CHRISTMAS DINNER Turkey to go!2X1.5
Pennies pile up: Readers hauling in their contributions News A3
Let our Chef do all the cooking. You pick it up and enjoy it in your own home.
COAST DI Call 250-287-7155 for more details. Coast Discovery Inn & Marina 975 Shoppers Row
Newsstand 75¢
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2012
www.campbellrivermirror.com
B.C. watchdog probes local RCMP crash BRIAN KIERAN CAMPBELL RIVER MIRROR
The province’s Independent Investigations Office (IIO) continues to investigate a motorcycle crash on Evergreen Road off Dogwood early Sunday morning that involved an RCMP cruiser. The IIO’s Executive Director of Public Accountability Kellie Kilpatrick says: “Part of the team dispatched has returned to Surrey and part of the team is still in Campbell River collecting evidence including data recordings from the police vehicle.” The independent police watchdog says Mounties were trying to stop a motorcycle around 2 a.m. because the driver was allegedly not wearing a helmet. During the incident, the male motorcycle driver lost control at a high rate of speed and struck the RCMP cruiser, sustaining serious injuries. Kilpatrick says “the preliminary investigation does not suggest a pursuit” was in progress. Continued on A3
KRISTEN DOUGLAS/THE MIRROR
Lighting up the night Hundreds turned out to enjoy the Big Truck Parade which launched the Downtown BIA’s Starlight Shopping on Friday evening. A total of 30 semitrucks travelled along the Old Island Highway from Rockland Road down Shoppers Row and into Spirit Square. For more photos see the Scene and Heard spread on page A4.
City budget already looking scary KRISTEN DOUGLAS CAMPBELL RIVER MIRROR
Council is already looking at some “daunting” numbers in its budget-planning process even though financial planning for 2013 is just getting underway.
t A Holiday Guif Just For Yo
At its first financial planning meetings Monday and Tuesday morning, council deliberated the base budget – services such as policing and fire that the city has no choice but to fund. Due to inflationary items, contractual increases, wage settle-
ments, and changes imposed on the city through legislation, council is facing a $713,600 increase in protective services. Just that figure alone, if borne solely by the residential sector, would equate to a 4.75 per cent residential tax increase for
2013, however that is a preliminary calculation as the tax rate won’t be debated until February after service levels have been adjusted. The biggest impacts to the base budget are an extra $660,335 in Continued on A5
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1691 Dogwood St., Campbell River 250-286-4288 Mon - Fri, 8:30–5:30, Sat 8:30–5, Sun: CLOSED