Tuesday
September 3,, 2013 (Vol. 38 No. 71)
V O I C E
O F
W H I T E
R O C K
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S O U T H
S U R R E Y
w w w. p e a c e a r c h n e w s . c o m
War paint:: Paintball enthusiasts husiasts from across B.C., Alberta and Washington State gathered d in Surrey Aug. 23-25 for the fourth-annual -annual Fung Cup Speedball Tournament. urnament. i see page 20
Bad for business Surrey lobby group says of marijuana
Board of Trade rebuffs reefer rethink Alex Browne Staff reporter
The Surrey Board of Trade is just saying no to legalized pot. Weighing in on the debate on legalization, a position statement issued Thursday by board CEO Anita Huberman advocates that current marijuana laws stay in place. From a business standpoint, it makes the best sense, Huberman told Peace Arch News.
“This is a leadership perspective. When we developed the position, the productivity and efficiency of the workplace was the main focus,” Huberman said. “When you have employees smoking pot, their attention is diminished and continues to diminish. It’s also a starter drug that can lead to all kinds of other drugs. We’re in a soft economy right now and we continue to be in a soft economy. We all feel the work-
place has to be looked after and this kind of distraction is not needed.” Huberman said the position was developed by the board’s Crime and Justice Advocacy Committee, presented with documented research and approved by the 19 directors of the board in September 2012. “The board is very diverse in terms of backgrounds and industries and elected with a mandate to speak on behalf of membership
and the business community,” she said. A Forum Research poll conducted last month found that 70 per cent of Canadians favour either legalization or decriminalization of marijuana. Fifteen per cent took the board’s position that laws should stay unchanged. The board of trade’s research, however, suggests legalizing marijuana would “pose serious negative impacts on businesses.” i see page 4
Parents struggle
Women fined
Friends rally for Greyson
Crabbing ‘explosion’ Tracy Holmes Staff Reporter
Monique Tamminga Black Press
Erin O’Neill was around 25 weeks pregnant when she went into labour. She was having a routine gestational diabetes test when she started feeling lower back pain. “I started getting what felt like contractions,” said O’Neill. “I downloaded a contraction app on my phone and I quickly learned that my contractions were coming every three minutes.” The mother of two remained fairly calm and drove herself to Peace Arch Hospital. “I actually parked a block away, so I wouldn’t have to pay for parking. I thought it would be like my other two kids,” said Erin of her seven-year-old son and fiveyear-old daughter. But for Erin and husband Jamie, the arrival of Greyson was anything but routine. Their baby boy was born July 24, weighing one pound, 14 ounces. He could have fit into his father’s hand, if he wasn’t covered in the tubes and ventilators that he needed to stay alive. i see page 4
Sweet Sparrow Studios photo
Erin and Jamie O’Neill with baby Greyson, who was born 15 weeks premature at Peace Arch Hospital.
Support Your Local Economy Spend Your Money At Home
Fishery officers hope fines handed to two women who pleaded guilty last week to catching undersized dungeness crabs in White Rock will serve as a warning to a growing number who are breaking the law. In Surrey Provincial Court Tuesday, Chang Shin Park was fined $200 for a May 30 incident in which two people were charged, and Thi Tuyet Lien Doan was fined $450 after a woman with her two adult sons were caught June 13 with undersized crabs and more crabs than the allowed daily limit. Fishery officer field supervisor Kirk McCrae told Peace Arch News the fines are a reminder to the public of the need to be aware of regulations that guide crab fishing. Ensuring the minimum size is met “gives (the crabs) at least one or two chances to reproduce before they’re caught,” he said. McCrae noted the number of recreational crabbers has increased dramatically in recent years – fishery officers regularly see as many as 20 each day between the White Rock pier and Peace Arch Park, compared to two or three that was the norm just a few years ago. “It’s been a huge explosion,” he said. McCrae believes the jump goes hand-in-hand with an increase in violations, and he suspects the market price of crab is a driving factor.
Sunday October 20 + Support your ER one step at a time Deadline for online registration and donation collection is Thursday, October 17 at 5:00 p.m.
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www.pahfoundation.ca 604.535.4520