LOCAL MAN A HIT ON INSTAGRAM
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NEW SPEED LIMITS— IS IT A GOOD IDEA?
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B.C. MUST PITCH IN FOR TRANSIT
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FRIDAY
JULY 4, 2014 www.burnabynewsleader.com
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New West Lead er BCAApostitMay 30NWL Horizontal (2.5” W X 2.5”H) CMYK Production-re lated problem s contact Su
No summer school in New West
san Holmes (60
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sanholme
Grant Granger
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MARIO BARTEL/NEWSLEADER
Canada Day fireworks light up the sky over New Westminster Quay on Tuesday night. See more PHOTOS on page A3
Bailey bridge decision a ‘disaster’ Ruling imposing twolane crossing rankles councillor Grant Granger
ggranger@newwestnewsleader.com
A New Westminster councillor called an arbitrator’s decision to side with Coquitlam over the Bailey bridge issue “a complete disaster.” In making his binding ruling, arbitrator S. Glenn Sigurdson said Coquitlam’s arguments for a twolane crossing were more persuasive GRAND OPENING CELEBRATION
JULY 5TH • 12-6PM
than New West’s position it should Avenue intersection even more only be one lane. congested than it already is. New Westminster Coquitlam says a one-lane started replacement of the crossing is inadequate. structurally unsound one-lane Sigurdson did not give his Bailey bridge that connects reasons. Braid Street with United “It’s a complete disaster,” Boulevard in Coquitlam this said New West Coun. Bill week. The crossing has been Harper. “The arbitrator HARPER closed since March. either didn’t understand New West has been or decided that Coquitlam steadfast in its objection to a twohad a position that was better than lane crossing. The city believes it ours. When they don’t explain it, it’s will make the Braid and Brunette difficult to respond.”
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Harper believes provincial Transportation Minister Todd Stone affected the arbitrator’s ruling when he made a conditional offer to New Westminster in May. Stone said the province would provide a Bailey bridge only if New West was willing to accept the installation of a second one to make it a two-lane crossing. City council turned the offer down and spent $100,000 to get its own Bailey bridge. see WHO WILL PAY FOR BRIDGE?, A8
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There will be no summer school in New Westminster this year. With no resolution to the teachers strike in sight, the New Westminster school district made the decision following a Labour Relations Board (LRB) ruling that would have dramatically reduced the number of students. “We certainly see the value of summer school, but we’re also cognizant of the bigger picture. We spent considerable time looking at [the labour situation] and made the decision this morning,” said New Westminster secretary treasurer/assistant superintendent Al Balanuik on Wednesday. Normally New Westminster has upward of 800 students taking Grade 8 to 12 courses, said Balanuik. With the teachers’ strike, the district originally planned to have summer school at New Westminster secondary for about 300 students who needed to retake courses they failed. Please see STRIKE, A8