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Nenshi gives Calgary mosques permission to break noise bylaws during Ramadan

Mayor Naheed Nenshi, himself a Muslim, has given the local community permission to break noise bylaws once a day by broadcasting the call over loudspeakers.

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Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi has given Calgary mosques permission to break the city’s noise bylaw in its calls for people to pray during Ramadan.

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting, prayer, reflection and community. This year it runs from April 23 to May 23.

Five times a day mosques are to make a call for believers to come and pray – and Nenshi, himself a Muslim, has given the local community permission to break noise bylaws once a day by broadcasting the call over loudspeakers.

It was Calgary Muslim groups who asked Nenshi for permission to broadcast.

“Observing Ramadan is a very important time of the year, and I know Muslim Ummah are finding it difficult to commemorate this holy month without congregational prayer, breaking the fast with extended family and friends and gathering for Eid,” Nenshi wrote Muslim leaders in a May 8 letter obtained by the Western Standard.

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“As an effort to spark some joy and community spirit in the Ummah, I have reached out to our Bylaw Team and have asked them to accommodate your request without infringing on the noise regulations.

Mayor Naheed Nensi

“I am pleased to advise you that an exemption under the bylaw will be granted once per day for sunset prayer for the remainder of Ramadan. We will ask that the broadcast last no longer than five minutes each evening.”

Nenshi asked Muslim leader to contact bylaw officials which mosques will be doing broadcasts so the city can advise area residents.

The city’s noise bylaw states illegal noise can include, but is not limited to, “yelling, shouting, loud music, horns, power tools and air conditioners.”

It states a noise creating 85 decibels (dBA) measured over a period of 15 minutes during the day-time is also illegal.

A study by Purdue University described 85 decibels as: “Garbage disposal, dishwasher, average factory, freight train (at 15 meters).  Car wash at 20 ft (89 dB); propeller plane flyover at 1000 ft (88 dB); diesel truck 40 mph at 50 ft (84 dB); diesel train at 45 mph at 100 ft (83 dB).  Food blender (88 dB); milling machine (85 dB); garbage disposal (80 dB).

Dave Naylor is the News Editor of the Western Standard

dnaylor@westernstandardonline.com

TWITTER: Twitter.com/nobby7694

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Dave Naylor is the News Editor of the Western Standard. He has served as the City Editor of the Calgary Sun and has covered Alberta news for nearly 40 years. dnaylor@westernstandardonline.com

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Tory Bill C-262 to warm up carbon capture, utilization and storage

A November 25 RBC report projects emissions abatement in the oil and gas sector will be remain negligible by 2030 due to cost.

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OTTAWA – A Calgary Tory MP has introduced Bill C-262 in Ottawa, to create a non-refundable performance-based tax credit for carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) projects.

Greg McLean, MP for Calgary Centre, and Shadow Minister for Natural Resources & Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency – seconded by Conservative MP Warren Steinley, Shadow Minister for Economic Development & International Trade – introduced the motion in the House of Commons on Friday.

“Carbon capture, utilization and storage is key to curbing green house gas emissions that are endemic to many activities in industrial society, and this incentive to industry to invest in this technology will greatly enhance Canada’s abilities to meet our environmental commitments,” McLean said.

“The US Tax Code currently offers this type of tax credit which has led Canada to be uncompetitive and to lose out on potential investments in the CCUS field. This Bill helps to level the playing field and makes Canada more competitive with our largest trading partner for development of greenhouse gas mitigation technologies.

“This bill brings forth the means to incentivize carbon capture, utilization and storage by working with Canada’s strengths – its world-leading environmental industries. We are levelling the playing filed when it comes to the ways in which their technological expertise can be used in our work to mitigate the effects of greenhouse gas production,” said McLean.

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Carbon capture, utilization and storage is described by the US Department of Energy as, “a process that captures carbon dioxide emissions from sources like coal-fired power plants and either reuses or stores it so it will not enter the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide storage in geologic formations includes oil and gas reservoirs, non-mineable coal seams and deep saline reservoirs – structures that have stored crude oil, natural gas, brine and carbon dioxide over millions of years.” 

CCUS is costly however.

A November 25 RBC report projects emissions abatement in the oil and gas sector will be remain negligible by 2030 due to cost.

“The most trade-exposed industries, like oil, gas, metals, and cement, likely won’t meaningfully reduce or abate emissions this decade without public support, given the high capital costs of abatement,” said the report. 

With Bill C-262, McLean hopes to incentivize CCUS through tax credits.

Ken Grafton is the Western Standards Ottawa Bureau Chief. He can be reached at kgrafton@westernstandardonline.com

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Councillor calls on Calgary officer to go – immediately

On Thursday, provincial court Judge Michelle Christopher found Const. Alex Dunn, 34, guilty of assault causing bodily harm after the 2017 arrest of Dalia Kafi

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A Calgary city councillor is calling on disgraced police officer Const. Alexander Dunn to resign immediately.

On Thursday, provincial court Judge Michelle Christopher found Const. Alex Dunn, 34, guilty of assault causing bodily harm after the 2017 arrest of Dalia Kafi.

In CCTV video – viewed millions of time around the world – Dunn is seen slamming a handcuffed Kafi face first into the concrete floor of the arrest processing unit. Dunn claimed in court he was worried that the young woman had slipped her cuffs as he attempted to remove her head covering.

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“Alexander Dunn your behaviour and actions in slamming Dalia Kafi to the cement floor are disgraceful. The Judge found you guilty and convicted you. As Dalia struggled in handcuffs as you threw her down tand held her leg down with your boot,” Councillor Diane Colley-Urquhart tweeted Friday night.

“You have brought disrepute to Calgary and the Calgary Police Service. It is unacceptable that anyone in our community be assaulted and treated this way by someone like you with this authority. You would serve our community well by not appealing the decision. Resign.”

Colley-Urquhart tweet

Kafi, arrested for breaching her curfew order, needed surgery to repair facial damage.

Dunn had been transferred to a desk job since the charges were laid. Under the Police Act, criminal charges must be dealt with before internal disciplinary hearings are held.

That process can now move forward.

There was a public outcry when Christopher released the CCTV to the media during the constables’s three-week trial last month.

People demanded answers as to why the officer hadn’t been fired immediately and local politicians called for the Police Act to be changed.

“The video of Constable Alex Dunn is very difficult to watch and the criminal trial is not the only step in the accountability process for this incident,” said CPS in a statement.

“Concerns about this incident were initially raised by a supervisor who witnessed the incident and, after an investigation, we laid the charge against the officer.

“It is not enough to say that cases which are now coming into the public eye happened before the current CPS executive team came into their roles. How are you making sure policies & practices have changed?”

Video courtesy CBC

“Constable Dunn is also the subject of an internal investigation which will measure his actions against the expectations of our Service and the community. This process will take into account the criminal conviction, as well as the evidence presented in the case and the judge’s reasons for the conviction.

“Police officers are trained and expected to de-escalate conflict where possible.  When they must use force, they are expected to use the least amount of force necessary to safely resolve a situation. 

“At the conclusion of the disciplinary process, penalties up to and including dismissal are possible. To ensure fairness, we cannot provide further comment on this case until the disciplinary process is complete.”

Dave Naylor is the News Editor of the Western Standard
dnaylor@westernstandardonline.com
TWITTER: Twitter.com/nobby7694

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UCP MLA Guthrie slams caucus colleague Barnes’ wage cut plan

Airdrie-Cochrane MLA Peter Guthrie said Drew Barnes’ plan is nothing but “self-interest” and will cause “divisiveness.

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A UCP MLA is blasting his colleague Drew Barnes’ call for government bureaucrats and provincial politicians to take a 20% wage roll back to show solidarity with Albertans suffering from COVID-19 pandemic economic woes.

Airdrie-Cochrane MLA Peter Guthrie said Barnes’ plan is nothing but “self-interest” and will cause “divisiveness.

“All MLAs and all political staff understand the current situation and the Alberta government have worked hard to control operational spending, however, the pandemic has made the situation challenging,” said Guthrie in an interview with CochraneNow.

“A cut to the extent of 20 per cent for all bureaucrats, including those in health care, social services, and education, would cause serious issues in retaining quality staff at a time when we need them most. So, in the midst of a pandemic, making a move like this would jeopardize the province’s ability to address ongoing and pressing issues.

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“To me, MLA Barnes is demonstrating a pattern of behaviour which undermines government efforts and consists mainly of self-interest and divisiveness.

“I would encourage MLA Barnes to offer more reasonable solutions to Albertans to help us get through the pandemic,” he told CochraneNow.

Barnes, MLA for Cypress-Medicine Hat, is set to take his proposal to a caucus call on Monday.

He has called for all Alberta politicians – municipal, provincial and federal – to take a 20 per cent roll back. Barnes also called on bureaucrats who make the same or more as MLAs ($145,000) to take a cut.

UCP MLAs and Premier Jason Kenney have already taken a pay cut – when they first came to power. In addition, UCP political staff took a seven per cent rollback earlier this year.

Barnes has been a constant thorn in Kenney’s side, publicly disagreeing with government policy on numerous occasions.

Dave Naylor is the News Editor of the Western Standard
dnaylor@westernstandardonline.com
TWITTER: Twitter.com/nobby7694

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