Maple Ridge News, April 09, 2014

Page 1

B.C. Views Digital wave is just beginning. p6

Tough competition from fitness clubs. p3

THE NEWS

Arts&life Rogers a fast friend with his guitar. p14

www.mapleridgenews.com Wednesday, April 9, 2014 · Serving Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows · est. 1978 · 604-467-1122 · Delivery: 604-466-6397

Changes could close local plastics process plant Frozen out by MMBC, firm prepares to lay off 30 by Je f f Nage l Black Press

A Metro Vancouver plastic processing company says it’s being forced out of business by the provincial government’s transfer of control of curbside recycling to Multi Material BC. Fraser Plastics expects to lay off 30 employees and shut down its Maple Ridge plant, which converts recyclable plastic into pellets for sale to other firms that make products like lawn furniture and plastic lumber. Spokesperson Rupe Gill said her family’s firm has lost access to plastic that will be collected under the new system, because stewardship agency MMBC in February awarded a fiveyear contract to process recyclables to Green By Nature.

High fives Members of the Pirates – a team of local children with physical and mental challenges – do a final cheer before shaking hands with their opponents during the annual Sunshine Foundation Dreams For Kids charity baseball game at Albion Sports Complex on Sunday. The game marked the opening day of minor baseball in Maple Ridge. Colleen Flanagan/THE NEWS

See Recycling, p10

Education ministry wants more Asks districts to cover half of capital projects by Ne i l Co r b e t t staff reporter

Sports: MRSS wrestler Payten Smith wins two national titles. See story, p17

As the local school district is discussing yet another multi-milliondollar budget shortfall, the education ministry wants it and others in B.C. to help pay for half of capital projects. New schools and other construction have traditionally been funded 100 per cent by Victoria.

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Education Minister Peter Fassbender said this week that he would like to see school districts pitch in to help the province fund capital projects, such as seismic upgrading, if they have extra cash. In the Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows school district, there is little left for the province to take. A shortage of funds is the main topic of local education, as trustees once again grapple with a budget that will have a shortfall in excess of $5 million. On Wednesday night, the 20142015 preliminary budget is on the agenda, and staff will begin a

discussion of where cuts can be made. There is also a facilities review as part of the agenda. As boards such as the local one plead poor, Fassbender clari- Clarkson fied that there are some in B.C. carrying a surplus: Vancouver has $23 million, Surrey $20 million and Victoria $17 million.

Index Opinion Letters Seniority Health Arts&life Sports Classifieds

6 7 12 13 14 17 19

In Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows, the district used most of its reserves last year to cover funding shortfalls in its operating expenses, and there is less than $2 million left. “We don’t have any reserves anymore, so there’s nothing to claw back,” said trustee Ken Clarkson. “We’ve reduced our’s every year, to cover the budget deficit.” He noted that when the province negotiated a salary increase with CUPE, but failed to provide boards with additional funding, it was contingency funds that made up the difference. See Funding, p3

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