Union staff want raise

David DaSilva, staff reporter

That message comes after city council members voted to give themselves a pay hike Monday. The mayor’s salary increases by six per cent to $70,903. City councillors pay rises by 9.1 per cent to $28,361.

“We feel it is our turn,” said John Stewart, president of Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 394 (outside workers). “We believe that we are due a raise now. We have been holding at zero and one per cent (raises) for a long time.”

There is no way the city can tell its unionized members that it can’t afford raises after giving both management and elected officials healthy raises, he said. City managers received pay raises recently too after a consultant’s report declared they were underpaid.

“As someone asked me, ‘what are we chopped liver?’” Stewart quipped.

But one councillor said that just because council members are getting a raise doesn’t mean that union members should expect the same. Coun. Bill McNulty (NPA) said council’s nine members deserve a pay hike because of the amount of time they contribute to city business.

“When I started on council (1996) the demands were about 20 hours a week and now they are between 40 and 60 hours a week,” he said Tuesday. “I (spent) seven-and-a-half hours last night on council business alone.”

He contends that union staff have been fairly compensated and have received regular raises. “They have had raises for the last seven years,” McNulty said.

When told that union president John Stewart will push for significant pay hikes for his members, McNulty responded: “Well, John Stewart always cries. I mean, John Stewart is doing well, for a guy who lives in Delta. He can cry all he wants on that but I think he has to understand the value of the municipal government...John works a regular shift and gets paid overtime and doubletime and tripletime. We don’t get paid anything for overtime.”

Stewart defended the union’s push for raises in saying that the last contract was a three-year deal that contained no raises in the first year and only one per cent increases in the second and third years.

“That one per cent, well, I don’t know what you can get for one per cent. You might be able to get a Big Mac or something. One per cent is not a lot of money,” he added.

Council approved the pay hikes with Coun. Linda Barnes (NDP) opposed. (Coun. Derek Dang was absent.)

Union workers have been without a contract since Dec. 31. The last contract took 21 months to settle.

Military unveils new helicopter

Pilots for the chopper wowed dozens of businesspeople, aviation enthusiasts, and various airport workers, who stood by on the banks of the river to watch the new helicopter in action. It swooped and zig-zagged, then hovered only metres above the water, its propulsion throwing up spray that floated over to the banks, sprinkling watchers with river water.

It marks the first time the cormorant was in Vancouver. Pilots flew it down from Fairbanks, Alaska, where the chopper was undergoing tests to determine its worthiness in extreme climates.

The helicopter was brought to town to familiarize workers at Acro Aerospace, the Richmond company located on airport lands which has the contract to assemble the General Electric engines for the chopper. Acro is a subsidiary of Vector Aerospace.

The choppers are a product of a four-country development program: Italy, Canada, the U.S. and Britain.

B.C. Employment Minister Gordon Wilson was a special guest. The government is attempting to remove obstacles that get in the way of the aerospace industry’s growth, he said.

“As you know, I have long been an advocate of getting rid of the machinery and equipment tax,” he told an audience on the banks of the river before the helicopter’s demonstration.

As well, the government will look at lowering the corporate capital tax while doing more to provide adequate training for the

sector.

Hospital, Lion’s Manor to get $1.7M in upgrades

But all of them will finally be brought up to current standards thanks to last week’s Health Ministry announcement of $1.5 million in upgrades to Richmond Hospital. Other hospital improvements include new safer storage for medical gas tanks.

“The investment will enhance the quality of care and the safety of patients, staff and visitors to these facilities,” Health Minister Mike Farnworth said in a press release.

Nearly $200,000 has also been earmarked for Lion’s Manor long-term care facility on Fentiman Place in Steveston. The money will be used to upgrade a ventilation system in the facility’s kitchen.

Richmond Hospital officials were unavailable for comment at press time.

Hospital spokesperson Peter Roaf said through an assistant that he wanted more time to analyze the repercussions of the announcement before speaking to the media.

Despite hall owner’s blunder, rave bylaw goes ahead

Martin van den Hemelstaff reporter

Councillors didn’t hold back in their criticism of the man they held accountable for an April 1 rave that went wrong when 4,000 youths lined up outside two River Road buildings with a combined capacity of only 2,200 people. Between 15 and 20 police officers from Richmond and Delta were called out to deal with what they described as a “near riot” situation.

Despite the events of that night, council voted 5-3 (Coun. Derek Dang was absent for medical reasons) in favour of a new rave bylaw that is intended to regulate the all-night parties. The new bylaw takes effect on May 1.

Coun. Bill McNulty told The Review that Ghirra made a “stupid decision” in allowing a promoter to move a rave into his two facilities at the last minute.

Although Ghirra tried to pass the blame “off on everyone else”, McNulty said council took him to task over what happened.

But instead of turning down the bylaw, McNulty said council decided to take the high road in an effort to have some control and regulation over raves. McNulty, Mayor Greg Halsey-Brandt, Linda Barnes, Harold Steves and Lyn Greenhill all approved fourth and final reading of the bylaw. Malcolm Brodie, Kiichi Kumagai and Ken Johnston voted against the bylaw.

McNulty voted in favour of the bylaw because he felt that raves need to be regulated to ensure the safety of those who attend. He said that amendments to the bylaw have been referred back to city staff.

McNulty said he’d like to see promoters cough up a $5,000 or $10,000 bond to ensure that when a rave goes wrong, there’s money to pay for the clean up or necessary policing.

Coun. Ken Johnston said that he felt some ambivalence toward the rave issue. On the one hand, he’s in favour of giving youth a forum in which to express themselves at night. But at the same time, it is his duty to protect the public and he felt that the bylaw didn’t properly address this concern.

“I was somewhat disappointed in the actions of the gentleman that owns the two facilities,” Johnston said of Ghirra.

From the very beginning, Johnston said he supported the creation of the bylaw and felt that was council’s way of offering an olive branch to Ghirra and others who work in the rave industry. But Ghirra snapped that olive branch in half when he allowed for the events of April 1 to occur.

Coun. Derek Dang, who didn’t attend Monday night’s council meeting due to a problem with his eye, said he was surprised that council approved the bylaw.

“These guys have not proven themselves,” Dang said of the promoters.

Dang said he was upset by the fact that some rave promoters have made council’s concerns seem trivial.

He said the April 1 rave incident was that latest example of raves “going awry”.

Bobby Ghirra said he was thankful council gave him another chance.

He said he has learned a lesson from the events of April 1. His company will no longer accept last-minute bookings and will look into why prospective bookings have been rejected in other communities.

Concrete company claims city forcing it to shut down

David DaSilvastaff reporter

Rempel Brothers Concrete and its parent company, Lehigh Portland Cement Ltd., say the bridge’s road alignment from Bridgeport Road stretching over the river to the airport lands, will be located right in front of the plant’s driveway, effectively blocking it off, the company claims in its writ filed in Vancouver’s B.C. Supreme Court last week.

The company, which makes and distributes ready-mix concrete, says the new bridge’s layout will force it to close down since cement trucks use the lane to get to the plant.

Rempel has until June to find an alternate entrance. A spokesperson for the company could not be reached for comment.

City solicitor Paul Kendrick said that the matter is actually between the plant and the provincial highways ministry.

“We are taking the position that it wasn’t us,” he said Tuesday.

“The access they get now is over a very, very tiny lot that used to be owned by the city and they had a licensed agreement for a small amount a year. What we did was we sold that to the highways authority who in turn gave them notice that access will be cancelled.”

But Rempel disputes whether the city may legally deny the company’s access to the plant. The writ states that the access road is “irrevocable” through a license, and that the company has spent money

improving its plant on the expectation that it will be able to use the lane.

But the company still has access available to it, Kendrick said. Cement trucks can still get to the plant via West Road, which is located immediately north of the plant, he said. But Kendrick also said that would mean the company would have to reconfigure the layout of the plant.

“At this moment we are not asked to do anything,” he added. “They are still negotiating with the city and highways to settle this. They just issued the writ to protect themselves from time problems, but they made it clear they are not expecting us to defend it at the moment.”

Rempel maintains that the road layout will result in a loss of revenues and business opportunity as well as affect the value of the company’s land.

The company is seeking unspecified damages, costs and any further relief.

Rempel has occupied the same site since 1959 and has used the land to prepare concrete since 1969. Its goods are distributed to various operations throughout the Lower Mainland.

Review captures four awards in provincial newspaper competition

The awards were handed out last weekend at the newspaper association’s convention in Vancouver.

Leaning the way were veteran photographer Mark Patrick and news reporter David DaSilva.

DaSilva captured the gold (first place) award, in the editorial category for a series of editorials on the controversy over the relocation of the Turning Point recovery home. The judges praised the editorials, writing: “Hypocrisy is never so distasteful as when the nimby vigilantes are on the loose. In the face of vocal neighbourhood anger over the Turning Point recovery home—anger even directed at the newspaper, The Review stood its ground and spoke to issues of fact and fair play. ”

Patrick captured first place in the feature colour photography category for his photo from last year’s Chinese New Year celebrations at Aberdeen Centre.

The judges wrote: “This is an excellent example of an unplanned feature photo. Chinese New Year parades are usually depicted with much colour and traditional dancing. Mark’s image of the photographer running from the explosions of firecrackers shows chaos, confusion and yet the theme of his assignment is definitely there.”

The Review also received a silver (second place) award in the tourism and recreation guide category. The Review produces an annual tourism guide for Tourism Richmond.

Judges noted that the guide was “attractive concise and useful” with an “alluring” design. Advertising representative Chris Grant was project manger of the guide for The Review.

The Review also captured a bronze (third place) award for its web site design.

“We’re delighted to see the hard work and excellence of our news staff honoured,” said Publisher Lois Hourston. “Their unstinting efforts have played an important part in making The Review Richmond’s leading newspaper.

“It’s also gratifying to be honoured for two projects involving some of our many community partners,” added Hourston. “The Review has been committed to community service since 1932 and we’re proud of the role we’ve played in working together with the Richmond Public Library and Tourism Richmond in building our community.”

Idea not original, court rules

Martin van den Hemelstaff reporter

And as a result, the Vancouver man lost his civil suit against the Vancouver International Airport Authority.

Paul, who in 1994 was a 32-year-old airport ramp attendant, sued the airport authority after it rejected his pub proposal for a site on Inglis Road on Sea Island. But just a short time after approaching the airport about the idea, the authority gave the go-ahead to Harbour Air to build a similar facility, now known as the Flying Beaver Bar and Grill.

B.C. Supreme Court Justice J. Stromberg-Stein ruled that if Paul and his project team had “exercised a modicum of due diligence”, they would have discovered “Harbour Air’s long-standing plans to build a new terminal with a similar pub and restaurant establishment.”

“Apparently unbeknownst to Mr. Paul and his team, in 1989 Harbour Air had proposed an expansion to build a restaurant/pub, to accommodate 125 patrons, to serve Harbour Air’s customers as well as others from the airport and surrounding community.”

In fact, in his ruling, Stromberg-Stein wrote: “I conclude that Mr. Paul and his team knew of Harbour Air’s expansion plans, but turned a blind eye in their enthusiastic pursuit of the Paul proposal.”

Paul sought a ruling on liability against the airport authority, hoping to win a judgement for wasted expenses, economic loss of opportunity, and aggravated, exemplary and punitive damages.

According to the court ruling, The Flying Beaver has been a “huge success”, bringing in $10 million in revenues since its opening in July 1995.

Paul claimed that the airport authority was negligent in not disclosing the proposal put forward by Harbour Air. And after letting Paul know it was no longer considering his proposal, the airport authority continued to have discussions with Harbour Air.

But Justice Stromberg-Stein disagreed, ruling that there were no negligent representations by the airport authority.

When the airport authority terminated further consideration of Paul’s proposal, the judge ruled that it was “fraught with uncertainty on the totality of the evidence. The airport authority exercised sound business judgement in its dealings with Mr. Paul.”

Senior injured in motorhome explosion

Martin van den Hemelstaff reporter

Richmond Fire-Rescue’s Gordon Gill told The Review that the Winnebago-style motorhome had been parked at 12531 Bridgeport Rd.

As the man was using a barbecue lighter to fire up his gas range, an explosion tore through the van, blowing out the vehicle’s windshield and knocking down the door.

The man had apparently not noticed that the range was leaking propane, Gill said. The victim managed to drag a burning foam mattress out of the vehicle, and sustained some burns as a result. He was apparently taken to Vancouver General Hospital’s burn unit and later released.

The man told fire crews that he ignored the potential for further injury while throwing out the mattress because the motorhome contained all of his possessions.

Woman fined for smuggling diamond ring

While Francis Ko was walking up to the Canada Customs booths, a customs officer noted the fur-collar coat Ko was wearing. Suspecting that the fur coat may be brand new because Hong Kong is known for its hot weather, the officer recommended that she be examined more closely.

Customs inspectors found a receipt for 53,500 Hong Kong dollars from a jewelry store and an empty cardboard box inside the woman’s luggage.

A personal search was then authorized, and revealed the 18 karat white gold diamond ring attached to the woman’s brazier.

Francis Ko explained to the courtroom that her fiance had bought the ring for her and that she didn’t plan to sell it.

Richmond provincial court judge J.R. Groberman described Ko as an unsophisticated smuggler, considering the fact that she kept the receipt and empty cardboard box.

Ko had declared only $450 worth of clothing and souvenirs in her customs declaration form. Ko will have until September to pay the fine.

If Ko wants the ring back, she will have to pay $6,000, double the amount of duties and taxes evaded.

PLAID ALL OVER Musical turns back the clock

Ted Townsendeditor

Jorgensen is one of the stars of the nostalgic comedy musical Forever Plaid which opens Thursday at the Gateway Theatre.

Jorgensen plays the suave Frankie, one of four members of Forever Plaid, a group of high school friends who formed a doo-wop group with dreams of glory. But, in Stuart Ross and James Raitt’s popular play, the Plaids are killed in a car accident before their first big gig. Through a quirk of fate, they’re brought back to perform the show they never got to do. While the Plaids perform a wealth of great ‘50s hits—with both aplomb and comic effect—they also fulfil their dreams and find the personal confidence and maturity they never had a chance to gain in real life.

While many fans are lured to Forever Plaid to hear such favourite golden oldies as Cry and Day-O, all immersed in a loving re-creation of the era, Jorgensen is quick to point out there’s more to the show than just nostalgia.

“You can appreciate it on so many levels,” says Jorgensen. “The characters speak to more than just nostalgia. They all have flaws and they all overcome obstacles. People really find them endearing.”

Jorgensen says he’s not intimidated by becoming a Plaid, even though the play has enjoyed huge success as nationally touring production and in extended runs in many North American cities, including Vancouver.

“I saw the show years ago when it was in Vancouver and I thought ‘wouldn’t it be fun to be in?’” says Jorgensen. “So this is very fulfilling for me. But it is a challenge too. It’s a show that has a lot of repeat customers and they have very high expectations.

“It’s wonderful when (your audience) has a place in their heart for your show.”

The show is a co-production between the Gateway and Nanaimo’s Theatre One and has already completed a successful run in the Vancouver Island city.

Jorgensen, a North Shore native, is thrilled to have the opportunity to perform Forever Plaid in front of his family and friends.

A former music student at Capilano College, Jorgensen was lured into musical theatre by the North Shore-based Uncle Randy Productions. He was quickly hooked and soon headed off to theatre school in New York. He’s been splitting time between New York and home since, returning to Vancouver last year to perform in The PNE Story. While here he heard about auditions for Forever Plaid and successfully won a role, before returning to work some more in the Big Apple. He’s now planning to stick around Vancouver to continue pursuing his stage career.

Jorgensen and fellow Plaids Matt Palmer, Ryan Silverman and Sanders Whiting have a firm guiding hand in director Jim Soper, who has had a long association with Forever Plaid.

Soper started as an understudy in the Toronto production of Forever Plaid seven years ago. Eventually he became a cast member of the national touring company, performing in 85 different cities during a two-year period. A couple of years ago he stepped out of the limelight and into the director’s chair for Forever Plaid.

Like Jorgensen, he also waxes enthusiastically about the show’s universal appeal. There’s a “beautiful innocence” in the tale of four young men realizing dreams that apparently had been lost to fate, says Soper. But he notes the show is also comical as the quartet overcomes stage fright, personal conflicts and other challenges to become confident performers.

“The show is quite hilarious,” says Soper. “Even if you’re not familiar with the period, there’s four very funny guys out there on stage.”

Forever Plaid runs at the Gateway through April 29, nightly at 8 p.m. with 1 p.m. matinees on April 16, 27 and 29.

Fans can also get sneak previews of Forever Plaid April 15 and 22 from noon to 1 p.m. at Richmond Centre Mall or at the Gateway open house at 4 p.m. on April 22. And April 24 is Perry Como Cardigan Day—wear a cardigan sweater to the theatre and you can purchase tickets at the door for just $15.

Call 270-1812 for ticket information.

Proposed smoking ban called tougher than WCB

David DaSilva staff reporter

The city is one of only a few municipalities in the region that have not initiated their own smoking bans for bars and pubs.

Vancouver, West Vancouver, the city of North Vancouver, the district of North Vancouver, Surrey, Delta and Port Coquitlam have all banned smoking in adult drinking establishments.

Vancouver council passed its own bylaw Tuesday, forbidding smokers from lighting up in bars and pubs.

The bylaw was authored by the Vancouver-Richmond Health Board. Health board officials are expected to present Richmond council with a carbon-copy.

Domenic Losito, Vancouver’s director of environmental health, said the bylaw’s intention is to protect workers and the public from second-hand smoke. That ability to protect workers was jeopardized when the B.C. Supreme Court quashed the WCB’s smoking regulation last month. Knowing that the WCB will likely re-introduce its regulation after a round of public hearings—but not before October—Vancouver city council decided last month to create its own bylaw to protect workers and the public in the meantime.

“From the point of view of the public and operators, lets’s try and get it as similar as possible (to the WCB) so that we don’t have major conflicts between our bylaw and the regulation when it comes back into full effect,” he said this week.

Fines range from $200 to $2,000.

“It is not a huge fine compared to the WCB but we do have the ultimate hammer of using a business licence,” he said. “If you want to do business in Vancouver you have to comply with all the regulations. If you don’t then your business licence may be in jeopardy.”

Vancouver’s bylaw is, in one sense, tougher than the WCB’s ban. Like the WCB rules, Vancouver will allow a smoking room. Under the court-quashed WCB regulation, patrons were able to drink and eat in such a room. But patrons using the room under Vancouver’s bylaw won’t be allowed to drink or eat in it. For that reason, Losito prefers to call the room a “smoke-break room”, meaning patrons are only supposed to puff and puff, then leave.

As well, pub and bar workers won’t be allowed to enter the room to provide service.

Losito said he is encouraged that some bar owners have resigned themselves to complying with Vancouver’s ban, but added that “time will tell.”

Interestingly, the momentum to ban smoking in public places was conceived in 1995/96. At the time, Vancouver, like other cities (Richmond included) had considered banning smoking in all public places. Most, however, decided to give bars and pubs a break until Jan. 1, 2000 to eliminate smoking. That is exactly what Richmond had in mind too when it passed its smoking bylaws in 1996 and again in 1998. But now some city council members appear to be shying away from that commitment. At the time, Mayor Greg Halsey-Brandt was involved in a regional initiative that aimed to have all the municipalities in the region to be smoke-free in public places.

But Halsey-Brandt’s recent comments suggest he is backpeddling on that goal, saying it could hurt local business.

Coun. Kiichi Kumagai (NPA) too has cautioned that he is concerned about the effect a ban will have on local bars, but also said that such a ban will likely be inevitable and council may have to resign itself to that trend.

Church tax panned

David DaSilvastaff reporter

A plan to apply more taxes to churches and other religious halls in Richmond has been shelved.

And at least one councillor is pleased.

“Good,” quipped Kiichi Kumagai (NPA). “I won’t support taxing places of worship.”

Kumagai did not attend Thursday’s finance select committee meeting, but said that he is opposed to removing tax exemptions on religious halls, even though the city forgoes up to about $106,000 in revenues each year.

“I won’t support that because I think there is a place for places of worship in our community. The only thing is to what degree do we impose or implement the (taxes).”

Temples and churches annually receive a statutory tax exemption for their places of worship, but cities in B.C. go one step further and allow a “permissive” exemption for other areas of the halls, such as for space for kitchens, meeting rooms and parking lots.

City staff began investigating how much the city was losing out on permissive tax exemptions due to a conflict with religious groups owning properties along a stretch of No. 5 Road, dubbed the “backlands.” Under an agreement with the city and the Agricultural Land Reserve, those church groups were allowed to have their temples built on condition that the large acres of fallow land in the backyards were farmed. That hasn’t happened, and after a flurry of correspondence and meetings over the years, city staff decided to investigate whether removing a portion of tax exemptions would prompt groups to begin farming, according to Danley Yip, city finance director.

In total, there are nine religious groups that are in the backlands area. But, for some reason, only two have applied and received a tax exemption, Yip said. That exemption, affecting the city, is worth a paltry $2,536.

But when factoring in all the temples and religious halls in town, that figure jumps to $500,499 in total tax exemptions (relating to taxes for school and the province) and $105,574 in tax revenues for the city.

Yip also noted in his report to the committee that most municipalities allow tax exemptions to churches and the only town known to have considered applying more taxes was Armstrong, B.C. That town killed its plan too after residents voted 72 per cent against taxing churches in a town plebiscite.

Heroes, civil servants honoured for contributions

The RCMP’s award of valour was renamed in honour of the late Const. Les Yee, who succumbed to cancer after a well-publicized battle last year.

Yee’s wife Keeley and son Nicholas were on hand Thursday to present the awards.

Among those receiving the Const. Les Yee Awards of Valour were: Richmond resident Mila Naval was honoured for her bravery in apprehending a knife-wielding house intruder; Coast Guard divers Peter Collins and Clint Wilson were recognized for saving the lives of two RCMP divers; Const. Rob Worsley; Const. D. Hansen; Karen Sidhu and Candace Clark.

Those receiving the Excellence in Performance Awards were: Joshua R. Nielsen, Delta Police Const. R. Johnston, Samuel Ross Aleksich, Const. Scott Lee and Const. Pierre Picard.

Winners of the Leadership Awards were: Chaplain Jim Turner, Iris Romanuik, Cpl. Deanne Burleigh.

Winners of the Community Service Awards were: Const. Karina Watson and Const. Dave Au.

Receiving Special Appreciation Awards were: Tilbury Cement Limited, Anna Urbanowicz, Dave Francis, Anthony Harrison, Norm Torp, Leanne Parker, Cpl. Dianne Butterfield, Chaplain Jim Turner, Const. Bob Underhill and RCMP Sgt. Willy Laurie.

Municipal long service awards were also presented to: Michelle Morin, Jill Litke and Murray Swanson, 10 years each; Bonnie Gallagher, 15 years; Peggy Dalziel and Maria Phillippe, 20 years each, and June Stuart, 25 years.

Bill Van de Braak was honoured with the Richmond Service Plaque.

Bruce Funk was recognized with the commanding officer’s commendation.

Injured nurse gets $140,000 compensation

Martin van den Hemelstaff reporter

Angela (Cybulski) Beaumont, 46, was injured when her car was T-boned at the intersection of Handley Avenue and Douglas Crescent in Burkeville by a Canada post delivery truck driven by John Bertrand.

The impact caused Beaumont’s head to strike the driver’s side window, and although she did not lose consciousness, she was dazed, sore and in shock.

In the years following the accident, Beaumont complained of memory problems, pain, depression and mood swings that sometimes had her flying into rages.

But despite expert testimony that supported Beaumont’s contention, B.C. Supreme Court Justice M.I. Catliff found that Beaumont had not suffered a mild traumatic brain injury as a result of the accident.

But Justice Catliff ruled that Beaumont did suffer non-physical injuries and awarded her $75,000 for the injury, $50,000 for the future loss of earning capacity and opportunity, and $5,000 for psychotherapy. She also received lost income and special damages.

In making his ruling, he found that Bertrand made several inconsistent statements, which as a result called his reliability as a witness into question.

“At trial, he said he put on his brakes before the collision. At his examination for discovery, he said he “never had a chance to apply my brakes.”

At trial, Bertrand said he did not see any skidmarks, but Bertrand’s supervisor testified that Bertrand helped him measure the marks by holding a measuring tape.

After analyzing the crash, Justice Catliff ruled that Bertrand was “wholly responsible for the accident.”

Steves balks at union funding

David DaSilva staff reporter

Long-time NDP city councillor Harold Steves, who won re-election in the November civic election, received no direct financial help from any union or labour groups in the election, as reported in The Review last week.

But Steves said that was on purpose.

Prior to the election, he said he asked his colleagues on the civic NDP slate, of which there were only two—newly elected Coun. Linda Barnes and Robert Bessler—not to accept union funding under the RCND banner.

They agreed that on an individual basis they could accept union backing, just not as a group. Steves didn’t want any.

“I think we got to stop this trend towards going out and getting funds from developers or unions to finance campaigns,” he said, adding that he believes it divides council along special interest lines.

“And secondly I believe it is a conflict of interest,” he added. “There is a definite recognition by those who donate that they expect you to vote the way they want you to or they wouldn’t give you the money.”

“It is the first time in history I told people not to give me money,” he added.

Normally, labour groups like CUPE, the district labour council and the BC Federation of Labour help bankroll the RCND.

As a party, the RCND only got $236 in contributions. But on an individual basis, two members got significantly more, much of it from unions. Barnes got $4,753 in union funding for her campaign from CUPE and the local firefighters’ union. Bessler received $1,875 from CUPE.

The result was that Steves spent much of his own cash to pay for his campaign. During the election the RCND candidates each chipped in one-third of the bill to pay for

advertising.

The strategy worked, he said, noting that the RCND ran three candidates, got two elected and knocked off the second-longest running councillor (Corisande Percival-Smith).

Steves said the results prove a candidates gets elected on the issues, not on money.

Supreme Court denies drinking driver’s appeal

Martin van den Hemelstaff reporter

Cougle, described as a successful businessman who owns many companies and has a huge payroll, was fined $2,000 in Richmond provincial court. He was also ordered to pay victim services $300 and was prohibited from driving for one year, for an incident that occurred in Richmond on Sept. 9, 1997.

Mitchell Island worker Carson Tipper, who testified in the case, said that he saw Cougle drinking beer beside his truck. A short time later, Tipper said that he saw Cougle exhibit signs of intoxication and then get into his vehicle and drive off.

“He noticed Mr. Cougle’s speech was very slurred and that he wasn’t very well balanced because he fell over a couple of times while sitting down beside his truck,” the court ruling states. “He saw him drink two bottles of beer...fall off the trailer tongue...(and) back his rig into another car without appearing to notice he had done so.”

Tipper called 911 when he saw Cougle get into his truck and drive away, and followed Cougle until police arrived.

Richmond RCMP Const. Annette Martin told the court that when she arrived at the scene, she observed that Cougle’s “eyes were bloodshot, his face was flushed. He just looked very impaired to me.”

Cougle refused to give up a breath sample and was taken into custody.

“When asked what his drinking habits were (Cougle) said ‘I do not touch it.’”

Despite Cougle’s testimony, Supreme Court Justice V.R. Curtis said he didn’t believe Cougle, echoing the findings of the original provincial court judge.

B-Line bus bashing doesn’t bother councillors

David DaSilva staff reporter

At first glance that seems to be the message from TransLink chair George Puil, a Vancouver city councillor, who called Rapid Bus a “Band-Aid solution.”

During a Vancouver council meeting Tuesday, some Vancouver councillors, Puil included, downplayed the effectiveness of Rapid Bus, and promoting the benefits of using SkyTrain along much of its Broadway route.

Richmond’s representative on TransLink board, Coun. Kiichi Kumagai (NPA) said he isn’t concerned about Puil’s apparent snub of Rapid Bus.

He figures Puil just means that Rapid Bus—which will be called the 98 B-Line in Richmond—should be considered a “front runner” to a new SkyTrain line for Richmond. Once the B-Line’s infrastructure is built and paid for in Richmond, it will be easier and cheaper to build a SkyTrain or light rail line, he said.

Puil could not be reached for comment.

TransLink is expected to build a new SkyTrain route along the Lougheed-Broadway corridor, terminating somewhere between Commercial Drive and Granville Street in Vancouver, with Rapid Bus serving the rest of the route to UBC. Vancouver council’s preferred option is to have SkyTrain run all the way to Granville Street.

That would serve Richmond’s interests, Kumagai said.

“The reason I want the SkyTrain system to go to Granville (Street) is because if we pick the Cambie (Street) corridor as the rapid transit route to Richmond, then the station will already be there,” he added.

Once the infrastructure is in place at Cambie and Broadway, it will make it easier and less expensive for Richmond’s SkyTrain line to link up with Vancouver’s Broadway line. Eventually, Richmond’s Rapid Bus will be scrapped and converted to a ground-level SkyTrain line, he said. The extended buses will then be freed up to be used on cross-town routes to MetroTown and other city centres.

Coun. Lyn Greenhill (NPA), chair of Richmond’s transportation committee, also warned against reading too much into Puil’s comments. It makes more sense for Vancouver to choose SkyTrain now, she said.

If Vancouver chose Rapid Bus, taxpayers in that city would foot the entire $88 million cost. But if SkyTrain is chosen, the provincial government has offered to pay two-thirds of that cost, and the remainder would be paid by taxpayers in the region, she said.

“So it would be dumb, dumb and dumber if they put Rapid Bus in for which they have to pay all the money up front,” she said. “If you are getting the money now, do it now.”

Meanwhile, TransLink is under increased pressure to meet its December deadline for the B-Line to be up and running. TransLink was set to begin construction but the tenders have quoted too high of a price, Greenhill said. TransLink will now call for tenders again and road construction will begin after a construction team is awarded the contract.

When asked whether TransLink can still meet their December start-up time, Greenhill said: “Oh, God—I have no idea.”

Class size promise doubted

Philip Raphaelcontributor

“We don’t know just how that money will be distributed to the districts,” she said. “Much of it will be used to provide more teachers. It’s just that we’ve been trimming the sails for so long that they are beginning to look ragged. It’s not that we haven’t been able to provide the services, increasing the level of individual attention for students is important, it’s the extras that are suffering.”

The recent provincial budget upped education funding by $115 million, bringing the ministry’s core funding to $3.7 billion.

According the ministry of education, that translates into an increase of $227 per student, or a rise from $5,992 to $6,219.

In a press release announcing the funding Priddy said that B.C. “remains a national leader in protecting and improving our education system, and in providing our children with the skills and education they will need to succeed as adults.”

Much of the increase will be used to reduce class sizes in kindergarten to grade three. Kindergarten presently has a maximum of 20 students and grades one to three has 23. This September those numbers will be reduced to a maximum of 22 students with a further commitment from the government to lower the class size average to 18 students within five years.

“Research has shown that in order for students to succeed, the early years are critical,” Priddy said. “Students need to have strong basic literacy skills, and smaller classes give teachers more time to provide one-on-one attention.”

Other areas of spending will address inflation and increased enrolment.

Park concession stand idea gets mixed reviews

David DaSilva staff reporter

Jean Lawson, of Marine Grocery which has been operating in Steveston since 1920, said that renovating the new washroom and caretaker facility to include a concession stand will affect many stores in the village area. Store owners have long complained that their business is seasonal: dead in the winter, booming in the summer. Most shopkeepers rely on tourists and park users who wander to their stores from the park, she said.

“I can’t think of one business that doesn’t rely on the tourists,” she said Thursday. “We sit here all winter long, sort of struggling through the bad weather in the spring and then when summer comes, we rely on the tourists more without the fishermen.”

“If people are going to this venue in the park then they are going to have something to eat, throw their kids in the car and leave. But (now) they have to wander into town if they want to get something to drink or to eat, which is what a lot of people do.”

Her comments were echoed by business owner Larry Biggar, who petitioned council to reject the concession stand idea. The marketplace is too “fickle” to support a concession stand, he wrote in a letter to council.

“Garry Point does not need concession stands any more than it needs palm trees,” he wrote.

Others disagree. Tim Culling of Tim’s Frozen Yogurt said the park is currently targeted by mobile food vendors trolling for customers on bicycles and in vans and trucks. They contribute little to the community. A concession stand would drive them out, he wrote.

Patricia Branch, owners of Pajo’s at the Wharf, gave the concession stand the thumbs up, saying that the washroom facility was built for such a purpose and a concession stand could offer “quality-based” refreshments. She also added that she is interested in running the stand.

Council voted to proceed with the idea of allowing a concession stand on a vote of 6-3, with NPA councillors Bill McNulty, Kiichi Kumagai and Lyn Greenhill opposed.

Coun. Harold Steves said he doubts the idea will ever become a reality. Both he and colleague Linda Barnes will likely oppose a concession stand proposal after a public tender call if the applicant wants to serve anything beyond ice cream and drinks. If he and Barnes vote against the idea after a public tender call, it will be defeated.

Councillors Kumagai and McNulty both reiterated their opposition to the concession stand, saying they too believe it will affect the mom-and-pop operations in the village.

Plus, McNulty noted the vendor idea has previously been rejected by council.

“We keep hearing about the hardships in Steveston from the... merchants. Why are we trying to endorse, through our facilities, more competition?” he asked. “I got letters from business people (asking) why are we doing this.”

Kumagai agreed. “What I am saying is that why don’t you just let the people who use Garry Point Park go into Steveston and enhance their businesses,” he said. “A park is for enjoying the passiveness of it instead of smelling fish and chips, hamburgers and hot dogs.”

McNulty noted the city is attempting to crack down on unlicensed vendors who roam around the park on bicycles and in trucks or vans, peddling ice cream and other snacks.

Liberals’ Plant pans NDP’s handling of school strike

Philip Raphaelcontributor

Speaking form Victoria, Plant said that “From the aspect of getting the kids back in school, we had to support the motion. But the problem is that a case like this where binding arbitration may become the final means of resolving the dispute, research has shown that it has a detrimental affect to labour negotiations in the long run.”

He added that binding arbitration is an unsatisfactory way of settling public sector contracts because “There is no spirit of compromise and they only tend to lead to more generous settlements that taxpayers have to pay for.

“We have to try and find a process that protects the public’s interest while still allowing some room for both sides to negotiate.”

Richmond school board chair Sandra Bourque said she was surprised to hear Plant’s fears that future negotiations could be harmed, especially in light of the Liberal party’s pledge to make education an essential service if they form the next government.

Bourque said there’s no better way of ensuring disharmony in the public sector than making it an essential service.

Plant said areas of public service that are deemed vital to public safety, well being, and constitute a monopoly make it justifiable for the government to declare it an essential service.

Members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) had been on strike since March 27, effectively shutting down schools across B.C. The union represents school support staff including teaching assistants, clerical and maintenance staff, and school bus drivers.

The main issues being negotiated included staffing levels and pay.

Trustees to decide on year-round schooling

Philip Raphaelcontributor

Called a modified calendar, students would begin the school year at the same time in September, but would have month-long breaks in December, April and August, eliminating the traditional lengthy two-month summer vacation.

Two public meetings on the proposal were held last week. The first which focused on the catchment areas of Spull’u’kwuks and neighbouring Thompson elementary drew approximately 40 people. The second, for district-wide residents, only had five people show up.

That wide-ranging turnout has done very little to indicate which calendar the affected parents will prefer.

“Because there’s been no hue and cry from the public for this alternative I really don’t know what the outcome will be,” said school board chair Sandra Bourque adding that trustees are scheduled to make a decision at the regular board meeting on April 17.

So why the proposed change?

Bourque said the idea sprang from burgeoning enrolment figures of the early ‘90s which taxed the ability of school districts to provide educational services. In an effort to alleviate the conditions and pry more dollars from the provincial government the concept of multi-tracking students was proposed. It was believed that multi-tracking would allow school facilities to accommodate more students on a staggered schedule and give the government more mileage for its education funding.

The modified calendar is an off-shoot of that philosophy.

“It’s simply a lifestyle preference we are asking an opinion on,” Bourque said, adding that notices regarding the possible changes have been sent to Terra Nova residents as well as families of students at Thompson elementary who have the option of enrolling at Spull’u’kwuks.

In Maple Ridge where one elementary school, Kanaka Creek, has been on the modified schedule for two years, the parents, students and staff are happy with the situation.

“Students and parents just love it. It fits is well with their lifestyle. And there are other parents in the district who are very interested in expanding that schedule to their schools,” said Gary Cleave, communications officer with the Maple Ridge school district.

Local choir will be swingin’ with the saints

Ted TownsendEditor

The program for the choir’s annual spring concert includes a mix of modern and older classics, says Judy Momeyer, president of the Richmond Singers.

The program includes River Song, a selection of Celtic-flavoured melodies including the Rankin Family’s Fare Thee Well, and Hooked on Ally—songs popularized by the Ally McBeal television show. Special guest conductor Granville Oldham joins the choir for the concert showpiece Swingin’ with the Saints, which Momeyer describes as a jazzy, gospel-tinged riff on When The Saints Go Marching In.

For those not familiar with the Richmond Singers, Momeyer promises an entertaining evening, both musically and visually.

“One of the things that set us apart from other choirs is that we sing without books,” says Momeyer. “It makes for a better performance. We can be more expressive, when we’re not busily turning pages.”

Oldham, who works with the Alabama Choir School, is also a freelance conductor, adjudicator and speaker in great demand across North America. He previously taught at the University of Alabama and San Jose State University and other musical faculties.

Oldham also sings and has appeared all across Canada and the U.S., including at Carnegie Hall as a guest soloist with the Alabama Boychoir.

Momeyer said the Richmond Singers first linked up with Oldham through member Mavis Weston, who arranged for the conductor to lead a workshop for the choir a few years ago. The 55-member women’s choir is looking forward to working with Oldham again, she says.

“It’s pretty exciting,” Momeyer says. “He’s a well-renowned conductor and he’s very dynamic.”

Saturday’s concert also marks a reunion for the Richmond Singers with their other guests, Kelowna’s Celebration Singers. The Richmond choir joined them in performance in the Okanagan city two years ago and now the Celebration Singers are returning the favour.

As for the future, the Richmond Singers will celebrate their 30th anniversary next year and plans are being laid for a major concert at the Gateway Theatre to mark the anniversary. The anniversary is particularly special, says Momeyer, since a few of the original members are still active with the choir.

The all-women’s choir performs two major concerts a year, at Christmas and in the spring, and also sings at various local fundraising and community events. The Richmond Singers recently performed at the Nite Of Hope breast cancer fundraiser and will perform at opening celebrations for the new Richmond City Hall.

All but a handful of the 55 members are from Richmond, says Momeyer.

The choir practises weekly and recruits new members regularly. Momeyer says members range from well-trained singers to those who solely do it for recreation.

Auditions are usually held in August or September. But Momeyer is quick to point out the auditions are fairly informal.

“It’s more an opportunity for the conductor to hear their voices to get an idea how they might fit into the choir.”

Tickets for the Celebrate Spring concert are $11 for adults and $8 for seniors and students. Call 271-1631 or 274-1751 for tickets. Gilmore Park United Church is at 8060 No. 1 Road.