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LitFest NewWest returns A CLOSER LOOK 13
View from the refugee camps SPORTS 45
Salmonbellies are back NewWestRecord.ca
LOCAL NEWS – LOCAL MATTERS
THURSDAY MAY 12, 2016
Y O U R CITY NEWS
There’s more online at
H O M E T O W N
5
THINGS TO DO THIS WEEKEND SEE PAGE 17
N E W S P A P E R
A FAMILY RUN
Water rules tighten By Theresa McManus
tmcmanus@newwestrecord.ca
Royal City residents will face earlier water restrictions and stricter enforcement than in past years. The Greater Vancouver Water District has adjusted the region’s water shortage response plan to activate Stage 1 water restrictions from May 15 to Oct. 15, rather than June 1 to Sept. 30. During Stage 1 of the plan, residential lawn sprinkling is allowed on evennumbered addresses from 4 to 9 a.m. Monday,Wednesday and Saturday and on odd-numbered addresses on Tuesday,Thursday and Sundays. Eugene Wat, the city’s manager of infrastructure planning, said the city heard concerns last year about lack of enforcement of water restrictions and plans to increase enforcement this year. Continued on page 10
ON THE PATH: People of all ages took to the trails at Queen’s Park on Saturday, May 7 for the third annual Hyacks in Motion event, which included a three-kilometre fun run/walk plus a health fair and entertainment. Proceeds go towards the sport leadership cohort at New Westminster Secondary School and to support health education in the New Westminster school district. PHOTO CHUNG CHOW
City tenants forced out with ‘reno-victions’ NewWestminster wants rules changed to protect renters By Theresa McManus
tmcmanus@newwestrecord.ca
New Westminster is taking a number of steps to try and tackle reno-victions. A staff report notes that there’s evidence that the practice of reno-victions – when landlords evict tenants under the guise of doing major renovations and then increase
rents – is becoming more commonplace in New Westminster.The City of Vancouver has asked the province to amend the Residential Tenancy Act to allow renters the first right of refusal to return to their unit, at a rent that is no more than what the landlord could have lawfully charged if there had been no interruption in the tenancy. “I think this is a brilliant move, if we
could get this,” said Coun. Lorrie Williams. “So far it looks like just Vancouver is advocating for this, but we are going to do the same.” Williams is pleased the city is taking steps to ensure tenants know their rights and to address the issue so there isn’t a “free-forall” that allows landlords to take advantage of people who aren’t in a position to advocate for themselves. “These are sad stories,” she said. “These
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are silent tragedies going on all the time.” New West resident Len MacKave raised the issue in February, after the new owner of his building at 1320 Fifth Ave. notified tenants their tenancy would end in two months, saying they’d received all the necessary permits and approvals needed to demolish or repair the rental unit – event though the owner hadn’t received permits Continued on page 10
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