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Your source for local news, sports, opinion and entertainment: www.thenownews.com
Candidates play hardball over fitness tax break
Gridlock grates on Coquitlam drivers John Kurucz
Jennifer McFee
jkurucz@thenownews.com
jmcfee@thenownews.com
A change in traffic patterns on United Boulevard resulted in widespread traffic gridlock Monday, causing motorists and officials with the City of Coquitlam to demand answers. At issue is the intersection of United Boulevard and Mary Hill Bypass, where westbound motorists would typically follow the bypass straight across United Boulevard onto Highway 1. That traffic flow changed Monday, as a new off-ramp and intersection to the north was created much to the chagrin of at least one motorist. “Normally it takes me 12 minutes to get home — it took me 45 minutes to get to the Lougheed Highway and an hour to get home on Monday night,” said David Smith, who works on Fawcett Road and lives just across the Port Mann Bridge in Surrey. “It’s insane.” The issue was raised at the end of Monday night’s Coquitlam council meeting, as staff briefed council members on the “very serious and significant congestion” and how it could potentially affect emergency responders. “We will be treating this with a high sense of urgency,” said Bill Susak, the city’s manager of engineering and public works. “Even though the project is not under our control, it has very significant impact to our systems and also to our businesses.” “The traffic situation on United Boulevard is not very good,” Mayor Richard Stewart added. “It’s disastrous, as several councillors have pointed out.”
Game on. The Conservative party is trying to score votes with proposed fitness tax credits, but political opponents think it’s off target. Leader Stephen Harper announced this week that a reelected Conservative government would introduce a $500 fitness tax credit for adults once the budget is balanced. The plan also includes doubling the current children’s fitness tax credit to $1,000 from $500 within the next term, if reelected. James Moore, the Conservative’s incumbent candidate for Port Moody-WestwoodPort Coquitlam, said the children’s fitness tax credit stemmed from an idea of a local resident in 2007. “It’s originally actually a TriCities idea that found its way into the federal budget and now we’re looking to massively increase it,” Moore said. “You’ll find a lot of people are taking full advantage of it, especially out here in British Columbia and in the Tri-Cities. The Tri-Cities is home to a lot of young families.” However, the NDP’s incumbent candidate for New Westminster-
CONT. ON PAGE 4, see DRIVERS.
ON THURSDAY APRIL 14TH
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A GREATER NEED: Coquitlam resident Mike Rasmussen has been doing charitable work in El Salvador. He says his efforts involve staying true to a deal he made with himself when his son was diagnosed with cancer. See story, Page 3.
Coquitlam, Fin Donnelly, said the tax credit would exclude families that can’t afford fitness activities. “I realize the value that sports can have on families and young people and the benefit of a good work ethic that you can get from sports. I really, really value sports on a personal level. But in terms of talking about a tax credit, I think this benefits those with wealth. That’s the people that have the ability to pay for things, but what about those that don’t have the means to benefit from a tax credit?” Donnelly asked. “I’ve been in many schools … and I see parents struggling. I see them struggling to give their kids a healthy lunch or to cover the school supplies. These are basic things that kids need to survive and thrive. They’re having a hard time, depending which school you go to, just paying for those things. So you’ve got a tax credit. How is it going to help them? I would say it won’t.” Mark Ireland, NDP candidate for Port Moody-Westwood-Port Coquitlam, agrees with Donnelly. “The Tory stance seems to be solve every problem they’ve got with a tax cut. I don’t think that’s an effective way of doing things in this case. It’s something that disproportionately benefits families CONT. ON PAGE 8, see DILWORTH.
Austin Heights plan gets green light John Kurucz jkurucz@thenownews.com Coquitlam council has unanimously passed the city’s Austin Heights neighbourhood plan, a wide-reaching planning document that covers everything from walkability and transit to servicing requirements and the provision of different types of housing choices. Much of Monday’s discussion saw councillors thank planning staff and
area residents for their input on the plan, but a fair amount of time was also devoted to trying to quash fears. Among the principal concerns, particularly at last week’s public hearing, was the prospect of highrises being built in the various neighbourhoods. “I’ve heard some concerns about the highrises and about the density,” said Coun. Doug Macdonell. “However, we need the density to rehabilitate this area and make it a thriving community again. There’s always some reluc-
tance and resistance to change, but I’m very excited about what’s going to take place here over the next 10 to 15 years.” To alleviate those concerns, many council members were quick to point out that any application to build highrise towers within the area would be subject to a public hearing process. “Like other councillors, I’ve heard people have some reservations about how the plan will roll out over time, but those will come to public hear-
ing in their own right,” said Coun. Neal Nicholson. “I’ll look forward to hearing from people at that time, but for now, we have a plan and a place to go forward in redeveloping Austin Heights into the vibrant, new centre of Coquitlam.” Talk of the neighbourhood plan had been circulated for years before the work began in 2008, and dozens of stakeholder meetings, open houses CONT. ON PAGE 8, see PLAN TO EVOLVE.
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