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Teachers’ vote puts high Possible fines for school sports up in the air
improper asbestos disposal
Bill 22 protest could mean cancellation of badminton, golf, mountain biking, rugby, girls soccer, tennis and track and field GARY AHUJA
TYLER ORTON
The fate of the spring seasons for various B.C. high school sports should be determined within the week. “The championships start at the end of May, so that gives us five weeks,” said Sue Keenan, the executive director of B.C. School Sports, the governing body responsible for the delivery of high school sports in the province. “We really want to do everything we can to ensure that the championships go ahead. “If at the end of the day, we don’t have the resources or we don’t have enough people to stage and event, then the commission will make a determination on a sport-by-sport basis on whether they will be able to provide a viable championship or not.” The organization held a meeting on Friday to discuss the results of the teachers’ vote earlier in the week in response to Bill 22, the Education Improvement Act. Seventy-three per cent of the province’s teachers voted in favour of withdrawing their participation in all extracurricular activities, including sports, graduation ceremonies and end-of-year celebrations. A total of 21,625 teachers voted ‘yes’ compared to 7,846 ‘no’ votes. “This vote sends a powerful message to government that they must re-think Bill 22, listen to the concern of teachers, respect our rights and invest in services to students,” said B.C. Teachers Federation president Susan Lambert in a press release. She said the vote was an emotional one for teachers because the decision to withdraw from extracurricular activities was a wrenching choice. “Teachers struggle with this because
BCSS relies on the efforts of 15,000 volunteer coaches to run 18 sports, which conclude with 45 provincial championships. Of the 15,000 coaches, 58 per cent are teachers, but that number includes 15 per cent who represent private/independent schools. Teams will need either parents, community volunteers or school administrators to fill the coaching void if the seasons are to continue.
The B.C. Ministry of Environment is investigating a local business for improper disposal of hazardous material, after bags of asbestos were found scattered across the company’s property last month. Suntanu Dalal, spokesman for the Ministry of Environment, confirmed conservation officers received a complaint March 28 regarding the storage of hazardous waste on property used by Red Demo Ltd.’s Langley branch. “As there is an investigation underway, we cannot comment any further,” Dalal said via email. Red Demo operations manager Bob Caya said he’s likely facing a fine from the government once the investigation is complete. “I’m not really supposed to have it (asbestos) on the property,” he said.“I got my wrist slapped, basically, from the ministry.” Caya said Red Demo’s offices have been operating from a residence located at 20106 27 Ave. for two and one-half years, but the asbestos only began piling up in the yard a few months ago. He said he’s already hired someone to remove it from the property, but in the meantime the hazardous material does not pose a health risk since it’s been properly wrapped in two disposal bags. “(The Ministry of Environment is) very confusing about the rules and regulations,” Caya said, adding the government originally told him he could transport 1,000 kilograms of asbestos for any given job. He said the ministry later informed him only homeowners — not contractors like himself — are permitted to transport that much asbestos to a dump for disposal. Dalal confirmed homeowners are permitted to transport hazardous waste from their own property to authorized waste management facilities, but contractors must obtain a hazardous waste transport licence. Caya said he’ll likely revise the contracts with his clients in order to comply with government regulations.
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D.W. Poppy’s James Rourke (centre) flips over Brookswood Bobcats’ Sam Glendinning, while the Bobcats’ James Wirth hangs on to the ball during senior boys rugby at Brookswood Secondary. these activities bring so much joy to our engagement with students,” Lambert said. “We know this will mean the loss of some highly-valuable activities, and we sincerely regret that. “But we have to look at the bigger picture and the longer term.” At this point, BCSS is proceeding with the planned spring season for the 35,000 students involved in badminton, golf, mountain biking, rugby, girls soccer, tennis and track and field.
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