Thursday February 23, 2012 (Vol. 37 No. 16)
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Bard-stormers: The Beach House Theatre is ridingg the crest of a wave in its bid to bring ng Shakespeare to Crescent Beach thiss summer – including a sold-out fundraiser this weekend. see page 46
S U R R E Y
w w w. p e a c e a r c h n e w s . c o m
Limited success as Surrey staff and RCMP attempt to thwart thieves
Copper robbers cost city $2.8 million Kevin Diakiw Black Press
Skyrocketing wire theft in Surrey cost taxpayers $2.8 million last year, a record high year copper theft in the city. The cost of repair is equivalent to the annual taxes on 28 square blocks of homes in Surrey and it has city staff and council scrambling to stop the bleed. The $2.8 million in damages last year more than doubles the $1.2 million the year prior, and eclipses anything before that.
Part of the problem is the growing value of copper, which last year was $3.85 a pound – 85 cents more than the year prior. A chart contained in a corporate report to council Monday shows the amount of theft loosely follows the market price of copper. “Due to the historical high price of copper and extensive network of street lights across the city, full protection of the system is very challenging,” writes engineering manager Vincent Lalonde. The city has implemented myriad strate-
gies to stop wire thieves in their tracks, but so far, many have been fairly unsuccessful. “Since 2006, over 4,000 of the city’s 29,000 street light poles have been fitted with locking or security bolt handle covers at the locations where theft has been prevalent,” Lalonde writes. “This has had limited success.” Surrey staff are now exploring the idea of using aluminum wire instead of copper, making it less attractive to steal. In addition, the city will be stamping the insulation jacket with “Property of the City
of Surrey” to make prosecution easier. RCMP and bylaws are also working on several measures that include public awareness and monitoring metal recyclers. Over the past six years, wire thieves have cost Surrey taxpayers $6.8 million. “The cost to businesses and taxpayers is phenomenal,” said Coun. Barinder Rasode. Rasode noted the city has shut down a number of scrap dealers that bought stolen wire, and said any more that get caught will also be put out of business.
International music
White Rock gets festive Dan Ferguson Staff Reporter
Tom Fletcher photo
Finance Minister Kevin Falcon, MLA for Surrey-Cloverdale, unveils the BC Liberals’ budget at a Tuesday afternoon press conference in Victoria.
Province tightens spending, postpones tax break for small business
Muted response to ‘lacklustre’ budget Dan Ferguson, Tom Fletcher & Kevin Diakiw Black Press
The president of the South Surrey and White Rock Chamber of Commerce says local businesses may not be enthusiastic supporters of the provincial government’s tight-fisted budget, but they do agree with it. Gary Hollick was reacting to the restraint budget unveiled by BC Liberal Finance Minister Kevin Falcon Tuesday afternoon in Victoria. In a bid to balance the provincial budget by 2013, Falcon, MLA for Surrey-Cloverdale, has tightened spending, postponed a previously promised tax break for small business and
warned the government may hike corporate taxes. Falcon also announced health care premiums will rise and announced plans to privatize liquor distribution and sell off so-called surplus land. First-time new-home buyers will be eligible for a tax break of up to $10,000 and seniors can get a tax break of up to $1,000 to renovate their homes. Hollick said most chamber members he spoke with view the budget as “lacklustre”, which is preferable to a more “flamboyant” approach that could cost the province its credit rating. “I think they were very responsible,” Hollick
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VILLAGE LIFE
told Peace Arch News. Chamber executive director Cliff Annable said most local business people are not happy about the decision to keep the 2.5 per cent small business tax the Liberals had promised to eliminate, but they understand the situation the government is in. “Someone’s got to pay the bills … if we want to have our education and health care,” Annable said. The Surrey Board of Trade was more critical, saying the government was irresponsible to take $70 million away from advanced education. Board of Trade CEO Anita Huberman said see page 4
A new summer festival, timed to take place after the Tour de White Rock and before the Spirit of the Sea Festival, was approved by White Rock council this week. Janice Savage, organizer of the July 21-22 “White Rock International Music Festival” on the waterfront, expects it will draw 2,000 people, an estimate at least one council member thought is low. “We could could probably draw that with a day-care kazoo band,” Coun. Larry Robinson Janice Savage said Monday. Savage, owner festival organizer of Beyond Scarlett Arts & Entertainment, told council that the annual festival is intended to complement the Spirit of the Sea, not compete with it. “Hopefully, we’re going to enhance it,” said Savage, the 2010 chairperson of the Spirit festival and music organizer for the event from 2008 to 2010. The White Rock International Music Festival is to run from 1-10 p.m. on the Saturday and 1-9 p.m. on the Sunday, with a range of family-friendly performances on a single stage that include classical, rock, jazz and other acts.
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