MP’S PIPELINE PHONE RINGING OFF HOOK
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BURNABY’S TAXING QUESTION
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OUTDOOR TRUCK ADVENTURE
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FRIDAY
JANUARY 24 2014 www.burnabynewsleader.com
A Burnaby family went to the library and played Scrabble to learn about Canadian culture after they emigrated from Bahrain. See Page A3
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ACORN calls for new city bylaw
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John Siamoutas, a mechanic at Firestone Burnaby on Hastings Street, shows off the engine covering of a Toyota RAV4 that had its foam insulation chewed away by mice. The garage has seen a spike in damage to cars’ electrical systems and interiors caused by mice.
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were the same unusual source: mice. Nick Acimovic, co-owner of Firestone Burnaby, believes local mice populations just aren’t deterred by the mild winter weather in this part of the world compared to colder climes. But while repair jobs caused by mice aren’t entirely out of the ordinary, “this year it’s definitely STK 14D0985 more problematic than previous years,” he said. Lately it appears imports, especially German makes such as BMWs, Mercedes and Volkswagens, have been more vulnerable.
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The mechanics at Firestone Burnaby on Hastings Street are used to dealing with oil changes, brake jobs and repairs to engines and transmissions. But in recent weeks, they’ve also had to add “detective” to their job descriptions. Since Jan. 1, they’ve seen at least 10 vehicles brought in where the underlying cause of their problems
“There’s something in the wiring I’ve been told … that mice like to chew.” But no car is really resistant, he said Wednesday, when his shop was repairing a similarly-afflicted Toyota RAV4. Most newer vehicles have extensive electronics systems. Often affected vehicles will have their engine light come on as the first sign that something’s wrong. Other times the vehicles will barely run or run rough, depending on what sensors the mice have tackled. Acimovic said oxygen sensors
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are a common site of the problem because they’re installed as part of the exhaust system and the wiring is easily reachable for mice. “So what happens is they would sit on the exhaust pipe, which is warm, and they would chew on that one.” From there they carry on until they reach other parts of STK theBS6945 car, such as the engine compartment. Last week his mechanics had the “bizarre” case of a BMW SUV whose electronics indicated there was something wrong with the extensive airbag system.
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Burnaby renters need more protection against landlords who don’t keep their rental units safe and healthy, say ACORN Canada. The group, which advocates for people with low incomes, believes it should be in the form of a city bylaw which sets out standards of STK BS6944 maintenance. Burnaby is one of the last Lower Mainland municipalities to not have such a bylaw, although the scope of what each covers varies from city to city, said Monica McGovern, chairperson for ACORN’s Burnaby chapter. McGovern said the “ideal” version is found next door in New Westminster, where its bylaw covers everything from structural issues, electricity, water, and health issues such as mould and pests. She believes it’s ultimately the responsibility of the province, through its Residential Tenancy Act, to deal with such issues, but the act has no teeth to allow fines
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