SEE THE SIMILARITY? LILO LIKENS HERSELF TO MARILYN MANROE {page 40}
SUMMER PIE USE FRUITS OF THE SEASON FOR THIS DESSERT {page 42}
COLOMBIANA SALDANA KNOWS HER GUNS, BUT SHE’S NO NUT
{page 32}
CALGARY
Weekend, August 26-28, 2011 www.metronews.ca News worth sharing.
Database fee scrapped for now
First. Festival
Licence-plate query charge would cost city $10 million annually Parking-ticket fee hikes and potential police job losses loomed JEREMY NOLAIS
@METRONEWS.CA
Calgary parking-violation fees are staying put, and police officials are no longer scrambling to cover a service fee charged by the Alberta government. At least until next spring.
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Service Alberta confirmed yesterday they are having to put plans on hold to implement a $15 charge against municipalities each time they refer to the province’s online licence-plate database. The fee would have siphoned $10 million from Calgary’s annual budget and was widely criticized by city officials. “Municipalities in the (Alberta Urban Municipalities Association) expressed some concerns, and we listened to those concerns,” Service Alberta spokesperson Sharon Lopatka said Thursday. “We will involve them in discussions as we move forward.” Those discussions could include revisiting the fee during next year’s budgetary review process, she said. Plans had been made to raise the cost of a Cal-
Violation tickets $18 hike. Troy McLeod, acting general manager of the Calgary Parking Authority, confirmed Thursday a planned $18 hike to parking-violation tickets was always contingent on the province’s service fee coming into effect.
gary Parking Authority violation ticket by $18 to cover some of the fee, and city police were also exploring ways to mitigate the loss. Mayor Naheed Nenshi welcomed news of the delay but, in a statement, cautioned the province’s decision doesn’t go far enough. “As I’ve said many times before, this fee is poorly considered and makes very little sense,” he said. “If imposed as planned, the only result of the fee would be a greater burden on taxpayers and significant budgetary stress to the Calgary Police Service.”
Two members of the bluegrass band Go Ask Earl play for Calgary Transit customers Thursday at the 1st Street SW C-Train station. KATIE TURNER/METRO
Getting ready for bluegrass In anticipation of the first annual Calgary Bluegrass Festival, which takes place Saturday and Sunday at the Foothills Stadium, artists performed on C-Train platforms Thursday and will continue to do so Friday. Tickets can be purchased at several Calgary Co-ops around the city or at the gate.
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