Mad Cow Crisis - Foothills MD offers land for beef processing
plant
By John Barlow
Editor
The MD of Foothills has offered a parcel of land on Highway 2A to any
company willing to build a beef processing plant.
Reeve Roy McLean confirmed on Friday the Foothills MD council forwarded
a letter to the Alberta Beef Producers stating the municipality will
donate land for the project.
“We have land and if the Alberta Beef Producers could find somebody
the MD is willing to help out where we can,” said McLean in an
interview on Friday.
Ironically, the municipally-owned two-acre parcel in question is near
Cargill Foods which is one of Canada’s largest beef processing
plants.
Harry Riva Cambrin, Foothills MD manager, said the parcel north of Abild’s
Industrial Park would be for a facility much smaller than Cargill.
“The size would be limited because of water supply,” said
Riva Cambrin. “But we do have water available if a project is
possible.”
Riva Cambrin also confirmed the MD has been in discussions with a possible
suitor for the land, but nothing definitive has resulted yet.
A report released by the Alberta Auditor General earlier this month
showed the profits of meat packers such as Cargill have almost tripled
since mad cow disease was discovered in Alberta in May, 2003.
As a result of BSE world markets, including the United States, have
closed their borders to live Canadian cattle.
The report showed that the American-based packers were purchasing cattle
at rock-bottom prices, but selling the processed beef at pre-BSE prices.
Alberta ranchers have argued one way to address the BSE crisis is to
develop Canadian-owned processing plants to slaughter live Canadian
cattle and subsequently export the finished product.
Ron Glaser of the Alberta Beef Producers confirmed they had received
the letter from the MD of Foothills and stated the letter was forwarded
to any interested parties.
“Alberta Beef Producers are not actively looking to build a packing
plant, but we will pass on the letter to any interested parties,”
he said.
Neither Glaser or McLean have had any response regarding the MD’s
offer.
Glaser said the industry is currently focusing on the Sunterra project
in Calgary. However, he said if other companies are looking for options
he will direct them to the MD of Foothills.
Glaser said the key to a processing plant would water and access to
major transportation systems.
Obviously, the industrial corridor on Highway 2A fits the bill as it
already sustains Cargill Foods which can slaughter up to 4,000 head
per day.
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In this issue...
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CURTAIN
CALL
Priddis artisans earn special honor
See News
RISING STAR
George Canyon returns to foothills
See Entertainment
EAGLES SOAR
Pee Wees ready to hit gridiron
See Sports
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Berry Good Afternoon
Amanda Ip of Calgary picks saskatoon
berries with her friends at the Saskatoon Farm east of Okotoks on
Sunday afternoon. Sunday was the last day of the U-pick season at
the renowned Saskatoon Farm. photo by John Barlow
Province - Health premiums
slashed for seniors
By John Barlow
Editor
Elimination of senior health care premiums is welcome news for
Alberta seniors.
Last week the provincial government announced substantial changes
to seniors’ benefits including eliminating the health care
premium and improved benefits.
Several Okotoks seniors were discussing the impact of the announcement
last week during their regular snooker game at the Okotoks Senior’s
Centre.
“This is going to be a substantial saving,” said Ralph
Holsworth, who turns 65 in December. “I still have to pay
my Blue Cross premiums, but this will still make quite a difference.”
Albert Haynes added, “It is better than nothing, that is the
way I look at it.”
By eliminating health care premiums it will save single seniors
$528 per year and couples $1,056 per year.
Highwood MLA Don Tannas said he was pleased with last week’s
announcement and the positive impact it will have for Alberta seniors.
Tannas said the adjustment was due as the decision by the Klein
government to start charging seniors health premiums in the 1990s
was made to address Alberta’s debt — a debt that has
since been eliminated.
“We added health premiums to high income seniors as part of
debt reducing,” explained Tannas. “Now, seniors are
saying ‘Why are we still paying that?’ and they are
right. This is good news for Alberta seniors.”
In addition to the elimination of the health care premiums, the
announcement also included changes to the Alberta Seniors Benefit.
The threshold for single seniors to receive the benefit will increase
by $2,150 to $21,000 and for couples it will increase by $4,260
to $33,000. Under these changes an additional 17,000 low income
seniors will receive a monthly cash benefit.
In addition, seniors already receiving the monthly cash benefit
will receive an increase of at least $60 per year.
Finally, there will be optical and dental assistance as well.
“It is about time (the province) started giving us back what
we had before,” said Holsworth of the optical and dental benefits
and abandoning the premiums.
Although the changes will be a significant impact for seniors, Haynes
said the change will be felt throughout the community.
“Seniors will now have more money to spend in the stores,”
he said.
The changes mean an addition $190 million for Alberta seniors.
The dental and optical assistance comes into effect on April 1,
2005 and health care premiums will be eliminated on Oct. 1, 2004.
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