Business

CRB to incubate independent regional economic development

The Capital Region Board (CRB) table will be a “jumping off point” for the development of a new regional economic development entity.

At the CRB’s Mar. 10 meeting, the Board of 24 municipalities in the Capital Region decided against having the Board oversee economic development in the region itself. Instead, the Board opted to “direct administration to facilitate a first meeting of interested parties.” […]

Columns

National Column: Funds key to clinching Tory leadership

It is a political rule of thumb that defeated incumbents tend to drown their sorrows in money and it turns out the federal Conservatives are no exception.

At $5 million, the spending limit imposed on each of the candidates who will vie to replace Stephen Harper between now and next spring is more than five times higher than the maximum allowed for the leadership contest that resulted in Justin Trudeau’s election. […]

Local News

Firing CAO cost town nearly six figures; report

Interim CAO Andrew Isbister reported to Town Council that terminating the employment of former CAO Debbie Oyarzun resulted in paying out nearly six figures worth of severance pay.

The report followed an information request from Councillor Stephen Dafoe at a previous Council meeting. […]

Arts & Culture

Annual SRCW Poster Contest draws record entries

Sturgeon Rural Crime Watch Association (SRCWA) held their Annual General Meeting and presentations to the winners of the 2016 poster contest Mar. 8.

The annual contest is open to students from Grade 1 to 9 in rural communities, and the artwork must reflect the theme of Rural Crime Watch, Crime Prevention and Report a Poacher. […]

Local News

Town to get LAV monument, hoping to raise $50,000

The Town of Morinville will be receiving a LAV (Light Armoured Vehicle) monument in the community, complete with a real formerly in service LAV III, commemorative signage and general park equipment. The monument came out of a recent national initiative by the Department of Defence and Canada Company who decided to sell – at minimal cost – retired LAV III vehicles following their deployment during the Canadian mission in Afghanistan. […]

Local News

Town and School Division meet with government on school project

Town of Morinville staff met Monday with representatives of Sturgeon School Division and the provincial government to push forward the new public 5-9 school project.

Council was briefed Tuesday evening on the discussions about the proposed site for a new public school in Morinville, which involved staff from the Alberta Transportation, Education, and Infrastructure departments. […]

Columns

National Column: Trudeau must capitalize on rare U.S. attention

Justin Trudeau is about to be the man of the moment in Washington.

But official Washington’s attention span is notoriously fickle and the prime minister’s challenge will be to parlay the South Lawn pomp and the red carpet into enduring Canadian influence after Barack Obama leaves the White House.
[…]

Local News

It’s lights out for Morinville this month

The Town of Morinville will be participating in Fortis Alberta’s Earth Hour Challenge again this year. The initiative takes place Mar. 19 from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Earth Hour, an annual global environmental movement, is aimed at encouraging residential and businesses to conserve power. […]

Local News

AUMA supports Energy East Pipeline

Th Alberta Urban Municipalities Association is calling on other municipal associations across the province to join the AUMA in showing support for the Energy East Pipeline.

AUMA President Mayor Lisa Holmes will be speaking on the topic at the AUMA’s Annual Mayors’ Caucus Mar. 9 in Edmonton.
[…]

Columns

National Column: Tories switching their tune on carbon pricing

Over the time that Stephen Harper was prime minister, Canada’s conservative movement used the notion of carbon pricing as a partisan weapon rather than as a policy tool to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. That may be about to change. […]