Friday
August 31, 2018 (Vol. 43 No. 70)
V O I C E
O F
W H I T E
R O C K
A N D
S O U T H
S U R R E Y
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Water work: Utilities manager Saad Jasim – one of the experts who helped resolve the tragic contaminated water situation in Walkerton – discusses White Rock’s new treatment plant. › see page A11
Advocacy doesn’t end, says petitioner, as Supreme Court decision rejects argument of ‘duty of care’
High court rejects vet-pension appeal Alex Browne & Tracy Holmes Staff reporters
The Supreme Court of Canada has rejected the White Rock-based Equitas Society’s bid to pursue an appeal for its class-action lawsuit on behalf of disabled Canadian armed forces veterans. In a judgment issued early Thursday morning, the court said it would not hear the appeal of six veterans suing the Government of Cana-
da – on behalf of thousands of others – for a reinstatement of full lifetime disability pensions. “It’s not much to read, it simply says dismissed,” Equitas president Marc Burchell told Peace Arch News shortly after the judgment’s release. The decision effectively quashes Equitas’s argument that Canada owes a “duty of care” to all veterans disabled in the service of the country.
Burchell, however, said it hasn’t quashed Equitas’s efforts. “It’s the end of the road for the court case, but of course, we’ve had a Plan A and a Plan B and a Plan C,” he said. Burchell described the federal Conservatives’ recent passing of a policy resolution “recognizing a military covenant between the people of Canada and its military” as “a very big step.” He also pointed to the society’s creation of
a Canadian Walk for Veterans as a positive. It “was intended to unite the entire veteran community in Canada and bring them together to speak with one voice, and bring regular Canadian citizens in on the conversation,” Burchell said. “So even though the court case is over, our advocacy doesn’t end. Matter of fact, it simply intensifies now.” Continued on A8
Nest replaces one cut down
Eagle eyes at new preserve Aaron Hinks Staff reporter
Biologist David Hancock and his assistant Ken Cillis exchanged friendly banter this week as they tried to figure out how to secure a camera above an eagle nest frame in South Surrey. Together, the friends have been building frames for eagle nests for more than a decade, but every tree comes with its unique challenges. Hancock explained to Peace Arch News Tuesday at Surrey’s first eagle preserve, located near 0 Avenue and 172 Street, that placing a camera above the nest – particularly with this specific tree – is one of the most difficult parts of the job. Hancock live-streams video from eagle nests he’s built on the Hancock Wildlife Foundation website. Currently, live-stream videos are available for nests in Delta, White Rock, Lafarge and Harrison Mills. The South Surrey nest framework was made possible
Aaron Hinks photo
Personnel with Hancock Wildlife Foundation and Arbour Pro Tree Services spent much of Tuesday building a nest framework in South Surrey at the city’s first eagle preserve. through an agreement with developer Dawson & Sawyer and the province. Dawson & Sawyer set aside a half-acre parcel of land for the preserve after cutting down
an eagle tree in the area Aug. 16 – with permit from the province – to make way for a 93-townhome project titled “The Eagles.” Tuesday, members from
Hancock’s foundation worked with Arbour Pro Tree Services – the arbourists hired by Dawson & Sawyer – to build the nest framework, which is made using
twigs and branches. While two workers were suspended 100-feet in the tree, Hancock and Cillis constructed a Continued on A4
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