TRADERS ‘HIDING’ OIL IN SUPERTANKERS, PG 8 Celebrity Buzz Bride Wars star hates weddings pg 14 EDMONTON • THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2009 metronews.ca Straight to trial Mountie NHL Welcome, Mats for alleged D escort-killer AN RIED charged in COURT A man accused in LHU tthone selsacyoirntg h oafs awna Eivdemd ohnis- BER/REU rhiegahrti ntog aa npdre wliimll ihneaardy TERS sex assault straight to trial. Matthew Todd Barrett, 25, was charged with sec- ond-degree murder in June after the body of 20-year- was known to the accused, old Chantel Robertson was JEFF CUMMINGS further details of this inci- found buried in the back- [email protected] dent or the case cannot be yard of his home. disclosed at this time,” said Friends and police A Mountie in Fort Purvis, who didn’t reveal scoured a Strathcona Saskatchewan was much to reporters during a neighbourhood when she charged with sexual news conference yesterday. didn’t return from an ap- assault Tuesday after a Jimenez was relieved of pointment on June 28. three-month investigation patrol duties and placed in Her body was discovered by a civilian-led team that an administrative position buried behind the home looks into alleged police at the beginning of the in- on 80 Avenue near 99 wrongdoing in Alberta. vestigation, said RCMP Street. Mario Jimenez, a 36-year- spokesman Cpl. Wayne Barrett has not entered a old constable working with Oakes. plea, and will appear in the RCMP in Fort Oakes says Jimenez is still Court of Queen’s Bench Saskatchewan for 18 working in that position af- Feb. 20 to set a trial date. months, was arrested and ter being released on court- METRO EDMONTON charged with one count of ordered conditions. sexual assault, said the Al- The offence is alleged to berta Serious Incident Re- have occurred near Mor- Food pg 11 sponse Team (ASIRT). inville, about 35 kilometres Jimenez was off-duty at north of Edmonton, said the time of the alleged of- Purvis. Purvis wouldn’t com- fence that is believed to have ment on if the alleged of- happened in November fence happened in the com- 2008. ASIRT began its inves- munity or in a rural location tigation “almost immediate- outside of town. ly” after the complaint was ASIRT teams investigate made, said the team’s execu- cases by combining cur- Vancouver’s Mats Sundin made his debut with the Canucks last night against the Oilers at Rexall tive director, Clifton Purvis. rent police officers with Place. Sundin didn’t have any points in Vancouver’s 4-2 win. See story on pg 9 “In order to protect the civilians with investigative identity of the victim, who experience. Beans pack Activist takes Syncrude to task for the birds healthy punch suit against the massive oil idence that pollution from VICTORIA HANDYSIDES company, because he feels “It’s a regrettable failure for the tar-sands extraction is mak- Homes pg 10 [email protected] justice has not been served. ing the environment too government to not enforce their own laws.” Eco-friendly A flock of 500 migratory toxic,” he said. “It’s a regret- An Albertan environmental birds landed on the toxic Jeh Custer, Sierra Club representative table failure for the govern- activist is taking oil giant Aurora mine tailings pond ment to not enforce their choices Syncrude to court over the in April. All but a handful of ton where they were without penalty. own laws, meaning that or- lives of 500 geese that met the waterfowl became cleaned and cared for, most Custer said he’s outraged dinary Canadians must act.” underfoot an oily fate last spring. soaked in oil, sank to the died. at inaction by both the fed- He said his aim is to en- Jeh Custer, a representa- bottom of the pond and Government officials, in- eral and provincial govern- sure that the ducks’ death tive from environmental died. cluding then-industry min- ment, nine months after does not become the accept- group, the Sierra Club of Though the recovered ister Jim Prentice, promised the incident. able standard in the Alberta Canada, has launched a law- birds were flown to Edmon- the incident would not go “This provides further ev- oilsands. CANADA’S MOST RELIABLE NETWORK FEWEST DROPPED CALLS CLEAREST RECEPTION rogers.com/reliable MMost relliiabblle networkk cllaiim reffers to callll cllariity and dropped calls test results as conducted by Rogers and a recognized third-party research company in the majority of urban Canadian centres within the Rogers Wireless footprint, comparing services of other major wireless providers. TMTrademarks of Rogers Communications Inc. used under license. © 2009 Rogers Wireless. Free Daily News Group Inc., operating as Metro Edmonton. 10123 - 99 Street NW Edmonton, Alberta T5J 3H1. Publisher: Steve Shrout metronews.ca metro Thursday, January 8, 2009 December drunk drivers down 3 Last month, RCMP officers nabbed 481 drunk drivers, while 675 people were arrested in December 2007. METRO EDMONTON Hancock off to London Local Education Minister Dave Hancock, left, will represent Cana- da at the Learning and Technology World Forum in London, England, on Jan. 12. He will also meet with British officials to discuss education topics. METRO EDMONTON Angry mom BEN Family searching LEM for missing man PH ERS/FO VANISHEDThe family of a to relive R M man who vanished from a ETRO south Edmonton apart - ED ment in early October has M O spent $3,000 to erect four N ‘nightmare’ TON billboards in four major cities in Western Canada. Dylan Koshman, who is originally from Moose Jaw, went missing Oct. 11 Though Atkinson said after he got into an argu- VICTORIA HANDYSIDES she’s confident the verdict ment with a roommate, [email protected] will be the same if a new tri- police said. The 21-year- al is scheduled, she’s dread- old man hasn’t been seen Peacha Atkinson is prepar- ing the process, which she since he walked out the ing to face her living night- feels will be the most diffi- door. mare all over again. cult yet. “It’s going to be METRO EDMONTON In a Court of Appeal deci- worse because more punch- Rod Risling, branch manager for Assessment and Taxation, speaks to the media at city hall yester- sion released Tuesday, a es will be brought out this day morning about the 2009 property-tax assessment. man convicted of killing time. More artillery is going Lower property taxes for most her 13-year-old daughter to be used this time.” has won a new trial. Five people were tried in What’s online today. “I’m so angry,” she said. the horrific murder. “How dare he put us Stephanie Bird, Michael homeowners for what to “This is somewhat reac- MedicineScientists are through this again.” Williams, Joseph Laboucan VICTORIA HANDYSIDES expect when the actual tionary,” city taxation developing tiny robots to Joseph Laboucan, 23, was and a girl who was 17 at the [email protected] bills arrive, and to avoid branch spokesman Rod fight disease from the inside found guilty in the brutal time of the crime known confusion when tearing Risling said yesterday. “We at metronews.ca/canada slaying of 13-year-old Nina only as “Buffy” were all ASSESSMENT Edmonton open tax envelopes in May. value based on what’s actu- VideoExperts predict Courtepatte, whose bat- handed life sentences for home owners are about to Edmonton properties ally happened in history. Canada’s economic tered body was found on a their part in the crime. The find out how much more or dropped roughly 10 per We’ve got good informa- fortunes will wors- west-end golf course on only person acquitted, less they’ll be paying in cent on average between tion to base our assess- en in 2009 at April 3, 2005. Michael Briscoe, is also fac- property taxes this year, July 1, 2007, and July 1, ments on.” metronews.ca/ Laboucan is serving a life ing a new trial. and why. 2008. The value of some homes canada sentence for his part in the “I’m so tired,” she said More than 300,000 prop- As a result, more than 50 in the city faced a signifi- Lotteries killing. He has maintained through tears. “I want it to erty tax assessments were per cent of homeowners will cant drop this year, which his innocence from the day be over. We’re reliving our mailed out by the city this be seeing a decrease in their could save homeowners Lotto 6/49:10, 13, 19, 35, 39 & 41. Bonus 4 he was arrested. nightmare.” week to help prepare property-tax bills this year. some cash come tax time. These results are not official. metro metronews.ca Thursday, January 8, 2009 local 4 Quickcard Minor Hockey Week begins tomorrow More than 8,500 young hockey players will invade more than 23 arenas across the Edmonton area for 10 days beginning tomorrow for Quick- card Minor Hockey Week, one of the largest hockey tournaments in the world. Opening ceremonies will be held Saturday. METRO EDMONTON Sex offender turns Winter fest warms up BEN himself in Jan. 1 LEM PH WANTED One month after ERS/FO starting to run from annual Deep Freeze: Byzan- skating to reach out to a vari- R M pseoxli oceff,e an wdearn ftreodm c oEndvmicotend- JjeEfFf.Fc [email protected] tbiyn eA rWtsi notne rt hFee sAtivvea, l ap gurto uonp etyT hofe Efdemstiovnatlo’sn icaennst.r”epiece ETRO ED ton began the year by devoted to change the trou- will feature ice sculptors MO N turning himself in. Edmontonians have been bled neighbourhood into an from the Sculptors’ Society TO N Dana Fash, 30, was put in a deep freeze over Edmonton arts hub. of Alberta’s One Block Chal- released from custody in the last few weeks, but or- Christy Morin, a director lenge competition. November, and put on ganizers behind a winter with Arts on the Ave, says The festival will also have statutory release. festival on Alberta Avenue more than 1,200 people “Winter Light” warming He allegedly breached are expecting thousands flocked to 118 Avenue for tents that will offer musical conditions to abstain from to chill in warmer weather the first festival last year and and theatrical performances. drugs and alcohol. When during the weekend-long it was only held for one day. “This event shows once arresting officers arrived event beginning Saturday. “As soon as it warms up, again that Alberta Avenue is at his halfway house on Environment Canada says we’ll have a lot of people full of artists,” said Morin. From left: Calvin Malaka, Caley Suliak, Jon Paterson and Mark Dec. 2, Fash slipped out temperatures will reach into out,” said Morin. For more information on Henderson, rehearse a scene yesterday from Knighty Knight: A the back door. the positive single digits by “This year, we’re adding the festival, check out Mummers Play, in preparation for the second annual Deep On New Year's Day, Fash Saturday, just in time for the outdoor curling and outdoor www.artsontheave.org. Freeze: Byzantine Winter Festival this weekend. turned himself in to authorities in Vancouver. Alberta leads in personal loans Flipper ends $11 contest for home METRO EDMONTON News in brief need it more than others KRISTA SYLVESTER and I try to pay them back An Edmonton man who BEN entry fee. MEMBER’S BILL Alberta Liberal Metro Canada first. I feel bad, but it’s was planning to sell his LEM Stockburger was going jluenstgicineg c railtli cM KLeAnst tHoe shurp ips ocrhta al- Shamefully admitting the howared teov ceant cho nuep opnecres oyno,u” hanodu swe ofrotrh y$ 1c1an tdoi daa tleu chkays PHERS tdoe mnfleidp hotuhsee thaotn hcee -pcoaind- private member’s bill to give fact that she has unpaid she said. pulled the plug on the $120,000 for. police more power in seizing personal loans isn’t easy, A survey released by In- contest because of a lack “It was the quantity, street-gang owned property but this personally indebt- vestors Group yesterday of entries. rather than the quality, of after a fatal triple shooting in ed Calgarian isn’t alone. showed that 72 per cent of House flipper David entries that made it clear Calgary. The bill will allow a Carolyn, too embar- Albertans have borrowed Stockburger says he was David Stockburger halted his to us that this just wasn’t peace officer to seize a vehi- rassed to give her last between $500 and $5,000 hoping to get more than contest for a renovated home. going to fly,” said Stock- cle operated by a person name, owes more than from a friend or family 2,000 entries by the end of burger on his blog. charged with an offence un- $5,000 to friends and fami- member. January for the contest, was forced to cancel it. Stockburger says he plans der Section 94 of the Criminal ly, some debts dating back That is the highest in but with only close to 650 Each submission had to to return the entry money Code, unauthorized as far as 10 years ago. Canada, but 26 per cent of entries from candidates include an essay on why to candidates as soon as possession of a firearm in a “Well, I try to pay them Albertans said they haven’t wanting the home at the candidate deserves the possible. JEFF CUMMINGS motor vehicle. METRO CANADA all back, but I know some been fully paid back. 11720 95A St., he said he home, along with an $11 /METRO EDMONTON Occidental 6,250 AEROPLAN® MILES EARN UP TO PER MEMBER† Hotels & Resorts Punta Cana via Calgary Cozumel via Toronto Occidental Grand Punta Cana • 4(cid:3) Occidental Grand Cozumel • 4 1/2(cid:3) All-Inclusive $999 All-Inclusive $1199 Junior suite Deluxe rm. Jan. 15 & 29 • 1 wk. Taxes & fees: $313 Feb. 20 • 1 wk. Taxes & fees: $305 Upgrade to the Royal Club luxury rm. for $299 per person Upgrade to the Royal Club luxury rm. for $200 per person Occidental Grand Punta Cana • 4(cid:3) Liberia, Costa Rica via Toronto All-Inclusive $1199 Occidental Junior suite Grand Papagayo • 4 1/2(cid:3) $1469 Feb. 12-26 • 1 wk. Taxes & fees: $313 All-Inclusive Upgrade to the Royal Club luxury rm. for $299 per person Deluxe rm. Taxes & fees: $192 Jan. 15, 24 & 29 • 1 wk. Please add $75 for Sat. departures Cancun/Mayan Riviera Occidental Aruba via Toronto GAlrl-aInncdlu sXivcearet • 4 1/2(cid:3) $1099 OAlcl-cInicdluesnivteal Grand Aruba • 4 1/2(cid:3) Aruba DMealru. x4e, 1r1m &. 18 • 1 wk. Taxes & fees: $290 RJaonya. 1l 7C, l1u8b, 2lu4x &ur 2y5 o •c e1 awnkv.iew rm. $2549 Grand Upgrade to the Royal Club luxury rm. for $369 per person Royal Club is exclusive to Air Canada Vacations. Taxes & fees: $253 Occidental aircanadavacations.com CONNECT FREE1• Calgary • Lethbridge • Nanaimo • Regina • Saskatoon Call 1 866 529-2079 or your travel agent Departure taxes are extra and must be paid locally: Costa Rica, 26 USD cash. Prices in this ad are valid for bookings made between Jan. 8 & 12/09, inclusive. Prices are per person based on double occupancy, unless otherwise stated, from Edmonton International Airport. New bookings only. Subject to availability. Not applicable to group bookings. Sale prices reflect applicable reductions, are subject to change without notice and cannot be combined with any other offer or promotion. Flights operated by Air Canada. For applicable terms and conditions, consult the Air Canada Vacations brochures. †Aeroplan Miles are not actual miles, but points towards rewards including travel rewards. Unless otherwise indicated, Aeroplan Miles indicated are based on roundtrip Economy class per passenger from Edmonton to Liberia via Toronto, are awarded on flight-inclusive travel only, and are per Aeroplan member. For the amount of Aeroplan Miles that can be earned when flying to other destinations, visit www.aircanadavacations.com. For terms and conditions of the Aeroplan program, consult www.aeroplan.com.(cid:2)1Available in conjunction with flight-inclusive packages. Non-stop flights via Edmonton. Excluding USA & Europe destinations. (cid:2) ®Aeroplan is a registered trademark of Aeroplan Canada Inc. ®Air Canada Vacations is a registered trademark of Air Canada, used under license by Touram Limited Partnership. Visit www.aircanadavacations.com for up-to-date information. metronews.ca metro Thursday, January 8, 2009 No ransom request yet for kidnapped Canadian 5 Canada has not received a ransom demand for a special UN envoy who was abducted in Niger last month, Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon said yesterday. Robert Fowler, a former Canadian ambassador to the United Nations, and his aide Louis Guay were kidnapped Dec. 14. REUTERS Red Bull’s language barrier Canada Red Bull Crashed Ice, a race in which skaters in full hockey gear hurl them- selves down a very steep, 550-metre chute of ice, has drawn the attention of Quebec’s language police. Scheduled to take place in Quebec City on Jan. 24, the race has no French name. The language police have suggested call- ing the contest “patinage de descente extrême (extreme descent skating)” but have not yet made an official request. METRO NEWS SERVICES B.C. lays nation’s first Iraq war resister given the boot polygamy charges lDeEyP ORRiTvAeTrIaO NshWiphpeend K oimutb etro- COLIN M serve in Iraq with the U.S. CCO Army in the fall of 2006, NN KMReItSroT ECNan TaHdOaMPSON “thI itnhkin rkig thhtis-t shiitnukaitniogn C iasn iandtoialenrsa wblaen. tI tdhoisn’t shahnoBedm a hsreaeeswl,ly pf iethnheegdrr eicsneehg limf l tdhroreneeb nthuh.uisl ndinginrtogy ELL/TORSTAR NEW Tewd op omlyegmambeirsst ocof mthme uanlleitgy - sWitaullayt Oiopnp taol, Be.xCi.s at.t”torney general hRBaeivgre hrda1a, d5,-a m hoagnda tthhe a dg mueanirsodsui oginhn,. S SERVICE of Bountiful, B.C., A young mother herself, including leader Winston she was haunted by the Blackmore, were arrested intolerable. I don’t think polygamy and exploita- sight of children crying, for- yesterday in what B.C.’s at- right-thinking Canadians tion in the small religious ever traumatized by the torney general says is the want this situation to ex- settlement near Creston war. first time Canada’s ist,” Attorney General Wal- for 20 years. On leave for two weeks, polygamy law has been ly Oppal said. In 2005, Oppal appoint- Rivera decided she couldn’t enforced. “We’ve always felt that ed an independent special go back to war. In January Blackmore, 52, and there has been exploita- prosecutor, Terrence Rob- 2007, she packed up her James Oler, 44, have been tion (in Bountiful),” he ertson, to determine family from Fort Carson, charged with having multi- added. “The question was whether a prosecution was Col., and drove to Canada, ple wives, which is against whether, given our laws, warranted. hoping to obtain refugee the law under Section 293 we were in a position to He said it’s now up to status on humanitarian and of the Criminal Code. proceed (with charges), the courts to decide compassionate grounds. It’s alleged Blackmore and we determined we whether the men’s rights Rivera, the first female has 20 wives and Oler has were.” to religious freedom will U.S. Iraq war resister to two. The RCMP has been in- trump the laws prohibiting seek refuge in Canada, was “I think this situation is vestigating allegations of polygamy. told by the Immigration and Refugee Board yester- day morning that she and Soldier facing A A her family must leave the RO murder charges N H country by Jan. 27 or face released on bail ARRIS/TO deTphoert adtieocnis.ion will force Ka immebdeirale cyo Rnifveereran ccera. dRlievse rhae irs n tehwe bfiorsrtn f ebmabayle K Uat.Sie. Iyraeqst ewradra rye dsiusrtienrg PETAWAWA, ONT.Canadian RSTAR N Rfaimveirlay, 2—6, thoe ru phrouosbt ahnedr, tfaom seileyk m reufsutg leea ivne C tahnea cdoau. nSthrey wbya sJa tno.l d2 7y eosrt fearcdea dy ethpaotr tsahteio ann.d her Armed Forces Capt. Robert EW Mario, and their three chil- Soenmd-rdaeug,r cehe amrguerdd ewri itnh lsaesct- S SERVICE dolrde nd,a uignhcltuedr iKnagt ies i—x-w freoemk- Uof. Sja.,i ls hfoer fdaecseesr tthioen p.rospect ShareYourViews fall’s shooting death of a their Toronto home. In the TORSTAR NEWS SERVICE [email protected] severely injured Taliban fighter in Afghanistan, was OLG reaches settlement Court to tackle released yesterday Bail with scratch-ticket ‘winner’ Wal-Mart closing from custody. (cid:129) One of Sem- Jenny Peto, at centre in blue jacket, speaks to media behind the Is- HEARINGSThe country’s top “I am sat- rau’s bail con- raeli Consulate in Toronto yesterday after being released by police. LOTTERYUnlucky lotto “win- porters he is happy with the court will weigh Wal-Mart’s isfied on ditions is that ner” Thomas Noftall may apology. claim that it did not close a Israeli consulate protesters released the balance he not possess not have won the jackpot, “I didn’t get my dream, so Jonquière, Que., store to of probabil- weapons, am- but the 27-year-old will take I’m going to keep playing crush a fledgling union, as ity ... that munition or TORONTO The eight Jewish group of chanting protest- home some cash from the Lotto 6-49,” Noftall said. “I well as a new “responsible custody is explosives, Canadian women who ers outside the consulate Ontario Lottery can keep hoping, journalism” defence to not neces- even in the were arrested while hold- just before 1 p.m. and Gaming Corp. “I didn’t get can’t I?” defamation lawsuits during sary,” Mili- course of his ing a protest inside the Is- Included in the group after all. The gaming cor- the winter session that my dream, so tary Judge military duties. raeli consulate have been were Israeli peace ac- OLG offered poration compen- starts this month. Lt.-Col. released. tivists, filmmakers, the Noftall an apology I’m going to sated Noftall not Wal-Mart employees laid Louis-Vincent d’Auteuil The RCMP arrested and president of Science for and an undis- keep playing because of the off in Jonquière in 2005 will told the hearing. handcuffed the women, Peace and a variety of stu- closed financial misprint, but be- have their case against the Lotto 6-49.” After being held for who were staging a sit-in dents. settlement yester- cause an OLG em- U.S. retailer heard Jan. 19. eight days, Semrau protest against the ongo- “Israel purports to repre- day after a print- Thomas Noftall ployee told him he The workers claim the com- showed obvious relief. ing Israeli assault on Gaza sent all Jews worldwide ing error on his could collect his pany killed their jobs after TORSTAR NEWS SERVICE inside the consulate in and these atrocities are not lottery tickets led him to be- winnings despite the error, they exercised their Char- Toronto. The women were being committed in our lieve he had won $135,000. OLG chief executive Kelly ter right to organize them- held briefly inside a paddy name,” said spokesperson Noftall and his lawyer McDougald said yesterday. selves into a collective bar- Canadian soldier wagon, but were not and filmmaker Cathy met with lottery officials “It was a very unique situ- gaining unit in 2004. dies in Afghan attack charged and were released. Gulkin, standing outside of yesterday at OLG headquar- ation with Mr. Noftall,” said The court will also look A paddy wagon with the the consulate. ters in Toronto. After the McDougald. at a case that expanded the AFGHANISTANA Canadian women inside drove past a TORSTAR NEWS SERVICE meeting, Noftall told re- TORSTAR NEWS SERVICE common law defences soldier was killed and available to journalists to three others were injured fight defamation suits. in southern Afghanistan News in brief An Ontario Court of Ap- yesterday when a roadside peal ruling said that in the bomb detonated near SENTENCE Owing creditors mil- EXTENSION The inquiry into COLD CASE More than 38 years Police confirmed yesterday interest of the public’s their armoured vehicle, lions of dollars and convicted the Mulroney-Schreiber affair after a 12-year-old girl went that Barry Vincent Manion, right to know, even if the military officials said. for contempt of court, a Rich- will not wrap up until the end missing in the Northern now 60, has been charged with truth of an article is not Canada has now lost 107 mond Hill, Ont., couple yester- of the year after commission Ontario town of Kirkland Lake, the first-degree murder and proven, there must be a soldiers since it first sent day had their lengthy jail sen- head Justice Jeffrey Oliphant her cousin has been charged abduction of Katherine May right to a defence of forces to Afghanistan in tences reduced to just seven was given more time to write with her killing, CBC News On- Wilson. “responsible journalism.” 2002. REUTERS days each. his final report. line reports. Ontario Provincial METRO NEWS SERVICES TORSTAR NEWS SERVICE metro metronews.ca Thursday, January 8, 2009 6 Japan creates greenhouse gas-monitoring satellite Japan’s space agency will launch a satellite later this month to monitor greenhouse gases around the world, officials said yesterday. The Greenhouse Gases Observing Satellite (GOSAT), to be launched on Jan. 21, will enable scientists to calculate the density of carbon dioxide and methane from 56,000 locations on the Earth’s surface.REUTERS Bird flu warning issued World China issued a bird flu alert yesterday after a woman died of the virus, the first such death in the country in almost a year, and closed poultry markets for disinfecting in a province surrounding Beijing. The 19-year-old woman died of the H5N1 virus after gutting nine ducks. Officials say the death appears to be an isolated case. REUTERS U.S. backs Gaza ‘ceasefire’ China lawyer makes bold demand for open books Israeli aircraft and tanks fiercely after a first, brief pounded the Gaza Strip pause to let Gaza’s 1.5 mil- Ottawa announces aid ACTIVISM A high-profile manding that it publish de- yesterday and troops bat- lion people stock up on Chinese lawyer demanded tails of its 2008 expendi- tled Palestinian guerrillas supplies. (cid:129) Canada announced yester- help ease the crisis in Gaza yesterday that the govern- ture and 2009 budget. as U.S. backing of a pro- With both the outgoing day that it will provide $4 mil- and repeated calls for an “im- ment open its books to the China’s ruling Commu- posed truce raised hope of administration of George lion in humanitarian aid to mediate” ceasefire. public in an unusually di- nist Party discloses the an end to the 12-day-old W. Bush and president- rect display of the legal ac- barest outline of its spend- offensive. elect Barack Obama speak- ters put off a decision on nels from Egypt. tivism that the Commu- ing plans to a submissive “We believe a ceasefire is ing out on the need for whether to launch a new A further 20 people were nist Party sees as a growing parliament every year. Yan necessary,” Secretary of peace, officials said Israel phase of the war by storm- killed yesterday, including threat to its rule. wants the government to State Condoleezza Rice had agreed with the “prin- ing Gaza’s urban centres. three children. The strikes Yan Yiming, an attorney live up to vows of trans- said, adding that she was ciples” of the Egyptian deal Hamas said it was look- took the total of Palestin- who has made his reputa- parency and accountability pressing Israel to move for- and would send an envoy ing at the Egyptian plan, ian deaths to at least 658 tion taking on listed com- — especially with so much ward with an Egyptian pro- to Cairo to discuss how it which addresses Israel’s — by far the bloodiest panies that misled in- of the nation’s faltering posal backed by Euro- might be put into practice. demand that Hamas be episode in decades in the vestors, presented an ap- economic fortunes now peans. That may yet take time. prevented from rearming conflict between Israel and plication to the Finance resting on state spending Israel’s assault resumed However, Israeli minis- through smuggling tun- Palestinians. REUTERS Ministry headquarters de- plans. REUTERS U.S. Senate Dems moving to Motorbike-helmet Singapore Broken hearts on display chaos comes to a seat Blagojevich’s appointee head in Nigeria RIN A POLITICSIn a sudden switch, the governor is accused of OTA AFRICA Police in Nigeria Uldea.aSyd. earbSso eubneta gstawen e atDarilenkmsg oyicners aftoetirrc-- htoa Uvthinnedg eh trir gihepder steto sb ssiuedlrdle et hr.ef rsoemat / REUTERS hmwaiotvhteo farrcruyriectsl esteh tdea lxslics ,or iprdeaesir nostf mer Illinois attorney gen- party loyalists, Senate Ma- pots or pieces of rubber eral Roland Burris, nomi- jority Leader Harry Reid tire on their heads to nated by embattled Gov. said this week there was avoid a law forcing them Rod Blagojevich, to take room for negotiations. to wear helmets. Motorcy- president-elect Barack Oba- A senior Democratic aide clists complain helmets ma’s place in the Senate. said they were seeking an are too expensive, and The turnaround came a "amicable agreement." some passengers refuse to day after Burris was barred The Illinois legislature is wear them, fearing they from the Senate chamber considering impeaching will catch skin disease or when he arrived to take Blagojevich, who was ar- be put under a black mag- the oath of office. rested by the FBI on Dec. 9 ic spell. REUTERS Senate Democrats origi- and charged with conspira- nally said Blagojevich’s ap- cy to commit mail and 30 years since fall pointment last month of wire fraud and solicitation of Khmer Rouge Burris was tainted since of bribery. REUTERS CAMBODIAThousands of survivors of the Khmer News in brief Rouge “Killing Fields” marked 30 years yesterday TRAVEL Angola’s capital Luan- triates in more than 270 loca- since the fall of Pol Pot’s da is the world's most expen- tions. Delays at Luanda’s port ultra-Maoist regime, sive place for foreigners, and damaged infrastructure blamed for 1.7 million followed by Tokyo, a public re- caused by war continued to in- deaths. A handful of aging lations director for London- flate the price of goods and Creators of the Museum of Broken Relationships exhibition, Drazen Grubisic and Olinka Vistica, movement leaders are be- based human resources services typically used by for- are shown at the M1 Singapore Fringe Festival 2009. The museum, which opened in Singapore ing tried at a joint Cambo- consultant ECA International eigners, the survey showed. A yesterday, is a travelling display of items related to failed relationships donated by people who dian-UN tribunal three said yesterday. A recent ECA strong yen has made Tokyo the live in the cities the museum has visited. The exhibit has everything from romantic letters, to decades after their survey compared a basket of second-most expensive city in photographs, to soft toys, to fur-lined handcuffs. But it also includes unusual exhibits, such as a disastrous attempt at cre- 125 consumer goods and serv- the world, up from the 13th prosthetic leg donated by a war veteran who fell in love with his physiotherapist. ating an agrarian utopia. ices often purchased by expa- position a year ago. REUTERS REUTERS AtparticipatingMcDonald’s®restaurantsinCanada.Useofthe McDonald’s®Cardisgovernedbytermsandconditionsfoundon thebackofthecardandatwww.mcdonalds.ca. ©2008McDonald’s metronews.ca metro Thursday, January 8, 2009 7 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 Obamania ... for now E A D D ER Home Abroad In the boutique of the glasses, dish towels, paper- the usual commercialism, & Smithsonian Institution — weights, T-shirts. This week which has been around in America they find the newspapers are running sto- since Wa shington took the money to tell their story in a ries of Mr. Obama vacationing oath of office in 1789. To in- Andrew national history museum in Hawaii. They report brea th- augurate is to commemo- Cohen and a national portrait lessly he has a great torso. rate. To commemorate is to gallery — a clutch of new bi- It is all very silly, but it sell. No one sells better than ographies of Mr. Obama are shows the prominence of Americans. Canada & world insight for sale. the president in politics, and The inscriptions on all I A block from the White in the zeitgeist, too. As sin- those faux medallions do n the National Museum House, a large souvenir ger Andy Kim once said of not say that Barack Obama of American History, the shop offers nothing but Richard Nixon, “he’s every- was the first president born repository of the U.S.’s Obama memorabilia. Visi- body’s daddy for awhile.” outside the 48 states or that past, the curators are tors are greeted by life-size Then again, for a country he is the first sitting senator not waiting for the inau- cutouts of the man and a enfeebled at home and en- to take office since JFK. It is guration of Barack Obama replica of the majestic desk cumbered abroad, facing that Barack Obama is the on Jan. 20. that once belonged in the epochal challenges, the first black American elected They have already entered Oval Office of John F. prospect of change is a president. It will be the first his name and face in its Kennedy (from tonic for an ailing line of his obituary. The sec- gallery of presidents, a per- which his toddler, soul. ond line, though, will say manent exhibition subtitled John Jr., was fa- Inaugurations have what he did with it. “A Glorious Burden.” There mously photogra - long been occasions in The worse things get, the he is, the smiling 44th presi- phed peeking out America, which is al- greater the expectations of dent of the United States, from a front panel. ways interested in the the new president. His pop- the last in a glorious — or Now, in doctored next new thing. ularity will never be greater Russia pumps PR muscles inglorious — line stretching images, Mr. Oba- They are a celebra- than it is today, as he will from George Washington to ma’s daughters tion of democracy learn when the parade ends George W. Bush. are peeking out.) as much as an affir- and cheers fade on Jan. 20. in gas conflict with Ukraine There is that sense of an- The president- mation of partisan- He has been dealt a diffi- ticipation in Washington, elect’s face is ship, which is why cult hand, his burden is tOthobreac imhm apnheiraais.a l Ictai tlyrise s aeadiszy e dif b wetiehthne eolivnne krbsy,uw tphtoeennress, , chu—offt trohande refe,o rw ishh oitcuhhra st, gofpoeals-- ggrloeraito, uasn.d it won’t always be Rpitru hiscasesi a lc eohanarsfnl itsc hstoo wmwineth lie nUs siktosrn agsi anisne- REUTERS passed; in stores and restau- sauce, book- lowed by all those Andrew Cohen teaches journalism at how to handle the media rants of F Street, it is all Oba- marks, pins, golf extravagant balls. Carleton University. He is the author of since being portrayed as the Extraordinary Canadians: Lester B. Pearson. ma, all of the time. balls, champagne With that comes aggressor during a similar dispute in 2006. Moscow reduced gas sup- Russian PM Vladimir Putin Views plies to Kiev on Jan. 1, as it did three years ago, cutting Prime Minister Vladimir Systemic barriers hurt minorities, business flows to European countries Putin has led Moscow's de- which receive gas through nunciations of Ukraine’s ac- Ukraine. But this time, it has tions during the gas dispute, use of the “R” word was de- In 2006, visible minorities ty Institute, co-authored a fared better in the public re- and Gazprom has launched liberate. It makes us bristle, were more than 40 per cent survey of middle managers lations battle. a website to explain its side Wendy but gets our attention. of the residents of Toronto in large Canadian corpora- Since the dispute in 2006 of the row — www.gazpro- Cukier Systemic barriers facing and Vancouver; 22.2 per tions and found that visible the Kremlin has hired one mukrainefacts.com. visible minorities are not cent of Calgarians and more minorities (and wom en) are of the world’s largest public A chief Gazprom’s official just a problem in “those” than 16 per cent of residents more likely to belie ve they affairs firms, Omnicom. has also toured European neighbourhoods. They af- in Montreal, Ottawa and Ed- are held to hig her standards In 2006, the European countries, giving briefings Diversity is a competitive fect our governments, our monton. But visible minori- of perform an ce and have Union loudly condemned and interviews in which he advantage in the global universities and our corpo- ties, and women, are vastly less mentoring than their Moscow and openly ques- accuses Ukraine of stealing economy. Canada, with rate boardrooms. under-represented in leader- white colleagues. tioned Russia’s reliability as gas meant for Europe. more than 200 ethnic The business case for di- ship roles. Legislatu res, city Images of leaders offer a supplier. This time Russian TOM PERRY/REUTERS groups speaking more than versity is compelling. In halls, universities and im- role models. They shape 100 different languages spite of the economic down- ages of wealth and power goals, expectations and per- every day, is considered an turn, our aging population dominating the media are formance. We must watch Quote of the Day inspiration for the rest of and declining birthrate dominated by white males. the gap between our aspira- the world. But we cannot mean that by 2011, all work Many of the barriers to ad- tions for a just society and rest on our laurels. Just two force growth in Canada will vancement stem from the reality. But clearly the “There is no concern in Quebec weeks ago, former Ontario come throu gh immigration. thoughtlessness rather than glass is half full. In a short chief justice Roy McMurtry Attracting and retaining im- intention. Most jobs, for ex- time, Barack Obama has of- City that the name is in English. and former MPP Alvin Curl- migrants is essential to cor- ample, are never advertised. fered a transformative im- We still shop at Canadian Tire ing released a report on the porate success. And re- Employers rely on word of age of leadership, success roots of violence concluding search shows diversity is mouth and personal net- and power. And we can only and not Canadian Pneu.” that racism is alive and well. good for business — match- works. Exclusion from these hope that more will follow. Systemic barriers and the ing the workforce to the informal networks, is a — Daniel Gagnon, director of communications for Quebec City absence of role models can communities served helps huge barrier. Wendy Cukier is the associate dean tourism, on complaints raised over the lack of a French name of the Ted Rogers School of Management at crush the hopes and aspira- win the hearts and wallets Dr. Margaret Yap, from Ryerson University, and the founder of Ryer- for the Red Bull Crashed Ice wild winter-sport race to be hosted tions of young people. Their of consumers. Ryerson University’s Diversi- son’s Diversity Institute. by the city. TORSTAR NEWS SERVICE 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] metro metronews.ca Thursday, January 8, 2009 8 ‘Irrelevant’ Penthouse earns little, owner says Social networking company FriendFinder Networks Inc., the parent of iconic men’s magazine Penthouse, says the magazine is “irrelevant” and contributes little financially to earnings, but the company says it won’t shut down the magazine. REUTERS DOLLAR OIL Business C$ 83.54¢ US $42.63 US 1.01¢ US$ $1.1971 $5.95 EDITOR: FERMIN DESOUZA, [email protected] Outsourcing ‘Terrible start’ to ’09, Smart Times, they are a changin’ firm’s head steps down RICK W top economists say ILKIN G Ramalinga Raju visited /REU Canada four years ago to TERS talk about how Indian out- The economy is in for a it extremely vulnerable to sourcing firm Satyam rough ride through the “There’s a lot of bad the growing economic cri- Computer Services was us- first half of the year and sis there. news to get ing Canada to gain access will see little or no growth “There’s a lot of bad to the huge U.S. market. in 2009 as the recession through over the news to get through over Yesterday the chairman takes hold, top econo- next six months.” the next six months,” said of India’s fourth-lar gest mists from Canada’s Avery Shenfeld, senior Avery Shenfeld software serv ices exporter largest banks said. economist at CIBC World resigned, saying Satyam’s The economy will also Markets. profits had been massively continue to shed thou- Toronto-Dominion Bank. Economists at Bank of inflated over the years — sands of jobs and the un- Drummond’s comments Nova Scotia and Royal that caused the company’s employment rate will came ahead of key data Bank agreed, with Royal stock price to plummet move higher as fallout due tomorrow that is ex- Bank’s Craig Wright not- nearly 80 per cent. Raju from the global financial pected to show the Canadi- ing the economy will see claimed that about $1 bil- crisis takes its toll. an economy shed 22,000 in no growth at all this year. lion US, or 94 per cent, of The comments were December. That would fol- The comments come less the cash on the company’s made by a panel of leading low a loss of 70,600 jobs in than a month after the books was “non-existent.” domestic bank economists November. Bank of Canada unexpect- In Canada, Satyam’s at a Economic Club of The slowdown in the edly cut its key overnight clients include four of the LG Electronics unveils the world’s first market-ready touch Canada event in Toronto global economy is expect- rate by 75 basis points to a big five banks. With watch phone with 3G video telephone and GSM quadband net- yesterday. ed to keep weighing on the 50-year low of 1.50 per offices in Toronto, Montre- work capabilities at a consumer electronics show in Las Vegas “The first half of 2009 domestic economy. cent, and said for the first al and Calgary, it also does yesterday. The phone features a Flash interface, MP3 player, looks pretty terrible for Canada sends about 75 time that the economy was business in the health-care voice calling, text messaging and text to speech. Canada,” said Don Drum- per cent of its exports to entering a recession. sector. TORSTAR NEWS SERVICE mond, chief economist at the United States, leaving REUTERS Watchdog wants Cheap oil tempts traders 911 upgrade to play high-stakes game CELLPHONESThe Canadian Radio-television and Tele - communications Commis- DROPCrude oil prices fell Giants of the sea sion is expected to give 12 per cent yesterday, the cellphone companies until largest percentage drop in February 2010 to change seven years, after a U.S. in- (cid:129) The largest supertankers, if their system so dispatch - ventory report showed a stood on their end, would ers can locate the origin of glut in the market. each be as tall as the Empire a 911 call, CBC News But the perception there State Building in New York. Online reports. will be a rebound in de- (cid:129) The carriers hold about 2 It will make a formal de- mand during the second million barrels of crude. cision in February. A num- half of the year has some ber of people have died af- traders playing a high- that showed commercial ter making 911 calls from stakes game — chartering crude inventories last cellphones because emer- supertankers to purchase week increased by 6.68 gency dispatchers could and store huge volumes of million barrels. not tell where the person inexpensive oil that can be That’s more than four was. METRO NEWS SERVICES sold on the futures market times higher than the con- at a healthy profit. sensus expectations of an- The decline was blamed alysts. Phone made from largely on a U.S. report TORSTAR NEWS SERVICE recycled bottles TRENDMotorola Inc. un - In brief veil ed a cellphone made of recycled water bottles, LAYOFFS Planned layoffs at U.S. Christmas notes heavy job-cut- hoping to cash in on the firms eased in December from ting could continue through trend for environmentally the previous month’s seven- mid-2009 until more economic friendly prod ucts. The year high, but they were up an stimulus arrives. The 1,223,993 W233 Renew will be show- astounding 275 per cent annu- job cuts in 2008 are the largest cased at a consumer elec- ally as the recession continued since 2003, when there were tronics show in Las Vegas. to hammer the job market. A 1,236,426 job cuts. REUTERS report by Challenger, Gray & REUTERS Job At Home NEED A MORTGAGE ATTN: Specialist? $487.68Weekly. LOCAL PEOPLE MailWork,AssembleProducts Call Kelly We need you to work orComputerWork. Parkinson www.TopJobAlberta.com for all your from home, online. OrWriteto: CHRJobs Mortgage $1500 - $4500, P/T & F/T Needs! 900 Greenbank Road Call Eva at Suite #415 • #916-MC1 OttawaON,K2J4P6 TMG 780-798-3482 780.69TMG0The M.ort4gage G3roup 6Albert3a Ltd. metronews.ca metro Thursday, January 8, 2009 Boldin may not play 9 Arizona Cardinals receiver Anquan Boldin rested his injured hamstring yesterday and said he’s not sure if he will play in the divisional playoff at Carolina Saturday. Boldin hurt the hamstring during Arizona’s victory over Atlanta last Saturday.METRO NEWS SERVICES Trade, trade rumours in Raptorland Sports The Toronto Raptors traded little-used Hassan Adams and cash to the Los Angeles Clippers yesterday for a future second-round draft pick, while websites such as hoopsworld.com alluded to a potential deal with the Dallas Mavericks for Josh Howard, left. The rumoured trade would send Andrea Bargnani and Anthony Parker to Dallas. Bargnani, meanwhile, scored 25 points last night as Toronto beat Washington 99-93. METRO NEWS SERVICES [email protected] Canucks double up on Oil Sports in brief NHL Reports of imminent firings atop the Ottawa Senators’ D organization are untrue, club A Buffalo’s Andrew Peters NHL RESULT N RIED oMwenlneyrk E tuoglde nTeS NM yeelnstyekr dinasyi stthsa.t LH rJRaeraukcktsou aRfutteuurt ub eTgiuneges dbaittyts.en by CanuckVs 4S Oilers 2 UBER/REUTERS tsMahuboegornguetet rw settoaaio lsh ntnihrsoea i tnmP s aLaetei rdQ iJto u Mtuoinernnlna ayl nkd deis Hockey Canada president Bob two for biting Nicholson to replace Craig THE SKINNY:The debut of Hartsburg and Bryan Murray, re- NHL Senators forward Mats Sundin in Vancouver silks spectively. Jarkko Ruutu was suspend- was the story coming in, but ed two games without pay Steve Bernier grabbed the spot- CFL Kicker-punter Nick Setta has yesterday for allegedly bit- light with goals 12 seconds chosen to re-sign with the ing Buffalo Sabres forward apart in the second period as Hamilton Tiger-Cats instead of Andrew Peters in Tuesday’s the Canucks prevailed in the joining the NFL. A CFL all-star contest between Ottawa proverbial four-point game at the past two seasons, Setta and Buffalo. Rexall Place. signed a contract that will keep The incident occurred in him in Hamilton through at the first period of the con- THE QUOTE:“It’s not a per- least 2011. test, which was eventually fect situation coming back in won by the Sabres, 4-2. the middle of a season like NFL It didn’t take long for Eric During a skirmish near this,” Sundin said. “It’s a big Mangini to find a new home, as the players’ benches, Peters challenge for me and I have to the former New York Jets head had a glove in Ruutu’s face work to get back to where I Oiler fans welcome Mats Sundin to Rexall Place last night. coach reached an agreement and the Buffalo forward want to be. The only way to get yesterday to lead the Cleveland came away from the gather- to where you want to be is to “mild concussion” suffered Browns in the same capacity. ing shaking a gloveless start playing games.” THE PRODUCTION LINE: COLE HOT:After a slow start, against Nashville. Dec. 28. The Terms of the contract were not hand. Vancouver’s third line of Erik Cole is rolling for the Oil- Oilers leading scorer won’t be released. Mangini led the Jets Peters complained to offi- THE BIG PLAY:After putting Bernier, Burrows and Ryan ers. His goal to cut Vancouver’s ready against San Jose on Fri- to a 9-7 record and a third-place cials on the ice and was Vancouver ahead 2-1 at 17:20 Kesler combined for eight lead to 3-2 was his fourth in the day, either. finish in the AFC East this past seen on the Sabres’ bench of the second period, Bernier points. Bernier got his pair af- last six games. season, but a paltry 1-4 mark mouthing that Ruutu bit took a goalmouth feed from ter going 12 games without a THE NEXT GAME:The Oilers down the stretch kept New York him. Peters continued to Alex Burrows and buried it be- goal. Burrows opened the scor- NOT SO MILD?:Ales Hemsky host the Sharks Friday at Rexall out of the playoffs and led to make that claim after the hind Dwayne Roloson to make ing with his ninth of the missed his fifth straight game Place. ROBIN BROWNLEE/ his firing. contest. it 3-1 at 17:32. season. with what the team dubbed a FOR METRO EDMONTON METRO NEWS SERVICES Ruutu told reporters after the game that while Peters’ Another all-star gloved hand ended up in NHL Habs take Manhattan his mouth, he did not bite him. M onR tuhuet pul waya, sb nuot tt hpee nsualsipzeend- IKE STO tap for Souray sion was handed down only BE/G hovoeurr-sth aeft-pehr oRnueu thue ahraidn gan ETTY IM A with NHL senior executive GES NHL Canucks goalie Robert vice president of hockey op- Luongo, Oilers defence- erations Colin Campbell. man Sheldon Souray and The suspension covers Calgary Flames forward contests with the Boston Jarome Iginla were among Bruins tonight and the New 15 players added to the York Rangers on Saturday, NHL’s Western Conference and he will not be eligible all-star team yesterday. to return to action until Jan. Other veterans included 13 when the Senators face were the Detroit Red the Carolina Hurricanes. Wings’ Pavel Datsyuk and As a repeat offender, Ruu- Nicklas Lidstrom, the Dal- tu will also forfeit las Stars’ Mike Modano, $31,707.32 in salary, which the St. Louis Blues’ Keith is automatically added to Tkachuk, the Colorado Souray and Jarome Iginla are the Players’ Emergency As- Avalanche’s Milan Hejduk, headed to the all-star game sistance Fund. the Columbus Blue Jackets’ in Montreal. METRO NEWS SERVICES Rick Nash and the Phoenix Coyotes’ Shane Doan. First- goalie J.S. Giguere, de- SCOREBOARD timers will be the San Jose fenceman Scott Nieder- NHL Sharks’ Dan Boyle, the mayer and centre Ryan Minnesota Wild’s Niklas Getzlaf of the Anaheim YESTERDAY’SRESULTS Vancouver 4 EDMONTON 2 Backstrom the Nashville Ducks and defenceman Montreal 6 N.Y. Rangers 3 Predators’ Shea Weber and Brian Campbell and for- TONIGHT’S GAMES N.Y. Islanders at Calgary the Los Angeles Kings’ wards Patrick Kane and Ottawa at Boston Dustin Brown. Jonathan Toews of the Atlanta at New Jersey Despite struggling with Chicago Blackhawks. Minnesota at Philadelphia Toronto at Montreal injuries, Luongo will make Additions to the Eastern Carolina at Florida his third all-star appear- team will be announced to- Dallas at Detroit Pittsburgh at Nashville ance, as will Souray. day. Chicago at Colorado Marc Staal of the Rangers and Roman Hamrlik of the Canadiens collide at Madison Square Iginla will appear for the The game will be in Mon- Tampa Bay at Phoenix Garden last night. Montreal won 6-3. fifth time. treal Jan. 25. Anaheim at Los Angeles The Western starters: METRO NEWS SERVICES metro metronews.ca Thursday, January 8, 2009 10 Metro Homes A METRO JOINT VENTURE WITH: EDITOR: DOUGLAS DUNLOP, [email protected] ‘Green’ carpets gain ground Experts advise against wall-to-wall carpets are pure wool, and while SONYA PRECENKO they were more expensive Online options for Source Media Group than synthetic, they have never given me a headache For more information, While for a truly green the way some off-gassing check out the following choice, the green living ex- carpets do.” websites: perts advise against wall- EASIER BEING GREEN (cid:129) greengreenergreenest.com to-wall carpeting and rec- The Carpet and Rug Insti- (cid:129) penguin.ca ommend area rugs instead, tute (CRI) is making buying (cid:129) gilldeacon.ca there are increasingly eco- greener carpeting easier (cid:129) carpet-rug.org friendly choices becoming with its Green Label and (cid:129) cleancalgary.org available underfoot. Green Label Plus programs. (cid:129) shawfloors.com “Consider alternatives to These programs rate car- (cid:129) mohawk-flooring.com wall-to-wall carpeting. Use pets with very low volatile (cid:129) ecobydesign.com washable area rugs when organic compound (or low- possible … Carpet tiles are a VOC) emissions. They test a lower environmental im- great way to minimize for and certify low emis- pact on conventional build- waste because you just re- sions from carpet, carpet ing products; and that are place tiles as needed and cushion and adhesive. generally less harmful to the rest remain intact,” “Today, indoor air quality both the environment and writes Lori Bongiorno, au- is an important environ- human health.” thor of GreenGreener- mental consideration, espe- Clean Calgary Association Greenest: A Practical Guide cially since we spend ap- lists several types of carpets to Making Eco-Smart Choic- proximately 90 per cent of in its guide: recycled con- es a Part of Your Life. our time indoors,” says CRI tent carpet, recycled pop A NATURAL PROGRESSION president Werner Braun. bottle carpet and wool car- “Buy carpets and rugs “Architects, builders and pet. made from recycled or nat- specifiers can have full con- HEY JUTE ural materials such as wool fidence that Green Label The company EcoChoices (ask your retailer to make and Green Label Plus car- features undyed, organic sure any wool products pets are desirable, attrac- wool area rugs and carpet- haven’t been treated with tive, green building prod- ing. Their pure all-natural toxic moth repellents), al- ucts. They can rest assured chemical free untreated paca, or hemp,” notes Bon- they are purchasing the wool carpet has natural ad- giorno. very lowest emitting prod- hesive from the rubber tree, Gillian Deacon, author of ucts on the market.” jute secondary backing and Green for Life: 200 Simple A CLEAN BREAK hemp/cotton backing. Eco-ideas for Every Day, also In Alberta, the Clean Cal- Wool yarns are locked in- has tips about choosing gary Association has pub- to place with a natural ad- wool carpeting in her green lished a Green Building and hesive that is derived from guide. “If you have to get Renovation Guide — Resi- the rubber tree. This further carpet, choose 100-per-cent dential Products and Re- helps to lock the stitches in wool with jute backing, or sources. It is available on- place and prevents slippage any backing that is sewn on line for downloading off the of the yarn. This adhesive is rather than glued,” says association’s website. completely biodegradable Deacon. “Use carpet tacks The guide was “compiled and non-toxic. Jute, a hardy rather than adhesives to se- to assist Calgary’s residents Earth-friendly fibre produc- cure your carpeting. to find building materials ing plant, is used for the sec- “The carpets we have in that are free of toxins; con- ondary backing. Some carpets are much more eco-friendly than others. certain parts of our house tain recycled contents; have EDITED FOR LENGTH BY METRO Home inspection horrors: If these walls could talk After almost a year of liv- would have noticed. The “Although everything perfect,” says Daley, when ing in their new stuff he found came as a Not the whole story turned out fine, I’d never that’s seldom the case. Da- townhouse in Uxbridge, surprise.” move in to a brand-new ley and Charters Kenny are Ont., Libby McCready and The most significant de- (cid:129) While builders provide a more geared to cosmetic is- house again without hav- both registered home in- her husband figured there fect Daley found was that pre-delivery inspection (PDI) sues, such as nicks in drywall ing a home inspection spectors (RHI). was little wrong with their the clothes dryer hadn’t for buyers to note defects, and whether the right floor- done right away,” says Mc- Other home inspectors home. been vented properly, thus registered home inspector ing, cabinetry, etc. are provid- Cready. “I would have in Ontario have also start- As neither Libby nor her was not blowing outdoors Brian Daley says these are ed. rather had a comprehen- ed offering warranty in- husband had much knowl- but into insulation, which sive list of the problems spections in addition to edge or experience with could have eventually from the start, as we’d their regular inspections of home building or repairs, caused a moisture and the fireplace was not com- signed before buying by lived here for almost a year resale homes. they hired home inspector mould issue. He also noted pleted and that attic insu- the one-year deadline and and some of the issues Daley says his company Brian Daley to have a look. that the plumbing to a toi- lation had been flattened as a result, those issues are could have caused prob- finds an average of 30 de- “We wanted to make let in a seldom-used sec- in places. covered. If they hadn’t sub- lems. The inspection was fect items during a warran- sure we caught everything ond bathroom wasn’t on Armed with Daley’s re- mitted the report in time, totally worthwhile.” ty inspection and Sweeney but we’re not handy,” says the right angle for flush- port and digital photos, their builder would not Unfortunately, most new says his list usually in- McCready. “Brian found a ing, that a promised rough- the McCreadys filled out have been obligated to re- homebuyers mistakenly cludes 20 to 30. number of things we never in for an electrical fan for the warranty forms they pair the defects. “believe their new house is TORSTAR NEWS SERVICES