Friday October 23, 2015 (Vol. 40 No. 85)
V O I C E
O F
W H I T E
R O C K
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S O U T H
Life interrupted: Professionals Jahangir and d Javaria Bokhari say the immigration ion process did not prepare them em for the employment struggle gle they’d face in Surrey. i see page 111
S U R R E Y
w w w. p e a c e a r c h n e w s . c o m
$700,000 estimated to study relocating waterfront railway inland
Moving tracks ‘does little for Surrey’ Kevin Diakiw Black Press
A technical study on whether it’s feasible to move the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway train tracks inland from the White Rock and Surrey waterfront will cost about $700,000. And it’s a move that will largely benefit White Rock and do little for Surrey residents, according to Mayor Linda Hepner. “The real winners would be the City of White Rock,” Hepner told Peace Arch News’ sister paper, the Surrey Leader, Wednesday. “They don’t have to look at ‘what are the implications of that move and what does it
mean for others?’” sharing with the province and White Rock That said, she notes relocation is worth a before finding a firm to conduct the study. closer look. White Rock Mayor ❝The real winners would “It’s a big deciWayne Baldwin – sion and worthy be the City of White Rock. who along with his of analysis,” she They don’t have to look at council named rail said. “We are ‘what are the implications relocation as one of probably not the the city’s strategic of that move and what does priorities last fall – only city in the it mean for others?'❞ country looking said in September at… vulnerabilithat his city was Surrey Mayor Linda Hepner ties and what the waiting for Surrey options are.” to commit to a joint Surrey council voted Tuesday evening to application to the Canadian Transportation have staff examine the possibility of cost- Authority on the matter. Noting that “three-
quarters of the rail frontage is in Surrey,” Baldwin said it makes more sense that the cities band together on the issue. “If there’s going to be an accident, it’s going to happen in Surrey, so they have a vested interest in this,” he said, a sentiment he reiterated at his Oct. 7 state-of-the-city address to the South Surrey & White Rock Chamber of Commerce. Earlier this month, Hepner told PAN that she agreed the two cities “need to have a united front on this issue” and that there are some “Surrey-specific issues” that need to be examined first. i see page 4
White Rock planning
MP-elect looks ahead
City growth on agenda
Watts focuses on safety
Melissa Smalley Staff Reporter
White Rock council will have the chance to explore what the lower Regional Growth Strategy population projections mean for future development in the city, with a staff report expected in the weeks ahead. City staff and council were surprised to learn last month that Metro Vancouver had cut White Rock’s projected population growth – subject of a much-debated letter to Peace Arch News from Mayor Wayne Baldwin in August – to 3,500 from 7,000 by 2040. While Metro officials described the change as a “minor housekeeping amendment,” the city’s director of planning said it “has potential to have a big impact” on the city. “It will certainly make our OCP (official community plan) review easier and more in line with the community expectations that we’re hearing,” Karen Cooper told council Sept. 14, following a presentation by Metro Vancouver. Cooper pointed to a July report in which she wrote that the high projection figure would likely not be accommodated in the town centre area alone, however, she noted the new figure “certainly can be accommodated in the town centre.” i see page 4
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Alex Browne Staff Reporter
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An elated South Surrey-White Rock MP-elect Dianne Watts, as the final votes were counted Monday night.
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MP-elect Dianne Watts says she wants to take a proactive rather than reactive approach to dealing with issues of importance in the South Surrey-White Rock riding. And that includes two of her key issues – rail and public safety. “When issues arise in the community it’s important to make sure that you are proactive, to make sure the community is being heard and that you are taking the issues seriously,” she told Peace Arch News Wednesday. The former Surrey mayor, one of five Conservatives elected in Metro Vancouver in Monday night’s Liberal majority, said she doesn’t feel that being an opposition MP necessarily has to be a hindrance in representing the riding in Ottawa. “I think there are many things I can do for the community although, without a doubt, it’s easier to do some things when you are a member of the party in government,” she said. i see page 5
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