| Canadian Alliance leader Stephen Harper won the byelection in Calgary Southwest on May 13, giving Canada a new official opposition leader.
Harper won with 71.6 per cent of the vote, followed by NDP Bill Phipps, who garnered 20.7 per cent. Green Party candidate James Kohut was third with 3.6 per cent of the vote, followed by independent Gordon Barrett at 2.3 per cent and Christian Heritage candidate Ron Gray at 1.7 per cent. The Liberals and Conservatives ran no candidates in the race.
Only 23 per cent of eligible voters cast their ballots.
Harper replaces the seat vacated by Reform Party founder Preston Manning, who retired from the House of Commons last year.
City council overwhelmingly voted against the sale of public electric utility Enmax on May 10.
The vote came after almost a year of debate about selling the corporation to the private sector or keeping it under the ownership of the municipal government.
The vote was expected to be close, but only two of 15 aldermen voted in favour of the sale.
Those supporting the sale said Enmax needed private ownership to stay competitive in Alberta’s deregulated electricity market. Those against the sale wanted to see the company remain under the control of citizens.
The strategic direction and management of the company’s board of directors is now being examined by the city, and changes in the way it operates may be implemented in the future.
City council has delayed the next step in its massive East Village redevelopment project.
Responding to a request from Ald. Druh Farrell, council agreed to wait at least a month before proceeding with the project to get more public input – specifically related to the project’s plans to develop near the bank of the Bow River.
The project is a 10-year $10-billion development that would transform the area between City Hall and Fort Calgary with extensive residential and commercial developments.
The Calgary Downtown Association criticized the delay for holding up a much anticipated development, but others are hopeful it will allow changes to the project.
The Image 54 Gallery’s 20th anniversary celebration this year will benefit the Calgary Contemporary Arts Society, which is also celebrating 20 years in 2002.
Image 54 Gallery is planning a number of fund-raising initiatives as part of its anniversary celebrations that will support the exhibition and educational programs of the Triangle Gallery, which is operated by the Calgary Contemporary Arts Society.
A number of Western Canadian artists have donated works to be sold to raise money, and additional funds will be generated through Image 54 Gallery’s corporate packages, a membership drive, donations and a raffle.
The fund-raising initiative comes at a good time for the Calgary Contemporary Arts Society – Triangle Gallery is struggling to make ends meet since the provincial government eliminated the Community Lottery Board grant program earlier this year.
A fund-raising benefit event will take place at the Image 54 Gallery on May 23. Tickets can be purchased at Triangle or Image 54 galleries.
The art works for sale can be viewed at www.image54.com |
