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Arts: Garibaldi takes on Grease. 15
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Wednesday, Februar y 10, 2016 · mapleridgenews.com · est. 1978 · (office) 604- 467- 1122 · (del i ver y) 604-466-6397 4 -466-66 39 7
Liberals won on tight budget Were outspent five to one by Conservatives here B y P h i l M e l nyc h u k pmelnychuk@mapleridgenews.com
Despite outspending his opponent five to one, Mike Murray’s effort and expenses proved futile against the Liberal wave in October’s federal election. Mike Murray spent just more than $100,000 in an effort to keep the Pitt Meadows-Maple Ridge seat for the Conservatives, while Liberal challenger Dan Ruimy spent about $18,000 to win the seat. “We obviously spent a lot more than the winner,” said Murray. Despite the disparity, Ruimy won more votes, 17,673 – to win with a 1,300-vote margin against Murray. See Election, 9
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Press play Lysa Flower’s tape cassette pattern quilt has been selected for an international exhibition in the United States. See story, page 17.
No new ambulances for Maple Ridge Eight deployed to other mainland communities By Neil Corbett ncorbett@mapleridgenews.com
Eight new ambulances and 34 paramedics have been allocated to Lower Mainland cities, but despite a citizens petition that has more than 8,000 names calling for such services, Maple Ridge will get none. The demand and deployment
review by the B.C. Emergency Health Services, announced Friday, was a disappointment to Matt Kelso, who will continue with his petition calling for an increase in ambulance service beyond the two vehicles stationed in Maple Ridge. “I feel like we’ve hit a brick wall,” he said. Still, he will continue with the petition, and plans to be at SaveOn Foods at Valley Fair Mall on Saturday beginning at 10 a.m. His goal is 10,000 signatures, and
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to present the petition to Health Minister Terry Lake. “Langley is getting seven ambulances, and we’re stuck with two,” Kelso said. “It’s very frustrating.” Those calling for more ambulances in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows have argued there is a disparity based on the populations served. With the changes, Langley Township and City, with a combined population of 130,000, will now be served by seven ambulances. Maple Ridge has two am-
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bulances for 95,000 population. Three ambulances will go to Surrey, two to Abbotsford and one to the North Shore. Some of the new paramedics will also be stationed in Tri-Cities. Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows MLA Doug Bing had agreed that, based on population alone, it appeared that there was a need for another ambulance serving his riding. “I share the community’s disappointment,” he said of the review. See Ambulance, 13
THE NEWS/files
Just two ambulances are stationed in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows.
#59 – 12099 – 237th Street
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Three bedrooms, two baths, 1442 feet. Beautifully updated, upgraded, maintained. Going really, really fast. MLS#R2027153
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Art Neufeld Personal Real Estate Corporation RE/MAX Results Realty 20842 Lougheed Highway, Maple Ridge V2X 2R3 | Each office independently owned and operated