Ching Ming Open House

Stephanie Patterson and Fred Hulbert Sr , a former councillor

Currently, there are about 133 KFN members, of which 84 reside off the Coquitlam reserve; for those members, ballots were mailed out in advance, a KFN spokesperson said There are 101 eligible voters

For the local members, the election takes place on March 30 at the Kwikwetlem First Nation Community

Centre; polls are open between 9 a m and 8 p m

The base salary for the chief and councillors is about $75,000 each

According to the KFN’s Consolidated Statement of Operations and Accumulated Surplus for the year ending March 31, 2022, KFN received $10 million in federal and provincial grants, as well as rental income, and spent $8 million on band programs, community services, education and social housing on its reserve

KFN also owns three entities through bare trustee companies: KFN Enterprises Ltd , KFN Enterprises Limited Partnership and Choxw Holdings Corp

In 2016, KFN filed a land claim for a portion of its traditional territory that includes the Riverview Lands and the Forensic Psychiatric Hospital grounds, as well as Colony Farm Regional Park and a part of Gates Park in Port Coquitlam

Rackupthepoints

Coquitlam home and business owners can pay for their property taxes online this year with a credit card

Property taxes are due July 4

The plastic payment option comes at the request of taxpayers and following recent changes to regulations in the credit card industry

It also comes as other B C municipalities move to a system to allow credit card payments for all municipal programs and services usually with a convenience charge for the local government to offset the processing cost:

• Coquitlam: 2%

• Port Moody: 1 95%

• Anmore: 2 4%

• Burnaby: 1 75%

Coquitlam residents without a credit card or who don’t want to use it can still pay for property taxes and utilities online through internet banking, or in person at the bank/credit union and city hall Visit coquitlam ca/taxpayment

To claim the homeowner grant, go to the Provincial Government HomeOwner Grant Administration website or call 1-888-355-2700

Still, there won’t be a credit card processing levy for residents paying for:

• utilities

• recreation program registrations and services via SignMeUp

• dog licences

• business licences

• bylaw fines and charges

In Coquitlam, utility payments water, sewer and waste collection are due March 31

This year, the water charge for a single-family home is $640 while the sewer fee is $522 For condo and townhouse owners, the rate is $384 for water and $522 for sewer