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NEWS

Chamber ready for ‘Steady Eddie’
The premier to visit St. Paul in late February

By Greg MacVicar
Journal Staff

Premier Ed Stelmach has agreed to be guest speaker at the St. Paul and District Chamber of Commerce annual general meeting at the Recreation Centre on the evening of Feb. 26.

"I believe he will feel quite welcome and he’s very familiar with the region because he’s from the region," said chamber president Ron Belzil. "It’s a good thing for the chamber, St. Paul and the region."

Belzil said the chamber plans to sell tickets to the AGM, which will include the meeting, a board of directors election, cocktails, a dinner and a speech by the premier.

"We’ll swear in the new board of directors and we’ll be presenting the small business of the year award for our area," said Belzil. "Then we’ll give the premier some time to speak. Of course, Minister Ray Danyluk will be introducing him."

Belzil said the premier has a reputation in the area as an honest man, a hard worker and a good representative of the electorate. Approximately 73 per cent of Tory cardholders from the provincial constituency of Lac La Biche – St. Paul voted for Stelmach in the party’s recent leadership race.

The AGM will be an important fundraiser for the chamber, but more than that, said Belzil.

"It gives us a connection with the government and these connections are important for economic development," he said. "These kinds of connections are very important."

One topic chamber members will be bending the premier’s ear on, said Belzil, is a proposal to extend Highway 881 straight north of Highway 55, through Lakeland Provincial Recreation Area, to join up with the existing 881 route south of Conklin.

"This would be a tremendous economic boost for the region – including St. Paul," said Belzil, adding that straightening the 881 would decrease travel time to Fort McMurray by more than an hour.

He said there might be opposition to the proposal from Lac La Biche. Currently, 881 ends at Highway 55 and then is picked up again heading north out of Lac La Biche. Pushing the 881 straight north of 55 would mean drivers traveling from this region heading north wouldn’t have to go into Lac La Biche to hook up with 881.

Belzil said the chamber will also update the premier on the results of a recent local business survey in which business owners cited problems such as a shortage of skilled and unskilled workers, poor worker retention and competition from Internet-based companies and big box stores.

"And the lack of downtown beautification is a sore spot" that needs to be addressed, said Belzil. "Most of the towns around us have done a major facelift in the past 10 or 15 years and we’re lagging behind."

Belzil said the chamber will have more details on the AGM as Feb. 27 gets closer. "It should be a very pleasant evening."

NEWS

Town council okays interim budget
CAO says town might need a loan

By Greg MacVicar
Journal Staff

St. Paul Town CAO Ron Boisvert successfully introduced his 2007 interim budget prior to the regular town council meeting Jan. 22.

"This is just an operating budget," said Boisvert, after the meeting. "There was no major changes, but there will be with the final budget."

Before council recommended some changes Monday night, Boisvert’s interim budget estimated revenues of $8.16 million for 2007. Council budgeted $7.93 million for revenues in 2006, but actually took in $8.37 million.

Boisvert estimated expenses of $7.56 million for 2007. In 2006, town council budgeted $7.23 million in expenses, but actually paid out $7.33 million.

As predicted, Boisvert tabled a "tighter" budget this year. The profit (revenues minus expenses) for 2006 was $1.04 million. For the 2007 interim budget, Boisvert estimated the profit at $596,000. That figure minus items such as capital costs, possible land purchases and the new Glen Avon School road, might leave the town with a $516,000 shortfall in 2007, said Boisvert.

"Depending on how everything falls into place, we may have to take a short- or long-term loan to continue with our projects," he added. "Options will be given to council before final budget is approved."

The CAO gave councillors a copy of the interim budget prior to the town council meeting and the elected representatives were given the chance to question and change some numbers at the meeting.

Councillors didn’t discuss every figure on the 29-page itemized interim budget, but some figures stood out.

Deputy mayor Tim Bear questioned whether the $85,000, that Boisvert budgeted for professional and consulting fees, was enough, now that the town no longer has its own engineer and has to contract out for those services.

"That’s easy," said Boisvert, changing the figure to $100,000.

Coun. Pat O’Neill questioned if the $800,000 budgeted for the town’s 2007 water sales was an underestimate – seeing that the town sold $837,000 worth of water in 2006.

Boisvert said, depending on why water sales were $37,000 over budget last year, the town may increase the estimated water sales for 2007 to $850,000.

Councillors asked the town’s community services director Tom Carney why he only estimated bringing in $20,000 in pool rental fees, when the pool rentals brought in $27,000 last year.

"It’s tough to determine how many people are going to rent the pool," explained Carney. "But we can bump that up to $25,000."

Boisvert made the change and reminded councillors: "When you make these changes, these people are responsible for them."

Fire chief Terry Senecal was asked why he budgeted $6,000 for vehicle maintenance and operations, whereas $1,517 was spent on the same category last year.

"The reason it’s bumped up, there’s a couple of main valves at $1,000 a piece I want to replace on our pumper," said Senecal.

And town public works superintendent Clem Preville was asked why costs budgeted this year for shop maintenance and repairs was $40,000, whereas $5,798 was spent on the same category in 2006.

"We’re doing some pretty significant upgrades in our equipment shop, including lights and heaters," explained Preville.

Capital projects budgeted for 2007 include a $300,000 addition to the fire department, $30,000 for a new time clock and sound system at the CAP Arena and $79,000 in upgrades at the pool, including a women’s change room.

Boisvert also budgeted $40,000 to replace the roof on the aquatic centre.

The Recreation Centre has been budgeted $15,688 for a new stage and sound system. The town parks have been budgeted $89,000, including $10,000 for 10 new garbage cans, $22,000 for 15 new flagpoles and $34,000 for a new truck.

The public works department has been budgeted $150,000 for a used backhoe, a snowblower, a tandem truck and a pickup. Water treatment plant upgrades in 2007 are expected to cost $285,000.

Boisvert also tabled a list of corporate and department goals, with specific deadlines, for town staff.

"This is just a new system, coming from a banker," said Boisvert, who worked as a financial advisor with Servus Credit Union before he was hired as CAO in October 2006.

"If you don’t have goals and objectives, you’re just going day to day. We’re all working as a team."

Boisvert expects to table a final 2007 budget in March.

NEWS

Area food bank looking for donations

By Janice Huser
Journal Staff

In December, nearly 400 local residents used the St. Paul and Area Food Bank, located at the Mannawanis Native Friendship Centre. It was the food bank’s busiest month of the year.

Food bank coordinator Louise Pozdzik said she remains busy, even after the holiday rush, and that there’s a continued need for food donations.

"I have to go grocery shopping for sure," said Pozdzik. Thankfully, the food bank recently received a $746 donation from a number of local businesses.

The St. Paul Community Christmas Group, made up of 13 businesses, donated the surplus revenue, from its annual Christmas party, to the food bank.

"During the winter months, I would say (the food bank) is used more," said Pozdzik. Last January, 222 people were helped by the food bank, including102 children.

Currently, the food bank is looking for fresh produce and baking supplies. Pozdzik explained that she has a lot of flour and sugar, but needs other ingredients such as baking powder.

She said people should not be afraid to bring fresh fruits and vegetables to the food bank, because they will be used before they spoil. Pozdzik helps many parents find lunch items for children, and she would like to encourage fresh fruit and vegetables in the lunches.

"There are children out there that need food . . . and they often don’t get that food," said Pozdzik, of why the food bank is important to the community. She concentrates on giving children the most nutritional items for lunch that she possibly can.

Pozdzik said donations from the private sector have been slow since Christmas. But the food bank has "had a lot come in from Sobeys and we’ve had more bread and pastries coming in daily," she added.

As for the upcoming year, Pozdzik is trying to get a financial advisor to speak to adults and help them budget their grocery money. Many parents have requested the service, she explained.

Also taking place at the Mannawanis Centre, is the Walk and Talk program, which encourages food bank clients, and anyone else who would like to join the group, to bring a lunch and walk in the gymnasium afterward.

"It’s a good thing to walk after we eat," said Pozdzik, adding that people are often too busy or forget to take time to be active.

For more information about the Walk and Talk program, or the food bank, contact the Mannawanis Centre at 645-4630.

NEWS

Barley plebiscite questions announced
Local farmer touts choice

By Greg MacVicar
Journal Staff

At least one local grain grower thinks the Canadian Wheat Board (CWB) should continue, but that farmers should have the choice whether or not to sell their barley and wheat through the CWB.

"The board would still be a service to smaller farmers, with smaller amounts of grain to deal with," said Francois Hebert, of St. Vincent, last week. "The board would just be one more competitor in the marketplace."

In fact, Hebert’s choice is one of three listed on the ballot for the upcoming CWB barley plebiscite.

In a Jan. 22 news release, federal agriculture minister Chuck Strahl, announced the options that will appear on the ballot: (1) the CWB should retain the single desk for the marketing of barley into domestic human consumption and export markets, (2) I would like the option to market my barley to the CWB or any other domestic or foreign buyer and (3) the CWB should not have a role in the marketing of barley.

"Canada’s new government believes Western grain farmers should have the choice on how they market their grain while preserving a strong, viable, yet voluntary wheat board," said Strahl, in the release.

"Farmers have told us that they want to be consulted on this issue – and that is exactly what we are delivering. I look forward to what they have to say, so I encourage all those eligible to vote to do so."

In order to be eligible to vote, farmers must have grown grain in 2006 and must have produced barley in at least one of the past five years (2002 – 2006). Active farmers who planned to grow grain in 2006, but didn’t because of "extenuating circumstances," will also be eligible to vote.

Hebert – who grows peas, canola, about 20,000 bushels of malt barley, and between 40,000 and 60,000 bushels of wheat – said he finds it hard to budget his money when dealing with the CWB.

"You get an initial price when you deliver it to the elevator and then there’s adjustments as time goes on," he said. "All the money the CWB gets, they pool. After costs, the remainder comes down to the farmers. Sometimes the adjustments can be substantial and sometimes not so much."

Hebert said he often doesn’t receive his final payment until a year after he sells his grain through the board. "I can’t budget on that," he said. "I feel I could budget much better."

He wants to market his own grain.

"To me, the biggest advantage (to marketing myself) is being able to go to a grain company and say, ‘I have so many bushels, what can you do for me?’" he said.

"When you’re able to market larger amounts, sometimes you’re able to make deals with the elevator companies. I’d like to get some premiums."

And Hebert has a problem with more than the CWB’s monopoly on barley and wheat sales.

"Another issue is, we can’t see accountability from the wheat board as it stands," he said. "It’s not transparent enough."

A CWB news release, dated Jan. 25, called the barley plebiscite "meaningless," given the three options provided.

"The option asking farmers if they would prefer to sell their barley to any buyer, including the CWB, creates an unrealistic expectation that the CWB can continue to offer the same value to farmers without its single desk," said Ken Ritter, chairman of the CWB’s farmer-controlled board of directors.

"Including an impossible choice is not the way to consult with producers on an issue of such crucial economic importance."

Ritter went on to say that the government should give "farmers a clear and unbiased choice between maintaining their ability to market barley through the CWB single desk or removing the single desk for barley sales in favour of an open-market system."

The barley plebiscite coordinator, advisory firm KPMG, will begin mailing ballots to eligible farmers on Jan. 31. Returned ballots must be postmarked no later than March 6 and the results are expected to be announced by mid-March.

Eligible producers, who have not received a ballot by Feb. 8, should call KPMG at 1-888-322-7539.

Strahl has also said that his government will hold a plebiscite on the CWB’s role in wheat sales at a time yet to be announced.

NEWS

It’s not easy being Green – in Lac La Biche – St. Paul

By Greg MacVicar
Journal Staff

The "election readiness coordinator" for the Green Party of Alberta, on a visit to St. Paul last Wednesday, admitted that his party has its work cut out for it, drumming up support in the constituency of Lac La Biche – St. Paul.

"Our weakest areas in this province are in the north and east," said Edwin Erickson. "Here in Lac La Biche – St. Paul, we’re starting from scratch. This is one of the weakest constituencies for us. But part of the reason for that is we haven’t put the time in here."

Lac La Biche – St. Paul residents, in the 2004 provincial election, voted in Progressive Conservative Ray Danyluk with 54 per cent of the popular vote. And 73 per cent of Tory cardholders from the same constituency voted for current premier Ed Stelmach in the party’s recent leadership race.

The Greens ran 49 candidates – out of 83 ridings – in the 2004 provincial election. Erickson ran in the constituency of Drayton Valley – Calmar and came in second with 927 votes to Tory MLA Tony Abbott’s 5,231 votes. No Green Party member has ever been elected provincially or federally in Canada. The provincial party didn’t run anyone in Lac La Biche – St. Paul in 2004.

But Erickson said hope remains for the Green Party, based on Alberta’s voting pattern. That is, electing a different party every 35 years or so. It was the Social Credit Party in 1935, the Tories under Peter Lougheed in 1971, and now Green Party members hope it’s their urn.

Erickson said the party’s core support is in Calgary, where the party’s leader, George Read, lives.

Erickson hopes to expand that support by travelling the province and getting out the Green message before the next provincial election. He said his party will be ready for an election in the fall of this year but doesn’t expect one until the spring of 2008.

Erickson said his party’s platform includes trying to reduce the practice of injecting fresh water into oil wells to stimulate production, conserving water, and building strong communities and local economies.

"We are a full-issue party," said Erickson. "And we have a very conservative fiscal policy."

He added that the Green Party’s support for the family farm should appeal to local voters.

"The family farm is in jeopardy," said Erickson. "Our policies are very much in favour of the family farm. And we think it’s necessary that people grow more organically, not only for the environment, but to grab a niche market."

On Wednesday, Erickson, who runs a selective logging operation from Buck Lake and volunteers as the election readiness coordinator, said he planned to visit the local health food store, any greenhouses that happened to be open and the St. Paul town office.

"I buy the paper, I look at issues and try to find some people to start talking to," he said. "I try to gather the interest it takes to build a constituency association and field a candidate."