INSIDE: Abbotsford West candidates answer our questions
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T H U R S D A Y
May 2, 2013
take 22 Girls silver medal N E W S ,
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E N T E R T A I N M E N T abbotsfordtimes.com
Little heat in civil debate
Candidates meet again May 7 at UFV CHRISTINA TOTH CToth@abbotsfordtimes.com
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here were no major body blows Tuesday night as candidates grappled with questions and each other’s critiques in the West Abbotsford riding’s first public debate, although some found themselves in tricky positions from time to time. Moe Gill, thwarted by the B.C. Liberals in his bid to run for them in Abbotsford South, and now running in Abbotsford West as an independent against his former backer Liberal Mike de Jong, was asked why he left the party in a “temper tantrum.” Gill explained the party wouldn’t accept his nomination for the Abbotsford South constituency, but offered him the Abbotsford-Mission candidacy, which he rejected. “There are 1,800 members for Abbotsford South. They were not given the opportunity to vote and elect the candidate they wanted. They could have voted for the other person, it didn’t matter, but the democracy was taken away from those people. That is why I am running as an independent and standing up for [what counts],” Gill said forcefully to encouraging “yahs” and applause from supporters. Later Gill was asked if he was running for revenge. “No, I do not believe in that. Mike’s been like my brother for the past 19 years. Because we went our different ways that does mean I will take vengeance upon him. I do not take vengeance against my friends, or even my enemies,” said Gill, who was seated next to de Jong. Overall, candidates stuck to their party platforms in the limited time they had. As the debate was sponsored by the Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce, the Fraser Valley IndoCanadian Business Association
AESC deficit looms large ROCHELLE BAKER RBaker@abbotsfordtimes.com
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SCAN FOR PHOTOS – JOHN VAN PUTTEN/TIMES
Mike de Jong responds at the Abbotsford West all-candidates debate Tuesday night at Garden Park Towers, while Paul Redekopp (Con.), at left, Sukhi Dhami (NDP), Stephen O’Shea (Green) and Moe Gill (Ind.) wait their turns. and the Fraser Valley Real Estate As the finance minister, de Jong Board, many queries related to the was challenged on his party’s spendeconomy and small business. ing priorities – Dhami said Liberals New Democrat Sukhi Dhami said misspent half a billion dollars on the his party would B.C. Place roof, $6 have a review of B.C. million on the Basitaxes, including the “There are 1,800 memVirk matter, and $11 property transfer million “on a dance bers for Abbotsford tax, raise taxes on party,” referring to the top two per cent South. They were not the Times of India of earners, but have given the opportunity to film awards the Lib“no tax increase for vote and elect the candierals brought to B.C. 98 per cent of B.C. date they wanted.” recently. residents.” A new De Jong countered bank tax would go saying the NDP had – Moe Gill Independent to skills and trainno plan to balance ing for labour-hunthe budget, and that gry sectors, while the party intends to carbon tax revenues would go to tax credit unions as well as banks. transit, he said. He also wants to He noted small business tax was see more investment in the farming 8.5 per cent under a past NDP govsector to keep it viable. ernment, but now stands at 2.5 per
cent. De Jong listed projects the Liberals brought to Abbotsford, and noted his government’s triple-A credit rating. “This is the budget. It’s balanced,” he said, lifting up a thick document. Gill said Liberals choose to “party with Bollywood stars,” but they “balanced nothing, they increased provincial debt by 100 per cent – more than $7.5 billion. Good money managers they are not.” Calling the Liberals’ balanced budget a “fantasy,” Paul Redekopp said B.C. Conservatives would kill the carbon tax, restore the corporate vote, support pipelines and resource developments and cut red tape to make it happen to boost the economy. see WEST, page A5
he overall shortfall for the Abbotsford Entertainment and Sports Centre is expected to come close to the $4-million dollar mark for 2012. The AESC’s operating deficit has been finalized at $1.9 million in 2012, which was a marginal improvement over the previous year, said Salman Azam, Abbotsford’s director of finance. However, that figure does not include a projected $1.9 million Abbotsford Heat hockey team shortfall anticipated for the club’s 2012/13 season. The AHL team’s deficit is accrued through Abbotsford’s supply fee agreement with the club, which guarantees its owners $5.7 million a year for a decade. The finalized numbers for the Heat shortfall won’t be ready until summer, as the team’s fiscal year runs from July 1 to June 30. The city’s fiscal year runs Jan. 1 to Dec. 31. While AESC operational deficits have dropped incrementally the past couple of years, the Heat shortfalls have only gone up. The AESC operating deficits, not including the Heat numbers, were $2.2 million in 2011 and nearly $3 million in 2010. “We are seeing an improvement [in AESC operations]. . . It’s a minor improvement but it is happening,” said Azam. see AESC, page A5
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