Macleod MP fills Stronach’s shoes
By John Barlow
Editor
Macleod MP Ted Menzies will step into the shoes left vacant by defecting
Tory MP Belinda Stronach.
Last week Menzies accepted the invitation from Conservative leader Stephen
Harper to assume the role of critic for International Trade and Internal
Trade — a position held by Stronach before she crossed the floor
to the Liberals in a shocking move two weeks ago. Menzies had held the
position of critic for International Cooperation on the Tory Shadow
Cabinet. His former position will be taken by Ontario MP Helena Guerges.
The Macleod MP, who was in Edmonton last week for the official dinner
with Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip, said he was excited to be offered
an expanded role with the Opposition.
“Canada is on the cusp of a new era in global trade,” said
Menzies in a release last week. “The Liberal government has abandoned
any ambitiousness for Canadian exporters and has failed to address serious
internal trade barriers with Canada that hold back Canadian competitiveness.”
Harper said Menzies has the background to assume the key position on
the Shadow Cabinet. Prior to becoming MP, Menzies, who farms near Claresholm,
served as president of the Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance and vice-president
of the Grain Growers of Canada.
“Ted brings a wealth of real life experience in international
trade to this portfolio,” said Harper. “The combination
of his background and his demonstrated ability made this choice very
easy.”
For Menzies he said he plans to focus on addressing the problems facing
Canada’s beef ranchers and promoting Alberta’s innovative
energy programs.
“The residents of Macleod can count on me to promote and encourage
trade solutions for our beef ranchers, create new markets for Macleod’
innovative green energy industry and continue to stand up for the families
across this great riding.”
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In this issue...
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Royal Treatment -
Foothills residents hob nob with the Queen
• See News
Critical acclaim -
Okotoks author’s novella getting rave reviews
• See Entertainment
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Good bull, good bull
Brittany Nixon, a Grade 5 student at
C. Ian McLaren School in Black Diamond gets up close and personal
with a Texas Longhorn bull at her school on Friday afternoon. The
bull was brought to the school as a promotion for the Millarville
Rodeo last weekend. photo by John Barlow
Okotoks - Council wants deadly intersection addressed
By Pamela Roth
Staff Reporter
The death of a young southern Alberta woman at the intersection
of Highway 7 and Southridge Drive May 20 has prompted Okotoks town
council to take immediate action to address the dangerous junction.
During their last meeting on May 24, council directed Mayor Bill
McAlpine to write a letter to Infrastructure and Transportation
Minister Lyle Oberg, expressing town council’s strong dissatisfaction
with the lack of action taken to improve the safety of the intersection.
From that letter, council is hoping to reiterate the immediate need
for either the installation of traffic lights or a speed reduction
zone on the provincial highway.
Copies of the letter will also be sent to local MLAs and to the
office of the premier.
“Here is an immediate problem. How many fatalities need to
occur before the province acts on this,” said Councillor Laurie
Hudson. “Anything we can do would be helpful at that intersection.”
The letter isn’t the first time town council has tried to
address the deadly intersection, which has claimed the lives of
four people in the last several years.
In February of 2003, a letter was written to the provincial government
with concerns relating to the design of the roadway, however, that
letter was ignored.
In November of 2003, that letter was again echoed as council requested
the enhancement of a stop sign with flashing lights.
Fortunately, that letter wasn’t ignored and the lights were
granted upon request.
Council’s last attempt at improving the safety of the intersection
came in a letter to the province in February of 2004 after a third
fatality had occurred.
In that final letter, council asked for the construction of an overpass,
but that letter was also ignored.
During those three attempts, the MD of Foothills and both school
divisions joined the petition that Alberta Transportation install
a speed reduction zone and install traffic signals at the intersection.
But even with all of the letter writing and petitioning that has
been going on in the past two years, all parties involved have yet
to see a response.
“Everybody is extremely frustrated,” said Town of Okotoks
municipal manager Rick Quail. “The town is clearly on the
record that this is a dangerous intersection. This is a rural provincial
highway system and we need to make sure that commerce is moving
at highway speed.”
Okotoks RCMP Staff Sgt. Glen Haner is also on board with making
the intersection safer for motorists and said he is willing to try
anything that may help.
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