BUYING LAND & PROPERTY
Friday
May 22, 2015 (Vol. 40 No. 41)
V O I C E
O F
W H I T E
R O C K
A N D
S O U T H
Duck season: Local Harlequin ducks have changed their molting habits in recent years, and White Rock research scientist Sean Boyd is determined to figure out why. i see page 11
S U R R E Y
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‘Imprudent actions’ of past board regretted by current leader
BC Tories apologize to ousted member Alex Browne Staff Reporter
Vindication appears to have arrived in the mail for South Surrey’s Dr. Allison Patton. But the former prospective candidate for the BC Conservatives – who had her membership revoked in 2012 after challenging party leadership – says she’s not sure yet how to react to an unexpected
apology letter from the party’s board of directors, and a suggestion she might work with the party in the future. “I was very pleasantly pleased with the action of the board, but I had really put (the issue) behind me,” she told Peace Arch News. “I hadn’t given it much more thought.” Acknowledging she is a “passionate personality,” Patton did not, however,
rule out a return to the political arena. “It’s a strong possibility – politics keep coming to us. Every few weeks there are things happening that ask you to be involved. If it happens it will be when I don’t have a spare moment… The timing will be just impossible, I’m sure.” The May 8 letter from BC Conservatives president Ian MacDonald extended both an apology and an olive branch to
Patton, who was also formerly president of the Surrey-White Rock constituency association. Patton was one of three party dissidents who had their memberships revoked in October 2012 after they called publicly for the resignation of then-leader John Cummins, following a round of in-fighting within party ranks. i see page 4
Allison Patton
Initial charge dropped
Officer admits to unsafe driving
Morris code The Vancouver Morris Men perform a Morris dance during Victoria Day festivities at Historic Stewart Farm in South Surrey on Sunday. The dance dates back to the 15th-century England.
Tracy Holmes Staff Reporter
Boaz Joseph photo
RCMP shortage delayed new recruits in recent years
Feds vow to produce 100 new Surrey officers Kevin Diakiw Black Press
Surrey will be getting the 100 additional police officers it ordered, the federal government announced on Tuesday. MP Kerry-Lynne Findlay (Delta-Richmond East), who was speaking on behalf of Canada’s minister of public safety, said Surrey’s policing is a top priority and that the city will get the Mounties it requested, as well as $3.5 million for the school district’s anti-gang program. The commitment of the 100 police officers
budgeted by the city puts to rest doubts that the RCMP training depot in Regina could train enough officers to serve across the country. Depot has hit critical lows since 2008. Seven years ago, 1,783 cadets had enrolled, with 1,258 graduating. That number dropped to 340 in 2013, then rose to 960 the following year. Jinny Sims, MP for Newton-North Delta, said at the time that the drop in recruitment numbers does not bode well for Surrey. “I keep saying – we have a growing city, and more people means a need for more police to
keep our streets safe,” Sims said. “Of course we need buy-in from Ottawa. The declining number of RCMP graduates is alarming for everyone.” Findlay did not say when the new Surrey Mounties would arrive. Her announcement of $3.5 million in new funding over five years for Wrap, the Surrey School District’s gang-reduction program, comes on the heels of a similar announcement last month by B.C. Premier Christy Clark, who pledged $270,000 for the program.
A former White Rock RCMP officer charged in connection with a May 2011 incident that killed pedestrian Marilyn Laursen will not go to trial on the matter. Criminal proceedings against Const. David Bickle – which had been scheduled to get underway in B.C. Supreme Court next Monday – were set aside after the officer pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of driving without due care and attention. Neil MacKenzie, communications counsel for the Criminal Justice Branch, confirmed Tuesday that the plea to the Motor Vehicle Act offence was entered May 15 in Surrey Provincial Court, where Judge Paul Dohm imposed a fine of $1,200 and a victim fine surcharge of $180. “After careful consideration of the circumstances, including the evidence that had been heard at the preliminary inquiry in the case, the Crown concluded that it was appropriate to accept a guilty plea to the charge under the Motor i see page 4
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