INSIDE: Mighty Vees shellac Chiefs before hometown crowd Pg. 20 T U E S D A Y
November 29, 2011
Cheam golfers feel were scammed 10 they N E W S ,
SPORTS,
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E N T E R T A I N M E N T chilliwacktimes.com
Popular Penner puts end to politics BY PAUL J. HENDERSON phenderson@chilliwacktimes.com
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hilliwack-Hope MLA Barry Penner announced Thursday he will step down in the new year, a move that will trigger a byelection in the riding. The long-time provincial representative for Chilliwack-Hope announced he was retiring from politics to join Vancouver law firm
Davis LLP. Penner told the Times Friday that he had mixed feelings about leaving politics. “There’s a lot about the job that I like but certain parts I don’t care for,” he said. Penner said he felt media coverage from Victoria has gone downhill over the years with less scrutiny and focus on what MLAs do. “I don’t think it serves the voters well,” he said.
Byelection ◗ Conservatives and NDP say Penner’s riding is ripe for the picking. Pg. 12
Penner said, once he decided to step down and not run in the next election, he had to decide what to do next. He was contacted by Davis LLP
and an offer was made. In a press release issued last week, the law firm said Penner’s duties will be “the development and growth of Davis’ environmental and renewable-energy practice in B.C.” “Mr. Penner has had an exemplary career in B.C. politics,” said Robert Seidel, managing partner of Davis LLP. “His long-standing interest and experience in environmental and renewable-energy matters will complement the firm’s leading
project-development and projectfinance practice.” Penner received a letter from the provincial conflict of interest commissioner, giving him his blessing. “In my view, the legal work you have been asked to do is entirely appropriate for a former cabinet minister and attorney general,” Commissioner Paul Fraser wrote. Penner said a firm date was not set for him to step down, but that it would take place in early January.
Time to check out vision for hillsides
MOVEMBER SARDIS STUDENTS AND THEIR SOUP STRAINERS
BY PAUL J. HENDERSON phenderson@chilliwacktimes.com
T
Cornelia Naylor/TIMES
Sardis elementary students Amanda Louie, Jenny Yang, Destiny Prest and Shanna Anderson show off their Movember moustaches during a fundraising event for the Canadian Cancer Society at the school Friday.
he public will get a chance to see what Chilliwack city hall envisions in the eastern hillsides at a public open house on Thursday. The city’s draft plan, presented to the mayor and council at a Nov. 1 meeting, has a projected buildout of 1,700 homes or up to 4,000 people. The 1994 plan for the area—the 1,340-hectare portion of the northern edge of the Cascade Mountains within the city—envisioned up to 5,200 homes for as many as 17,000 people. The higher numbers were seen to be not viable because of difficult terrain and the expense of infrastructure. The latest plan is for a smaller number of people than was planned for even nine months ago. In February, the city held an open house to See HILLSIDES, Page 10
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