Author: Shelly W

Categories
Economic Ft Mac Politics

Fort McMurray Craft Brewery Welcomes New Alberta Beer Tax

Many breweries in Alberta are in a rage over the new Alberta beer tax, but a Fort McMurray craft brewery is welcoming the change in the hopes that it is a start to a better future for the industry. Wood Buffalo Brewing Co. co-owner Brett Ireland stated “We’re definitely pleased with it. There is a lot of beer coming in from outside the province and it’s difficult for Albertan brewers, if not impossible, to get beer into their provinces. So this tax is kind of leveling the playing field. We would love to see the entire country go to a non-protectionist model for all brewers across the country.” The new tax is set at a flat rate of $1.25 per litre, and this tax does not take into account the size of the brewery.

The Alberta beer tax may be seen with optimism by the Fort McMurray craft brewery but many outside of the local area are not so enthused with the idea. According to Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming authority Don McMorris the tax will be an impediment to free trade between provinces in Canada. Great Western Brewing Co. CEO Michael Micovcin feels that Alberta breweries will receive preferential trade treatment. For Alberta Small Brewers Association Terry Rock the tax represents industry growth though. Brock explained “If we had an open Canadian market and the government of Saskatchewan didn’t have centralized buyers who were making the decision about whether to stock Alberta beer or not… I might have a different opinion. But at this point, that’s not the case.”

Categories
Alberta Economic Ft Mac Health

Nutrition North Canada Program Adds Dozens of Communities Including Fort Chipewyan

The Nutrition North Canada Program has added dozens of communities to the food subsidy program, and Fort Chipewyan is one of those added. The program helps subsidize the cost for food shipments because the communities are remote or difficult to access so the cost of shipping food in must be considered in the final cost. A number of tehse communities can only be reached by air during much of the year. According to Grand Chief of Treaty 8 First Nations of Alberta and the Mikisew Cree First Nation leader Chief Steve Courtoreille “It’s been a long time coming and disappointing it’s been overlooked for so long, holding us at the mercy of high food prices. In a community as far north as ours, getting nutritious food has been a struggle for seniors, for the sick and for those on fixed-incomes. It’s unfortunately been like that for years.”

Fort Chipewyan is the only Alberta community to be added to the Nutrition North Canada program, the rest of the added communities are from other provinces. Chief Courtoreille said “I can’t stress how vital this is for us. Our next step is to look at how this will work and how we can distribute cheaper healthy food, but this is a big deal.” The Fort Chipewyan community will hopefully gain better access to fresh foods which are healthy, like fresh fruits and vegetables, which can be offered at reasonable prices. It is hoped that this in turn will help lower the rate of diabetes and obesity for the entire community, promoting better choices and a healthier style of eating.

Categories
Alberta Ft Mac

Wood Buffalo RCMP Investigates Drug Trafficking in Thickewood, Two 19 Year Old Residents Arrested

The Wood Buffalo RCMP received a tip on drug trafficking through Crime Stoppers. Someone reported that a male and female were dealing drugs from an apartment building in Thickewood, and on July 15, 2016 the Wood Buffalo RCMP Drug Unit responded and 2 individuals were arrested. According to Cpl. George Cameron, the spokesperson for the Wood Buffalo RCMP, an investigation was opened after the tip was sent in at the beginning of June. Cameron explained “There was enough evidence in order for the courts to grant a search warrant. This a good example of where Crime Stoppers does work. It got more drugs off our streets.” During a search of the premises officers found and seized more than 1 fentanyl pill, around 144 grams of cocaine, and also around 50 grams of marijuana.

After the drug trafficking tip to Crime Stoppers was given to police the Wood Buffalo RCMP arrested 19 year old Jennie Podanovitch and 19 year old Tristen Bradbury, both Fort McMurray residents, when the pair were leaving their residence on Signal Road in Thickewood. Police also found roughly $35,000 in cash which is believed to be drug trafficking proceeds, as well as a shotgun and ammunition for the weapon. Cpl. Cameron could not yet give a specific street value for the drugs found but estimated that they had a value in the thousands of dollars. Both teens are facing charges for possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking, possession of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking, possession of fentanyl, possession of property obtained by crime, unauthorized possession of a firearm, and unsafe storage of a firearm. In addition Podanovitch also has a separate marijuana trafficking charge pending as well.

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Alberta Breaking News Ft Mac

2015 Shooting Homicide of Tyler David McDermid Leads to 1st Degree Murder Charges

1st degree murder charges have been filed in the 2015 shooting homicide of Tyler David McDermid, almost a year after the 20 year old was shot and killed at a Conklin residence on August 11, 2015. 21 year old Trevor Powder has been arrested and was charged with 1st degree murder. Police allege that Powder shot McDermid although there is no motive that has been given for the shooting yet. Powder will have his first appearance in court on July 25, 2016, when he will appear through closed circuit tv in Fort McMurray. When Powder was arrested a news release revealed that a number of departments had worked on the case and assisted the Wood Buffalo RCMP, including the Edmonton Major Crime unit and the National Firearms section in Ottawa.

Tyler David McDermid was not the first 2015 shooting homicide in the region or the last. Until the wildfire evacuation earlier this year the rate of shootings was on the rise, and many were calling for additional steps to curb the violence. Crime seems to be down, but with more residents returning to Fort McMurray every day this trend may not continue in the future. As people come back to the area to work in the oil company camps the drugs and violence could start to go up once more. Residents need to be alert and aware, keeping an eye on their communities and contacting the police when they see something suspicious or when they have knowledge of a crime that has been committed.

Categories
Alberta Economic Ft Mac

Fort McMurray First Nation Chosen as Cleanup Contractor by SPECS

SPECS has made a choice for cleanup contractor who will help Fort McMurray recover from the wildfire, and the contractor chosen was the Fort McMurray First Nation #469. The group will serve as the primary contractor responsible for all demolition and clean up operations in the Beacon Hill, Abasand, and Waterways neighbourhoods. Christina River Construction Ltd. Is owned by the band and the company beat out over a dozen candidates for the project. The First Nations group announced that they were awarded the project on their Facebook page. Many local residents and contractors were pushing for local companies to be involved in the clean up and recovery, and the news that the project was given to locals was met with enthusiasm.

Chief Ron Kreutzer released a statement about the First McMurray First Nation being awarded the project by SPECS, saying “We have no illusions about the magnitude of the job that lies ahead. FMFN 468 is both extremely honoured and proud to have been provided the opportunity and responsibility to contribute to and support the reconstruction and recovery efforts.” Also being considered were the Fort McKay First Nation Bouchier Group of Companies and the McMurray Métis Group, as well as several other local contractors. All of the candidates were required to meet certain criteria before they could even be considered. Any company had to have a minimum bond amount of $10 million, and must be able to oversee up to 8 sites at a time as part of the project. A site could consist of one or two home or an entire neighbourhood.

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Ft Mac

Alleged Thickwood Chainsaw Assault Could Lead to Charges

An alleged chainsaw assault in Thickwood could lead to criminal charges against a 41 year old man. At approximately 11 pm last Wednesday night law enforcement received a call about an argument between neighbors of Tamarack Way. When officers arrived on the scene they determined that there was an argumenet about using a chainsaw past the allowed time. A 30 year old neighbor of the man alleged to have used a chainsaw during an assault approached him about operating the tool in violation of the law. According to Wood Buffalo RCMP spokesperson Cpl. George Cameron “The 41-year-old took a swing at the victim and cut his arm. Fortunately the chainsaw was not running and the victim will be okay. We are trying to discouraging people from dealing with issues like this themselves. If there’s an issue with a neighbour, call the police, call bylaw, let us deal with it.”

The victim of the alleged Thickwood chainsaw assault did require medical attention for the injury to his arm, and police say that charges against the 41 year old who wielded the chainsaw has charges pending against him. As the weather warms and more people spend time outdoors small or petty disagreements may seem to swell, but it is never acceptable to resort to violence. If you have a problem with a neighbor or someone else call the police and let them handle the situation. The victim was lucky because the only injury was not life threatening but things could have turned out much worse.