Laughing with Lorne Elliott
Arenacross series stops in the Agridome
page 46
page 37
Thursday October 25, 2012
Serving Surrey and North Delta
Bus drivers told of opening date
New Port Mann Bridge to open Dec. 3, says union
Icy hit Vancouver Giants defenceman Connor Pasco crashes into forward Mitch Newsome of the Valley West Hawks during a BC Hockey Major Midget League game at the Surrey Sports and Leisure Centre Sunday. The two teams tied 3-3 Saturday in Burnaby, but Vancouver won the rematch 3-2 on Sunday. For more, see page 40.
by Jeff Nagel THE NEW Port Mann Bridge may
officially open with eight lanes on Dec. 3, although transportation ministry officials won’t confirm the date circulated by the bus drivers’ union. Canadian Auto Workers local 111 president Don MacLeod said the union was notified drivers will be required to run the new Highway 1 Rapid Bus service, which is promised to be in place on opening day of the new bridge. “My understanding is the first Monday in December,” he said. A ministry spokesman said the bridge official opening date will be announced in the coming Don MacLeod weeks, giving drivers enough notice of the traffic pattern change and the date tolling will start. There have been no difficulties with construction and work remains on schedule for an eight-lane opening sometime in December as planned, the spokesman said. The remaining two of 10 lanes would open about a year later because of subsequent work to dismantle the old bridge and its See BRIDGE / Page 5
BOAZ JOSEPH / THE LEADER
Surrey set to ramp up taxes Planned budget calls for increase of $100, $250 if your home has a suite by Kevin Diakiw TAX BILLS IN SURREY will be going up almost $100 next year, or
nearly $250 if the home has a secondary suite, according to City of Surrey financial staff plans. Council won’t be considering the increases until December, but city staff and Coun. Tom Gill, also an accountant who chairs the city’s finance committee, are already hammering out the details. Surrey is planning its usual 2.9 per cent increase ($40.20 on the average home worth $615,000), another one per cent road levy ($13.86), along with a $22 increase in the drainage fee, a $5.90 bump in water charges, and a $16.40 jump in sewer fees. Surrey is not considering an increase in garbage fees this year.
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If the home has a secondary suite, however, the homeowner will be paying another $148 annually, bringing the secondary suite service fee to $395 – an increase of 37.5 per cent. That will bring the total tax bill for the average Surrey home to $2,620, or $2,768 for homes with a suite. In addition to that, homes with secondary suites that are not on water meters will be paying $844 for utilities such as sewer ($439), water ($264) and garbage pickup ($141). Gill said city hall has heard loud and clear from residents that they want owners of homes with suites to pay their fair share. “In terms of the significant secondary suite fee increase, the objective is to fairly and equitably support amenity infrastructure
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