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MARCH 27, 2012
A ďŹ ve-point outburst from Krys Kolanos helped the Heat rally from a three-goal deďŹ cit and boost their playoff hopes A16
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Van Dongen quits Liberals Long-time Abbotsford MLA joins B.C. Conservative party Staff writers Abbotsford News
Abbotsford South MLA John van Dongen crossed the floor of the provincial legislature on Monday afternoon – walking away from the governing Liberal caucus and announcing he will sit as the only member of the B.C. Conservative party. “I don’t have confidence in the
leader of the party,� van Dongen told The News in a telephone interview, minutes after his 2:30 p.m. announcement. “I had hoped for renewal in the party.� He pointed to the the government’s agreement to pay $6 million in legal bills for former ministerial aides David Basi and Bob Virk, in their corruption case
over the sale of B.C. Rail. “People are concerned about those kind of integrity issues,� said van Dongen. He said the “final straw� for him was the cancellation of the BC Place naming rights deal with Telus. The government has been heavily criticized for leaving $35 million on the table. “There is no logical explanation
why that deal was cancelled,� said van Dongen. “There have been other lapses in proper accountability and I expect more to come,� van Dongen told the legislature. “When more and more decisions are being made for the wrong reasons, then you have an organization that is Continued on A4
A5 Premier among 200 attending retirement roast of local businessman and philanthropist
Dog attacks toddler in park
ECSTASY ‘MIRACLE’ A3 Young man survives after ecstasy use sent him into coma
MELLENCAMP TOUR HERE
Neil CORBETT Abbotsford News
Ashley Patrignani was watching her daughter play with the seemingly friendly dog running loose in the Jackson Elementary playground on King Road Friday evening, when it suddenly turned on the toddler, biting her face. Little Miah fell to the ground and the dog, which looked like a pitbull, grabbed her leg. Ashley beat the dog away, literally punching it in the face. The man with the dog took control of the animal and apologized. He said it was not his dog, that he was only watching it, and then left the scene. It was approximately 7 p.m. Continued on A3
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HOLMBERG HONOURED
A7 Iconic musician brings his Canadian tour to Abbotsford entertainment centre
NEIL CORBETT Abbotsford News
Ashley Patrignani holds her 19-month-old daughter Miah at the Jackson Elementary playground. While there on Friday, the little girl was bitten in the face by what appeared to be a pitbull. Police now want to talk to the dog’s owner.
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