Opinion
Going to bat for our furry flying friends
Bats are fascinating creatures, and they’re more important than many people realize. A bat can eat more than 1,000 insects in an hour — up to 6,000 a night. Some bats consume bugs that attack agricultural crops and some feast on pests like gnats and mosquitoes. READ
EI system no longer works
The Conservative government says Canadians receiving an income under the Employment Insurance program will be required to lower their standards when looking for work or risk losing their benefits. READ
Hosting the world no cheap trick
Given the serial embarrassments associated with hosting leaders of the world’s most developed economies, it’s a wonder that many nations are still keen to take on that task. READ
Tories kill off voices, one at a time
Sometimes a politician can stumble and tell the truth. READ
Dousing an urge to burn
It will likely take a generation before a sense of peace and safety is fully restored for many people in Slave Lake. READ
Bad weather, too much booze
It is officially called the Victoria Day weekend in honour of our British roots here in Canada. READ
Trashy teen outfits sure to attract creepy attention
It’s only natural that when the weather warms up, women start wearing less clothes. READ
Crisis of care emerging
The more things change, the more they stay the same — particularly in health care, and particularly in Red Deer. The chronic shortage of general physicians in this community has persisted for years, and circumstances are about to get worse. READ
Illinois: heart of Alberta’s economy
Albertans know the importance of being a global trader — and these days, the chatter is about new and burgeoning global markets. China is the hottest market in the world! We’ve got a free trade deal with Mexico, don’t we? What about Canada’s talks to expand exports to Europe? And don’t forget the nearly 200 million Brazilians! READ
Moving people into future
Building a city that moves people in a sustainable, logical and efficient manner requires the ability to adapt on the fly. READ
Horror of trial will linger
Every once in a while, a crime is committed in this country that’s so horrible, it feels like the only fitting punishment would be the death penalty — if we had it. READ
Follow Lougheed’s lead
News that three Alberta companies are pulling the pin on the provincial government’s much-vaunted carbon-capture program should come as no shock. READ
Garbage in, garbage out
And now, a message from the land of I-told-you-so science. The I-told-you-so? READ
Why activism really matters
Canada would be a different place without our 80,000 registered charities dedicated to everything from health to economic policy to the environment. We’d be much poorer without the two million employees and millions of volunteers who devote their time to causes that strengthen our nation. READ
Greek default, Euro collapse?
Last year, Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel warned: “Nobody should believe that another half-century of peace in Europe is a given. If the euro collapses, Europe collapses. That can’t happen.” READ
Beer, Jets and entitlement
A well-intended promotional scheme for the Winnipeg Jets at Manitoba’s government liquor outlets has apparently been serving up flat beer to customers. READ
The view from the highway
There is a youth movement away from the philosophy of the car and something has been lost along the way. READ
Put safety before profit
The axiom that business works best when it’s left alone is often seen as key to free enterprise — but the laissez faire framework doesn’t always ensure worker safety. On Saturday, 75 people walked in Red Deer as part of the annual Steps for Life program, which raises money to support families who must cope with the aftermath of workplace accidents. READ
Can we keep the good times rolling?
Alberta’s economic prospects are pretty good right now. In fact, they are better than in every other state and province in North America, including booming Saskatchewan next door. READ


