Prime Minister Stephen Harpers Government: Premier Alison Redford

Premier Alison Redford: Lets hope Prime Minister Stephen Harpers government is faster off the mark in helping flood-stricken Calgary and other parts of Alberta, where Premier Alison Redford says the world changed when the waters rose. She foresees a 10-year rebuilding effort from a disaster that rivals the ice storm in scope. It is going to require monumental marshalling of resources, skills and people, she predicts. The last thing the fragile Canadian economy needs is to have its powerhouse Alberta driver under water, as it were, for any length of time, according to The Star. In the meantime, thousands of people are rallying to help bail out their neighbours, who joke about suddenly owning waterfront property. This type of community spirit is refreshing to see, at a time when Toronto and Montreal have been brought low by political scandal and rank corruption and Three full years after the ice storm of 1998, the Canadian government was still doling out dribs and drabs of disaster relief to the hardest-hit regions. While Ottawa eventually provided some $650 million to Quebec and Ontario, much of it was a long time coming. Quebec got a $50-million top-up as late as 2001 under the Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements program. The grit that Albertans are showing in the face of a calamity that drove 120,000 people from their homes in Calgary, Medicine Hat, High River and other communities is inspiring. Calgarys indefatigable, endlessly engaging Mayor This is Calgary , folks! Naheed Nenshi has buoyed city spirits, updated the public round-the-clock on crisis management efforts, played traffic cop telling people where its safe to go and not, cheered on rescuers and lectured the foolhardy. And the 101-year-old Stampede, the citys big event, will kick off on July 5 come hell or high water, organizers vow. Mud bowl or not, it will be quite the show. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.