LIVE GREEN: It’s easy to take eco-friendly actions at home and at the office, 10-11 RIO BOUND: Tsawwassen swimmer Markus Thormeyer qualifies for Olympics, 14
Your Tile Store for over 40 Years. S u r re y
NEWSSTAND $1
Richmond
◆
Victoria
◆
Edmonton
mytiletown.ca
www.delta-optimist.com
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13, 2016
◆
The voice of Delta since 1922
Move B.C. election to fall: MLA
Biologist Brent Matsuda checks out one of the garter snakes that was rescued last year in Beach Grove.
PHOTO BY GORD GOBLE
Grove snakes get check-up
Colony disturbed by dike work last spring doing quite well, says biologist JESSICA KERR
j ke r r @ d e l t a - o p t i m i s t .c o m
Delta has hired a wildlife biologist to monitor the colony of garter snakes living around the dike in Beach Grove. The snakes were removed and then returned to the area last spring as crews replaced the rip-rap along a section of the dike. The municipality was
tipped off to the presence of the snakes by local residents, including a group of Beach Grove Elementary students who rallied to save the snakes. In all, more than 500 garter snakes were rescued from the area and returned about six weeks later once construction was complete. “They seem to be doing quite well,” wildlife biologist Brent
Matsuda said last week as he and two volunteers, who are also biologists, captured snakes to take measurements to see how they have fared. “They want to know if the habitat is still being used,” Matsuda said, as well as the growth and survival rates for the rescued snakes, which were all microchipped. It’s mating season for the
snakes, Matsuda said, adding people should steer clear of the area until the end of the month. “It’s a really sensitive time because they’re in the middle of breeding,” Matsuda said, adding people should not try to capture or handle the snakes. The species is fully protected by the B.C. Wildlife Act. “Just leave the snakes alone,” he said.
Myth: Insurance companies won’t warranty the work unless you use their repair shop. Fact: Collision repair shops warranty their work, not the insurance companies. 604.943.6383
Delta South independent MLA Vicki Huntington re-introduced a bill last week that would move B.C.’s fixed election date to the fall to allow time to scrutinize the government’s budget prior to voting. Every election year, B.C.’s budget cycle is interrupted by the election, she said. The bill would move the fixed election date to October to avoid this conflict. “We continue to have a sham budgeting process in the lead-up to the election. An election year is precisely the time the public needs to know that Vicki the numbers Huntington add up,” Huntington said. “Instead, we enter elections with the perception that the government’s untested political promises are based on fiscal fantasy. “The next election year will see yet another budget that will not pass because there isn’t sufficient time to go through it,” said Huntington. “And the auditor general will not be able to report on the government’s accounting before people go to the polls.” Moving the election to the fall would be a simple change with a profound effect on governance and political accountability, Huntington said. “As it stands, election-year budgets in this province aren’t worth the paper they’re printed on.”
At Tsawwassen Collision, we stand by our work and give you a full warranty.
17-1835 56th St. Tsawwassen (Behind Mcdonalds)
www.tsawwassencollision.com