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A coalition of Vancouver-based women's groups, including the Richmond Women's Resource Centre, are holding a women's forum in November to parallel the APEC (Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation) leaders' summit in Vancouver. Women will discuss how open trade affects women and children in both Canada and Asia. In preparation for the forum, a workshop will be held Thursday, Sept. 25, at 6:30 p.m. at the Richmond Women's Resource Centre, 110-7000 Minoru Blvd. Resource persons will discuss APEC, how it affects women in Asia, and why women in Canada are concerned.
A new specially-painted Air Canada Airbus A319 will be flying the Trans-Canada Air Lines colors to commemorate Air Canada's 60th birthday. The colorful plane was unveiled last week in Vancouver to honor the airline's past, present and future. A total of 172 gallons of paint were used, including 80 gallons of silver, 60 gallons of clear paint and 16 gallons of both red and black.
Education Minister Paul Ramsey will be heading back to school to meet with parents from throughout B.C. to hear their concerns about the state of local schools. "I want to meet with parents, students and teachers around B.C. and hear for myself what they see as the strengths in our schools that we need to protect and build on, and the areas where they feel improvement is needed," he said in a press release. The minister also announced he will create "efficiency advisory teams" which will review funding pressures and make recommendations for reducing expenditures while still protecting services in the classroom. The teams will comprise professionals experienced in budget development and implementation.
Detached homes and townhouses in general sold for less in July than the same month last year. While the average selling price of a house dropped five per cent to $383,523, townhouse prices plunged eight per cent, from $236,779 to $218,914. Condo selling prices bucked the trend, jumping a modest three per cent to $150,673.
The Aug. 27 wildcat transit strike will cost B.C. Transit $250,000. That's the amount the taxpayer-supported Crown corporation has budgeted for the cost of make-up service offered to transit commuters, who were stranded for the morning rush hour that day because of the strike. The $250,000 is expected to cover the cost of free morning service offered two days after the strike, as well as rebates available to monthly bus-pass holders. Those with August '97 Farecards can mail in the expired pass to B.C. Transit to receive a $5 rebate. Transit service has remained normal since the half-day strike. The labor dispute, arising from suspensions given to seven transit union officials, is scheduled for arbitration in October or November.
Two Richmond-area support groups received funding help under the provincial government's drive to stamp out racism. The Gulf of Georgia Cannery program called "working together now and then" and Success's "multicultural friendship clubs and parents partnerships in Richmond" both received funding Wednesday by Ujjal Dosanjh, minister responsible for multiculturalism and immigration. The B.C. government is committing $682,791 this year to fight racism to various groups throughout the province.
A group of commercial fishers is calling the Department of Fisheries and Oceans "chicken" for not agreeing to a speedy trial in B.C. Supreme Court. The B.C. Fisheries Survival Coalition offered to cancel all protests for the rest of the salmon season if Minister of Fisheries David Anderson expedited a court hearing to determine whether DFO has the legal power to set up native fisheries. "If DFO is so confidant they are acting legally whey are they chicken to settle this in court and why are they risking further protests when the issue could be settled within days by a justice of the Supreme Court?" asks coalition spokesperson Phil Eidsvik.
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