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WEDNESDAY
September 15, 2010
14
Coquitlam actor Reid Morgan makes his debut at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Your source for local news, sports, weather and entertainment. www.thenownews.com
Coquitlam’s binning bears impact trash
HST now going to voters Jennifer McFee
John Kurucz
jmcfee@thenownews.com
jkurucz@thenownews.com
The fate of the HST will be in the voters’ hands in a province-wide binding referendum set for next September. The provincial government announced Monday that the heated issue of the harmonized sales tax will be put to the test in a simple majority vote on Sept. 24, 2011. If more than 50 per cent of voters say they want to scrap the harmonized sales tax, then the provincial government will comply. But a year is too long to wait for Fight HST organizer Chris Delaney. “It would be very harmful to the economy because a number of industries, particularly new construction and renovation industries, would be decimated by this if people wait one year’s time to repeal the tax before they conduct any major projects,” said the Port Coquitlam resident. “There’s nothing to be gained by delaying it, so we’ve asked them to move forward on that sooner rather than later. … If it turns out it’s just another game to try to stop the will of the people, then we’ll go on to [MLA] recall.” Delaney said the Fight HST group will stand by the results, as long as the referendum is conducted quickly and efficiently with a fair question. “If all of those things are done in a fair and unbiased manner and the people vote to keep the HST, then we would abide by that,” he said. “But we don’t expect that would be the case. I mean, people hate this thing. I think they’re going to get rid of it.” Port Coquitlam NDP MLA Mike Farnworth said Elections
A more aggressive ticketing system, universal setout times and a full-time staffer are among Coquitlam’s plans for bolstering bear management. Unveiled at Monday’s engineering, utilities and environment committee meeting, the city’s plan was unanimously endorsed by the committee and will require a formal rubber stamp at the Monday, Sept. 20 council meeting. Among the recommendations to council was a move to begin issuing $500 tickets to residents who do not properly manage bear attractants (garbage and fruit trees), implement city-wide same garbage placement times between 5:30 and 7:30 a.m. on designated pick-up days, and make Coquitlam’s Bear Aware co-ordinator position a full-time municipal job. Currently headed up by Drake Stephens, the post has traditionally been subsidized by both the city and the province. “I’ve talked to lots of residents who would argue quite strongly that the safety of their neighbourhood is their highest priority and that one element of safety related to bears comes up time and time again,” Mayor Richard Stewart said Tuesday. “It is top of mind for our residents. I get e-mails on that issue far more often than I get e-mails about a lot of the other issues that are much more expensive for the city. The average resident would find it good value to do everything we reasonably can to minimize those conflicts between bears and our neighbourhoods.” B.C. Conservation Service officer Terry Myroniuk appeared before the committee Monday and lauded the city for its “very proactive and progressive role in wildlife conflict prevention over the past several years.” “I’ve seen Coquitlam really stand up and stand out amongst the surrounding communities in taking a leadership role with respect to preventative measures on conflict management and conflict prevention. Drake [Stephens] has been a driving force for a lot of these changes,” said Myroniuk, who has worked from Port Moody to Mission during his six years on the job. A staff report notes Coquitlam has spent about $176,000 on bear-related initiatives in the last six years — money that has covered Stephens’ position, educational materials and 235 bear-proof bins in local parks, among other things. “We have expended a lot of resources in educating our population regarding their responsibilities for solid waste in bear country. We think we have to take it to the next step,” said Bill Susak, engineering and public works manager.
CONT. ON PAGE 4, see MLA.
Gabrielle Beer/NOW
HEAVE HO: Four-year-old Sophie Braaten puts everything behind the ball on Sunday, as Port Coquitlam Bowl marked 60 years of strikes and gutters. For more photos, see Page 18.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 4, see BEAR SIGHTINGS.