Oct. 01, 2011 Richmond Review by Richmond Review

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2011

Minor hockey deals with head injuries, Page 17 40 PAGES

Dumb move on smart meter install Man gets power cut over nonexistent grow-op by Martin van den Hemel Staff Reporter

Martin van den Hemel photo BC Hydro cut power to the home of Richmond’s Ghiqing Thomas Xue on Wednesday. Suspicions of a marijuana grow-op were unfounded, but he’s no closer to having his power restored.

A North Richmond resident is miffed he’ll be without power for a week or more after BC Hydro claimed to have uncovered a marijuana grow-op at his home. Ghiqing Thomas Xue contacted The Richmond Review Thursday morning, 24 hours after BC Hydro’s contractor, Corix, tried to install a smart meter at the house in which he lives with his wife and family on Howell Court. Xue learned around noon Wednesday that his power was out and about an hour later, contacted police. During a three-way call involving an investigating officer and a BC Hydro representative, Xue heard that BC Hydro suspected a marijuana grow-op was inside his home. Perplexed, and knowing that was untrue, he invited the RCMP to come over, and they found nothing that raised any concerns, he said. But that hasn’t resolved anything. Despite no explanations about what needs fixing, Xue was at wit’s end on Thursday afternoon. He’s been advised to hire an electrician to remedy whatever issue led the installer to believe something was amiss. “So far, there’s no answers from BC Hydro. I called a couple of times this morning. I want to know what happened and how do I fix the problem, but they refused.” With no power, there’s no way to keep the house warm at night, no way to cook, and no hot water for showering. As of Thursday morning, he was no closer to any answers, and didn’t know how large a repair bill he was on the hook for.

But even once any deficiencies are addressed, Xue was told he’d have to wait at least a week before his power is restored. “I don’t know the reason they treat me like this. I’m a human being. I deserve respect,” Xue said. Jim Nicholson, director of customer care for BC Hydro, was apologetic about what happened to Xue and promised to contact him directly. “I am appalled that we have that kind of thing happening,” he said. Nicholson explained that when the old meter was removed, there were signs of illegal modifications or tampering. And since repairs were needed, work that requires an electrician, the power needed to be switched off to ensure the work could be done safely. But Nicholson said the customer service representative who dealt with this file should not have jumped to conclusions that the home had a marijuana grow-op. Nicholson said BC Hydro will make efforts to expedite the process of restoring power to the home, and he promised to improve the communication process, so a customer can be informed of precisely the type of repair work that needs to be done. “We certainly can improve that communication.” This is the third similar complaint involving smart meter installations in the past month. A older home on No. 7 Road had its power off for three weeks after evidence of tampering was found on its old meter. But the tenant was never informed what the problem was, and instead was told BC Hydro suspected it was a grow-op. And just last week, another family had its power cut, and was told it had to pay for repairs, after the smart meter installation job was botched. They too weren’t immediately told what the problem was, and instead were greeted by an erroneous door hangar that told them the smart meter had successfully been installed, though it hadn’t been.

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Page 2 路 Richmond Review

Friday, October 7, 2011

Richmond Review · Page 3

Richmond real estate market warms up Houses and condo sales improve in September compared to August by Martin van den Hemel Staff Reporter Richmond’s real estate market warmed up a little last month, according to the latest numbers released by the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver. But with the number of homes listed for sale at near record high levels, local realtor Tony Ling believes it will remain a buyer’s market for some time. 109 houses exchanged hands in Richmond last month, up 14.7 per cent compared to August, although prices remained relatively flat. Condo sales rose 8.3 per cent last month versus September, with prices rising slightly. Considering the state of the world economy, and the fact that consumer confidence appears to be dipping, people are taking more time in making their purchasing decisions. And that will translate into homes taking longer to sell, Ling said. Ling believes Richmond’s market peaked in March and April, and said there’s been a noticeable slowdown in activity. “What’s fueling the market is Chinese overseas buyers,” he said. But even in China, residents are feeling the pinch, he said. While the average selling price of a house was $1.025 million last month, Ling believes that number is skewed. Many Chinese buyers are buying high end homes, in the $2 to $3 million range. He said there’s still plenty of homes listed in the $800,000 to $900,000 range. And with the annual wave of Asian immigration that occurs largely during the summer months, Ling said that’s more likely to affect the top-end of the market. New listings for detached, attached and apartment properties in Greater Vancouver totalled 5,680 last month, the third highest volume for that month in the past 17 years. “Our sales-to-active-listing ratio currently sits at 14 per cent, which is the lowest it’s been this year,” said board president Rosario Setticasi. “Generally analysts say that a buyer’s market take shape when the ratio dips to about 12 to 14 per cent, or lower, for a sustained period of time.”

Richmond lawyer Richard Lee ﬁled his nomination papers on Tuesday and is running for mayor.

Lawyer Richard Lee to tackle Brodie After unsuccessful council run in 2008, Lee eyes top council spot by Martin van den Hemel Staff Reporter Incumbent Mayor Malcolm Brodie will be facing some competition in Nov. 19’s civic election. Richmond lawyer Richard Lee ﬁled his nomination papers on Tuesday and is running for mayor. “I want to be in a position to be that leader of council of the day,” Lee said Thursday. “I want to take the initiative and persuade my councillors to agree with me and act on things that over the past three years

were not done.” Brodie has been mayor since 2001 and has easily won re-election every election since. This is Lee’s first time running for mayor. He ran for council in 2008, netting 6,082 votes and finishing 15th, more than 5,000 votes back of the eighth-place finisher. Lee is a former two-term councillor in Merritt who moved to Richmond in 2006 after setting up his general law practice here a year earlier. Lee recognizes he’s got an uphill battle of David vs. Goliath proportions. “Having been through a few elections, I am convinced that my opponent isn’t going to win because he had more signs on the lawn or paid for more ads.” Rather, the victor will be the individual who has touched more lives to the point that they’d be willing to vote for him. And Lee’s focus will now be on reaching out to local voters, based on the groundwork he’s laid over the past seven years

“I want to take the initiative and persuade my councillors to agree with me and act on things that over the past three years were not done.” - Richard Lee since moving to Richmond. Nominations are open until Oct. 14 at 4 p.m. Voters go to the polls Nov. 19 to elect one mayor, eight councillors and seven school trustees. Brodie announced last month he is seeking another tern. Asked about the biggest challenges the city and council face in the future, Brodie said balancing growth with livability will be a key. “The fear is that livability will be compromised,” he said.

Spa leaving after sex scandal

Pools get clean bill of health

by Martin van den Hemel

Staff Reporter

Staff Reporter A controversial business at the top of a local hotel has agreed to close its doors in the coming weeks after it was revealed it was offering sex services. Following up on an investigation CTV News first conducted earlier this year, the news station again did an undercover sting at Water Club Spa, on the top floor of the Radisson Vancouver Airport Hotel. “Happy ending” massages were still being offered, CTV reported this week. In the aftermath of the initial discovery, the hotel was taking steps to have the business removed. It clarified tat its relationship with

the spa was strictly landlord and tenant, and that it never had any control or involvement with business operations. “We were unaware of any illegal activities taking place in the spa,” the hotel said in a prepared statement. “However, when it came to our attention via media reports that in fact there were potentially inappropriate activities in the facility, we took immediate action by contacting the officials at city hall to seek assistance in evicting the tenant.” But when it became apparent that changes would take time, the hotel turned to its own lawyers for help, it said. “We were advised that it would take some time to work through the legal system, so an immediate

eviction was not feasible,” the hotel said. “However, just prior to the scheduled court date, we came to a settlement and the tenant agreed to leave the premises on or before Nov. 30, 2011.” Police first inspected the Water Club Spa in late 2009 to discover a masseuse performing a sex act on a customer, according to a police report. In the months that followed, police and bylaw inspectors uncovered a host of further bylaw violations, including one incident where RCMP officers were denied entry to the business. Earlier this year, city council unanimously voted to suspend Water Club’s business licence for 60 days.

by Matthew Hoekstra Richmond’s public indoor pools have enjoyed a relatively clean bill of health, according to records obtained by The Richmond Review via a freedom of information request to Vancouver Coastal Health Authority. Health inspectors were given few reasons to take action from January 2010 to Aug. 1, 2011, during which officials were forced to briefly close a pool facility just once. The closure came Feb. 22 at Watermania, when an inspector found insufficient chlorine levels at the pool. Pool staff quickly resolved the problem and the pool reopened later that day. At Minoru Aquatic Centre, most issues cited by health inspectors dealt with pool maintenance issues. A loose deck ladder was noted a few times, as were broken tiles in a hallway at the facility. Other complaints dealt with unacceptable alkalinity and chlorine levels. In 2007, health officials closed Watermania for 24 hours after investigating complaints about swimmers falling ill at a major swim meet. A high level of chloramines in the air caused skin, eye and respiratory irritation for hundreds of people. In that case, inspectors found the ventilation system wasn’t drawing enough fresh air into the facility. That issue was subsequently resolved.

Page 4 · Richmond Review

Friday, October 7, 2011

City Board 2012 City Grant Program Applications accepted until October 14 The City of Richmond supports the enhancement of a positive quality of life for all its residents, and City Council recognizes that one means of helping achieve this goal is through an annual Grant Program to support the work of community service groups. In July 2011, Richmond City Council adopted a City Grant Policy establishing three separate Grant Programs: 1. Health, Social and Safety 2. Parks, Recreation and Community Events 3. Arts and Culture Information and application forms for the Health, Social and Safety, and Parks, Recreation and Community Events Grant Programs are available on the City’s website at www.richmond.ca (City Services > Social Planning > City Grant Program) or from the City Hall Information Counter, 6911 No. 3 Road, 604-276-4000. Applications may be submitted for only one program per year and will be considered from non-profit organizations meeting the program criteria. Completed applications must be received at the Richmond City Hall Information Counter by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, October 14. The vision, criteria and application forms are being developed for the 2012 Arts and Culture Grant Program and will be posted on the City website on October 21. If you have any questions regarding the program or your application, please call 604-276-4220.

City of Richmond | 6911 No. 3 Rd. Richmond BC V6Y 2C1 | Tel: 604-276-4000

www.richmond.ca

Enjoy family fun & fitness at the pool this holiday weekend!

Province drags its feet on help for Agricultural Land Commission Auditor general says negligible progress has been made by Jeff Nagel Black Press Little to no action has been taken in the year since B.C.’s Auditor General red-ﬂagged a series of big holes in the Agricultural Land Commission’s ability to protect farmland. Auditor General John Doyle’s original report in the fall of 2010 contained nine recommendations, some of them urging the ALC to fix inaccurate maps of Agricultural Land Reserve boundaries and tighten enforcement against those who degrade farmland. The commission’s budget has been cut 30 per cent since 2002 and the audit had found the agency is underfunded and understaffed to carry out much of its duties. But in a new follow-up report, Doyle scolds the inaction over the past year. Nothing has been done

Boaz Joseph photo The Agricultural Land Commission tabled a new strategic vision for the future last November but the proposed new directions are stalled in Victoria because the provincial government has yet to make any decisions.

with ﬁve recommendations and the rest are only partly implemented. “I am disappointed that the ALC has made negligible progress,” he said in the report. The ALC tabled a new strategic vision for the future last November but the proposed new directions are stalled in Victoria because the provincial government has yet to make any decisions. On all nine of the origi-

nal recommendations, Doyle’s report says the ALC is “awaiting direction from government.” The commission is seeking increased funding for several initiatives. The future food-growing productivity of the ALR continues to be damaged by illegal activity such as the dumping of construction material and tainted ﬁll on farmland. Doyle previously found the ALC too often gives

violators written or verbal warnings instead of issuing orders or ﬁnes because it can’t afford to defend tougher measures if they’re challenged in court. The Lower Mainland has lost eight per cent of its ALR land since the reserve was created in 1973. Significant portions of East Richmond are in the land reserve as is the Garden City lands at Garden City and Westminster Highway.

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Marathon, Half Marathon and 10K race! Pools are open daily for public swimming. Visit www.richmond.ca/aquatics for schedule details. Hours: Thanksgiving Day, October 10 10:30am - 8:30pm (Watermania), 1 - 8:30pm (Minoru)

MARATHON HALF-MARATHON RUNNING CLINIC This highly supportive clinic caters to first time marathon and half-marathon runners, those wanting to improve long-distance race times and 10K runners and walkers. Oct 29, 2011-Apr 28, 2012 Sa 7:45-8:45am $100/27 weeks 178951

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To register: Online: www.richmond.ca/register Call Centre: 604-276-4300 Thompson Community Centre: 604-238-8422

Minoru Aquatic Centre 7560 Minoru Gate 604-238-8020 City of Richmond | 6911 No. 3 Rd. Richmond BC V6Y 2C1 | Tel: 604-276-4000

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City of Richmond | 6911 No. 3 Rd. Richmond BC V6Y 2C1 | Tel: 604-276-4000

www.richmond.ca

Friday, October 7, 2011

Richmond Review · Page 5

Premier wants riot trials broadcast by Tom Fletcher Black Press Attorney General Shirley Bond has ordered Crown prosecutors to ask judges to allow TV and radio coverage of court proceedings for those accused of participating in the Stanley Cup riot in June. The vow was made in the throne speech Monday, and Premier Christy Clark elaborated on it in a news conference after the speech. “When it comes to the Stanley Cup riots, those guys had no problem doing their crimes quite in public, with all kinds of people taking pictures and doing videos all around them, so I think they should have no problem being tried in public either,” Clark said. A spokesman for the Criminal Justice Branch initially said Crown prosecutors are opposed to broadcasting criminal proceedings. Bond said Tuesday she has signed an order directing them to seek permission to broadcast, with charges expected to be laid this month against dozens of suspects. Radio and TV are only allowed in courts with the permission of the trial judge, and even if that is

Probation options expanding Attorney General Shirley Bond has introduced changes to B.C. law that add new sentencing options for street disorder, unsafe driving and other provincial offences. The amendments would allow charges of being drunk in public to be laid under the Liquor Control and Licensing Act instead of the Criminal Code. Offenders could be placed on probation with conditions such as paying for damages, writing an apology and performing community service.

Boaz Joseph photo Hockey fans gather around a burning trash can in the early hours of the Stanley Cup riot in downtown Vancouver June 15.

granted, coverage is restricted by a long list of rules. They include a broadcast delay until at least two hours after the court session has ended, and the ability of “any witness, counsel or other participant in the proceedings who objects to being identiﬁed pictorially or by

voice” to avoid being recorded. Bond rejected the suggestion that broadcasting riot cases is designed to shame the participants. “I don’t think it’s about public shaming at all,” Bond said. “I think it’s about an event that impacted all of British Columbia and beyond. And I think there is a public interest in ensuring that this is a transparent, open process.” NDP justice critic Leonard Krog said the government’s call for televised prosecution is a gimmick to divert public attention from the overburdened court system, which has seen more serious cases than drunken vandalism dismissed due to delays. “I don’t suspect that judges are going to be interested in having cameras in courtrooms to deal with what are often minor offences,” Krog said. He also criticized the proposal in Monday’s throne speech to deal with backlogged courts by allowing retired judges to come back and work part-time. Trials are often adjourned for weeks or months due to availability of witnesses or other delays, and a part-time judge may not be available when needed, he said.

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Other fun fall events await you at Fisherman’s Park! • Pumpkin rolling contest • Sack races • Children’s pie eating contest

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City Board Construction advisory September 26–November 10 The City of Richmond has contracted Directional Mining and Drilling Ltd. and J. Cote and Son to perform watermain construction at the following locations in Richmond: • No. 3 Road from Firbridge Way to Granville Avenue • Granville Avenue from No. 3 Road to Gilbert Road Hours of work are scheduled from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Traffic on the affected roads will be reduced to a single lane at times. Delays may occur. The use of an alternate route is strongly encouraged. This work is weather dependent and dates are subject to change without notice.

Too complex and controversial, says Malcolm Brodie by Jeff Nagel Black Press Mayors from Surrey, Vancouver and at least five other cities are poised to force through a two-cent gas tax hike to help fund the Evergreen Line and other transit expansion projects. Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts, Vancouver’s Gregor Robertson and mayors from Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Langley City, West Vancouver and the District of North Vancouver issued a joint statement Tuesday saying they will vote for TransLink’s Moving Forward supplement today. The seven mayors represent 70 per cent of Metro Vancouver’s 2.5 million residents and hold enough populationweighted votes to force the plan through even if most of the region’s 22

cities object. Burnaby, Richmond and Delta mayors said they will oppose the plan. The extra two cents a litre in gas tax would take effect in April and raise $40 million a year of the needed $70 million annually to fund the plan. Mayors and the province would have one year to negotiate another $30 million worth of new funding sources for TransLink – perhaps road pricing, a vehicle levy, a second regional carbon tax or other mechanisms. If the province gets cold feet and refuses to approve new sources, the plan requires property taxes go up an average of $23 instead – a scenario that’s unacceptable to mayors in Richmond and Delta. “I’m not going to support a package with a property tax,” Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie said. “And I won’t support other funding sources when they’ve not been deﬁned.” He predicts there will be no deal with Victoria on contentious new mech-

Questions may be directed to Anthony Fu, P.Eng., Project Engineer, at 604-247-4905, or visit the City’s Construction Projects webpage at www.richmond.ca (City Services > Roads, Dykes, Water & Sewers > Construction Projects > 2011 Construction Projects).

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City of Richmond | 6911 No. 3 Rd. Richmond BC V6Y 2C1 | Tel: 604-276-4000

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www.richmond.ca

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Construction advisory September 12–October 31 The City of Richmond has contracted Imperial Paving Ltd. to install pedestrian safety improvements at the following locations in Richmond from September 12 to October 31, 2011:

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• Installation of new raised crosswalks across: o No. 1 Road at Chatham Street o Moncton Street at Easthope Avenue o Moncton Street 60 m east of Bayview Street, near Hayashi Court

• Sidewalk and drainage alterations to accommodate the new raised intersection and crosswalks Work hours are scheduled from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. As this work is weather dependent, some work may occur on Saturdays and Sundays, and the dates are subject to change without notice.

ENDS HOLIDAY MONDAY

Traffic on affected roads will be reduced to a single lane at times. Delays may occur. The use of an alternate route is strongly encouraged.

New Fall Suits Dresses go on at $10 to $15 Questions may be directed to Milton Chan, Senior Project Engineer, at 604-276-4377, or visit the City’s Transportation Projects webpage at for the next www.richmond.ca (City Services > Roads, Dykes, Water & Sewers >

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There will also be a three day full closure of the No. 1 Road and Moncton Street intersection in October. The dates of this closure will be weather dependent.

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City of Richmond | 6911 No. 3 Rd. Richmond BC V6Y 2C1 | Tel: 604-276-4000

anisms, most of Mayor Rick Green which would raise noted Premier the cost of driving Christy Clark has as part of a wider “flip-flopped” on strategy to steer whether she’d more motorists to a p p r ove t h e transit. agreed-to gas “I think they’re tax hike or other going to be too mechanisms, like MALCOLM complex and too a share of the BRODIE controversial,” carbon tax. Brodie said. He and other mayors Surrey and Vancouver also want reform of Transare big enough under the Link’s governance sysweighted vote system to tem, where an unelected sway the decision with board sets spending prijust a few other smaller orities, leaving mayors cities on board. only to sign off on tax But Watts and other and fee increases. mayors have been busy Coquitlam Mayor Richtrying to sway more cit- ard Stewart said he’s ies to the yes camp and disappointed in the opminimize the spectre of position from Richmond a divided region. and Burnaby. “It’s odd that the two Yes votes are expected from Tri-Cities mayors, communities that have who are desperate to the newest SkyTrain lines build the long-promised appear to be prepared to vote down the suppleEvergreen Line there. “It’s our turn,” Port ment,” he said. Moody Mayor Joe TrasoThe supplement would lini said of the 11-kilome- allow TransLink to deliver tre rapid transit line. “We its $400-million contribucan’t rewrite the proposal tion for the $1.4-billion Evthat’s what in front of us. ergreen Line, ensuring the We have to make sure it long-stalled SkyTrain extension finally proceeds. goes ahead.” Langley Township The plan would provide for RapidBus service over the Port Mann Bridge to Surrey and Langley, a new B-Line express bus route down King George Boulevard, a Langley-White Rock bus route, more frequent SeaBus service, SkyTrain station upgrades and various other bus service increases, along with some more money for road work and cycling routes. The mayors’ joint statement calls it crucial to reducing gridlock, growing the economy and achieving long-term environmental goals. “There’s no one in the region who thinks we do not need these projects,” Stewart said. The negotiations with the province offer a chance to finally gain funding sources to set TransLink up for the long term, he said. That would be critical to launching more distant projects, such as rapid transit expansion deeper in Surrey area and in Vancouver along the Broadway corridor to UBC. Burnaby Mayor Derek Corrigan said mayors who support the plan may feel the wrath of voters. Sat. Sun. Hol. Mon. “Both Watts and Rob9:30-6 12-6 12-5 ertson may feel they can take that kind of hit and still get re-elected,” Corrigan said. “But there’s a lot of people in my community and people around the Lower Mainland saying ‘I cannot take more taxes for TransLink.’ And you find people like that get out and vote.”

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Friday, October 7, 2011

Richmond Review · Page 7

Most support more transit but reluctant to pay for it: poll by Jeff Nagel Black Press While a new poll shows Metro Vancouver residents overwhelmingly want upgraded transit, most don’t want higher taxes on motorists or property owners. Angus Reid Public Opinion conducted the poll for the union representing area bus drivers, which has urged mayors to support TransLink’s expansion plan. Seventy-ﬁve per cent of those surveyed want more money simply transferred from the province – a free lunch scenario most mayors admit won’t happen. Another 47 per cent would make transit riders pay higher fares, 46 per cent support raising parking taxes, 34 per cent back tolls on roads and bridges and 30 per cent back further increases in the carbon tax if the money is steered to TransLink. Just 26 per cent back a higher gas tax, 22 per cent support a vehicle levy and only 20 per cent would put the bill on property taxes. The plan being voted on Friday by Metro mayors would generate nearly half the required money by raising the TransLink gas tax two cents to 17 cents a litre. The rest would be determined later

—cities would work with the province to negotiate new funding sources. If they don’t materialize, a property tax hike would kick in. Mayors have been talking up possible funding sources that wouldn’t directly hit households or motorists. Those options include charging developers extra to build at high densities near rapid transit stations. “You capture some of the windfall profit associated with the location of SkyTrain stations,” Coquitlam Mayor Richard Stewart said. “You apply some of it to the construction of the transit system that creates the profit in the first place.” Selling corporate naming rights for SkyTrains and stations is another idea mayors have raised. And Metro Vancouver’s board has voted to investigate a possible tax on shipping containers moving through the port. The mayors say they want Victoria to grant them a variety of new sources, but concede much of the money must come out of local pockets one way or another. Transportation-linked sources that make driving more expensive relative to transit are expected to be high on the list of options considered.

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Page 8 · Richmond Review

Friday, October 7, 2011

opinion the richmond

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EDITOR BHREANDÁIN CLUGSTON, 604-247-3730 editor@richmondreview.com STAFF REPORTERS MATTHEW HOEKSTRA, 604-247-3732 mhoekstra@richmondreview.com MARTIN VAN DEN HEMEL, 604-247-3733 martin@richmondreview.com SPORTS EDITOR DON FENNELL, 604-247-3731 sports@richmondreview.com ASSISTANT ADVERTISING MANAGER ELANA GOLD, 604-247-3704 elanag@richmondreview.com AD CONTROL RICK MARTIN, 604-247-3729 adcontrol@richmondreview.com SALES ROB AKIMOW, 604-247-3708 roba@richmondreview.com COLLIN NEAL, 604-247-3719 collinn@richmondreview.com LESLEY SMITH, 604-247-3705 lesley@richmondreview.com TORRIE WATTERS, 604-247-3707 torrie@richmondreview.com

EDITORIAL: Province is too liberal on spending The Liberal government of Premier Christy Clark is becoming a little too liberal with taxpayers’ dollars. It is also going ahead with policies not conducive to creating jobs, at a time when the economy is uncertain at best. That message came through from Monday’s Speech from the Throne, the first under the Clark administration. The government is indicating that it will end a “net zero” policy which has kept labour costs at a fixed level. Under the policy, public sector unions were asked to settle for contracts that did not increase overall costs. If benefits increased, other costs needed to be adjusted downwards. This remains a sensible policy in regards to public sector jobs. Public sector employees, for the most part, make as much or more than their private sector counterparts. Their jobs are far more secure, and they have generous benefits. Their defined benefit pension plans are a private sector rarity. The economy is in turmoil in much of the world. Even in Canada, which has been a bastion of stability, there is considerable uncertainy. This is no time to start boosting public sector labour costs, as taxpayers should not be asked for more until the economy improves dramatically. This sets a bad example for municipal leaders, some of whom were hoping to contain labour costs after years of

B.C. Premier Christy Clark.

generous salary increases. They will soon be negotiating new contracts with their unions. Steady wage increases at a time of frozen wages and pensions for most taxpayers has meant rising property taxes are much more of a burden. Upcoming municipal contracts should be negotiated with the “net zero” policy in mind. This will be tough, now that the government has signalled its intentions to ease away from the policy. The net effect will be higher property and provincial taxes, at a time when most people are stretched to ﬁnd

extra dollars. This isn’t right. Meanwhile, the government is establishing a new statutory holiday in February, starting in 2013. While the idea of an extra day off (with pay) in mid-winter is good in theory, it comes as employers face higher costs due to the defeat of the HST. Neither will help employers create jobs, at a time when Clark insists that is one of her top priorities. The province needs to set a better example in the bargaining and job creation departments. -Langley Times

Unsung heroes

or all the efforts the staff at The Richmond Review put into making a topnotch product, these unsung heroes are rarely acknowledged for their crucial role.

Newspaper carriers deliver, and without them, locals would never hear about issues that impact their everyday lives. They are single moms who walk door-to-door while their children are in school, elementary school students who are holding down their first jobs and yearning for more pocket change, senior citizens seeking extra exercise while adding to their pension earnings. They come from all walks of life and all cultures. And their work is a crucial cog in the newspaper making machine. As this week is is International Carrier Appreciation Week, the next time you see your carrier, consider tipping your cap and offering a thank you. They really do deliver this community’s EXTRA EXTRA!

Being thankful for farmers CIRCULATION MANAGER RACHAEL FINKELSTEIN, 604-247-3710 circulation@richmondreview.com CIRCULATION JR TUAZON, ROYA SARWARY, BRIAN KEMP, 604-247-3710 circulation@richmondreview.com

Shades of Green Arzeena Hamir CREATIVE SERVICES MANAGER JAANA BJORK, 604-247-3716 jaana@richmondreview.com CREATIVE DEPARTMENT GABE MUNDSTOCK, 604-247-3718 gabe@richmondreview.com PETER PALMER, 604-247-3706 peter@richmondreview.com KAY KRISTIANSEN, 604-247-3701 kay@richmondreview.com The Richmond Review is a member of the B.C. Press Council, a self-regulatory body governing the province’s newspaper industry. The council considers complaints from the public about the conduct of member newspapers. Directors oversee the mediation of complaints, with input from both the newspaper and the complaint holder. If talking with the editor or publisher does not resolve your complaint about coverage or story treatment, you may contact the council. Write (include documentation) within 45 days to B.C. Press Council, 201 Selby St., Nanaimo, B.C. V9R 2R2. For information, phone 888-687-2213 or go to www.bcpresscouncil.org Published every Wednesday and Friday by Black Press Ltd.

ith the Thanksgiving holiday around the corner, we’re busy cleaning out our house before family arrives.

There will be about 20 of us sharing a meal that all of us have contributed to. I just hope that in the midst of all the excitement, we don’t forget to give thanks; thanks for bringing us together, thanks for our health, and most importantly, thanks to the farmers and the farm workers for the food that is on our table.

As has been pointed out to me, I tend to criticize a lot of things. I complained about the lack of organic farms in Richmond. I’ve pointed out the fact that so many family farms have been closing over the past years and that farmers are aging and that the price of farmland is way out of reach to new farmers. Amazingly, in the last year, the tide has turned. A small group of young people have come to Richmond and have begun farming. After losing one or two family farms every year since 2009, we now have six new farm enterprises in Richmond. This is incredible! And to top it off, all of them are farming without synthetic pesticides or fertilizers. You will have seen Allan Surette’s farm on Steveston Highway between Gilbert and No. 3 Rd. I’ve watched Urban Edibles grow from a small shed, which he built himself from recycled fence lumber, to a thriving

business selling his own organically-grown salad greens and certified organic Okanagan fruit. He’s a one-man operation and I have yet to see him take a vacation all year. His two-acre farm had been abandoned for years and to rehabilitate the soil, control the weeds, and put a crop in is no small feat. The fact that he is doing this mostly by hand is stupendous. I am in awe of his physical strength and his dedication to growing without chemicals. Thanks Allan. Another group of five new farmers have set up shop on a small field at the south end of Gilbert Road. These growers each have half an acre of incubator farmland that allows them to try and grow crops that they never had room to grow before. Cabbage, corn, squash, and potatoes are difficult to grow (in quantity) in urban lots where many were farming previously. The challenges that

these growers faced this year were huge. The field was literally under water until mid June. By the time a tractor could get in to plow the field, spring was over and the heat suddenly came on. With six weeks of no rain, the growers struggled to get crops established with little to no irrigation. And then, the weeds came back. Lambsquarters and smartweed soon out-competed most of the vegetables. And yet, everyone wants to stay on for next year and two more growers are joining them in 2012. Hats off to every farmer who tries to put food on our table and make a living at the same time. You deserve every penny you charge. Here’s to a less challenging season next year that is full of bounty. You have my support and my thanks. Arzeena Hamir is co-ordinator of the Richmond Food Security Society. Reach her at arzeenahamir@shaw.ca.

Hats off to every farmer who tries to put food on our table and make a living at the same time.

Friday, October 7, 2011

Richmond Review Âˇ Page 9

opinion Garden City Lands need ALR-acceptable plan

Digging Deep Jim Wright

hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an â&#x20AC;&#x153;elephant in the roomâ&#x20AC;? on the Garden City Lands. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the lawsuit the Musqueam Indian Band filed against the City of Richmond last year. The context is a ďŹ&#x201A;awed 2005 deal for dense development on the lands. Besides the federal government as original owner, there were three partners: the band, the city, and Canada Lands Company CLC as federal land disposer. In its most worrisome claim, the band wants Richmond to pay $350

STOP Influenza

million for â&#x20AC;&#x153;unjust enrichmentâ&#x20AC;? from buying the lands ($3 million an acre, minus the purchase price). All is not lost. The cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new lawyers ďŹ led a top-notch statement of defence, a breath of fresh hope. A ďŹ&#x201A;ashback: Back in the 2005 deal, the city had agreed to help strip â&#x20AC;&#x153;the peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s landsâ&#x20AC;? of their protection in the Agricultural Land Reserve. Canada Lands was responsible for the application. The attempt was weak. The Agricultural Land Commission rejected it in 2006. The city then went beyond what the deal required of it. With an excess of goodwill, it began a two-year effort to help Canada Lands to try again. I think that was fabulous for the partners but not for the citizens. Note that it was upper staff, perhaps along with the mayor as chief executive, who had to implement the deal. In contrast, it did not restrict the freedom of our council members as

local legislators. As it happens, Coun. Harold Steves kept raising public awareness to keep the lands in the ALR. Strangely, the band chief reacted with a threatening letter, published by this paper in June 2007. It portended â&#x20AC;&#x153;an army of lawyers producing large legal bills for the city and others.â&#x20AC;? The partners amassed a hugeâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;and hugely expensiveâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;second application to the Agricultural Land Commission. And they hired public relations companies to sell the public on the wonders of dense development of the Garden City Lands. Grassroots action to respond with the true story was vital. It felt like paddling in a tsunami, but it beat being swept away. As individuals and small groups and then a coalition, citizens rose to the challenge in 2008. They showed the public and the commission the greater need for food security, conservation, and open-land park for com-

munity wellness. In the commissionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 2009 ruling, the people won. The lands stayed safe in the ALR. In 2010, Canada Lands sold the Garden City Lands to Richmond for $59 million. The band participated and got half the proďŹ t. Just days later, the band sued Richmond for more. That step had been enabled when the city only implied (not explicitly stated) an intended condition of its purchase offer. The legal style the chief had divulged in 2007 then came into play, trumping wished-for goodwill. The lawsuit depicts the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s excess effort as negligence and breach of duty. Now, in 2011, the case may be tried soon. This time the city can be one with the citizens. For a start, we must disprove the â&#x20AC;&#x153;unjust enrichment.â&#x20AC;? The claim assumes that the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s price for the Garden City Lands was below their market value outside the ALR. See Page 10

Get a Flu Shot at a Clinic Near You.

â&#x20AC;˘ Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s safe. â&#x20AC;˘ It works! â&#x20AC;˘ It protects you and the people around you. Here is a list of ďŹ&#x201A;u clinic dates and locations near you. To ďŹ nd additional clinic information, or to ďŹ nd out if you qualify for a free ďŹ&#x201A;u shot, visit the ImmunizeBC website at www.immunizebc.ca or call HealthLinkBC at 811.

Richmond Date

Time

Location

Oct 17 Seniors- by appointment only. Call 604-718-8450 for appointment.

9:00-11:45 and 1:00- 4:30pm

Minoru Seniors Centre 7660 Minoru Gate Multipurpose Room 2 and 3

Oct 18 Seniors- by appointment only. Call 604-718-8450 for appointment.

9:00-12:00pm

Minoru Seniors Centre 7660 Minoru Gate Multipurpose Room 2 and 3

Oct 22 Children and adults- by appointment only. Call 604-233-3150 for appointment.

9:00-11:45 and 1:00- 4:30pm