UPFRONT 3
NEWS 5
Chafer grubs return
Pursuit ends in arrest
COMMUNITY 9
Keeping kids screen-free
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WHAT’S THE BEST FESTIVAL IN BURNABY? WEDNESDAY APRIL 29, 2015
LOCAL NEWS – LOCAL MATTERS
There’s more at Burnabynow.com
ANSWER ON B14
Taxes go up by 2.8 per cent By Janaya Fuller-Evans
jfullerevans@burnabynow.ca
DOG DAYS: River the assistance dog is the centre of attention at the open house for Pacific Assistance Dogs recently. An estimated 1,000 people attended for a day of facility tours, dogs demos, a craft sale and quality time with puppies in training to be assistance dogs. PHOTO JENNIFER GAUTHIER
Who’s in charge of safety? NEB chair says it will co-ordinate with city on a plan to deal with a fire at oil facility - but that’s news to mayor By Jennifer Moreau
jmoreau@burnabynow.com
The National Energy Board appears to be stepping into the longstanding fray over who would respond to a major petroleum fire at Kinder Morgan’s Burnaby Mountain tank farm. While on tour in the Lower Mainland, NEB chair Peter Watson told the NOW the board would get involved. “Absolutely we would, because we wouldn’t want anything to occur that would put the public at risk associated with that facility that we regulate,” Watson said. “We will require that the company has an ade-
quate plan to respond to it. As part of that, they would need to understand what the role of the local fire department is and isn’t and how that would unfold.” If a major fire were to break out at the tank farm, the Burnaby fire department has said its role is to help supply water and protect the surrounding community, as their staff are not trained to handle large oil fires. However, Kinder Morgan has indicated staff would phone the fire department for help. Last Friday, Watson said he would follow up and meet with the city administration, including the first responders. “Let’s make sure we’re clear on roles and responsibilities, because I’m absolutely com-
mitted to ensuring that the company’s doing the right thing and everybody knows what their role is going to be,” Watson said. Burnaby mayor Derek Corrigan, who had a private meeting with Watson on Friday, was surprised by the news. “If their idea is that our fire department is going to take responsibility for this, they’re wrong,” Corrigan said. “I’m not prepared to have our firefighters going into that situation, nor am I prepared to have the city putting itself in a position of being in any liability for it. There’s a lot more issues than them telling our fire department what to do.” Corrigan also raised concerns with Watson about Kinder Morgan’s proposal, now under the NEB’s review, to triple the tank farm’s capacity as part of the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion. Continued on page 4
BEST 2015 OF
Residential property tax rates are going up by 2.98 per cent this year. Burnaby council approved the increase at Monday night’s council meeting. The rate is based on taxes on the average residential property, which is worth $704,565, according to Coun. Dan Johnston, who read from the city’s 20152019 financial plan. That would be an increase of $46.77 on such a property, he added. “If you have an assessment set by B.C. Assessment that is below $704,565, you’ll see a reduction in your taxes. If it’s above $704,565, you’ll see an increase,” said Johnston, who chairs the city’s audit and financial management committees. “The report that is before us is pretty conservative – it’s not the highest rate, it’s not the lowest rate,” he said, adding it was “pretty reasonable.” A number of 2015 capital projects were also mentioned in the financial plan, including $17.8 million in major road rehabilitation, Johnston said. Other projects included new streetlights, completion of the Still Creek Works Yard, and work at the Burnaby Lake Sports Complex and Edmonds Park. The 2015 provisional financial budget was presented to council in February, and recommended a 2.98 per cent tax increase. Last year, council approved a 1.97 per cent tax increase, though the city had initially projected a 2.47 per cent hike. Burnaby council also received the 2014 annual financial report at Monday night’s meeting. Burnaby’s annual surplus last year came in at $101 million more than projected in its 2014 budget, but that was due to an accounting change, according to Johnston. The annual surplus wasprojected to be $57 million, according to draft financial statements, but the recorded surplus came in at $158 million.
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