Friday, December 3, 2010 CaddyShack dancers once again host their traditional strip-a-thon for charity this weekend.
Page A9
ary Annivers 1985-2010
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Crime
Gunman
nabbed in park
Water polo pays
A 42-year-old was arrested for discharging a firearm in Hoffman Park on Saturday.
Garibaldi Grade 12 student Victoria Smith reached her hands up during a fast and furious game of water polo. A member of the Haney Neptune Swim Club, she has been awarded a scholarship for her abilities in the water, and will be heading to San Jose State University next year. See story on page A22.
by Amy Judd ajudd@mrtimes.com
Provincial politics
Sather stands against NDP leader
Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows MLA joined a chorus of NDP MLAs calling for a leadership race. by Maria Rantanen mrantanen@mrtimes.com
There is a “disconnect” between what NDP party insiders think about their leader and what the public thinks, said local MLA Michael Sather, and he is calling for an immediate leadership convention. The inner turmoil of the New Democratic Party that has spilled into the open in the past few days prompted Vancouver MLA Jenny Kwan to issue a statement criticizing Carole James and calling for the leadership convention, a move supported by Sather. “The 84 per cent (approval of Carole James) at provincial council
is not representative ... of the voting public support,” said Sather, who is the MLA for Maple RidgePitt Meadows. Sather said James’ approval rating, at about 25 per cent, is far below the support her party showed her. “It’s not uncommon to be a disconnect (between) the party faithful deciding on the leadership and what the public thinks,” Sather said. But winning elections is about getting the support of the public, he added. “A large number of British Columbians have decided they don’t favour Carole James’ leadership,” he said. “It’s what people are saying and it’s reflected in the polls.” He pointed out that while 85 per cent of the Liberal “party faithful” supported Gordon Campbell, the premier’s approval rating was nine per cent.
Sather is part of a group of 13 people in caucus.” MLAs who have been “outed” as The NDP is set to hold a leaderdissidents in the party. As part of ship review next fall, but Sather that group, Kwan released a statesaid it would be “of no use to us” ment on Wednesday as there could be a snap criticizing James’ leaderelection in the spring. ship and asking for a James said on leadership convention to Thursday she would not be held “as soon as posbe stepping down as sible.” leader of the NDP and Kwan said there’s will be holding an emerbeen a “steady erosion gency meeting to deal of our democratic prinwith the challenge to her ciples” under James’ leadership. leadership, and that Sather said he didn’t “debate has been stifled, know whether he would decision-making cenbe invited to the meetMichael Sather tralized, and individual ing Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows MLA MLAs marginalized.” “I don’t know what She added it’s “dismaythe plan is,” he said. “I ing” that MLAs learn about critical guess it’s wait and see.” decisions or changes to caucus If James were to step down decisions from the media. and there were a leadership race, “I agree fully with Jenny,” Sather said he would not run, addSather said. “We need a leadership ing that he’d like to see someone convention. That’s the opinion of younger than himself in charge.
Gunfire rang through Hoffman Park around bedtime last Saturday night, upsetting nearby residents and landing one local man in jail. A 42-year-old Pitt Meadows resident decided to disturb the peace by firing off rounds from a handgun just before 11 p.m. at the local park. He was arrested, but granted conditional release until his next court appearance, facing several charges including carrying a concealed weapon and dangerous use of a firearm. The police observed the man, Darren Drein, firing the gun as he entered Hoffman Park and he was also previously seen walking along Ford Road. The gunman appeared to have no intended target for the bullets, said Insp. Derren Lench, operations officer for the Ridge Meadows RCMP. “From my understanding, there was no one in the immediate area where the shots were discharged,” Lench added. Police have now seized seven various firearms from Drein, as a result of two separate searches. “Anytime someone discharges a firearm, public safety is at risk,” said Lench. “We’re happy that we could identify this person and obtain enough evidence to lay charges.”
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