Thursday June 13, 2013 (Vol. 38 No.48)
V O I C E
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W H I T E
R O C K
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S O U T H
S U R R E Y
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In his footsteps: Eric Dorchester aims to dispel misconceptions about amputees by sharing his story about his three-year battle with osteogenic sarcoma – the same cancer B.C. hero Terry Fox had. The South Surrey resident will be on hand at the Relay for Life this Friday, cheering on participants. › see page 11
Expropriation considered as city announces plan to purchase utility
White Rock to take over water supply Tracy Holmes Staff Reporter
The City of White Rock will enter into negotiations to take over its water utility, the mayor announced Monday evening. Following a lengthy closed meeting, Wayne Baldwin confirmed council had voted unanimously to provide notice to Edmontonbased Epcor of the city’s intention to assume ownership of its water utility, and to autho-
rize staff to commence negotiations with Epcor for the purchase. The news garnered applause and calls of “congratulations” and “thank you” from council attendees. Baldwin described the decision as “a first step.” It followed review of a business case for the move that was prepared by staff at the request of council. That request came in the midst of water-supplier Epcor’s application
to B.C.’s deputy comptroller of water rights for approval to carry out $11-12 million in upgrades to the city’s water system. Epcor’s Total Water Quality Management project also aims to abide by a Fraser Health order to chlorinate the system by 2016. As an intervenor in the application, White Rock had asked for a postponement of the regulator’s decision until after the business case was complete. The city has to submit its
case for taking over by June 17. Baldwin said taking over the water utility is a “bold” move that will require the city to take on “big debt.” “We’ve gone through the financials. We believe it’s in the best interest of taxpayers,” he told Peace Arch News after the meeting. He emphasized the decision was strictly financial. › see page 5
37,000 requests denied
Coal plan faces delay
Health officer wields power
HandyDart riders feel left behind Tracy Holmes Staff Reporter
White Rock residents who rely on HandyDart service say it’s become so difficult to book return trips that they’re having to cancel medical appointments and other plans. The problem has grown in the three years since TransLink contracted out the service, they say – a move they were assured at the time would result in improvements. “They said, ‘we’re going to give you better service,’” recalled Anna Hayes, 90. But when Hayes tried last week to book a ride for herself, Catherin Butcher and Viola Perkins to a June 12 ladies auxiliary meeting at the Crescent Legion, she was left wondering how the trio would get home. “They say they can get you there, they can’t get you back,” Hayes said. “I never had any trouble before… (and was) never refused a ride.” It is a similar story for 66-yearold Allan Watson. Watson, a quadriplegic since he was injured in a cycling accident in December 1998, had to bow out of a June 4 doctor’s appointment after he was unable to book a return trip to the medical office – despite calling HandyDart a week in advance. His appointment was not for a trivial matter. He needed to get
Jeff Nagel Black Press
Tracy Holmes photo
Allan Watson could book a HandyDart ride to his doctor’s appointment, but he had no way to return home. to the root of recent unexplained drops in his blood pressure. Multiple calls to check for cancellations in the days leading up to the appointment were fruitless, with the end result being that Watson’s wife, Rhonda – a Peace Arch News circulation staffer – met with the doctor instead, to glean what advice she could for the problem before he left on a month’s holiday. “HandyDart used to be a lot more convenient. Since the present operating company took over, it’s deteriorated,” Allan Watson said. “I know there are a lot of people having trouble with it. There have
been occasions when I haven’t… seen a doctor simply because it’s so difficult to get there.” Zdenka Buric – a spokesperson for MVT Canadian Bus, which is on contract with TransLink – said she could not get into specific details of individual clients, but confirmed that 37,000 ride requests were denied last year. The number is out of approximately 1.22 million trips (598,000 service hours) that the TransLink contract provides for, she said. “We work really hard to accommodate requests and deliver good service to all of our customers,”
she said. “It comes back to the number of hours that we can deliver based on our arrangement with TransLink.” TransLink has not returned PAN’s queries, other than to refer HandyDart questions to Buric. A pilot program is in place to supplement the service with taxis, however Buric acknowledged taxi service “is really not appropriate” for all clients. Watson said he knows of only two taxis in the White Rock/South Surrey area that can accommodate his “sip-and-puff ” wheelchair. › see page 5
Fraser Health’s chief medical health officer says he could use his legal powers to force a proposed new coal terminal at Fraser Surrey Docks to keep its promises to protect residents from coal dust. Dr. Paul Van Buynder wants Port Metro Vancouver – which could soon approve the new terminal – to first agree to a full health-impact assessment he says may delay construction by six to 12 months. “I can’t stop the approval,” Van Buynder said in an interview. “But if I demonstrate that there is a health risk, then I have powers under the Public Health Act to force them to mitigate that.” He’s used the legislation twice in the last year to force a Port Coquitlam herbal-remedy maker to retract misleading advertising and to impose water chlorination in Chilliwack. In the case of the Surrey coal terminal, he says a permit approval should require ongoing testing near homes and schools for coal dust and other particulate. › see page 4
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