Parole denied
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Lord stays in prison while professing his innocence
Portugal bound Ladner man cycling in support of arthritis
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‘Bit of Everything’ Mix of genres featured at choral concert
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Optimist Delta
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YOUR SOURCE FOR LOCAL SPORTS, NEWS, WEATHER AND ENTERTAINMENT! WWW.DELTA-OPTIMIST.COM The Voice of Delta since 1922 FRIDAY, MAY 3, 2013
Back in the nest
Shane Kuss returns as Ice Hawks co-head coach
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Hearing nears for Southlands
Two days in September have been tentatively set aside for public to have its say on contentious proposal BY
JESSICA KERR
jkerr@delta-optimist.com
The approval process for Century Group’s Southlands proposal appears to be moving forward as dates for a number of key meetings have been tentatively set, including a possible public hearing in September. The Century Group issued a
press release yesterday morning that said Delta citizens would finally have an opportunity to voice their opinions on the company’s proposal. The release outlined a series of dates. Delta chief administrative officer George Harvie confirmed this week that dates for a public information meeting, preliminary consideration from Delta council
and a public hearing have tentatively been set. He said the dates would be firmed up once Delta has gone through all the information submitted by the developer. It looks like a public information meeting could be held later this month, with Delta council considering first and second reading in June and, if approved, the
proposal going to a public hearing in early September. The Century release had the dates of that public hearing as Sept. 10 and 11. The Century Group is proposing to develop the 536-acre Southlands with housing on 20 per cent on the site, while handing over 80 per cent of the land to Delta. Much of that land would be
used for farming, with the necessary upgrades to make it possible paid for by Century. The rezoning involves the construction of 950 units in various forms and densities over a 15-year period. The proposal also includes a market square, which, the company says “will be an important link between agricultural activities and everyday life in Tsawwassen.”
Delta South candidates square off in Ladner BY
SANDOR GYARMATI
sgyarmati@delta-optimist.com
Delta South’s three provincial election candidates squared off for the fourth, and likely final, time Wednesday night as the campaign moved into its second half. Held at the Delta Town & Country Inn in Ladner, the allcandidates debate, sponsored by the Delta Chamber of Commerce and the Optimist, was an opportunity for Liberal Bruce McDonald, New Democrat Nic Slater and independent incumbent Vicki Huntington to discuss a plethora of business and community issues. The merits of an independent MLA over a member of a party was once again a hot topic. In her opening remarks, Huntington said she was free to represent the interests of her constituents without the shackle of party policy. However, she also said cooperation is a two-way street, noting
View video and photos with PHOTO BY
GORD GOBLE
Delta South candidates (from left) Bruce McDonald, Vicki Huntington and Nic Slater answered questions from the public during a forum Wednesday night at the Delta Town & Country Inn in Ladner. Delta municipal hall has refused to accept her assistance to deal with issues. Slater said the party system does work and that it’s best if an MLA is a member of a team in order to get things done. On a
couple of occasions McDonald stressed that even backbenchers have a voice in government, despite what Huntington claims. A question posed early on was whether the candidates supported Port Metro Vancouver’s proposed
Terminal 2 as well as what mitigation should be implemented to lessen the traffic impact. McDonald said he supported Deltaport’s third berth but isn’t so sure a business case can be made for T2. He said he wants to see
how things play out in the assessment process. Huntington said she’s opposed to T2, noting other solutions, including increasing capacity at See CANDIDATES page 3