Friday, October 8, 2010 Spencer Levan received the Paul Harris Award on Tuesday.
Page 19
ary Annivers 1985-2010
• YOUR SOURCE FOR LOCAL SPORTS, NEWS, WEATHER AND ENTERTAINMENT! • mrtimes.com • 604-463-2281 • 32 PAGES
SPORTS ❚ Hero’s Welcome
Stirling Hart signed the six-foot high Hometown Hero poster on display at the Meadow Ridge Rotary’s 20th annual Sports Banquet on Tuesday evening. He is following in his father, Gary Hart’s, footsteps as a world champion pole climber. Gary Hart was honoured as a Hometown Hero in 2002. See the Hometown Hero profiles on Page 3. Maria Rantanen/TIMES
Transit
Mayors balk at property tax proposal by Jeremy Shepherd editorial@mrtimes.com
Mayors Ernie Daykin and Don MacLean said they would not support an increase in property taxes to pay for the Evergreen Line, despite pressure to approve $400 million in funding by the end of the year. Maple Ridge Mayor Daykin said TransLink officials suggested an annual property tax increase of approximately $31 for the average homeowner in a meeting yesterday. “One of the big factors to the Lower Mainland becoming a sustainable region is affordable housing,” he said, adding that many people are forced to move to find affordable housing. “Adding it to property taxes just seems like
the easy way out,” he said. Pitt Meadows Mayor MacLean, who did not attend the meeting, agreed. “Any more additional property tax... is off the table,” he said. MacLean said there was no direct connection between property ownership and a transportation project, and other mayors were in agreement about not raising property taxes. “I don’t see how B.C. Hydro relates, I don’t see how property taxes relate [to the Evergreen Line],” he said. “The [provincial] government has got to pony up,” he said. “They were the ones who came and said it will be built.” The Evergreen Line is a SkyTrain that would connect Coquitlam, Port Moody, and
Burnaby to Vancouver. Construction on the $1.4 billion project is scheduled to begin early next year, whether all funding is in place or not. The province has committed $410 million and the federal government has committed $417 million for the Evergreen Line. TransLink is committed to paying $400 million, but has not yet produced the money. Metro Vancouver mayors are scheduled to vote on a plan to fund the Evergreen Line before 2011. “We’ve got to approve a supplemental plan by the end of the year,” Daykin said. “We are under the gun.” Daykin gave the provincial government credit for opening the discussions, but said
it would be helpful to have a better working relationship. In an ideal situation, Daykin said mayors and the provincial government would be “working together instead of being at odds with each other.” Daykin said he would consider supporting a vehicle levy, but would not support raising transit fares. MacLean said he would consider supporting a gas tax, but any increase would have to relate to transportation. The Mayors’ Council on Regional Transportation and the Province signed a memorandum of understanding two weeks ago, agreeing to work cooperatively to find sustainable, long-term funding strategies for TransLink.
Don’t miss important information from the Arts Council on Page 8
WE’RE CLOSER THAN
Online, all the time...
Your BEST Mortgage is One Call Away
YOU THINK!
604-466-1976 Donna Telep
Right here at home!
www.mrtimes.com
www.sevillemortgage.ca 22718 Lougheed Hwy. Maple Ridge Fax: 604-466-5348 • Email: donna@sevillemortgage.ca