ECA Review 2022-09-15

ECA REVIEW HANNA/CORONATION/STETTLER, AB September 15'22 3
STETTLER TOWN COUNCIL
Council hears province proposes
alarming changes to victim services
Stu Salkeld
Local Journalism initiative reporter
ECA Review
Stettler town council’s regular
update on the local victim service’s
programming instead metastasized
into an alarming update on the provincial
government’s proposed changes to
a service that apparently will selectively
respond to one type of trauma.
The report was made at the Sept. 6 regular
meeting of council.
Councillors heard an update about
Heartland Victims Services (HVS)
programming from Program Manager
Sheila Gongaware who began her presentation
by describing the roles
played by this organization within the
Stettler community.
Gongaware noted HVS provides supports,
information and referrals to
people who suffer trauma ranging
from the impacts of crime, suicide,
motor vehicle accidents or trauma by
natural causes.
Gongaware stated this year the provincial
government began discussing
proposed changes to victims services
organizations across Alberta, dropping
from several dozen boards down
to four regional ones with the proposed
changes taking effect by March, 2024.
She stated that in the central zone
program managers like herself will be
laid off and replaced with 41 case
workers; apparently all program managers
could re-apply for the case
worker jobs.
After victims services programs are
revised, according to Gangaware,
there will be one program manager
per zone and a coordinator will
develop job descriptions for both the
program manager and case worker
positions.
Coun. Gord Lawlor asked if volunteers
will continue to play an
important role in victim services organizations,
to which Gongaware
responded, yes, the provincial government
has given the impression that
“advocates” as victims services volunteers
are called will remain in place
and apparently report to a zone
manager.
Coun. Lawlor related his own 20
years as a victims services volunteer
Federal taxman still
out of reach for Village
Stu Salkeld
Local Journalism Initiative reporter
ECA Review
The Village of Alix’ odyssey to find
someone at the Canada Revenue
Agency (CRA) who can answer its
questions continues, as a writ from the
federal government agency continues
to cast shadows over a tax recovery
sale.
Councillors heard an update about
the village’s inability to locate a CRA
department responsible for writs at the
Sept. 7 regular meeting of council.
Village Chief Administrative Officer
(CAO) Michelle White stated her
efforts to track down a CRA department
that could advise the village
about addressing or removing a writ
placed on a residential property in
Alix may be bearing fruit but the situation
is far from clear.
“We’ve reached the right department,”
said White to councillors.
After about two and a half months of
phoning, emailing and messageleaving
White noted it appears she’s
uncovered the CRA office that handles
property writs.
While the CRA staff promised to call
back, the CAO stated she hasn’t heard
back from them yet. She added that it
appears the village may need the late
property owner’s social insurance
number, which the CAO noted the village
doesn’t have any access to.
Coun. Ed Cole noted it may be illegal
for the village to request a SIN.
Finding the proper CRA department
hasn’t been easy noted the CAO. She
said recent media coverage helped a
bit.
“A very nice lady who retired from
the CRA reached out after reading the
article in the ECA Review to let me
know where I should be inquiring for
help within the Canada Revenue
Agency,” stated White’s report to
council.
“It was very promising but after
many more calls and referrals I am no
ALIX COUNCIL
further ahead on this than I was at the
last meeting. A letter was sent to MP
Blaine Calkins’ office on Aug. 5. No
response to the letter has been
received as of this time.
“I also emailed Municipal Affairs
again to update them on this and ask
for guidance,” noted White, adding the
provincial government department
hadn’t yet provided any more advice.
The issue at hand is a roughly
$87,000 debt owed by a property owner
to the CRA, and complicating the
matter is the property owner has
passed away. There is also an unpaid
tax debt on the same property owed to
the Village of Alix and the property in
question is set to go to auction for tax
recovery in Sept.
White reported in August she’d
spent weeks trying to sort out the
issue, but hadn’t been able to even
begin that process because she could
not contact anyone at the CRA; automated
answering systems sent her on
a circular journey.
Now another problem with a second
property has cropped up.
“On the same topic, while preparing
for the upcoming tax recovery public
auction sale scheduled for Sept. 13,
2022, it was discovered there are two
more CRA writs registered on title for
a (second) property up for sale that
day,” stated White in her report.
“In my email to Municipal Affairs, I
asked for advice on how to proceed
since it is very possible we could have
an interested buyer at the auction.”
White noted there has been interest
in this second property among the
public, and she will notify them the
day of the sale that there are CRA
writs registered on that title so it’s possible
the property won’t sell.
She also noted that requests for
information from larger cities bore no
fruit either. Apparently, she noted, situations
like the one the Village of Alix
finds itself in are rather rare.
Councillors accepted the report for
information.
after his father experienced several
armed robberies at his jewellery store
in Ladner, B.C., which is part of the
City of Delta. Lawlor stated the armed
robberies were intense and shocking
and left a lasting impression.
Lawlor also noted the many questions
surrounding changes to victim
services seems true to form with
Alberta’s provincial government
which answers questions by
responding more information will be
coming soon.
After Gongaware described the
management network that’s proposed
to operate the new victims services
system Coun. Cheryl Barros said,
“That’s a lot of people.”
Another detail of the proposed
changes that elicited response from
several councillors is that victim services
staff will only respond to victims
of crime, and that Albertans suffering
under other forms of trauma in their
life, including suicide, addictions,
motor vehicle collisions and natural
disasters, will be turned away.
During discussions several councillors
stated they believed trauma was
trauma, regardless of whether it
stemmed from crime or a natural
disaster.
Coun. Wayne Smith asked what
problem these changes were supposed
to solve.
Lawyer
E. Roger Spady
Professional Corporation
Barrister & Solicitor
Coronation Mall Coronation, AB
403-578-3131
Office Hours: Tuesday to Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Dentist
Dr.McIver
In Coronation (Located in Coronation Mall)
MONDAYS 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Call Anytime for Appointments
403-578-3811
Lawlor responded that changes originally
seemed to address budget
shortfalls, but added that in his
opinion these proposed changes will
be more expensive that the current
model.
Coun. Kyle Baker observed it
appeared a regional approach was
being proposed. “They’re making it
less local,” said Baker.
Councillors accepted Gongaware’s
report as information.
Hanna Hospital Auxiliary
Rummage
SALE
Sat., October 1 10am-3pm
Hanna Arena & Curling Rink
Drop off Thurs. Sept. 29 9am-8pm; Fri. Sept. 30 9am-3pm
Dolores Clow 403-854-0546
Maureen Tyers 403-854-1001
County of Paintearth No. 18
2022 Property Tax
Non-Payment Penalty Notice
The County of Paintearth No. 18 property taxes were due June 30,
2022. A 5.0% penalty was levied on all current and arrears tax
balances on July 1st.
A further 10% penalty will be applied to all outstanding tax
balances, both current and arrears on October 1, 2022.
Payment can be made by cheque, cash, debit or credit card at the
County Administration Office located at 01 Crowfoot Drive, TR
374 and Highway 12, at the TD Canada Trust in Coronation or the
ATB Financial branches located in Halkirk, Castor or Coronation.
Check our website (www.countypaintearth.ca) for financial
institutions set up to accept on-line payments.
Michael Simpson, CAO
Professional Directory
Optometrist
CORONATION VISION CLINIC
Dr. Ward ZoBell
Tues & Thurs 10 - 4
403-578-3221
HANNA VISION CENTRE
Eye Health, Glasses, Contacts
Dr. Dennis A. Heimdahl Dr. Ward ZoBell
Tues, Wed 9-4:30; Thurs, Fri 9-4
403-854-3003
Dentist
Our families serving yours!
Phone: 825-300-0049
Email: drballdental@gmail.com
Location: 4913 50 St, Killam AB, T0B 2L0
Mail: Box 389, Killam AB, T0B 2L0