Delta Optimist - March 30, 2011

Page 1

Race begins

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Local parties busy getting election campaigns running

Turning out the lights

Delta lowers electricity use during Earth Hour

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Exercise class fundraiser set for early next month

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Optimist

Men’s soccer team poised to earn 1st division promotion

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03300029

Delta

Newsstand 50¢

Closing in

Jazzercise for hospice

Monday is

Pasta Nite

Sunday is

Souvlaki Nite

Tuesday is

Lamb Nite

YOUR SOURCE FOR LOCAL SPORTS, NEWS, WEATHER AND ENTERTAINMENT! WWW.DELTA-OPTIMIST.COM The Voice of Delta since 1922 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 30, 2011

Wednesday is

Chicken Nite

Thursday is

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Bison Ribs Nite

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Cummins to run for B.C. Conservative leadership

Happy times at Reifel

BY

JESSICA KERR

jkerr@delta-optimist.com

PHOTO SUBMITTED BY

KELLY MACLEOD

Charlie MacLeod, who just turned 1 on March 16, is excited to see all the ducks last Friday during her first visit to the George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary on Westham Island.

Mayor’s Summit concludes

Century Group to be given chance to come back with new proposal for Southlands BY

SANDOR GYARMATI

sgyarmati@delta-optimist.com

Those who took part in last week’s Mayor’s Summit on the future of the Southlands would like to see community-based, economically viable soil-based farming operation taking place on the lands, according to Mayor Lois Jackson. The mayor’s office Saturday released an update on the summit, which took place March 24

to 26 at municipal hall, stating that CAO George Harvie will ask that the public hearing on the Southlands be terminated when it resumes on April 14. It’s all to give the property owner, the Century Group, a chance to come back with new proposal. “The participants acknowledge the important environmental and wildlife values of the lands today, and agree to look at opportunities to enhance these values,” stated Jackson’s news release.

According to the mayor, the Century Group has asked for an opportunity to bring forward a new proposal prior to July 1. The new plan would give Delta public ownership of a portion of the lands, which is greater than what has been previously proposed by the company. The company had previously pitched a development scheme to build 1,900 homes in exchange for donating 42 per cent of the 538-acre property to Delta for

agricultural urbanism. Century Group voluntarily committed to not pursue industrial agriculture on the lands in the interim, stated Jackson. Harvie is to report back to council Sept. 12, when the Century Group will have a chance to show its alternative proposal. The most controversial element of the proposed Tsawwassen Area Plan is the recommendation Delta apply to the Agricultural Land See SUMMIT page 3

Recently retired DeltaRichmond East MP John Cummins is not done with political life. Cummins announced Tuesday morning that he is entering the leadership race for the B.C. Conservative Party. He told a news conference in Vancouver that he entered the race to ensure that British Columbians “have a real John Cummins commonsense choice for the next provincial election.” “The choice between the Liberals and NDP is like a choice between airline food and hospital food,” Cummins said. “We can do better. British Columbians deserve a choice they are actually excited to vote for, not two parties they have to hold their noses to support.” After 18 years representing the area in Ottawa, Cummins announced his retirement earlier this month, along with Conservatives Stockwell Day (Okanagan-Coquihalla) and Chuck Strahl (Chilliwack-Fraser Canyon). Cummins was first elected under the Reform Party banner in 1993, capturing more than 40 per cent of the vote. It would be the start of a series of even big election victories under the Canadian Alliance and then Conservative banners. He See CUMMINS page 3

BULK UP YOUR GARDEN NEW SOIL MIXTURE (no sand added) www.sunnysidenursies.com 56TH STREET & HIGHWAY 17 • 604-943-9712

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