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SAY CHEESE: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau poses for a selfie at Hats Off Day in the Heights on Saturday, flanked on the left by Burnaby North-Seymour MP Terry Beech. See more Hats Off Day photos on page 33. PHOTO JENNIFER GAUTHIER
POLITICS
Mayor asks Trudeau to cover $1.8M policing bill Mike Hurley talked protest policing costs, tank farm safety and housing red tape with the prime minister Chris Campbell
ccampbell@burnabynow.com
Burnaby Mayor Mike Hurley got 40 minutes in person with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Saturday to plead the city’s case on a few issues. It might not seem like a long time, but it was enough for three items to be discussed – Hurley told the NOW in an interview.The meeting was brokered by Burnaby North-Seymour MP Terry Beech.
The City of Burnaby owes the federal government an estimated $1.8 million in policing costs related to protests in the city against the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project, Hurley said. Ex-mayor Derek Corrigan said publicly the city would not pay these policing costs. Hurley also doesn’t think Burnaby should pay these costs, especially because Trudeau has repeatedly said the project is in the “nation-
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al interest” and the federal government bought the project. Hurley said it’s unfair for a city to be burdened with such a huge police tab for a project the city doesn’t even approve of. So Hurley made the city’s case about working out some sort of deal with the feds to cover some or all of the costs. “It’s an issue that’s hanging out there,” Hurley said. “But it’s a bill that has to be paid (by someone).”
This wasn’t the first time Hurley has met Trudeau, as the mayor had a previous face-to-face meeting while working with a firefighters’ union. A second issue broached by Hurley was about housing. He said the city has been frustrated in dealings with Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation to get projects off the ground. CMHC has “difficult” processes to wade through and a lot of “red tape” that Hurley says doesn’t feel ap-
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propriate in regards to projects spearheaded by a city the size of Burnaby. “Sometimes their regulations seem a bit ridiculous,” Hurley said. Hurley says cities – compared with small groups – should be recognized for having skilled staff, meaning there should be a more streamlined process when a city, a province and the feds develop a project together. Hurley just wants to deliver projects “quicker” during the housing crisis.
A third issue Hurley discussed with Trudeau was tank farm safety. Hurley said the city doesn’t want the Trans Mountain pipeline, but if it eventually goes ahead, he wants more done to address tank farm safety to “lower the anxiety level” for residents who live near it. Trudeau “said all the right things,” Hurley said, but the proof for him will be seeing what action happens between now and the federal election in October.
Glenn Chivers 604-420-9100 GlennChivers@remax.net ChiversBell.ca
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