The municipality says that there will be weight restrictions for the winter road to Fort Chipewyan today and Saturday. Because of the warm temperatures, the road will be closed to heavy traffic over 5,000 kilograms.. Light traffic under 5,000 kilograms is still permitted. Road maintenance work is ongoing and the public is reminded to use extreme caution when using the road.  

The Federal and Provincial government are slated to unveil an oil sands monitoring strategy. After two years of delay and months of negotiations Minister of Alberta Environment and Water, Diana McQueen and Canada's Environment Minister Peter Kent will make the announcement from the University of Alberta at 1 this afternoon.

A steep drop in profits for Syncrude thanks to a steep drop in production. Canadian Oil Sands reports that an outage at its main hydrogen unit reduced oil sands output by millions of barrels in the fourth quarter. Causing earnings to fall 60 per cent in the final three months of last year. 

Years after the Conservatives promised protection for whistleblowers, federal public servants remain fearful of disclosing wrongdoing. Most federal workers, according to a study that was completed last December, see job punishment as the likely outcome of any effort to expose a wrong. The report, prepared for the Public Sector Integrity Commissioner's office, also found that most employees think wrongdoing in the federal public sector is under-disclosed.

Finance Minister Jim Flaherty has made it clear that a reduction in pension costs is necessary for the future fiscal health of the government. He says the spring budget will include changes to the Old Age Security program that pays about 500 dollars a month on average to lower-income Canadians upon turning 65. But he insists anyone currently receiving O-A-S or about to start receiving the benefits will not be affected by the cuts. 

In Sports…
It was a night Sam Gagner won’t soon forget, the Oilers forward scored 4 goals and assisted on the other 4 as the Oilers hammered the visiting Chicago Blackhawks 8-4. The effort tied a franchise record held by Paul Coffey and Wayne Gretzky dating back to the 80s. Gagner was awarded all three stars at the end of the game.

The Oil Barons started their three game road trip with a shut-out victory over the Lloydminster Bobcats. The MOB are in Bonneville to play the Pontiacs tonight.