THE FRIDAY
MAY 25, 2012
CANADIAN COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER AWARD 2012
TRI-CITY NEWS Oh, those bike lanes
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Many questions but few choices with RCMP deal By Janis Warren THE TRI-CITY NEWS
WATCH YOUR SPEED
“There’s a range of concerns out there... We need to know what we’re signing up for.” Coq. Coun. Selina Robinson j u ris d ict io n s, t o o, ” Robinson said. “And the more they spoke, the more I realized there’s so much more that needs to be clarified before we go ahead with this. “T here are many questions that need answers and we need to know what we’re signing up for,” she said. Specifically, Robinson pointed to the costs for the RCMP’s new E-Division headquarters in Surrey and the five-year budget, which
calls for pay hikes totalling an extra 5.25% over three years. As well, she said talks about a possible regional police force should be considered prior to the 20-year RCMP agreement is inked. Robinson compared the contract process to Metro Vancouver’s Re gional Growth S t r a t e g y, w h i c h Coquitlam was the last to sign following an arbitration hearing. see HODGE HODGE,, page 12
DIANE STRANDBERG/THE TRI-CITY NEWS
A Coquitlam city councillor who asked council to defer its decision before signing the new RCMP contract says she’s still unclear about details of the deal. Earlier this month, Coun. Selina Robinson asked council to not sign on the dotted line until she and other elected officials attending the Lower Mainland L o c a l G o ve r n m e n t Association (LMLGA) conference in Whistler had discussed the topic with politicians in neighbouring communities that also use the Mounties. “What I found out at the conference was there’s a range of concerns out there in other
IN QUOTES
JANIS WARREN/THE TRI-CITY NEWS
Const. Cindy Yoc spots speeders on the Mary Hill Bypass Thursday morning during a joint blitz by Coquitlam RCMP and ICBC aimed at high-risk drivers. The three-strikes campaign involved motorists being reminded about the 60 km/h speed limit via a reader board at the Pitt River bridge, followed by a warning sign from Speed Watch volunteers at Kingsway Avenue before the police action at Broadway Street. Coquitlam RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Jamie Chung said the bypass sees, on average, one serious motor vehicle incident a month, a relatively high number. On Thursday, a driver was caught motoring along the stretch at 118 km/h, Chung said. The campaign also targeted driving behaviours such as failing to yield, following too closely, improper passing and ignoring street lights.
Plywood boards covering windows this summer at Sir Frederick Banting middle school will have a friendly and colourful look. See article, page 14