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Wednesday, December 15, 2010
About Us THE NOW is published by the Coquitlam Now, a division of Postmedia Network Inc. Our offices are located at 201A-3430 Brighton Avenue, Burnaby, British Columbia, V5A 3H4
2009 WINNER
Publisher Brad Alden Editor Leneen Robb
The NOW COQUITLAM, PORT COQUITLAM, PORT MOODY, ANMORE AND BELCARRA
Opinion
Thanks to store staff, customers A heartfelt thank you goes out to the staff of Cooper’s Foods on Port Coquitlam’s north side for their help in the late afternoon of Nov. 16, as I suffered an allergic attack. I came in contact with wood smoke on my way from the car to the store and, while in the store, second-hand smoke from someone’s cigarette was drifting into the premises every time the door To The opened. This much exposure to these toxic chemicals was too much for my system to handle, and I suffered a seizure while at the checkout counter. The cashier was most helpful, and so were other staff members. Also, customers waiting in line were
very kind to us, as their checkout was delayed. People’s kindness and concerns were very much appreciated, and we would like for everyone to know that I am alright again. It is just that I have become hypersensitive to wood smoke and its chemical compounds. These do not differ much from second-hand tobacco smoke, and coming Editor in contact with both of them simultaneously caused such a severe reaction. Again, my husband and I would like to express our sincere gratitude for the help received. Brie Oishi Port Coquitlam
Letters
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Our View
Don’t be a victim this holiday season
T
he busiest retail season of the year is upon us and that means those looking to scam, steal and defraud are licking their chops. Police have a list of extra precautions you should take when shopping in person or online, advice that is prudent and timely. No one thinks they are going to be the victim of a scam until it happens. For those shopping in person, here are some tips to avoid becoming a victim: • When paying with a credit or debit card, never lose sight of your card and whenever possible, swipe your card yourself. • Never leave receipts at bank machines, bank wickets, in trash cans or at unattended gasoline pumps. • Do not keep a written record of your bank PIN number(s) or your social insurance number in your wallet or hand bag. If you’re shopping online, here are three ways to reduce the risk: • Shop only from your home computer rather than a public one. • Verify secure connections. When shopping online, do not enter any financial information if you see a broken-key or open padlock symbol on your Internet browser. • Do not send confidential, personal or financial information by e-mail. This holiday season, be a Scrooge with your personal information. But if you feel you’ve been victimized by a scam, report it to police immediately. While we’re on the subject of holiday giftbuying, don’t forget to set aside some money — if you’re able to — for those who not only can’t afford gifts, but can’t afford basics like food for Christmas dinner. SHARE’s food bank is a worthy cause, and there are many others that could benefit from just a little bit of generosity.
Perspective
Will Liberals and NDP keep it together? T Falcon — is strongly identified on the conservative he two coalition parties that have run this side of the spectrum. The rest are aligned on the libprovince for more than 50 years are at a politeral side, most notably Christy Clark, who has strong ical crossroads. ties to the federal Liberal party. Both the Liberals and the New Democratic Party Both Falcon and Clark are considered the frontface serious challenges when it comes to holding runners, yet both have the most potential of being themselves together in order to have a real shot at a divisive force. They are both aggressive, brash either keeping power or gaining it. politicians who can turn people off as easily as they The two parties are now in the process of changing leaders, a situation that can create both positive attract them. It’s hard to imagine the party’s right-wing eleand negative scenarios for political parties. It can be ments working under a Clark leadership with any a chance for renewal, but also a threat to walk down great enthusiasm. It’s almost equally a path of internal destruction. difficult to imagine the true liberals It must be remembered that both embracing a Falcon victory. parties represent a coalition of interNevertheless, the free enterprise ests. The Liberals inherited the Social coalition’s historic ability to rally around Credit party’s “free enterprise” coalia leader who can deliver power cannot tion, in which conservatives and liberals be discounted. However, were Falcon or put their differences aside to achieve a Clark to become the next premier, the mutual goal: obtaining, and keeping, party would be facing internal strains political power. View From not felt since the dying days of the old The NDP is a looser coalition that Socred regime (I’m discounting Gordon combines elements of classic trade The Ledge Wilson’s few years in power since the unionism, social activism and socialKeith Baldrey party never really became the free enterism. The party has long been known for prise coalition until Gordon Campbell took over). infighting (see: Kwan vs. James) yet has been able to On the NDP side, emotions will likely remain raw maintain its status as the number two party in the for some time and it’s hard to see the rift that now province, always close to gaining power but rarely exists healing anytime soon. Throw in the simmerachieving that goal. ing tensions between those who want to push the The extraordinary events of the past few weeks party further to the left and those wanting it to be (where, in unprecedented fashion, both parties took more appealing to mainstream, middle-of-the-road down their leaders at roughly the same time) sugvoters, and it can be a toxic mess. gest the leadership races themselves may have a bigAs well, various factions have been fighting over ger impact on the parties than during a normal state control of the party for decades and it will likely conof affairs. tinue. (I note, for example, that NDP mainstay Bob Let’s examine the Liberals first. Williams, who was active behind the scenes in getOf the leadership candidates, only one — Kevin
ting rid of James, has already declared that the next leader cannot come from Vancouver Island. Potential candidate John Horgan, who is from the Island, is therefore already facing a tough enemy.) Mike Farnworth is the supposed front-runner (should he run) but he may be the most centrist of any candidate. This raises an interesting scenario: will the left-wing of the party — which drove James from office — mount an attack on Farnworth, arguably the most popular NDP politician with the voting public? And that brings us to the key question facing both parties: will their members put ideological differences aside in order to pick a new leader who has the best chance of winning an election? History shows the centre-right side of the political spectrum has been able to do that most often. It is the NDP that more often than not puts self-interests ahead of winning elections. I wrote in this space a few weeks back that the time is ripe for some MLAs to become Independents or join together to create a new political party. The challenge for the two established coalitions is to keep that from happening. If the leadership races create a lot of infighting, it may be like a dam breaking, with MLAs suddenly leaving the parties that got them elected. The political events of the past six weeks have been crazy and unprecedented. But these extraordinary times are by no means over just yet.
Keith Baldrey is chief political reporter for Global B.C.