Opinions

It sounds like the blueprint for economic development in Medicine Hat region over the last 100 years. Strangely, however, those are the four main pillars outlined in the current Montana state economic outlook as reported by the Great Falls Tribune this week.

That's just a fact of Canadian life, but when federal NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair declared this obvious truth while talking about Alberta's oilsands in an interview, he was slammed for being anti-West and for making the first major gaffe of his new leadership.

Canada's first national mental health strategy was unveiled last week and, on paper, it sounds good. Of course, plans are only as good as the action that results. While the federal government said all the right things at the launch of the strategy, it still boils down to "show us the money.

I may have missed that portion of the recipe since the kids and I were fooling around in the kitchen when mom was out the other day. So the 'Delicious Meat Lasagna' recipe became something like 'Delicious Hamburger and Tomato Sauce and Ricotta Cheese Soup/Stew Sort Of.

The Canadian Taxpayers Association has given us a blinding revelation of how large that scoop is. Provincial MLAs are given three months pay for every year in office, based on the highest year of pay, and a further enhancement to their RRSP.

Leading up to Tuesday's unveiling of Premier Alison Redford's new cabinet, there had even been speculation that Lethbridge might wind up with two provincial cabinet ministers for the first time in decades.

Walking across the more than century old Finlay Bridge, it is hard not to notice the craftsmanship of the builders. A craftsmanship that has only been enhanced by the recent renovations. A craftsmanship that seems to have disappeared in our country. It wasn't an overnight phenomenon but it happened quickly.

Although national charities, such as the annual Salvation Army Kettle Campaign and Operation Christmas Child garner a lot of attention throughout the holidays, it is the spring and summer that seem to be the most lucrative for charitable groups.

ÊThe spring's federal budget made it official: The government is raising the age for Old Age Security (OAS) from 65 to 67. Any Canadian born after March 31, 1958 must wait up to two years longer before receiving their OAS pension. ÊWhat will these cuts mean for Canada?Ê Let's consider who depends on OAS.