing automotive publications for more
might position itself in that grid. (Murphy considers fu- (cid:129) Once connected to a than 20 years. He lives in Toronto with his
family and a neglected 1967 Jaguar E-type.
future. (I know, I know, GM el-cell technology a branch grid so that congestion is
Accepting applications for our accredited
DENTAL HYGIENE PROGRAM
For Admissions Tour or Appointment
(DOWNTOWN TORONTO)
Phone: [phone] ext 11 or 14
Toll Free: 1-866-666-0481
Email: [email protected]
We look forward to meeting you!
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