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INSIDE: THINGS-TO-DO GUIDE [pg. 23]
FRIDAY, APRIL 7, 2017
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SCHOOLS
10 VIEWS & UP TO 100 KILOMETRES
Special needs needs funding DIANE STRANDBERG The Tri-CiTy News
REUBEN DONGALEN JR./THE TRI-CITY NEWS
Steve Chapman will be participating in the 50-km Diez Vista trail race this weekend, and is also the race map maker. Renee Caesar finished third last year at the 50-km distance but will be racing the 100-km route this year. For more on the race, please see Sports on page 31.
Drastic cuts to special needs programs carried out over the last five years could be on the list for restoration when School District 43 meets to discuss its budget next Tuesday. This week, trustees were given an eye-opening look about what has been happening with programs serving students with autism, mental health and behavioural issues. And while members of SD43’s Inclusion Support Team gave a positive view of changes without any pleas for additional resources, the picture they painted was one of programs starved of resources. And with court-mandated restoration of the teachers collective agreement, the hope is that many of these supports for special needs will be put back. see ‘WE KNEW’, page 9
PROVINCIAL ELECTION
Mayors to parties: give us a break on property taxes School $ goes out but doesn’t come back, says Metro DIANE STRANDBERG
Vimy anniversary close to home for one Coquitlam family: see page 3
The Tri-CiTy News
Metro Vancouver property owners are paying more than their fair share of property taxes and should either get a
break or more money should be directed to local schools, affordable housing and transit, say the region’s mayors. The recommendation comes as the provincial parties gear up for an election campaign that officially kicks off next week, and it wouldn’t be the first time provincial property taxes have been tinkered with. This time, the targets are the
homeowner grant (for property owners with homes assessed at less than $1.6 million); the school tax, which cities collect on behalf of the province to pay for schools; and the property transfer tax, which is paid by home buyers and which has injected $1.5 billion into provincial coffers. Property tax reform has been implemented in dribs and drabs over the years since
a major overhaul in the early 1980s but Port Coquitlam Mayor Greg Moore says high home assessments mean conditions are ripe to take another look at changes. He wants to see the major provincial parties offer policy suggestions during the election campaign to make them more fair. see ‘$1,000 MORE’, page 10
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