Friday, November 5, 2010 Greg Henderson and his daughter Katlyn share a passion for motorsports.
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ary Annivers 1985-2010
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Council debate
Prayer may be chopped by Maria Rantanen mrantanen@mrtimes.com
Troy Landreville/TIMES
Partnership recognized On behalf of Katzie Coast Marine, Katzie First Nation Chief Jay Bailey will accept an award for Outstanding Business Achievement at the 2010 Aboriginal Business Awards on Dec. 1 in Vancouver next month. See story, page A15.
Provincial politics
Resignation not surprising The local Liberal MLA doesn’t expect he’ll be asking to lead the party. by Maria Rantanen mrantanen@mrtimes.com
Surprised but not surprised – that was Maple Ridge-Mission Liberal MLA Marc Dalton’s reaction to news his boss Premier Gordon Campbell is resigning. Dalton found out about the resignation the same morning it was announced to the world, and the timing was unexpected, he said. However, given what the premier’s approval ratings have been, he wasn’t totally surprised. “The poll numbers are pretty obvious,” Dalton said. “The premier is aware of
what his approval ratings are as a leader.” didn’t manage to pull Campbell’s ratings He must have recognized that his up was a further 15 per cent reduction in leadership was a “hindrance” to the party income tax announced last week. That and to the province, Dalton said, and the will save British Columbians hundreds of discussion had turned into him dollars, Dalton said, but despite instead of focusing on policies. the announcement, perhaps Dalton said he’s not throwing Campbell thought people had his hat in the ring at this time made up their minds. for the leadership of the Liberal “There (was) no turning it party but it’s “not an impossibilaround.” ity.” B.C. has one of “the best tax “You don’t totally close all regimes” in Canada, Dalton options,” Dalton said. added, crediting Campbell. Campbell brought “excellent The Liberal bi-annual convenleadership” in things like tax poltion that was booked for Nov. icy, Dalton said, and he ushered 19 has been cancelled, and Marc Dalton in much needed infrastructure instead a leadership convention MLA Maple Ridge-Mission projects, for example, the Pitt will be held, possibly in spring, River and Golden Ears bridges. he added. continued on page A25… One of the policy decisions that
One Maple Ridge councillor is challenging the religious component at council meetings. Councillor Linda King would like to see the opening prayer at Maple Ridge council meetings a thing of the past. “Our community has changed in quite a profound way,” she said. “We have people of many different religious persuasions and we only have one kind of prayers.” King told the TIMES she’s been thinking about the issue for a long time, and feels “really uncomfortable” about it. Consequently, King has put forward a notice of motion for Tuesday’s council meeting to amend the procedure bylaw to eliminate the opening prayer. “(The prayers) come from a good place, but I do think it’s not appropriate in a political arena.,” she said. The prayers aren’t ecumenical, King said; rather they reflect the religion of the person delivering the prayer. King said the issue has come up in casual discussions before but she wants it addressed officially. “I’d like to have a discussion in an open way,” King said. She considers herself a “spiritual person” and said she “sometimes” believes in God. “I believe in a some greater power.” But recently the community has celebrated Diwali and Eid, and there are people in Maple Ridge who are Hindu, Sikh and Buddhist, King explained. “We have all sorts of people and they’re all citizens.” King’s not angry or upset about the prayers, she just thinks it’s “time for a change.” Maple Ridge Mayor Ernie Daykin said he doesn’t know yet how he votes, but he doesn’t think the opening prayer defines how religious people are. “Whether we have council prayers at the beginning of meetings or not, it’s how (you lead) your daily life,” he said. He’s not just following some religious rules: rather his faith is “about a relationship with my creator.” If the majority of council feels that it’s time for a change, Daykin said he can “live with that.” If there’s a way to replace prayer with something respectful to other religions, King wouldn’t be opposed.
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