Beavers are an integral part of Calgary’s ecosystem. They assist in sustaining wetland areas, mitigate the damaging effects of drought and minor flooding, and purify downstream water through their dams.
The drawback is that each beaver may cut down 200+ trees per year. A family of beavers in the wrong location can quickly destroy the habitats of other wildlife and cause significant damage to other infrastructure and property. Without natural predators, the beaver population can grow rapidly, leading to unsustainable situations. The City is looking to strike a balance between the health of the surrounding areas and the well-being of the beavers themselves.
In 2014, Calgary Parks stepped back from active beaver trapping to work with regional partners to review best management practices. More recently, Parks have been on the receiving end of several complaints due to the increase of beaver damage to trees in Calgary parks.
The 2014 review led to several new best practices:
Beaver populations over the past two years have been quite high. This trend is expected to continue throughout 2016.
With the above new measurements in place, Parks will resort to trapping only when absolutely necessary to reduce numbers in a particular area or to remove a group of beavers entirely. Trapping is only conducted after all other options have been exhausted. The traps used are designed to kill instantly. The traps are placed under water for the protection of dogs, park users and other wildlife, and are checked daily.
Calgary Parks have been in discussions with the Province on relocating beavers but unfortunately is not currently an option under the Provincial framework.
Parks has reached out to some local conservation organizations and intends to work directly with community associations in several riverside areas to address concerns about beaver activity on public property.
If you have concerns about specific areas in Ward 13, please contact 311. To learn more, please visit http://www.calgary.ca/CSPS/Parks/Pages/Planning-and-Operations/Pest-Management/Beavers.aspx.
IMG SOURCE=https://http://globalnews.ca/news/1920545/how-many-beavers-is-too-many-for-calgarys-princes-island-park/
]]>W-18 is 100 times more powerful than fentanyl and 10,000 times more powerful than morphine. W-18 is not regulated by federal drug law and has no clinical use. As a result, it cannot be detected by routine drug testing – this is a serious issue in the event of an overdose. What’s more unsettling is the fact that it is currently not even illegal to possess or distribute W-18 in Canada. Clandestine labs mainly based in China now produce these synthetic products and ship them overseas using worldwide delivery services. W-18 is readily available online from vendors overseas and in Canada.
The synthetic opioid was created as a pain killer by researchers at the University of Alberta in the 1980s. Developed as a whole W series of drugs, from W-1 to W-32, number 18 was the most potent – and therefore, the most dangerous of the series. With a substance that potent, with little to no regulations nor adequate testing measures, the public is at a huge risk of potential overdoses when abusing this drug.
W-18 produces a “high” similar to heroin and Health Canada said it was first used as a recreational drug in 2013 in Europe, with its first seizure in Canada in August 2015. Fentanyl rose from obscurity to kill 272 Albertans by overdoses; W-18 looks to do much worse.
As a Member of the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams (ALERT) Board of Directors and a Calgary Police Commissioner, I urge you and your fellow neighbours to come together and fight this public health crisis.
If you or someone you know has any information about illicit drug dealing, please contact Crime Stoppers anonymously by phoning 1-800-222-8477.
IMG SOURCE=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/canadian-prison-inmate-may-have-helped-u-s-dealer-import-deadly-w-18-drug-investigators-say-1.3561859
]]>CALGARY, AB – April 29, 2016 As Chair of the Standing Policy on Community and Protective Services, I along with six of my Council appointed colleagues provide governance oversight to Community Services which includes Calgary Community Standards, Calgary Emergency Management Agency, Calgary Fire Department, Calgary Housing, Calgary Neighbourhoods, Calgary Parks, and Calgary Recreation. Collectively, these service areas contribute to Calgarians’ wellbeing, safety and quality of life by providing sport, art, culture, leisure activities and parks; strong communities through social connectivity and good neighbour policies; and safety by providing reliable emergency and disaster response systems, and, Bylaw Services.
Bylaw Services is a team that develops bylaws and enforces them within the City of Calgary – bylaws which uphold community standards through which all Calgarians must live and abide by. These bylaws are all approved by Calgary City Council. Bylaw Services also license and regulate the taxi, limousine, and Transportation Network Companies. The Taxi and Limousine Advisory Committee (TLAC) was established in 2008 by City Council to provide advice and recommendations that support The City’s Livery Transport Bylaw to ensure high quality taxi and limousine services and practices, and to support and maintain a safe and sustainable livery industry. The Advisory Committee consists of members from industry, the general public, a number of designated stakeholder groups and City Administration. Members are appointed to the Committee annually by City Council. TLAC is an Advisory Committee that communicates and collaborates with stakeholders and makes recommendations to City Council through the SPC on Community and Protective Services on potential changes to the vehicle for hire industry. This advice includes bylaw and policy changes as well as the number of taxi plates on our roads, taxi fares, safety practices and licence fees applicable to industry participants.
The public have raised concerns about recent statements made by Mayor Naheed Nenshi that have caused deepening concern. More specifically, it was stated that, “we sent people to sign up to be Uber drivers to see if they could get through the background check. How we found registered sex offenders, I don’t want to know, and people with convictions for violent crimes, I don’t want to know why we know these people. Nobody will even tell me and I don’t want to know but they all made it through Uber’s theoretical background screening.”
“As Chair of the SPC on Community & Protective Services, I have had the opportunity to speak directly with key members of Bylaw Services, and TLAC, to get clear answers to these concerning claims to confirm or dispel these claims which have been widely disseminated and which continue to fuel speculation about the City of Calgary’s methods, practices and ethics. With the information and feedback I have received, I can unequivocally state that the Mayor’s facts were inaccurate and that the City did not, has not and will not use people convicted of sex crimes and violent criminal offences to test Uber’s or any other transportation network ride-sharing company’s screening practices”, stated Councillor Diane Colley-Urquhart. “I have had the privilege of working with key members of the City of Calgary Bylaw Services over the past 10 years in cleaning up the taxi industry and opening up the industry to ride-sharing companies. I have always been impressed with their professionalism, sense of fairness, integrity and ethical practices, and unequivocally support the complex work and guidance to Council that they have made over the years.”
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]]>Above all, my biggest concern is the cost estimates of the project which was unanimously approved by Council over five years ago. The approved budget was for $43M. We need to have transparency as to where the budget currently stands and I will ensure that I will seek that clarity on your behalf. I am concerned that there has been a significant increase to this budget now that the detailed functional designs have nearly been completed.
The project was originally intended to have a completion date of 2021, but I cannot support the acceleration of the project to the revised date of 2017 as it impedes the citizen consultation process. I value and respect the hard work and dedication that people have put forth in sharing their concerns on the project as well as signing the SW Transitway “petition” (learn more by reading my recent blog on it here http://councillordiane.ca/2016/03/22/sw-bus-rapid-transitway-petition/).
I am also having increased concerns surrounding the project moving along at the same time as several other developments also happening on 14th Street SW, which is a main traffic corridor for residents of Ward 13. Major redevelopment is planned at the Glenmore Landing Shopping Centre, at the Calgary Jewish Centre on the SW corner of 14th Street & 90th Avenue, as well as a planned interchange at the same location. With all these projects moving forward, we need to consider and be thoughtful about how all this will impact commuters’ mobility.
Furthermore, with ATCO’s Urban Pipeline Replacement (UPR) Program – the plan to convert high-pressure oil and gas lines to low-pressure lines in 2018 – means that this project takes precedence and adds a further complexity to future activity in this area. All of these examples will involve significant citizen participation and engagement.
I will continue to listen to your feedback and concerns surrounding the SW Transitway project along with all the other anticipated projects that will be coming forward. I will work with my Council colleagues on how best to address all these concerns and competing priorities.
For more information, I invite you to view my YouTube video on this update at https://youtu.be/Ww4ZGk8gndA.
To read the joint statement from myself, Mayor Naheed Nenshi, and Councillor Brian Pincott regarding the SW Transitway project, please click here.
IMG SOURCE=https://www.calgarytransit.com/plans-projects/lrt/plans-and-projects-green-line
]]>Livery Transport Services (LTS) has implemented system upgrades, and as of April 4, 2016, will be equipped to accept applications for both TNCs and their drivers. LTS is also prepared to accept submissions for smartphone applications for TNCs, Limousine Brokers and Taxi Brokers. In order to use an app to book, perform and collect payment for trips, all industry participants must have their App approved by the Chief Livery Inspector. LTS has already received one application for App approval (Allied Limousine). The Chief Livery Inspector has already reviewed the application and will be approving this App on April 4, 2016. LTS has received interest from other providers as well, and it is expected that more Apps will be submitted for approval in the coming months.
Under the approved amendments, TNC drivers are required to provide proof of insurance which allows for the transport of passengers for hire. A private insurance company has been working with TNCs and the Province to develop an insurance policy that would be appropriate for TNC operations, however this is not yet approved.
Provincial Transport Minister Brian Mason indicated in a news release on February 29, 2016 that a decision on this insurance product should be made by the beginning of July. In the meantime, TNC drivers can choose to obtain a regular commercial insurance policy in order to fulfill this requirement. A number of potential applicants have advised that they are waiting for clarity on the new insurance product prior to committing to the business model. The Province is also deciding on the type of Operators Licence required (class 4 or better), and mandatory Police-issued background checks for TNC drivers.
I, along with Administration will continue to monitor daily taxi data and will respond to any emerging issues as they arise. If you have any further questions, please contact my office.
*April 4, 2016 Update
Due to the amendments made effective today, Allied Limousine / Associated Cab Ltd. has issued a media release that they are now able to offer Calgarians lower fares because of lower gasoline prices and the economic downturn in the province. Effective April 11, 2016, they will begin the process of reducing taxi meters by 12%. These rate changes will take approximately one week to take effect in each taxi.
They will also reduce Sedan-Limousine Airport flat rates by 12% at the same time. As part of these new amendments, the company is now able to offer Calgarians Sedan-Limousine flat rates to and from all points of the city.
IMG SOURCE=http://www.calgarycitynews.com/2016/02/safe-transportation-options-on-way.html
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