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MORTGAGE BROKERS NETWORK “Trusted For Service ‐ Respected For Results” Harpreet Purewal MORTGAGE SPECIALIST
February 7, 2013 ❖ www.CloverdaleReporter.com ❖ 604-575-2405
A bad case of smart meter regret 604.617.3842
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By Jennifer Lang and Jeff Nagel the May provincial election, if ever, Keller wishes he, too, had said no Cloverdale’s Vern Keller had his when he had the chance. doubts when BC Hydro contractors “I didn’t want one, but I didn’t put installed the new smart meter in his a sign up in front that I didn’t want home 10 months ago, but he didn’t one,” he said. raise a ruckus. Keller called Hydro asking for his He didn’t put up a sign or build a old analog meter back. cage around his old meter, like some “They said that’s not going to hapsmart meter resisters. pen,” he said. “No way. Maybe he should have. There’s nothing I can do.” The local retiree and Keller spoke out after Legion member opened his mail this week to find “We’ll not force any Energy Minister Rich his power bill for the two customer to take a Coleman said last week smart meters won’t be months ending Jan. 20 forced into homes over meter.” was a staggering $684 the next few months. – more than double the He sought to calm - Rich Coleman, $329 he paid for roughly confusion about the govEnergy Minister the same period a year ernment policy, denying ago, during a colder reports the province had winter. reversed itself and will let “I might have used objectors permanently opt out. a little bit more, but not twice the “We’re going back to talk to our amount, come on,” Keller said. customers,” Coleman said. “We’ll not “Double the amount plus $20 for force any customer to take a meter.” the same dates over last year? Gee He predicts most smart meter opwhiz, I’m telling you. I don’t own the ponents will ultimately agree to take power company, I’m just using some.” them after they talk to BC Hydro reps. Now that it appears the controversial wireless smart meters won’t be See RE-EDUCATION / Page 12 forced on the last holdouts until after
JENNIFER LANG PHOTO
Vern Keller’s latest BC Hydro bill is more than double last year’s. He wishes he had said no to a smart meter.
Metro wants port banned from using ALR land By Jeff Nagel Metro Vancouver will ask the federal government to ban the port from encroaching on agricultural land as it seeks to amass more industrial land for port-related expansion. It’s the latest volley to be fired in a running battle between regional politicians and Port Metro Vancouver over preservation of scarce farmland. The resolution approved by Metro’s regional planning committee Feb. 1 calls on federal Transportation Minister Denis Lebel to direct the port, which is drawing up its own land-use plan, not to allow non-agricultural uses on port-controlled properties in the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR). As a federal Crown corporation, it’s widely believed the port could – if push came to shove – supercede both the Agricultural
what you think – that’s dead wrong,” said being leased to farmers. Richmond Coun. Harold Steves. And developers with an eye to the port’s He and other Metro directors long-term needs have options to agree the port should put aside buy large swaths of ALR land in those powers and agree to abide by Delta and on Barnston Island, betthe decisions of the ALC. ting it can be profitably industrial“That way, if they wanted to get ized. land out of the Agricultural Land The mere possibility sends ALR Reserve, they’d have to go through land soaring in price and adds to the same process as everybody the expectation it will be used for else,” Steves said. purposes other than agriculture. Deltaport’s proposed Terminal Steves said while the federal gov2 includes a planned four-fold exernment has legal authority to overHarold Steves pansion of container shipping caride the province or local governpacity that’s expected to put intense ments, it’s not clear whether those pressure on for additional land for container powers flow to a Crown corporation with an handling and warehousing. appointed, unelected board. The port has already bought up some See ISSUE / Page 3 farmland in east Richmond, although it’s still
FILE PHOTO
Could the port supercede future farmland plans?
Land Commission and Metro’s regional plan and develop farmland it has already acquired or other ALR land it may eventually buy. “To go around with a heavy stick and say we can overrule all of you and we don’t care
MacMILLAN TUCKER MACKAY
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