TORIES TAB BUDGET DEFICIT AT $64B, PG 6 Celebrity Buzz Police look into Travolta extortion EDMONTON • WEEKEND, JANUARY 23-25, 2009 metronews.ca pg 22 Cops say Lack of EPSTrue colours there’s a link BEN appeal in two deaths LEM PH CwReIMreE gTuwnon epde odpolwe nw hino two ERS/FOR M upsets neighbourhoods in the ETRO city’s southwest overnight ED M Wed nesday knew each ON parents other though a drug con- TO N nection, city cops said Thursday. Cody Lee Johnson, 29, was identified as the city’s VICTORIA HANDYSIDES first homicide victim of the [email protected] year after he was found in an Escalade that crashed in- COURTSJosh Hunt’s to a house near 156 Street bereaved parents say the and 77 Avenue late Tuesday decision not to appeal his night. killer’s acquittal is like Fernando Alberto watching their son lay mo- Vasquez, 24, was found tionless in a hospital bed all dead in the middle of a over again. road in McAllister Loop on “It’s very, very difficult,” Wednesday morning, about said Gary Hunt. “It’s like 45 minutes after Johnson’s Sgt. Chad Tawfik, left, and Const. Tony Golab display new colours after the EPS Presentation of Colours ceremony at city hall on Josh died again, to us.” death. Detectives believe Thursday morning. The colours honour the memory of police officers who have been killed in the line of duty.Story, pg 4 Following a thorough re- both cases are linked, but view of the Dec. 17 no arrests have been made. A tale of two cities decision, the Crown decid- The investigations con - ed it would not appeal the tinue, police said. ruling that determined a METRO EDMONTON then-teenage boy killed the 16-year-old Hunt in self-de- fence. The 81stAnnual In a written decision, Jus- tice Terry Clackson stated Academy Calgary and Edmonton seem to differ on violent crimes that the accused, who can- Awards not be named, lawfully used the knife against • Button, missing people who just Hunt, to “prevent an Slumdog lead KRISTA SYLVESTER Gang problems haven’t been found.” assault or the repetition of Metro Canada Cathy Prowse, a Univer- it.” Hunt and another teen way, page 14 (cid:129) Both crime experts agree monton’s increasing — are on sity of Calgary crime ex- were in an altercation with • Quotes, A man pretending to be a the gang problems — with the forefront of the cities’ pert, said one possible rea- the accused in the page 14 woman on the Internet al- Calgary’s surging now and Ed- crime trends. son for the difference in accused’s home, following • Rick legedly lures a middle- the types of murders be- a party on Oct. 14, 2006. McGinnis, aged man to his garage gary tends to have a lot of imitating life, but those tween the two cities could Though Gary and Patricia page 20 before killing him, imitat- shootings, but Edmonton types are so statistically be that Edmonton has Hunt wrote a letter to Pre- ing a screenplay he wrote. has had quite a few head- rare,” Pitt said. more transients. mier Ed Stelmach and Music pg 19 If it sounds like the line-stealing ones — like But what about the se- “I’m not suggesting tran- pleaded with the Crown to scene from a movie, that’s Twitchell and Thomas ries of missing prostitutes sient people commit the appeal, the decision will Alan Cross’ because it practically is. Svekla, the man who was found dead and the four crimes, but having more stand. But this is what allegedly found guilty of killing two men charged with cutting transients means people “We’re very shocked. It’s Sound Check happened in Edmonton prostitutes. a man into pieces in a can go missing and people a sad day, not just for us, when 29-year-old Mark Edmonton criminologist bloody apartment? won’t notice right away,” but for all Canadians,” Gary Twitchell was charged in Bill Pitt acknowledges a “People cutting up bod- Prowse said. Hunt said, expressing his Sports pg 12 the disappearance and mixture of bizarre inci- ies, well that happens in And Pitt agreed, adding, disappointment in the jus- murder of a man police say dents last year, but insists every city everywhere and “Calgary has more white- tice system. Two girls, he lured to his garage to even in Edmonton, they Calgary is no different. collar, head-office type, kill. are unusual. These guys just got sloppy and Edmonton has more ShareYourViews one dream While both cities boast “The film director was a and got caught,” Pitt blue-collar, labour-work- their share of crime, Cal- case of life imitating art added. “Calgary has a lot of ing type.” [email protected] NEW FINANCING Starting at 490 $0 $0 0% FREE Consultation $ 780-702-2020 Down Payments Interest LASER VISION CORRECTION /eye* UNTIL JANUARY 2010† * Prices are subject to change without prior notice. Prices vary based on prescription EDMONTON: strength. Applicable to surgery on both eyes only. † Subject to Desjardins Card Edmonton City Center Mall, 10200 - 102 Avenue, Suite C107 Dr. Richard Leger Services credit approval. No payments, no interest until January 2010. MD, FRCSC Halifax | Montréal | Toronto | Winnipeg | Calgary | Vancouver www.lasikmd.com 40 000 procedures Free Daily News Group Inc., operating as Metro Edmonton. 10123 - 99 Street NW Edmonton, Alberta T5J 3H1. Publisher: Steve Shrout metro metronews.ca Weekend, January 23-25, 2009 2 Woman dies in Highway 21 collision A 25-year-old woman is dead following a collision on Highway 21 on Thursday morning. The 2007 Nissan Versa the victim was driving crossed the centre line, and collided with a northbound Lexus and a Chevrolet pickup truck. The name of the victim was not released. METRO EDMONTON EPCOR to buy treatment plant Local The city will go ahead with plans to sell its Gold Bar Wastewater Treatment Plant to EPCOR after a 7-6 vote Wednesday night. The city will be selling the plant to EPCOR for about $190 million that will be collected over the next 10 years, including a $75-million transfer fee and dividend payments. METRO EDMONTON Third man charged Youth smoking down, BEN in Nov. murder LEM PH HOMICIDE After spitting on ERS/FO the ground in Calgary on but not enough: Group R M Wednesday, a man found ETRO himself in cuffs, slapped ED with a second-degree mur- MO N der charge in relation to the TO N death of an Edmonton man. Get rid of flavoured cigarettes, raise taxes, ASH says Joseph Sunchild Lagrelle, Bryce Gruwell, a cast member, 23, is the third person to be leads young Edmonton skaters. arrested in connection with the death of 22-year-old DA High School A Quentin L’hirondelle. KRISTA SYLVESTER AN to Ld’heairtohn adte al ldeo wwanst sotwabnbed Metro Canada METRO C Musical on ice hoAu s2e2 p-yaeratyr- oolnd N moavn. 8 a.nd a Dtinesgp aitne a slml-toimkien glo rwat iens Ahli-t- NISKI/FOR ShHaOdW toT IsMkEip T shcohuogohl ttoh edyo it, 21-year-old man were also bertans over 15 years old, N KU a few area kids got the charged following the there is still concern over OBI thrill of a lifetime yester- homicide. METRO EDMONTON youth smoking, according R day morning, taking to the to a provincial anti-smok- ice with stars of their ing organization. favourite Disney A national study released production. by Health Canada on Mon- The cast of High School WHAT’S ONLINE TODAY day showed that 19 per Musical: The Ice Tour glid- cent of Albertans over 15 ed on the ice at West VideoPeter Lougheed takes were smokers during the Edmonton Mall’s Ice recent Alberta governments first half of 2008, marking Palace with mini-figure to task at metronews.ca the first time statistics in skaters, showing them the /canada Alberta reached under 20 tricks of the trade. VideoLog Driver’s Waltz per cent. Smoking is at an all-time low in people aged 15 and up, but some anti-smoking groups say they’re Nine-year-old Madison among short films National But Action on Smoking still concerned with the number of teens lighting up. Moore could barely sit still Film Board of Canada makes and Health Calgary while waiting for her turn available online at spokesperson Robyn calling for another tax hike to skate with the stars. metronews.ca/canada Hauck said they are still on smokes. Comparisons “I really like their songs VideoVancouver Taser concerned about the num- According to 2007 Health and skating is really fun,” inquiry hears from victim’s ber of teens smoking. Canada statistics, 20 per (cid:129) Alberta’s smoking rate is Less than one in five Albertans she said. mother at “Smoking rates among cent of Alberta teens 15 to slightly higher than the nation- are current smokers, com- Star of the show, 19- metronews Alberta teens remain dis- 19 were current smokers. al rate of 18 per cent for Cana- pared to one in three 20 years year-old Brittany Heath, .ca/canada turbingly high despite the ASH Edmonton spokes- dians aged 15 years and over. ago, according to the ASH. said: “Skating has always gains that have been made person Karlee Stevens been my passion. This job in reducing tobacco use called for an outright ban doesn’t feel like a real job.” among adults,” said Hauck, on flavoured cigarettes to aging. They look like lip “I didn’t even start smok- The show runs this week- drastically reduce that num- gloss and youth are more ing until just a year ago. I al- end at Rexall Place. Tickets ber. prone to try them and get ways said I never would, but are available through Tick- MRL CAPITAL TRUST “They are absolutely hooked,” she added. I caved in to peer pressure,” etmaster from $20 to $55. geared towards youth be- But 15-year-old Michelle, the teen said, who didn’t VICTORIA HANDYSIDES Invest in the Canadian and cause of the taste and pack- of Calgary, agrees. want to use her last name. /METRO EDMONTON U.S. Real Estate Markets Minimun Investment $1,000.00 R.S.P Eligible Tax Free Savings Account Eligible GCORMOPUAPNIOEFS In Non-leveraged Investments Bringing You to the Front Line of Real Estate Investment From The Comfort Of Your Armchair Agent Inquiries Welcome “In both Chinese & Japanese, “CRISIS” is written with two symbols, the first meaning “DANGER” the second “OPPORTUNITY.” For information and seminar registration call 877-399-8886 or go to www.mrlcompanies.com EDMONTON CENTRAL 10176 109 St. (780) 426-2355 12302 Stony Plain Rd. (780) 488-6622 Westgrove Shopping Centre HOT SMARTPHONES FOR 14822 Stony Plain Rd. (780) 443-3022 Edmonton City Centre 10200 102 Ave. (780) 421-4540 EAST HOT SMART PEOPLE Capilano Mall , . (780) 450-6880 6839 83 St. (Argyll Rd.) (780) 465-5271 SOUTH 65M5i8ll w6208o3 (oA71d8 vGs0e a)M. t(4eba4wiy0n -aT 2Syi8mt rB1e 2lHevdto .rMtoanlls) N E S T BLACKBER (780) 438-2355 N R Southgate Centre HI Y (780) 434-5620 C Southgate Centre T U (780) 439-0435 R South Edmonton Common V (780) 485-9812 E 3120 Parsons Rd. (977810N5) O1730R72T -HA60ve01. 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METRO EDMONTON Cancel Indy blank EPS unveils new colours V ICTO cheques, says CTF RIA H A N M nm’Otil NbliEeoY nsTa dadexdbpleta dtyh ewaristt wshh aaos u$ l5led.f3t- JjeEfFf.Fc [email protected] wlwiciiellll bobefef idwcaeorrkr n ibn lb uyteh eewv iestrehyr vepimcoe-- yPeo“alIirtcs e iiCsn h atieh fev M emriyka ek hBiniosgtyo,d r.si aciadl DYSIDES/M by last summer’s Rexall In- broidered wild roses and very significant ETRO dy race, says the Canadian Edmonton’s police service and maple leafs in- day in the history of ED M Taxpayers Federation. unveiled its new colours side a gold fringe. our police service,” ON Scott Hennig, an Alberta and crest at city hall Thurs- Seven names of said Boyd. “This is TON director with the feder - day — colours that honour fallen officers who important for our ation, says the city should those officers who paid have died in the line police service.” cancel the “blank che - the ultimate sacrifice of duty since 1918 The colours were ques” it gives to North - while fighting crime. are embroidered designed and ap- lands and the Indy Racing In a police ceremony in around the new crest Mike Boyd proved by the Cana- League to cover their loss- front of roughly 80 politi- of the Edmonton Po- dian Heraldic Au- es for the next two years. cians, police officers, and lice Service with the new thority in 2004 and it had “IRL and their drivers the public, officers un- motto, “Integrity, Courage, to be granted approval by rake in mil lions upon mil- furled the new flag — re- Community,” in the new Queen Elizabeth II. lions of dollars a year. If ferred to as colours — in colours that reflects Ed- “We have a lot of new re- their race loses money, front of the crowd that was monton’s history. cruits and we want them perhaps IRL or their driv- later blessed by Chaplain The police service has to join in on those tradi- ers should be cove ring the Kurt Schmidlin and pre- never had its colours tions and to carry on the losses, not taxpayers,” said sented to Lt.-Gov. Norman changed to pay tribute to traditions of the Edmon- Hennig in a statement. Kwong. fallen officers until now, ton Police Service,” Boyd Dez Melenka is affectionately mauled by two female terrier-mix METRO EDMONTON The new colours that something that was 12 said about the colours. puppies, Joe and Shanna. The puppies were flown from Hay Riv- er, N.W.T., to Edmonton two nights ago, and will be available for adoption in a week. Adoptable puppies flown in from Hay River, N.W.T. not have its own animal VICTORIA HANDYSIDES shelter, orphaned dogs are [email protected] placed with foster families. Bylaws prevent surrogate SPCA Joe, a scruffy mixed- parents from housing breed puppy, would have more than two at a time, surely frozen to death with and few families are will- her brothers and sisters ing to foster as it is. under a porch, were she Four-month-old suspect- not rescued in the nick of ed siblings Joe and Shanna, time. along with two-month-old She and two other home- Faith, a Rottweiler-Husky less puppies were flown to mix, were flown to Edmon- Edmonton in search of ton where there is a little new homes, as their birth- more room at the inn. place of Hay River, NWT, is All expenses for the trip overrun with orphaned were covered by the Hay dogs and not enough River SPCA. places to put them. Though they arrived at “They were found freez- the shelter two nights ago, ing and starving to death, the puppies won’t be and were they not found, ready for adoption for an- they would have died,” other week, so that they said Edmonton Humane can first be spayed and Society spokeswoman vaccinated. Shawna Randolph. Currently, the shelter is Because the small, housing around two dozen northern community does adoptable dogs. 2006 Smart Cabrio 19,888 $ #P06-6254, air, fully serviced, only 2,000kms DIESEL David Morris 780.484.9000 Fine Cars Ltd. PLEASE ASK FOR DEAN OR IAN 17407 - 111 Ave, Edmonton [email protected] metro metronews.ca Weekend, January 23-25, 2009 6 Rising temperatures killing trees: Report Trees in western North America are dying twice as quickly as they did 30 years ago, with rising average temperatures almost certainly to blame, researchers reported Thursday. These thinner and weaker forests will become more vulnerable to wildfires and may soak up less carbon dioxide, in turn speeding up global warming, they said. REUTERS Blowin’ in the wind Canada The government of Ontario was expected to announce Friday another $1.3-billion worth of renewable-energy projects, most of it wind, as part of its ongoing effort to green up the province’s power mix, Torstar News Service has learned. Ontario expects to have 1,200 megawatts of wind power capacity in op- eration this summer. TORSTAR NEWS SERVICE Tories plan to Hormone therapy Stem cells Waiting for a match fears baseless: MDs BRIA HEALTHHormone therapy N TO is a safe and viable option WIE/METRO go $64B in red fwfloahrs osh oewmsa, enn tCi grahenltia esdwfi afernao tmws oa hmnodetn CAN other severe symptoms of A DA menopause, a panel of ex- perts said Thursday. Canada will post $64 billion The Society of Obstetri- in deficits over the next two One surplus left cians and Gynecologists of fiscal years to stimulate a Canada said new research flagging economy, but it (cid:129)The official said government economic slowdown but, as has found short-term use will return to surplus in five revenues — including corpo- far as he knew, the budget for of hormone therapy by years, a senior government rate and personal taxes — the current fiscal year would women early in meno - official said Thursday. have been declining with the remain in surplus. pause is most effective and The deficits will mark an has “little appreciable ef- end to 12 straight years of fect on risk.” surpluses for Canada, which spending would be short- avoided, but as the global TORSTAR NEWS SERVICE had been the only member term so as to prevent a per- economy worsened he of the Group of Seven lead- manent deficit from emerg- agreed at a summit in News in brief ing industrialized nations ing, he said. Washington the next still in the black. The aide was briefing re- month to join in concerted SASKATCHEWAN A second The aide said Ottawa porters ahead of the minori- international stimulus ef- man has been charged in con- would run a deficit of $30 ty Conservative govern- forts. nection with a shooting that Other Half co-chairs Susan Go, left, and Amy Tam get the word out billion in the following fis- ment’s budget, which it will The figure of $34 billion injured a six-year-old girl in about stem cell donations Thursday in Toronto. People of Chinese cal year, starting April 1, deliver Tuesday. represents roughly two per Saskatoon last week, CBC descent are under-represented in the stem-cell donor pool to the 2010, and deficits would In the campaign ahead of cent of the value of the News Online reports. The girl point that the chance of finding a match is less than 10 per cent. keep getting smaller there- the Oct. 14 election, Harper Canadian economy. is listed in stable condition. after. Most of the stimulus had said a deficit could be REUTERS METRO NEWS SERVICES TELUS AUTHORIZED DEALERS EDMONTON Kingsway Garden Mall TELUS Plaza North Bonnie Doon Mall Londonderry Mall Clickalicious . Northgate Mall South Edmonton Common Southgate Mall West Edmonton Mall Downtown 9915 108A Ave. NW 11315 104th Ave. WEST END 5 - 14220 Yellowhead Trail 14903 118th Ave. 10429 178th St. NORTH 9624 165th Ave. 12714 137th Ave. 13034 50th St. SOUTH 5912 104th St. 10309 34th Ave. 5926 99th St. 8708 51st Ave. 4515 Gateway Blvd. Fort Saskatchewan 9542 86th Ave. 9914 103rd St. $249 99* Leduc . BlackBerry® StormTM 9530 smartphone 6B - 5904 50th St. 5205 50th Ave. Meet the Storm – the fi rst-ever touchscreen BlackBerry smartphone. 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Used under license from Research In Motion Limited. © 2009 TELUS. metro metronews.ca Weekend, January 23-25, 2009 8 37.8 million inauguration viewers still lower than expected Almost 37.8 million Americans watched the full day of television coverage of U.S. President Barack Obama’s inauguration from their homes — less than the record numbers expected.REUTERS Looking through Galileo’s eyes World Italian and British scientists want to exhume the body of 16th century as- tronomer Galileo for DNA tests to determine if his severe vision problems may have affected some of his findings. “If we knew exactly what was wrong with his eyes, we could use computer models to recreate what he saw in his telescope,” said Paolo Galluzzi, director of the Museum of Histo- ry and Science in Florence, the city where Galileo is buried. REUTERS U.S. House panel approves $304B stimulus Obama focuses on FUNDING A House panel ap- which provides $275 bil- vious tax years. Currently proved Thursday a $304- lion in tax breaks, on a businesses can write off tarnished U.S. image billion US package of busi- largely party-line vote. losses against two previous ness and individual tax The package includes a years. The bill also pro- breaks and aid to the un- temporary refundable tax vides money to help the employed that is to be part credit for workers, up to unemployed keep health of the huge $825 billion $500 per individual and insurance coverage. KEV economic stimulus sought $1,000 per couple. It also The package will be com- IN LA by U.S. President Barack includes tax incentives for bined with other elements MA Obama. renewable energy and al- of the proposed stimulus, RQU WteeTa yhasep apntraodxv Mewde ratihntiesn gCp aocHmkomaugsiete,- lcroeownmts p loabsnusieeilssd ateogra sw inrasintte df io vfeof tpchureerr-- wedh itcoh vthotee H oonu snee ixs te RxwEpUeeTeEckRtS.- E / REUTERS News in brief CHURCH Pope Benedict will ed four bishops without resent her for books and soon lift the excommunication permission from the late Pope lecture appearances. The deal on four traditionalist bishops, John Paul, resulting in self-im- includes representation for in his latest attempt to heal a posed excommunication. philanthropic initiatives, as 20-year-old schism in the well as business initiatives in Roman Catholic Church, an Ital- POLITICS Former secretary of media, sports and communica- ian paper said Thursday. In state Condoleezza Rice has tions, an agency repres - 1998, the late Archbishop Mar- signed on with the William entative said Thursday. cel Lefebvre illegally consecrat- Morris Agency, which will rep- REUTERS PRACTICAL NURSE DIPLOMA U.S. President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton chat Thursday after remarks at the State Department in Washington, D.C. INFORMATION NIGHT U.S. President Barack Oba- Clinton vows new ma ordered Thursday the Iraq prepared practically closing of Guantanamo era in diplomacy It’s prison and named foreign (cid:129) Iraq’s military is “prepared policy troubleshooters for for the worst” if Obama or- FOREIGN POLICYHillary the Middle East and Iran as ders a swift withdrawal of Clinton took the helm at time! he moves to repair Ameri- U.S. troops, its defence min- the State Department ca’s tarnished image. ister said. Thursday, promising a Obama set a one-year new era in U.S. diplomacy, deadline for shutting but tough times ahead. Guantanamo and barred engagement overseas than About 1,000 employees harsh treatment of terror- the Bush administration, cheered when Clinton ar- ism suspects held there. which was criticized for rived for her first full day The prison in Cuba — go-it-alone “cowboy diplo- as secretary of state. where prisoners have been macy, and refocusing the “I will do all that I can Tuesday, January 27, 2009 detained for years without fight against terrorism working with you to make charges, some subjected away from the Iraq war to- it abundantly clear that ro- 6 to 7:30 PM what human rights groups ward Afghanistan. bust diplomacy and effec- say amounted to torture — He yesterday named tive development are the had damaged America’s George Mitchell, a former best long-term tools for se- · Visit NorQuest’s new campus moral standing. senator, as an envoy who curing America’s future,” Obama waded further in- will try to jump-start Arab- Clinton said. · Learn about the career, funding to his foreign policy plans Israeli peace talks. He also Clinton won Senate ap- by paying a visit to the tapped former ambassador proval Wednesday despite and prep State Department to wel- to the UN Richard Hol- concerns about the fund- come Secretary of State brooke as a special envoy raising activities of her · Ask questions Hillary Clinton. for Afghanistan and Pak- husband, former president His foreign policy goals istan, and related issues. Bill Clinton. · Apply on the spot without include pursuing broader REUTERS REUTERS paying a fee UN launches Gaza relief efforts Edmonton Downtown Campus Health Education Centre – 106 Street MIDDLE EAST The UN is 10232 – 106 Street launching a major aid ef- “We are scaling up our humanitarian sup- fort to help tens of thou- port ... The situation is very dire.” For more information sands of children in the af- Sigrid Kaag, UNICEF termath of Israel’s military call 780-644-6300 campaign in Gaza, a top aid official said Thursday. Kaag said children, who ing amputations or severe www.norquest.ca “We are scaling up our form the majority of the burns. humanitarian support and 1.5 million Palestinians in UNICEF aims to offer looking to expand signifi- the Gaza Strip, bore the mass counselling and first cantly our psychosocial brunt of the onslaught. aid. UN technical teams support. The situation is More than 400 children are aiming to open schools very dire,” said Sigrid Kaag, were among the 1,314 by mid-February and to re- UNICEF Regional Director Palestinians killed and pair quickly key water sup- for the Middle East and more than 1,800 children ply systems damaged by North Africa. were injured, many suffer- the bombing. REUTERS metronews.ca metro Weekend, January 23-25, 2009 world 48 whales die in beaching in Tasmania 9 A pod of 50 sperm whales beached themselves on Australia’s southern island state of Tasmania overnight Thursday, but only two survived.REUTERS Disasters cost China A mother’s grief JA SON China $110B LEE / REU TERS Natural disasters caused nearly $110 billion US of Most worldwide damage in China last year, a warning to other emerg- (cid:129) China also had the high- ing economies ill- est number of disasters last prepared for potential year, with 26 recorded. The hazards, the United Philippines was next with Nations said on Thursday. 20, followed by the United A May earthquake in States with 19, Indonesia Sichuan and extreme with 16, and Vietnam and weather made China the India with 10 each. most disaster-affected country in economic terms years, the Sichuan quake in 2008, said the Interna- and Cyclone Nargis that IICCEEON tional Strategy for Disaster hit Myanmar in May made Reduction (ISDR). 2008 the most deadly since The UN body said the 2004, when an Indian world economy suffered a Ocean tsunami devastated $181 billion blow from nat- Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India urally-occurring events and Thailand. such as floods, storms, vol- A total of 235,816 people ice carving festival canic eruptions, wildfires were killed by disasters in WHYTE and droughts in 2008. 2008, compared with Much of the devastation 16,871 the year before.. was avoidable, said ISDR The costs were more than Director Salvano Briceno. double the 2007 damages “These losses could have of $75 billion. been substantially reduced The centre which com- A woman, whose child died from drinking tainted milk, holds a if buildings in China, par- piled the data released by january 15 to 25 . 2009 sign reading “Give me back my child” outside Shijiazhuang in- ticularly schools and hospi- the ISDR said China’s costs termediate people’s court on Thursday. Two men were tals, had been built to be should serve as a lesson to sentenced to death for their role in the scandal that killed six more earthquake-re- India, Iran, Turkey, and monday - friday 2 pm - 10 pm children, while the woman most widely blamed for the tragedy silient,” he said. other middle-income na- saturday & sunday 10 am - 10 pm got life in jail. Though disasters were tions which are building in- less frequent than in past frastructure rapidly. REUTERS festival park . old strathcona 85 avenue & 104 street . edmonton . alberta Obama’s top-spy choice sees opportunity in $15 Iran, Middle East check out the GROUP SECURITYU.S. intelligence agencies should seek ways PASS of working with Islamic leaders and countries such as Iran on issues of mutual interest, President Barack Obama’s choice for spy chief said Thursday. ice carving competition Retired adm. Dennis Blair also urged a break children’s play area with the Bush administra- tion intelligence policies live music in a Senate hearing for his nomination as director of ice castle & ice slide national intelligence. This includes applying van houtte café standards for humane treatment of terrorism suspects. REUTERS for more information or to volunteer check us out @ Russia, Georgia must probe war WWW.ICEONWHYTE.CA crimes: Group CONFLICTA leading rights watchdog urged Russia and Georgia on Thursday to investigate indiscrimi- nate attacks and human rights violations, including possible war ICE ON WHYTE crimes, committed during CHARITY OF CHOICE their war last year. Human Rights Watch re- leased a report document- ing attacks on civilians in the five-day conflict when Russia repelled a Georgian assault on South Ossetia. REUTERS metro metronews.ca Weekend, January 23-25, 2009 10 LOCAL NATIONAL Assoc MngingEditor, Tarin Elbert Art Director, Laila Hakim Publisher, Steve Shrout Group Publisher, Bill McDonald Assoc Night MngingEditor, Jim Reyno National Sales Director, Susan Courtney Acting Mnging Editor, Darren Krause Distribution Manager, Jim Hillman Editor-in-Chief, Dianne Rinehart Enter/Lifestyle Editor, Dean Lisk Interactive/Mrktng Director, Jodi Brown Comment & Views M Comment ICH A EL D Ringing the cellphone alarm E A D D ER New study suggests increased brain tumour risk for kids Market alarm bell. risk of brain tumours. Some nerable to cellphone radia- place I’ve been following the de- scientists say that this is tion. This year, a Swedish sci- bate about cellphone safety cause for concern. Others entist released preliminary for 15 years. During that say the data is flawed. data that shows kids who Wendy time, there have been two This isn’t fringe science. start using phones in their Mesley huge studies that were sup- The new data teens have a five times high- posed to get to the bottom of comes from a er risk of developing brain the question, “Can cell- World Health cancer. phone radiation cause brain Organization In the last two years, warn- I cancer?” The first study was study. It’s the ings about kids using cell- t’s the dream toy of to- inconclusive, and largely first of its kind phones have been issued in day’s kids. Something funded by the compa- to take a look Germany, the U.K., France, they can use to play nies that make at what hap- Belgium, Israel, Russia, India games. Text best friends. phones. I’ve pens when peo- and Finland. But in Canada? Download the latest reported ple use cell- Even though this new evi- Jonas Brothers ringtone. And on the phones over a dence is out, Health Canada call mom. That’s right, kids fact that long period. still says; “there is currently today want cellphones. A most of The final re- no convincing evidence of se- survey we did of 1,000 Cana- the re- port was due rious health effects.” dian tweens shows that al- search three years So, until the answer is most half of them already money ago, but it still clear, what should parents have a cellphone. was spent hasn’t been re- do? Cellphones are a useful Parents like the idea, too. on public leased because the tool, but kids could limit Companies are keen to mar- relations, not scientists involved their use. Make shorter calls. ket cellphones as a security science, allow- are deeply divided. And remember that phones tool, a way to stay on top of ing companies to And of course the do emit radiation, so try to Letters children’s whereabouts. stand behind a wall repercussions are hold it a few centimetres Some even come with GPS of inconclusive stud- huge. Billions of from your head. Until we tracking. ies showing phones are dollars are at know more, a little bit of Obama’s good looks too ridiculing politicians and Today’s kids are set to be- safe. stake. caution can’t hurt anyone. good for humour other figures, while ne- come the longest-term users But now, there are And that’s why glecting to provide practi- of cellphones, starting at cracks in that wall. Re- there is concern Wendy Mesley is a co-host of CBC News: Re: Obama too handsome cal suggestions for change, younger ages than ever be- sults from a second big about kids. They Marketplace, Canada’s award-winning to inspire biting satire, ever contributed positively consumer affairs show, and a regular back-up fore. Great for the phone study are trickling out, are a growing cell- host with CBC News: The National. says Belgian news cartoon- to our society in any non- business, but some scientists and some data suggests phone market, and CBC News: Marketplace airs each Friday night ist, Jan. 21 superficial way. at 8:30 p.m. (9 p.m. NT) on CBC Television. are ringing a cautionary there is an increased possibly more vul- What great news that, If these cartoonists and according to this article, humourists constantly be- satirical political cartoons lieve that politicians main- Views about Obama will be diffi- ly serve to be criti- cult to make. cized, I suggest that EPCOR is a tremendous success story However, I’m glad not they should try to get because of the specific elected and enter point about Obama, but governments, and Urban needs to continue to be a is simple; it was given the n’t involved in the day-to- because I hope this news show me how com- Compass success. freedom to act at arm’s day-business decisions of will reflect and herald petent and skilled EPCOR makes money, length from the city. Though EPCOR. Heaven only knows increasing world- they would be and as a result, it consistent- you and I are still owners of what we would be paying wide decline of in politicians’ Terence ly provides the city with EPCOR, it can make the for water and power if it satirical political shoes. Harding revenue from its opera- right business decisions free were. content. Perhaps it’s tions. But lest you think the from the misguided machi- Now comes the fun part. I’ve never time to consider only way EPCOR can be nations of the city council The message spin emanat- thought television closing down profitable is by reaching and administration. ing from city council is shows and cartoons this biting satire ever deeper into your pock- So, why is the increased meant to make you feel all that primarily (or “industry.” This week provided good et, keep in mind that much ability of EPCOR to contin- warm and toasty about that even purely) aim to STRATYOS IESKYR, and bad news for Edmon- of its revenue comes from ue to do what it does well loss. According to Indy sup- create humour by EDMONTON ton taxpayers. outside the city where it and to continue to con- porters, the event generat- The good news? The competes on a level playing tribute to the city coffers so ed economic spinoffs in ex- transfer of the Goldbar field with private sector important? Well, that’s cess of $80 million and Quote of the Day waste treatment plant to companies. When it comes where the bad news comes worldwide exposure for Ed- EPCOR is a done deal. You to holding the line on cost in. City council is going to monton. Apparently, that may not realize it, but EP- increases, EPCOR consis- need more money to make makes it worthwhile for the “I would love for them to be COR is one heck of an Ed- tently outperforms the city. up for the bad decisions it city to cover the $5.3 mil- monton success story. It’s a So how did the sleepy lit- seems intent on making. lion. right, but I think they’re wide- well-run company with a tle utility once known as Ed- Case in point, the Indy. Ed- I’d like to see them prove eyed optimists right now.” tremendous reputation, monton Power become such montonians are on the that with more than words. provincially, nationally and a player in the generation of hook for $5.3 million. internationally. That’s one electricity and the provision That’s a lot of sidewalks, my Terence Harding is a corporate communi- — Derek Holt, economist at Scotia Capital reacting to a sugges- of the reasons it’s able to of drinking water and waste friends. We can all be cator and a keen observer of all things tion by the Bank of Canada that the recession will be harsh, Edmonton. hire and retain the talent it water services? The answer thankful that city council is- but short-lived. REUTERS It’s your turn to tell others what you think. E-mail your thoughts and opinions to: [email protected] Letters must include sender’s full name, address and phone number –street name and phone numbers will NOT be published. We reserve the right to edit letters. METRO Edmonton 10123 – 99 Street NW, Edmonton, AB T5J 3H1, Tel: 780-702-0592; Advertising: [email protected]; [email protected]; News: [email protected]