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DELTA ARTS COUNCIL HOMELESS Keys to old firehall are handed over, page 21 FRIDAY, JANUARY 28, 2011
POLITICS
LEFT MEETS RIGHT TO FORM NEW SLATE SHAWN WILSON/ “Surrey politics can be very acidic and volatile and that just doesn’t work anymore.”
STEPHANIE RYAN/ “Frankly, we can’t help thinking there’s a bit of opportunism here, that Laurie and Terry thought their re-election chances would be better if they joined the other side.”
DEFECTION: Surrey Civic Coalition loses two school trustees; party president says resignation reeks of political opportunism Ted COLLEY Staff Reporter
SURREY – The NDP-aligned Surrey Civic Coalition slate took a heavy hit Wednesday when two school trustees elected under its banner resigned to join a new party. As reported first on the Now’s website Wednesday, trustees Terry Allen and Laurie Larsen have teamed up with former Surrey Electors Team trustees Pam Glass, Shawn Wilson and Reni Masi to form Surrey First Education. The fact that both Allen and Larsen are union leaders, while the other SFE members tend more to the right side of the political spectrum, has SCC president Stephanie Ryan crying foul. “Frankly, we can’t help thinking there’s a bit of opportunism here, that Laurie and Terry thought their re-election chances would be better if they joined the other side,” Ryan said Thursday. “It seems to me a case of conflicting interests, political interests.” Larsen denied she was was politically motivated. “I’m still an NDP person, that hasn’t changed. I’m just no longer an SCC person.” Larsen said her disenchantment with the SCC began a year ago, but wouldn’t go into specifics. “It wasn’t going in the direction Terry and I thought it would. This wasn’t news to them. I gave
them notice three months ago that I probably wouldn’t be renewing my membership,” she said. Larsen said the formation of the new slate merely formalizes the co-operative spirit that has operated on school board for some time now. Shawn Wilson is a veteran trustee who once belonged to the moribund SET slate. He told the Now the new slate is modelled on Surrey First, the city council party created and led by Mayor Dianne Watts. See OUR VIEW, page 14 Wilson said Surrey First has replaced the once acrimonious and divisive tone of Surrey council with one that values consensus and accomplishment over ideology. Surrey First Education aims to do the same on school board. “Surrey politics can be very acidic and volatile and that just doesn’t work anymore.” The departure of Allen and Larsen means the SCC has just one trustee, Ijaz Chatha who refused an offer to move to SFE, on the board. Board chair Laurae McNally is an independent. The slate also holds just a single council seat with Coun. Bob Bose, while seven seats are held by Surrey First. The remaining place belongs to independent Coun. Marvin Hunt. tcolley@thenownewspaper.com
OUT OF WORK: Fire leaves 120 people jobless, page 11 SMOKING BAN
Surrey residents want butts banned, city wants more time Ted COLLEY Staff Reporter
SURREY – City council will wait for a full report from staff before deciding whether to expand Surrey’s nonsmoking section to include parks, beaches and spots like the entrance to Surrey Memorial Hospital. But if the response of people enjoying a sunny Wednesday morning in Bear Creek Park is anything to go by, council might as well go ahead and put the ashtrays on craigslist. The Now asked eight people in the park that morning for their views on the subject. All, without hesitation, said ban the butts. “I think it’s a good idea,” said David Chavez from his perch at the top of the grandstand overlooking the park’s oval track and the two dozen or so people getting their exercise by walking it. “You can see there are a lot of people here for their health. They don’t need anyone smoking. It’s a family place, so it shouldn’t be allowed here.” Chavez also said banning smoking from the park would also help protect it from fire. “You remember last year, how it was with the forest fires? There’s a lot of nature here and it shouldn’t be burned.” Coun. Barbara Steele, once a smoker, agreed, but said council must have all of the facts in hand before making such a decision. The city parks and recreation department made the recommendation and asking council to approve the ban. Council has asked for a full report from staff. “You need to know all the details, to have all the ramifications, before you make a decision like that, but I don’t see any reason why I wouldn’t support it. It just makes sense.” Steele didn’t know when the report would be submitted, but said she didn’t believe it would be very long before it’s ready.