Burnaby’s first and favourite information source
City business spreads warmth worldwide
Delivery 604-942-3081 • Saturday, December 4, 2010
BCIT prez piles on the coats for a good cause
PAGE 13
PAGE 16
Your source for local sports, news, weather and entertainment! >> www.burnabynow.com NDP BROUHAHA
City MLAs slam Kwan for attack Jennifer Moreau staff reporter
Local New Democrat MLAs are condemning longstanding member Jenny Kwan for her public attack on party leader Carole James. “It’s unfortunate that Jenny Kwan has decided to attack Carole and the party in the manner that’s she has done, but Jenny Kwan also has to take responsibility of all these accusations that she’s making,” said Kathy Corrigan, MLA for Burnaby-Deer Lake. In a public statement issued Wednesday, Kwan – the Vancouver-Mount Pleasant MLA – criticized James’s leadership. “There has been a steady erosion of our democratic principles. Debate has been stifled, decision-making centralized and individual MLAs marginalized,” Kwan wrote. “Many are shocked at how some critical decisions are made or how caucus decisions have been later altered. “As well, for too long there has been a clear lack of direction under the leadership of Carole James. Whenever a challenging policy decision arises, often the default position is to avoid taking a stand,” she continued. Kwan also criticized the “backroom deal” made with Moe Sihota, where union donations were earmarked to pay his stipend as party president, a role that’s usually unpaid. “While we in the NDP have rightly called for open and transparent government, the financial deal made with our own party president, Moe Sihota, was not done in a transparent manner,” Kwan wrote, while calling for a leadership convention as soon as possible. Corrigan pointed out that at the NDP’s last provincial council meeting in November, 84 per cent of delegates NDP Page 10
Free Delivery
P
I
Z
Z
A
Marine & Byrne Road 7515 Market Crossing
Unit #170, Burnaby
T: 604-454-0388
Online Ordering www.!yingwedge.com
Jennifer Moreau/burnaby now
In the seep zone: Biologist John Werring at the beach by Chevron’s North Burnaby refinery. Oil has been seeping offsite for months from the contaminated site.
Oil continues to leach into inlet Chevron trying new methods to stop flow Jennifer Moreau staff reporter
Chevron has a new method to try and stop the oil that’s been seeping from its North Burnaby refinery into the Burrard Inlet since spring. The company plans to install “soaker mats” on the beach close to the refinery in the new year to absorb oil that’s leaching
Any
Classic Piz $12.95 *Pick-up on
ly
Happy Hou
za
3-4pm & 9
-1
r!
Any Wed0gpm e $2 .99
*Valid only at specified location
offsite through the ground water. Company spokesperson Ray Lord said the mats’ specialized technology is designed to attract hydrocarbons, and it’s the first time it’s been used in B.C. The plan is to use the absorbent mats to create an underground barrier on the beach that will soak up the oil. The absorbent mat system can be in place for up to two years before it needs replacing, Lord said. The mats will replace the absorbent pads Chevron has been using, which aren’t feasible for the winter months, he added. “Of course we are trying to prevent the
Seep Page 5
Your Burnaby Realtor
Any Two
Brian Vidas
Classic Piz $24.95
seep from getting down there in the first place,” he said. Chevron is also using a pipe to collect oily water from a trench next to the railroad tracks. Chevron first reported the oil migrating offsite following a routine inspection on April 21. Downhill from the refinery, the mix of gas, diesel and crude was showing up next to the railroad tracks and on the beach below. Lord has characterized the seepage as “historic,” meaning it’s most likely the result of contaminants soaked into the soil over time that are being carried
zas
centre realty
604.671.5259 3010 Boundary Road, Burnaby
*Pick-up on
ly
w w w.
B r i a n Vi d a s . c o m