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October 31, 2007 Vol. 33 No. 13  
$1.00 INCL GST
     
     

Happy Halloween


Alex Uanikhehei, 5, growls as he holds the pumpkin he found during the Kids’ Stop Children Centre pumpkin hunt at the Saskatoon Farm east of Okotoks last Thursday. photo by Tamara Neely

Three dead in highway collision

By Don Patterson
Staff Reporter


A truck with an attached flatbed collided with a van on Thursday afternoon at the intersection of Maple Leaf Road and Highway 2. Three people in the van were killed. photo by Bruce Campbell


RCMP are investigating questions over adequate signage at a recently closed intersection across Highway 2 near Aldersyde which may have led to a collision that killed three women on Oct. 25.
At about 4:30 p.m. an eastbound minivan coming off Maple Leaf Road collided with a pickup truck and trailer travelling in the southbound lanes of Highway 2. The median at the site, connecting the north and southbound lanes Highway 2, had been recently closed and removed.
RCMP spokesperson Sgt. Patrick Webb said police are investigating whether or not the vehicle was attempting to cross the highway at the intersection.
“Some witness statements have appeared to indicate that,” said Webb. “But we’re not about to say a definite reason until we’ve nailed it down.”
While there is a ‘no left turn’ sign at the intersection, he said one question under investigation is whether or not there was anything indicating the intersection had been closed.
Of the six occupants of the mini van (two males and four females), two female passengers, ages 35 and 52, were killed in the collision and a third female, 41 years of age, succumbed to her injuries at hospital. The remaining three occupants were taken to hospital where they received treatment. The truck had three occupants who all received minor injuries.
Everyone injured in the collision was transported by ground ambulance to hospitals in High River and Calgary. STARS air ambulance wasn’t able to respond to the scene at the time because helicopters were busy responding to incidents at other locations.
Webb said the vehicle had come from the Cargill Foods Ltd. plant north of High River, but it’s unknown at this time whether all the vehicle’s occupants worked at the facility.
“It’s our understanding, but I can’t say they were all Cargill employees,” he said.
The highway was closed south of the Aldersyde interchange until about 1 a.m. and traffic was diverted onto Highway 2A through High River.

 

Premier unveils
royalty regime


Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach announced his new royalty framework on Thursday. Wheel file photo

 

By Bruce Campbell
staff reporter

Royalties from the development of Alberta’s oil and gas resources will increase by $1.4 billion in 2010, under the new royalty framework revealed by Premier Ed Stelmach on Oct. 25.
He said the new royalty framework brings predictability to the industry, while providing Albertans with a “fair share” of return for oil and gas resources.
“Now that the framework is in place, we know when it will start and it will give the predictability and certainty to the investing industry and also to our oil and gas companies in the province of Alberta,” said Stelmach, during an Oct. 25 press conference in Calgary. “We will get our fair share and make sure that there’s balance in the regime.”
The premier announced new sliding scales for oil, natural gas and oil sands projects which will increase the province’s take by $1.4 billion in 2010 — a 20 per cent increase over currently projected revenues for that year. The new royalty rates and other changes will take effect on Jan. 1, 2009.
Oil sands royalty rates will be increased for both pre and post-payout periods and will be based on the price of oil. Base royalty rates will start at one percent and increase to nine per cent in the pre-payout phase (before companies pay off initial costs on oil sands projects). Post-payout royalties will range from 25 per cent to 40 per cent. Under the new framework, existing projects will not be grandfathered.
Royalties for conventional oil and natural gas will be determined by commodity prices and well productivity. Royalties for conventional oil will range up to 50 per cent, while gas royalties will range from five per cent to 50 per cent.
“As the price goes down, all the royalties go down. But, on the up side, all Albertans will share in the reward if prices go up,” said Stelmach.
He countered criticism that the new rates could precipitate a decline in oil and gas production activities.
According to Stelmach, the new rules shouldn’t result in lay-offs because companies will have time to adjust.
“I believe if there are any changes in employment in the industry today, especially in the natural gas sector, it will be because of the pricing. Prices are down. This new royalty framework will not take effect until Jan. 1, 2009 and we have a lot of work to do before that,” he said.
Stelmach said the province will negotiate with Syncrude and Suncore to smooth the transition to the new rules. Both companies have contracts with the government slated to last until 2015. Stelmach stated bringing the companies into the new regime will provide certainty to the companies and investors.
“I am confident that the share holders and investors of Suncore and Syncrude will continue discussions being held with the Minister of Energy. At the end of the day, there is certainty and predictability for those shareholders,” he said.
Opposition parties swiftly released statements in reaction to the new royalty system.
Alberta Alliance leader Paul Hinman said the province broke the public’s trust and the province’s reputation as a stable place to invest with its decision, particularly with its decision to not honour agreements with Suncor abd Syncrude.
“Will we ever repair our reputation? This is a $1.4 billion royalty grab without any explanation to Albertans where the money will be spent.”
Alberta Liberal Leader Kevin Taft said the announcement fell short of what was best for Albertans.
The party called for a minimum increase of 20 per cent on royalties.
“The Alberta Liberal position remains the same - an increase in total royalty take equivalent to that recommended by the panel,” said Taft.
He said the accountability measures recommended by the province’s Auditor General are missing in the report.
“Stelmach and his government continue to run away from billions of dollars that have gone missing and he needs to be held to account, Taft added.
Alberta NPD Leader Brian Mason said Slemach “blinked” in the face of opposition to the reforms. The party had stated it saw the royalty review panel’s recommendations as a “bare minimum” for reforms.
“This is substantially less than the royalty panel called for. When push came to shove, Premier Stelmach backed down and built a royalty system that favours big oil and gas over middle-class Alberta families,” he said. “Mr. Stelmach has failed to deliver a royalty system that captures the full value of our resorces.”


In this issue...
House of Horrors

Dewdney Players
prepare for spooky spoof
• See Entertainment


Falcons Flying High

Foothills wins Zone soccer championship
• See Sports

News Stories

Editorial

 Sports Archives

Published Wednesdays at Okotoks, Alberta, Canada. Serving the communities of Okotoks, Aldersyde, Black Diamond, DeWinton, Longview, Millarville, Priddis, Turner Valley, Bragg Creek, and the rural ratepayers of the M.D. of Foothills. And now the World. Established August 3, 1976.