| Same-sex marriage ruling this week
The Supreme Court of Canada will release its decision this week on the constitutionality of the federal government’s proposed bill to legalize same-sex marriage across the country.
If the Supreme Court sanctions the bill, the government has promised to introduce the change in legislation this spring. The legislation would allow same-sex marriage, but wouldn’t require religious institutions to perform same-sex marriage ceremonies.
Keith Purdy, who filed a human-rights complaint a year and a half ago because Alberta won’t allow him and his partner to marry, says he’s hoping that the Supreme Court decision will speed up the investigation of his complaint by the Alberta Human Rights and Citizenship Commission.
Same sex marriage is now legal in most of Canada after court challenges in Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon and British Columbia. But Alberta premier Ralph Klein promised to use all legal means at his disposal to fight same-sex marriage during an election debate in November.
Purdy says he and his partner would like to challenge the province’s ban on same-sex marriage in court, as has been done in other provinces, but he says they don’t have the funds to do so.
He says they’ve chosen not to get married elsewhere in Canada because they want to fight for gay rights in their home province.
"This is where the fight is in the country," says Purdy. "I want to put the screws to Ralph Klein. I don’t want him to get away with using the notwithstanding clause."
Council wants Ward 10 inquiry
City council has asked the province to conduct a public inquiry into potential vote tampering in the Ward 10 municipal election.
In the October election, Margot Aftergood beat incumbent alderman Diane Danielson by less than 150 votes. Shortly after the election results were announced, Calgary police began an investigation into voter fraud in the ward after the city’s chief electoral officer reported voting irregularities related to 1,266 mail-in ballots. The mail-in ballots were sent to a postal box rented by Aftergood’s husband.
A judicial inquiry into Ward 10 election results was supposed to begin on November 29. However, Aftergood resigned on that day, after city administration offered to pay 60 per cent of her legal costs. A Ward 10 by-election will be held on February 28.
Helicopter tourism could threaten wildlife
The Alberta Wilderness Association (AWA) fears increased helicopter tourism within Banff and Jasper National Parks and the surrounding areas will have a detrimental impact on wildlife and the environment.
Icefield Helicopter Tours Inc. has applied for the second time to Clearwater County to have a restriction lifted on the number of helicopters they use for their tours.
Currently, Icefield Helicopter Tours flies three helicopters in the area. They are requesting permission to fly six.
AWA is concerned that noise from increased helicopter flights could have a negative impact on wildlife.
"The noise (from the helicopters) displaces the animals and can cause reproductive stress," says Lara Smandych, conservation biologist with AWA. "We have to consider the known and unknown affects this has on the animals."
Alan Ernst, owner of a tourism lodge near Nordegg, says heli-tourism is not the right type of activity for the area. He is concerned that if the restriction is lifted, it could harm the local environment. He says tourism activity should be kept to low-impact activities.
"Everyone who wants to enjoy the wilderness and solitude will be negatively affected," says Ernst. "We don’t need another Banff or Canmore. Why not develop this area differently?"
Icefield Helicopter Tours Inc. said they had no comment on the matter. |
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