630 CHED Edmonton News

School rental rates to skyrocket

Kevin Robertson — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 17:43:00 GMT

Budget problems appear to be having a ripple effect on programs that work with Edmonton Public Schools.

Groups that rent space from the EPSB will be seeing a big jump in rates. The board tried to soften the blow by introducing the hikes over a few years.

The Capilano playschool leases space from Hardisty school. Their monthly rates will go from $2,240 a month now, to over $11,000 by 2017.

"We're looking into other options." says Jenny Samm, Chairperson with the playschool. "We're staying for next year, but then after that, if these rate increases continue we just can't afford it. It would be too expensive for families to send their children to playschool."

She says from the numbers, it looks like the school board is trying to make a profit off of community groups who need that space.

"Are we now going to be supplementing the Edmonton Public School budget and instructional fees?" asks Samm. "That doesn't have a good feeling, when we're a non-profit organization of parents working together so our kids can have preschool."

There aren't a lot of rental spaces available in the area, so Samm says they'll be working with the school board to see if they can come to an affordable agreement. (kdr, tk)

Alberta to reclaim "fastest growing economy" title

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 11:17:00 GMT

Alberta's cup of economic good news is beyond half full and could be close to overflowing next year.

RBC Economic's latest snapshot of Alberta performance has a rosey glow. RBC chief economist Craig Wright says: "We expect Alberta's economic boom to continue largely unabated this year with the majority of indicators so far pointing to rapid growth. Crude oil production is on an upswing, construction activity is rapidly expanding, and, in the second quarter to date, housing starts are at the highest level since early 2008."

He adds: "Attractive job prospects continue to be a beacon for workers from outside the province, which has boosted Alberta's population growth above the three per cent mark for the first time since 2006."

Wright predicts that our stagnant manufacturing sector will accelerate in 2014 to a rate of 4.2 per cent, enabling Alberta to reclaim the title of Canada's fastest-growing provincial economy from Newfoundland and Labrador.

Utility committee adopts rate increases

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 07:59:00 GMT

City council's Utility Committee has rubber stamped a rate increase that will see you paying $60 more starting in 2014.
The $5 a month increase is expected to be repeated in years two and three in a long range plan.
"That's for everything all in," said committee chair Coun. Don Iveson, to cover higher operating costs, including trash collection, the new Kennedale Eco-Station which opens next fall and taking care of what gets flushed down your toilet.
"The bio-solids piece of the utility rate increases is smaller than that, but it's certainly going to drive the increases over the next three years as we try to do the responsible thing with our back log," Iveson told 630 CHED News after the report was adopted.
"Disposing of these nasty bio-solids is an expensive proposition, but we've been putting it off for forty years. We've got to get on with it."
Coun. Ed Gibbons says there's a user for the waste which has been clogging sewers for four decades.
"We've got to get in, and start cleaning up and start hauling it down to Ryley where we've got farm land to put it on and spread it."
"It's at a tipping point that we have to do something, and it effects everybody," said Gibbons who's heard complaints from his residents who've caught wind of the problem.
"It's the smells."
"We dispose of about 90% in a good year of what comes in," said Iveson, "but 10% of everything solid that goes down the drains winds up in a lagoon and those lagoons are getting full and we have to do something about it."
According to the report the city will spend the next 14 years upgrading sewers and make other improvements, all in the name of flood prevention, which was identified after the big storms of 2004 that led to flooding.
However, that $146-million earmarked for that might not be enough after what happened last July when the southern part of the city got hit hard and the system in Mill Woods and Riverbend couldn't handle the deluge.
Epcor's rates for water and waste water just went up in April, $3, and they don't have a forecast yet for next year, so it likely means you could pay even more.

EPSB staff cuts

Tricia Kindleman — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 06:25:00 GMT

At the Edmonton Public board meeting last night a budget, which many knew was possible, was passed. It includes major funding cuts to the tune of almost 47 million dollars for the upcoming school year.

Ed Butler, President of Edmonton Public Teacher local 37, tells 630 CHED news the blame falls to the provincial government.

“We were promised a sustainable budget with a 2% increase this year in the budget lines and they took that out. They actually reduced the budget by 4% and they took away the Alberta School Improvement Initiatives grant."

Butler says nobody with a permanent contract will be losing their jobs. Positions will be reduced through retirements, departures and the possible termination of teachers who may still be on a probationary contract.

Butler adds that despite already crowded classrooms, class sizes will likely continue to increase. (tk)

Morning rollover is Edmontons 14 traffic fatality this year

Tricia Kindleman — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 01:28:00 GMT

A 34 year old man was killed when his 2006 Nissan Titan rolled in the city's west end early this morning.

The driver was ejected from the vehicle after it is thought to have hit a patch of gravel and lost control before rolling in the ditch.

A passing motorist called in the accident just before 5 o'clock this morning but through their investigation EPS have determined the accident happened around 2 a.m.

Police are looking for anyone who may have witnessed the crash or might have any other information that could assist the investigation. (tk)

Downtown Proud

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 23:52:00 GMT

A local initiative that helps employ formerly homeless Edmontonians, and helps keep downtown clean is expanding. The Downtown Proud group has had small groups of clients from Boyle Street Community Services working three hours a day five days a week downtown for almost four years.

After seeing big benefits to the people involved, and to downtown, Jim Taylor from the Downtown Business Associationsays its time to expand - and they're looking for local businesses to help. They're hoping to get eight or nine companies to put in six thousand dollars each.

He says four of the original five people employed in the program have been there since it began. (eb)

Edmonton set to introduce Smart Bus system

Kevin Robertson — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 23:01:00 GMT

Edmonton buses are moving into the 21st century with a Smart Bus system.

The city has officially launched the use of a computer aided dispatch system, which will give ETS real-time information on what's happening with their buses. That means when they are off schedule or get into an accident, the control centre will know immediately.

Edmonton Transit's superintendent of safety Malcolm Hodgson says soon riders will be able to see it as well.

"When they look on the information network that will become available by the end of phase one I hope, they'll be able to see that bus on a map, moving through the schedule and be able to tell whether it's on schedule or off schedule" says Hodgson.

The city will start with two routes, 128 and 111. It hopes to have the full system online by September. It will also report collisions immediately. Once everything is up and running, riders will be able to see for themselves where the buses are on the routes. Riders will be able to see if their bus is early or late through a smartphone app. (JSL/KDR)

Iveson becomes 3rd member of council to run for mayor

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 18:25:00 GMT

Don Iveson has become the third sitting member of city council to toss his hat into the mayor's race. The two term councillor for ward ten says his priority is to continue building a city that is attractive to people who want to build their futures here.

"We all want a city we can be proud of and my measure for that isn't immediate," Iveson told reporters at his launch at the Petroleum Club. "It's if my kids choose to stay here, and other people's kids choose to stay here because they're fiercely proud of the city rather than feeling like it's a city they have to leave to find opportunity. Whether its in the arts, whether its in business, whether its in research I want people to do it all here."

Photo by 630 CHED's Scott Johnson

Iveson, 34, is facing criticism because he might be too young compared to Karen Liebovici, 61, and Kerry Diotte, 57.

"I'm old enough to be mayor of Edmonton," Iveson reminded critics of 1907 William Griesbach who served a single one-year term at age 29.

"The common misconception going back to my first campaign is that it was just young people who voted for me but it was people of all ages, all walks of life that supported me in both my previous campaigns. I expect that will be the case here."

Those same critics point to the lengthy arena debate as something that will be held against Iveson because before the final that he supported, he was a strong critic.

"That's behind us, we made a decision to build it. I support that decision, it's going to do remarkable things for our downtown. We have to make sure we build it right, that it delivers on all of the promise that it has to transform our downtown. It's a project I'm excited about leading if given the chance."

Iveson also thinks putting money into roads is such a no-brainer, it won't be a campaign issue.

"Frankly Edmontonians are demanding that of us and any winning candidate is going to deliver that for them. That's why its not even political, there's no controversy here with roads, its just has to get fixed. Our infrastructure is failing, people see it and we need to fix it."

Iveson was first elected in 2007 beating incumbent Mike Nickel.

The only other declared candidate in the campaign is Ermineskin Community League president Curtis Penner, 35. (sj/tk)

Alberta Health Services making changes

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 20:29:00 GMT

Alberta Health Services is reversing their plans to cancel home care contracts with three Edmonton based supportive living cooperatives. Changes slated for the Abbey Road Housing co-op, Artspace housing Co-operative, and Creekside Support Services have been dropped.

"We've moved quickly to change the way these services are provided with an eye to reinvesting savings into expanded care," said Dr. Chris Eagle, AHS President and CEO. "But we also need to ensure that patient care is not compromised."

Another big change announced - the 'first available bed' policy which required continuing care residents to accept a placement within 100 kilometres of their home is withdrawn effective immediately.

"This is about more than just health care - it's about maintaining a quality of life that Albertans deserve," said Health Minister Fred Horne. "Shortly after we appointed Administrator Janet Davidson, AHS is already making important progress." (eb)

Baby found, Edmonton police lift Amber Alert

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 19:58:00 GMT

Edmonton police have lifted an Amber Alert, after a baby and her mother were safely located early Tuesday afternoon.

Nearly two hours earlier, they issued the alert because they believed the baby had been abucted by her mother. Police thought the mother might be planning to leave the country.

No word yet on any charges. (bd)