Calgary MLA Rick Fraser joins Alberta Party

Calgary MLA Rick Fraser joined Alberta Party months after he left the United Conservative Party caucus.
“Rick went through a long and thoughtful process and he actively listened to the constituents of Calgary-South East,” Former Alberta Party leader Greg Clark said in a statement. Fraser left the UCP Caucus to sit as an independent in late September.
Fraser also announced plans to run for the leadership of his new party. Clark stepped down as leader in early November, 2017 to spark a leadership race. Calgary lawyer Kara Levis was the first to announce plans to seek leadership of the Alberta Party in mid-December, 2017. Candidates have until January 15 to submit applications to run – voting is set to open on February 25, and close on February 27.

Company ordered to pay damages on two destroyed homes

A Saskatchewan trucking company has been ordered to pay  $426,400 for damages caused when one of its drivers crashed a semi-tractor trailer into a Saskatoon home five years ago.On Feb. 15, 2012, Anthony Dale Voth was driving a semi southbound on Circle Drive when he veered off the road, drove over an off-ramp, through two ditches and a berm, before slamming into the basement of a house under construction in the Stonebridge neighbourhood. The collision sparked a fire that spread to another home under construction. They were both owned by Duraroc Homes. Voth died in the crash. The investigation never determined why he left the road.

Duraroc Homes took the trucking company, Bert Baxter Transport, to court to pay for the damages to the two houses. In the judge’s decision, handed down Nov. 27, he said Bert Baxter Transport could not prove its driver wasn’t negligent and ordered the trucking company to pay Duraroc Homes $426,400.