Politics - ‘Steady Eddie’
wins Tory leadership
Ed Stelmach comes from behind to upset Jim Dinning and Ted Morton
to be next premier
By John Barlow
Editor
In his speech early Sunday morning before an ecstatic throng of supporters
in Edmonton, premier-elect Ed Stelmach summed up his tumultous rise to
the top, saying “Nice guys do finish first.”
In a not-so stunning turn of events Stelmach roared from third place after
the first ballot to run away with the Progressive Conservative leadership
last weekend upsetting frontrunners Jim Dinning and Foothills-Rocky View
MLA Ted Morton.
Stelmach was a distant third after the first ballot on Nov. 25, but on
Saturday he won the second ballot with 51,764 votes compared to Dinning’s
51,282 and Morton’s 41,243 votes.
However, to be declared the winner on the second ballot a candidate had
to finish with 50 per cent of the vote plus one. As a result, in the preferential
ballot system, the second choice votes were tabulated and Stelmach was
untouchable, finishing with 25,813 second place ballots for 77,577 total
votes.
In comparison, Dinning had just 4,227 second choice ballots finishing
a distant second at 55,509.
Stelmach will be sworn in as Alberta’s 14th premier on Dec. 15 in
Edmonton.
The Vegreville-Fort Saskatchewan MLA had litte time to savour his unexpected
victory, meeting with the media on Monday in Edmonton to outline his strategy
for the next two weeks.
“It has been a long campaign,” said Stelmach. “It has
been an emotional rollercoaster ride for all the members. It is still
emotional.”
Stelmach was inundated with questions regarding his policies, campaign
promises and his selections for his first cabinet.
The Alberta farmer refused to toss out any potential cabinet choices.
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In this issue...
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A Christmas carol
OJHS prepares for first holiday musical
• See Scene
Hoop it up
Local high schools prepare for basketball season
• See Sports |
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Premier-elect Ed Stelmach addresses the media at the Legislature
in Edmonton on Monday morning. Stelmach earned an improbable come-from-behind
win over Jim Dinning and Foothills-Rocky View MLA Ted Morton in the Progressive
Conservative leadership election on Saturday. photo by Lyle Aspinall, St.
Albert Gazette Millarville - Parents speak out against
portables
Second public meeting draws a crowd
By Laurel Nadon
Staff reporter
A meeting that began to determine the configuration of portables at the
Millarville Community School quickly turned into a debate about why the
portables are needed in the first place.
The Foothills School Division has slated the south wing and basement of
the school for closure and possible demolition with classroom space to
be replaced by six portables. The division is also open to selling the
south wing to the community for $1.
Approximately 60 residents gathered for the meeting on Monday night where
the division brought forward three location options for the portables.
Community members and parents, however, were intent on revisiting the
decision to apply for the portables.
Resident Susan Biddle said she wants to see more research done on restoring
the school’s current space, as damage in the basement, which resulted
from the 2005 floods, isn’t a common occurrence.
“Does this mean we’re sacrificing the opportunity to modernize
our school because of these portables?” Biddle asked. “It
doesn’t make sense to me to spend this money on a problem that has
less than one per cent chance of occurring in any given year.”
Biddle said she’d prefer to see the division spend money on the
current building rather than on “tin cans”.
For Susan Graham, chair of the school council, there are still many questions
surrounding the portables.
“I think one question is a reason for why we’d want to replace
our existing permanent space with relocatables,” Graham said. “I
think a big concern is why the government wants to spend this amount of
money rather than a portion of it to fix what we have.”
Drew Chipman, secretary
treasurer for the school division, said if they pursued modernization,
it could take years whereas emergent funding for portables can be approved
quickly.
Jim McLellan, superintendent of schools, said their goal isn’t to
see these portables remain at the school for the long-term.
“We’d like nothing better than to have to approach the government
for permanent space,” McLellan said. “In the meantime, we
feel the portables will be another page in the success of Millarville
School. We want bright, new space for our students here at Millarville
Community School and we want it to be permanent space.”
He noted that there is no date for the portables to arrive as their dimensions
will be based on the configuration option chosen.
Continued on page 4
Initially the division, as part of its Vision 20/20 process, had recommended
that the basement be closed and then decided that new space should be
pursued.
The FSD considered closure of the basement at its March 22 meeting, but
tabled that motion. On June 7, the board rescinded the motion to close
the basement and decided to move ahead with the portables.
Principal Ted Thorne said he’s in support of the first option, which
would see the south wing built in 1951 demolished and the portables located
in its place.
“I know this has been a very contentious issue for many people,”
Thorne said. “My staff is in support of the portables.”
Parent Cindy Kaenel, however, said she feels strongly that if the school
was made into portables, it will marginalize the school. She’s also
concerned that the division hasn’t shared enough information with
the public.
Other parents weren’t against the idea of portables. Lynne Williams
said her main concern is making sure that the school will still have a
nice entrance. She said the portables don’t mean the school is in
danger of closing as there are many families in the area.
Parent Lisa Willis, also a bus driver for the school, said the portables
provide a nice space.
“I’m not opposed to them. I’d rather see a safe, healthy
space than one that poses a health risk,” Willis said, adding that
some of the people who don’t want the south wing or basement closed
are holding onto the past.
The six portables are estimated to cost $832,000 and have a lifetime expectancy
of approximately 40 years. Repairs at the school to modernize the south
wing are estimated to cost $800,000.
The portables bring the classroom space to 10 classrooms, although the
space for an art room, science lab, music room and computer lab would
still be lacking without the south wing.
McLellan said the board will discuss the issue at its meeting on Wednesday
(today) and also plans to sit down with the school’s modernization
committee to find a compromise or common ground.
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