OPINION
6 Surrey/North Delta Leader
Thursday, January 24, 2013
Published and printed by Black Press Ltd. at 5450 152 St., Surrey, B.C.
The
Leader
PUBLISHER Jim Mihaly
EDITOR Paula Carlson
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BCYCNA
Ma Murray Awards
2011 winner
2011
Are you pleased with Surrey council’s decision to reject a new casino complex for South Surrey?
S
urrey council made advertise extensively in a well-reasoned Canada, and all are competdecision in reject- ing for the same crowd. ing a casino licence The mayor suggested for a proposed hotel and after the vote that the arguconvention centre on 168 ments of those who oppose Street near 10 Avenue. the casino were persuasive. The decision, made just Asked if they were NIMBYs, after 2 a.m. on Saturday, she said no. She believes the came after an exhaustive location was a key reason public hearing that took up for the opposition. most of council’s time on Watts had supported Monday night (Jan. 14) and rezoning of the property again Friday night. It was several years ago, and said the longest public hearing in Tuesday her understanding decades in Surrey. was a hotel and convention The final vote was 5-4, centre would be built there, with Mayor Dianne Watts even without a casino. That casting the deciding vote. seems highly unlikely now. Also opposed Provincial were Couns. gambling Bruce Hayne, minister Marvin Hunt, Rich ColeJudy Villeneuve man came and Mary Marout swinging tin. after the It is worth decision, noting that all saying B.C. nine members Lottery of Surrey council Corporation were elected as Frank Bucholtz would not part of the Surwork with rey First slate in Surrey on November, 2011, another site. and are generally in agreeHis petulance is surprising, ment on most items. as is his role as campaign This was different, chair for a party which in though. There were two soli- 2001, vowed not to expand tudes of opinion and very gambling. little room for compromise. Of course, the B.C. The casino ignited a Liberals have done the exact high firestorm of opposiopposite. The gambling tion from many nearby scene in 2013 is completely residents, the Semiahmoo different from what it was First Nation, and those who in 2001. The truth is, the oppose expanded gambling. government is addicted On the other side were to gambling revenue, and business groups, which Coleman is upset it won’t want a convention centre get quite as much as he had and entertainment centre hoped. in Surrey, B.C. Lottery The 5-4 split decision Corporation, the provincial at council reflects both government, and Gateway perspectives of the debate. Casinos, the proponent. My prediction is there will A casino with an enterbe another proposal for tainment and conference a casino, entertainment centre could be a good thing and convention centre, for Surrey – but not in that somewhere in North Surlocation. A far better locale rey, within the next three would be Whalley, in the years. Surrey council will midst of being rebranded as approve it, and all the Surrey City Centre. amenities that the business Suggestions that the community has called for casino would, by being will come to pass. located near the border, If it is located in Surrey attract many Americans City Centre, it will be far north seem unrealistic. better for the city than any There are numerous casinos project in a rural area near within an hour’s drive of the border could ever be. the border. Many of them newsroom@langleytimes.com The Surrey/North Delta Leader is a member of the British Columbia Press Council, a self-regulatory body governing the province’s newspaper industry. The council considers complaints from the public about the conduct of member newspapers. Directors oversee the mediation of complaints, with input from both the newspaper and the complaint holder. If talking with the editor or publisher does not resolve your complaint about coverage or story treatment, you may contact the B.C. Press Council. Your written concern, with documentation, should be sent within 45 days to B.C. Press Council, 201 Selby St., Nanaimo, B.C. V9R 2R2. For information, phone 888-687-2213 or go to www.bcpresscouncil.org
LAST WEEK WE ASKED:
Does the Canadian education system need a major overhaul in order to better prepare students for the future? Here’s how you responded: Yes 89% No 11%
FILM INDUSTRY FALLOUT
Race to the bottom, indeed
O
nce upon a time, in my years in B.C.’s Truth is, the public has little sympathy. They see sometimes-thriving, sometimes-strug- film workers as highly paid elite who hobnob with gling film industry, I met some of the the rich and famous at the expense of a family life. most bombastic, headstrong, self-agWhile the latter is true, the former is open to grandizing personalities you’d ever want to share a debate. Sadly, because so many, while pursuing shuttle to set with. their dreams over the years, have justified to family I also met the most creative, resourceful and selfand friends about the extent of their wages being less. Hollywood-sized, they get little sympathy from votAs often as not, they were one and the same. ers and thus politicians. These are the calculating individuals who spend So now they’re angry – think Hulk angry – and their days – and nights – on set, surrounded by they’re starting to get organized… at least, as orgalights, cameras and, every so often, action. nized as creative, headstrong, bombastic, selfless They film – oops, dating myself since I left in ‘07… people can be. – they “digitally record” our TV shows, feature films To be fair to the premier, I think my former coland (boo, hiss) commercials. leagues’ initial reaction missed the mark. They see Long overtime hours, never-ending food and a Clark’s Jobs Plan as a huge investment to protect thirst for making movie magic help inspire them to actual, well… jobs. I see it as a politician campaigntheir careers of choice… makeup artists, FX techniing with millions of our dollars to protect only hers. cians, script supervisors, performers, cinematograAnd I haven’t heard from anybody – not a soul – who privately predicts those efforts will be successful. phers and grips among them. Hmmm. Clark’s “race to the botAnd these are the people – the tom” comment last week, in which she estimated 25,000 locals who create our seemed to be referring to competing on-screen entertainment – who are film industries and governments, might asking for their audience’s help now that soon come back to haunt her. their once-prosperous industry is slipIn fact, I suggest those who were ping away, series by series, blockbuster once gainfully employed in film might by blockbuster. want to try to ingratiate themselves Last week, many noticed the provinwith leading candidates, ensuring a cial government’s just-released 2011 friendly face or two come the May 14 report on employment dismisses their election. industry outright: “Government has taken a close look at the screen-based Lance Peverley As well, they might want to spend a little more time educating both the entertainment industry as a possible public and themselves how tax credits focus for the Jobs Plan, and has not actually work. found a compelling case for any additional emphasis No, these are not the same as subsidies, but nor are on this sector.” they found money. Done right, such incentives are So, in a disorganized fanout, they took to Faceour investment – yours and mine – in an industry book, Twitter and any of the “old media” that would that promotes services, supplies and employment in pay attention. and around the Lower Mainland. Parsing through the rhetoric, what it seems they And, most beneficial to the province as a whole, it’s are asking for is additional tax incentives that make an industry that casts light on our tourism industry B.C. as financially attractive as other filming locato those who have both cash and time to spend. tions. The math is out there. Both sides have yet to calcuWhat they got was flippancy, and their criticisms were repeatedly deleted from Premier Christy Clark’s late it accurately. Lance Peverley is editor of the Peace Arch News, a Facebook page. (No, not form letters, but hundreds sister paper to The Leader. of unique comments from individual workers worried about their future.) editor@peacearchnews.com
room for a view
2011 winner
Location killed casino
quitefrankly
CIRCULATION MANAGER Marilou Pasion
QUESTION OF THE WEEK
SURREY POLITICS