Canada's federal budget bill has been grabbing attention lately as the government contemplates changes to the EI program.

Finance Minister Jim Flaherty has come under fire for saying there is 'no such thing as a bad job', which has some Canadians concerned that they'll have to take jobs they're overqualified for or unsuitable for their skill set.

Wildrose MP Blake Richards says the idea behind any changes to the program is to remove the disincentives to work.

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Richards adds that many areas, including Alberta, are facing labour shortages in certain fields. 

He says details about the EI program will be unveiled in the coming months.

Richards disregards the opposition's critiques of these changes, saying that they will provide a win-win situation for Canadians and the economy.

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The increase in Old Age Security eligibility has also been a cause for concern for Canadians as of late.

Richards says he's focusing on providing clarification for what this change means, and that there will be a window of about 15 years to plan for it.

Reeve Bruce Beattie says passing first reading is a significant step in what has been a lengthy process to create a new MDP.

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According to Beattie, the stage is now set for the start of the public hearing process on June 27th.

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He adds, finalizing the draft MDP document could conceivably take place in early July - but that will depend on how long the public hearing process takes.

As eager Albertans begin preparing for the long weekend, local RCMP detachments are gearing up for what could be a busy few days.

Sgt. Jeff Jacobsen, Didsbury RCMP Detachment Commander, says they will be focusing on enforcing any fire bans that will be in place as well as ensuring people are drinking responsibly.

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He says the increased focus of RCMP members during the Victoria Day long weekend usually produces good results.

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Jacobsen adds, the number of issues they'll have to deal with usually comes down to how favorable the weather is.

He encourages everyone to be responsible by using designated drivers & respecting the land while camping.

Olds College has recieved a $945 000 grant for a new livestock project from the NSERC.

Tanya McDonald - Dean of the School of Agriculture - says they are part of a unique project in partnership with the University of Alberta and the Canadain Hereford Association.

McDonald says this means great things for the school and the students.

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Students enrolled in the Ag Management program will be able to be engaged in the research as well as learning about technology & the use of genomics.

The Interclub Grand Champion Steer went to a shorthorn shown by Quinci Jones from the Olds 4-H Club.

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Her steer weighed in at 1342 pounds and it sold for $2/lb

Jones shared how 4-H has helped her.

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Interclub Reserve Grand Champion Steer was hereford weighing in at 1387 pounds shown by Zachary Latimer of the Olds 4-H club.

It sold for $1.62/lb in the sale.

The clubs would like to thank all the sponsors who made the day possible.

Mountain View County heard from a Netook Crossing delegation at last week's P&P meeting.

According to Realty Advisor Herb Styles with Netook, it would be an understatement to say that he has a 'very high level of concern' with the County's proposed Municipal Development Plan.

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Styles thinks council's intention is to basically dismantle the current Area Structure Plan that the Netook developers have relied on.

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Terry Johnston with Prodev says they have had discussions regarding legal options - he explains why.

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In order to solve the problems, Johnston feels they need to sit down and have a real serious discussion with the County.

Johnston believes council has made up their minds to proceed with a low growth, low density model which he doesn't think is compatible with the economic development that was invisioned for Netook Crossing.

Fiscal impact assesment & servicing strategy reports for the project will be available at the Olds Golf Course tonight as the developers host a 'Night Out on Netook' from 6 til 9pm.

Chinook Edge school division is asking parents in Red Deer, Poplar Ridge, Innisfail, Penhold and Sylvan Lake to fill out School Attendance Boundary Surveys.

Ray Hoppins, CESD's Associate Superintendent of System Services, says the proposed boundary survey has been put out to anwser the primary question: "Do they have it right?"

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Attendance Boundary surveys are available at www.chinooksedge.ab.ca down at the bottom right of the page.

Surveys must be completed by May 20th & the results will be known about a week later. 

The Wildrose MLA for the Olds Didsbury Three Hills constituency is looking forward to working with the Alberta government's newly announced cabinet.

Bruce Rowe listed new Transportation Minister Ric McIver as one of the cabinet members he has a good working relationship with.

Rowe really wants to see McIver & the province address the Olds interchange upgrade at the QE2 and Highway 27.

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The Wildrose MLA for Olds Didsbury Three Hills keeps close tabs on the portfolio that Doug Griffiths will continue to handle.

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Rowe is also looking forward to working with Environment & Sustainable Resource Development Minister Diana McQueen.

332 vehicles registered for the 20th anniversary edition of the Didsbury Show & Shine.

According to Organizer Grand Svendson, a large pick-up truck full of food and just over $2400 dollars cash was raised for the Mountain View Food Bank.

Saturday's event saw car enthusiasts from as far away as north Edmonton make the drive to Didsbury.

The Fred Hansen Memorial Award winner was Dave Wasylyshen's 1958 Chevy Impala.

Murray Eskrick's 1934 Chevrolet Street Rod took home the Mayor's Choice Award.

A mobile home fire in Bowden has resulted in the deaths of the two occupants.

A 49 year old male and a 42 year old female were found deceased insided when Mounties were called to the Bowden Estates Trailer Park at about 1:25 Sunday morning.

Olds RCMP say the preliminary investigation has determined the cause of the fire was accidental in nature.

Police are reminding home owners to periodically check their smoke alarms to ensure they are in working order and functioning properly.

The Innisfail Integrated Traffic Unit was dispatched to the southbound lanes of the QE2 at the highway 11 overpass last Thursday night.

RCMP say at about 7:25pm a semi - carrying an empty oilfield container load on it's deck - struck the overpass.

The load was higher than the 5.2 meter clearance, causing it to be dislodged from the semi onto the highway.

According to Alberta Highways, no structural damage was reported to the overpass.

Alberta Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Officers have charged the driver for hauling a load that was higher than permitted.

Premier Alison Redford's cabinet shuffle last week resulted in many of the high profile portfolios ending up in the hands of Edmonton area MLAs.

According to Rimbey-Sundre-Rocky Mountain House represenatative Joe Anglin, the typical strategy would be to have it spread out across the province.

However, the Wildrose MLA doesn't feel geographical balance it is the most important thing.

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The Rimbey-Sundre-Rocky Mountain House MLA is taking a wait & see approach to Redford's cabinet.

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According to Anglin, there are some interesting developments including the merging of the Environment portfolio with Sustainable Resources & Development. 

A Calgary man has been charged with Internet luring and child pornography involving two teens.

Sundre R-C-M-P initiated the investigation in December 2011 after receiving a tip from a concerned citizen relating to the well-being of one of the two alleged victims.

Mounties and the Southern Alberta Internet Child Exploitation Unit worked together during the investigation.

Police say there may be more than two alleged victims and urged anyone with information to contact police.

57 year old Jason Arthur Friend is facing a total of 10 offences.

(Includes content from the Canadian Press)

Holy Trinity has won a National Helping Hands Award from 'Let Them Be Kids'.

Principal Blake Krause says that means they'll have a playground this fall.

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To sign up as a volunteer, to find out more information or to follow the progress go to www.olds.itbk.ca.

Reeve Bruce Beattie says numerous changes have been made to the proposed municipal development plan.

Although he referred to those adjustments as 'not large or significant'.

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Reeve Bruce Beattie says - if council agrees with the changes made - first reading of the draft MDP could pass at the next regular council meeting.

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The changes made will be brought back to the next Mountain View County council meeting on May 16th.

The Mountain View Seniors' Housing Board has responded to a letter from the Sundre Seniors' Community Housing & Care Committee.

CAO Sam Smalldon says the committee had requested that MVSH consider a project for Sundre to meet the demands of the area.

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According to Smalldon, it has been determined that there is a definite need for additional seniors' housing in Sundre.

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Smalldon explains what the type of care facility they are considering.

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He adds, in November of 2011 there was an Alberta government competition for a 100 bed SL4 facility.

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Smalldon believes the timeline for the entire process of getting government funding approval, aquiring land, & completing constructing a seniors housing project in Sundre could take 4 to 5 years.

Later this week the town of Carstairs holds its annual neighborhood party.

In addition to plenty of family activities, the event is a showcase for non-profit entities.

Terri Sperle, Director of Community Services, says there will be around 60 tables set up featuring sports organizations, service groups and health organizations.

Sperle runs down what they have planned for kids of all ages.

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The neighborhood party is free to attend.

There will be a toonie dinner which includes a hot dog, salad & a pop.

It runs this Friday from 4:30-8pm at the Carstairs Arena.

The first hour of this week's Mountain View County council meeting focussed almost exclusively on the roads.

Reeve Bruce Beattie says a heavy rate of oil & gas activity combined with wet spring weather has created a number of issues.

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According to Beattie, they are the province's roads but the County looks after them.

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Beattie adds, councillors & the operations department are listening to the concerns of ratepayers regarding the impact of heavy equipment activity on County roads.

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Council directed the CAO & administration to review Mountain View County's current Road Bans & Road Use Agreement policies.

Their findings will be brought back to the May 23 Policies & Priorities committee meeting.

Over $24,000 was raised thanks to Sunday's Hike For Hospice in Olds.

Chairperson Kathy Kemmere says 146 participants started out at the SportsComplex before running, walking or wheeling around the trails in town.

Funds raised in the community will stay here to help support the Olds & District Hospice Society.

The event was held in collaboration with Hospice Palliative Care week in the town of Olds.

This is emergency preparedness week.

Derek Sutherland, Director of Disaster Services for the town of Didsbury, explains what families need to do to be ready for an emergency.

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Sutherland says in that kit needs to be enough food for 3 days, 4 litres of water per person, bedding, candles, flashlights with extra batteries, fuel and a camp stove.

For more information go to www.aema.alberta.ca.

The wet spring weather is taking its toll on Mountain View County roads.

Michael McLean, Director of Operations, explains what steps they've taken this week as a result.

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According to McLean, they won't know the extent of the damage to several roadways until the weather improves.

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McLean says today's inspection of the local roads will be done by four County foremen and a supervisor.

Issues on local roads can be brought to the operations department's attention by contacting the Mountain View County office.

Olds High School's Interact Club presented Amanda Lindout Tuesday night with her amazing story of forgiveness.

In 2008 Lindout traveled to Somalia as a freelance journalist, 3 days after her arrival she was kidnapped by youth criminals and held hostage for 15 months.

After her release, Lindout became an unlikely advocate for Somalia and started the Global Enrichment Fund, a non-profit organization.

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Since then the GEF has raised over 2million dollars.

A school has also been opened by the foundation and Lindout beleives education is they key to change.

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For more information or to donate visit www.globalenrichmentfoundation.com.

The 2012 municipal tax rate bylaw was passed this week by Sundre town council.

According to Director of Corporate Services, Wanda Watson-Neufeld, residents will see an increase this year.

She says it will help the town cover the costs of several large projects.

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Wanda Watson-Neufeld explains what the expected impact will be for the average residential ratepayer in Sundre.

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Neufeld says the town of Sundre's Alberta Education Requisition came in about 9% higher than last year.

The town of Sundre's tax notices will be sent out in early May - taxes need to be paid by June 30th.

Having an MLA who is not part of the governing party in Alberta will be a unique experience for Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills constituents.

Wildrose candidate Bruce Rowe was chosen by local voters on Monday to take over for retiring MLA Richard Marz - Marz had been the lone representative for the region since the creation of the constituency in 1996.

While the PC party did secure another majority in the Legislature, Didsbury Mayor Brian Whittal expects it to be a good thing to have a louder voice on the opposition side.

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Carstairs Mayor Lance Colby believes it will be interesting to see if there is any difference.

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Olds Mayor Judy Dahl feels Bruce Rowe's municipal experience will be an asset in the legislature.

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Dahl says it was very evident in the months leading up to the election that there was going to be strong support for the Wildrose Party along this part of the QE2 corridor.

Joe Anglin of the Wildrose Party says he is humbled to be elected as the MLA for Rimbey-Sundre-Rocky Mountain House.

Anglin discusses why he feels the Wildrose was so successful in his riding as well as Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills and Innisfail-Sylvan Lake.

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Anglin collected more than 7,600 votes and is ready to battle for his constituents in the legislature.

Luke Ouellette of the PCs had been the MLA for that riding since 2001, but last night voters put 46% of their support behind Kerry Towle of the Wildrose Party - Ouellette finished with 40% of the votes.

Towle talks about some of the reasons why the Wildrose was succesful in ridings such as her's as well as Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills and Rimbey-Sundre-Rocky Mountain House.

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She explains what the Wildrose Party will be able to do as Alberta's official opposition.

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Holding on to a slim lead for most of the night wasn't easy - Towle says she & her supporters were on 'pins & needles' as they watched the results come in.

57% of the ballots in the constituency were cast in support of Rowe.

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PC candidate Darcy Davis was 2nd with 37% of the votes.

Rowe talks about what he expected from the election.

Rowe and the Wildrose Party take over in Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills following 4 terms with now retired Tory MLA Richard Marz.

Premier Alison Redford's ruling Conservatives defied the experts and scored a solid majority victory, extending the party's Alberta dynasty that started in 1971.

Redford told jubilant supporters that everyone got engaged in the future of Alberta.

Many Albertans expected the Wildrose party to end the Tory stranglehold on power but the breakthrough didn't materialize at the polls.

However, Wildrose leader Danielle Smith says she's still proud of her party's message and their campaign.

The Tory's wound up with 61 candidates elected to the legislature.

2nd was the Wildrose with 17, followed by the Liberals with 5 and the NDP with 4.

(includes content from the Canadian Press)