FFWD Weekly
Copyright © 1997. All Rights Reserved.
NEWS
by FFWD staffSpecial Places 2000 loses another environmental group
The Castle-Crown Wilderness Coalition (CCWC) is so disillusioned with the government's conservation program that the group has decided to withdraw its nomination of the Castle Wilderness area near Pincher Creek from Special Places 2000, according to a March 18 new release.
"This government has given Albertans one process for protecting land," says CCWC member James Tweedie, "but it is so flawed that environmental groups like ours have decided that we can't be part of it. The way Special Places 2000 is proceeding locally, we think it might actually harm our efforts to protect the Castle Wilderness, not help them."
Tweedie said the nomination for the Castle area has been selected by the provincial coordinating committee as a candidate for protection, but CCWC was told it can't be part of the local committee. He added that all existing commitments to forestry, oil and gas, and mining will be maintained. "As a group concerned about the continuing degradation of the area, this is totally unacceptable," Tweedie added.
Two other environmental groups, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society and Alberta Federation of Naturalists, have already pulled out of Special Places 2000 due to concerns about provincial policies which will allow existing development agreements to be carried out in designated areas.
Paskapoo Slopes to be protected from development
City council has approved a plan that will preserve more than 60 per cent of 185 hectares of land west of Canada Olympic Park, including Paskapoo Slopes. The Calgary West Area Structure Plan designates the land as open space, which cannot be developed, and is intended to preserve wildlife habitat.
Government warns Albertans to be prepared for floods
The province is advising Albertans to be aware of the potential for flooding due to the heavy snow pack and the expected increase in temperatures. "Albertans are encouraged to stay alert to potential flood conditions in their area," stated a news release issues March 17.
The release suggests that residents stay informed through radio and television reports and be prepared by taking the following precautions: check to see if your eavestroughs, culverts and drainage ditches are clear; if necessary, have a professional inspect your roof for excessive snow loads; if you have a sump pump, check to see if it's working; review your insurance policy to ensure you are adequately covered, including sewer back-up insurance; and identify commercial sandbag suppliers.
Supreme Court upholds local lap dancing bylaw
You can look, but don't touch. Calgary exotic dancers will have to continue abstaining from physical contact with their customers, and vice versa, after a Supreme Court of Canada ruling last week that upheld an earlier court decision.
In Calgary, the Court of Queen's Bench had previously ruled that a city bylaw banning lap dancing for health and safety reasons was allowable. As a result, The Body Shoppe strip club had to shut down its lap dancing operation last summer.
Calgary to ease up on mural restrictions
City streets may soon appear more lively and colorful after the planning commission recommended that council let up on a bylaw requiring development permits for outside wall murals.
Under the current regulations, all businesses wanting a mural on the exterior of their building must go through the expense and paperwork of acquiring a permit - even if the murals aren't paid advertisements or are used to cover graffiti. However, the proposed amendments would allow murals in all districts, not just commercial or industrial.
Knife incidents increasing, according to police report
A city police report indicates the number of incidents involving knives increased 5.6 per cent to 569 in 1996 from 539 in 1995. In 168 of those cases last year, 186 victims were injured including three deaths and 54 major injuries.
Calgary Alderman John Schmal has called for a bylaw to ban carrying knives in public, which has support from city police. The ban would not apply to pocket knives or other knives with practical purposes. Under the Criminal Code, it is illegal to carry a concealed knife with a blade 10 centimeters or longer and switch blades and spring-loaded stilettos are also banned.
New downtown health centre opens
The new 8th & 8th Health Centre opened for business March 17 in Calgary. The $700,000 24-hour downtown health facility is located at 8th Street and 8th Avenue S.W. The centre offers mental health services, home care and long-term care assessment and referral, health promotion and disease prevention, rehabilitation therapies and laboratory and X-ray services.
The centre is intended to meet some of the needs previously met by the two downtown hospitals, but does not provide emergency services. Holy Cross Hospital closed last year and the General Hospital (Bow Valley Centre) emergency department is scheduled to close April 8.
Former city alderman wins federal Tory nomination
Former Calgary alderman Carol Kraychy won the federal Progressive Conservative nomination in Calgary Southeast by acclamation. The nomination date was scheduled for April 12, but Kraychy was the only candidate to file papers by the March 14 deadline. She previously served as alderman for six years and owns an urban planning consulting company.
MP Jan Brown, who currently represents the Calgary Southeast riding as an independent after leaving the Reform party, had announced that she would seek the Conservative nomination, but later changed her mind stating she did not want to challenge a strong female candidate. Instead, Brown plans to seek the Tory nomination in Reform leader Preston Manning's riding of Calgary Southwest.
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