3/9/2010Local Cabbie Wants Answers After Wife's Death
It's been three years and Jagjeet Sidhu is still searching for answers.
On March 7th, 2007 his wife along with three other farm workers were killed when the van they were driving in flipped on Highway One near Sumas.
It only had two functioning seatbelts, poor tires and a wooden bench for seats
There were 17 people jammed inside when it only sat 15.
The Coroner's Inquest two years later made 18 recommendations.
The RCMP recommended 33 criminal charges.
None of which saw the light of day.
Sidhu, a Chilliwack cabbie, and the other family members are meeting with the Labour Minister next Monday.
He says he wants some answers.
He says as difficult as it is losing a wife, it's been even harder on his three children who lost their mother.
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3/9/2010Canada's Paralympic Flagbearer Named
Canada's Paralympic flag bearer is the captain of the gold medal sledge hockey team.
Jean Labonte from Quebec will carry the flag during Friday's Paralympic opening ceremonies.
Labonte, who lost his leg to cancer as a teen, has competed in three previous Paralympics.
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3/9/2010Post Olympic Blues Affect All of Canada
The Olympics are over, and some are feeling depressed as a result.
And a Professor of Sociology and Media Studies at the University of the Fraser Valley says Chilliwack isn't immune.
Darren Blakeborough says people from around our city have been missing the excitement and hype of the games. He says his students and people from the community who watched either downtown or on TV are feel like something's missing.
Blakeborough thinks more people will watch hockey or curling a little closer to fill the Olympic gap in their lives.
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3/9/2010RCMP Searching for Erica Dawson, Last Heard from in Chilliwack
Concerned family members are looking for 23 year old Erica Dawson who was last heard from in Chilliwack.
The last time Dawson spoke to her family was from a payphone on Luckakuck on February 17th.
Police don't know if Dawson stayed in the area or moved on but they haven't been able to track her down.
Erica Dawson is about 5'4'', a thin build with long dark brown hair, a scar on her chest and the name 'CRAIG' tattooed on her knuckles.
Anyone who has seen Dawson or knows where she is is asked to call police or Crimestoppers.
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3/9/2010Chilliwack Woman Arrested in Saskatoon Drug Bust
A Chilliwack woman has been arrested in connection with a crystal meth ring in Saskatoon.
48 year old Lindsay Siemens is one of seven people alleged to be involved with the drug operation.
40 charges have been laid against the suspects.
They include trafficking, possession of a controlled substance, possession of the proceeds of crime, and conspiracy to traffic drugs.
Saskatchewan police led a four month investigation into the drug ring.
They seized various illegal drugs, cash and vehicles from several Saskatchewan properties.
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3/9/2010Province Changing Who Gets Gambling Money
Arts groups, adult sports leagues and Wildlife rescue groups will soon be need a little rescuing of their own.
Yesterday the BC government announced all gaming revenue is restricted to the young and disabled.
Everybody else is on their own.
Gaming revenue is 120 million dollars this year.
Up from the 113 million last year.
However Housing and Social Development Minister Rich Coleman the changes would have taken place, even without the recession cutting into provincial coffers.
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3/9/2010Chilliwack Community Services Slams Budget
Chilliwack Community Services is giving the Provincial Budget two very big thumbs down.
In a media release today, Executive Director Dale Cuthbertson says the budget will make the lives of those at risk even tougher.
Cuthbertson says the hardest hit areas are the services for families in crisis and parenting programs.
Services to help kids stay in school and deal with addictions and depression.
Also early years and literacy skills programming.
Cuthbertson says he has never seen funding cuts like these in his 11 years at Chilliwack Community Services.
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3/9/2010Camembert Listeria Warning
If you're a cheese lover, be careful about Moonstruck Organic camembert.
The cheese, made on Saltspring Island could be contaminated with listeria bacteria.
The BC Centre for Disease Control says certain varieties with best before dates in February could be affected.
For more information visit their website.
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3/8/2010International Woman's Day Today
Women aren't equal yet, according to local author and activist Dr. Jean Scott.
Scott is at the University of the Fraser Valley today in honour of International Women's Day.
Scott is a past winner of the Governor General's Persons Case award.
She also has a honourary degree and co founded Ann Davis Transition house in Chilliwack.
97-year-old Scott says Bertha Wilson, the first woman appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada sums the problem up.
She says that's why it's so important to support transition houses like Ann Davis.
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3/8/2010Turkey Hit by Earthquake
As clean up operations continue in Haiti, they begin in Turkey.
Just before dawn today a magnitude 6 earthquake hit Turkey, killing almost 60 people and destroying buildings and houses in at least 6 villages.
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3/8/2010Paralympic Torch Comes to Hope
Anyone jonesing for an Olympic fix should head to Hope's Memorial Park tomorrow afternoon.
That's the closest the Paralympic torch comes to Chilliwack.
The flame is in Whistler today and ends up in Vancouver by Friday for the start of the Paralympic Games.
The Hope leg of the journey runs from 4 to 6pm tomorrow with lots of entertainment.
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3/8/2010Oscar Roundup, First Woman Ever Wins Best Director
Sandra Bullock and Jeff Bridges are taking home the golden statues after yesterday's Academy awards for lead acting performances.
Bullock won for her role in ''The Blind Side'', Bridges for his performance in ''Crazy Heart''.
Supporting-acting Oscars went to Mo'Nique for ''Precious'' and Christoph Waltz for ''Inglourious Basterds.''
Picking up a hisoric win was Kathryn Bigelow, director of ''The Hurt Locker''.
Bigelow is the first woman ever to win a Best Director Oscar.
The film kept on winning as it also picked up an award for Best Picture.
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3/8/2010Governor General in Haiti
Governor General Michaelle Jean has arrived in her native country for what's likely to be an emotional two-day visit.
Jean arrived in Port-au-Prince today, greeted by President Rene Preval, and both will visit the crumpled presidential palace.
Her visit ends tomorrow with a stop in her ancestral hometown of Jacmel, where Canadian troops have based part of their medical and humanitarian aid efforts.
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3/8/2010Air India Perjury Trial Continues
The legal saga around the bombing of Air India flight 182 continues today.
Inderjit Singh Reyat is accused of lying during his testimony at the 2003 trial of Ripudaman Singh Mal-ick and Ajeeb Singh Bagri.
Both men were acquitted in the Air India bombing that killed 229 people and a separate bombing that killed two baggage handlers at Tokyo's airport.
In the perjury charge against Reyat, the Crown lists 27 instances where he's alleged to have lied while testifying.
It's been almost 25 years since the plane blew up off Ireland's coast.
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3/8/2010RCMP Looking into Connection Between Two Different Robberies
Police are looking for two suspects in two different robberies, but think there is a chance they might be linked.
Just before 8:00 last Thurday night, someone walked into the Shell station on Luckakuck and demaned money.
The suspect was handed cash and lottery tickets and quickly ran off.
Police are looking for a white male, five five, with a slim build.
He was wearing a gray zip up jacket, a black hooded sweatshirt, a black and white bandana, black jeans and white runners.
Then on Friday someone pulled a knife at the Macitosh Grocery on Hocking.
THe clerk was towards the back and called 9-1-1.
The suspect left without taking anything.
He is described as either aboriginal or Asian, 18 to20 years old, five two to five five with slim build.
He was wearing a black button up collared shirt, dark pants and a black and white bandana.
He also had a dollar sign tattooed on his right hand.
Anyone with any info is asked to call police or crimestoppers.
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3/8/2010RCMP Searching for Shoppers Robbery
RCMP are looking for a third suspect in yet another robbery.
This one has no connection to the first two from last week.
Sunday someone walked into the Shoppers Drug Mart on Yale and demanded money.
The clerk handed over some cash and the suspect ran off.
RCMP are looking for a white male, 30 to 35 years old, five ten to six feet tall, brown eyes and hair.
he was wearing jeans and a green hoodie.
Anyone with any information is asked to call police or crimestoppers.
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3/8/2010Chilliwack's Inez Gets Juno Nomination
Chilliwack's Inez Jasper is off to St John's April 18.
That's because the local Community Health Nurse is nominated for a Juno Award for Aboriginal Album of the Year.
She says Aboriginal category or not, a Juno is a Juno.
But adds it's still important to her as a member of Sto:lo Nation.
Inez says the next step is crossing over to mainstream radio.
She says the Juno exposure will help and is hinting about a possible announcement on her next project on the night of..
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3/7/2010Shooting in Abbotsford Injures One
An overnight shooting in Abbotsford has left one person injured.
Abbotsford Police are looking for two suspects.
Police say the incident happened around 10 pm.
The 38-year old victim was in a car when he was shot in the leg.
He was taken to Royal Columbian Hospital where he is recovering.
Abbotsford Police say it doesn't appear to be a gang-related shooting, but are handing the investigation over to the Major Crimes Unit.
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3/7/2010Canadian Bills Getting a Makeover
Your wallet will have a whole lot more plastic next year.
And no, it's not credit cards.
Canada's paper money is getting a polymer makeover.
The federal government has decided to replace Canada's paper-cotton banknote with a plastic design.
The Bank of Canada says the polymer material makes it harder to fake.
Plus the bills will be recyclable and more resistant to tearing.
The notes will be in circulation sometime in 2011.
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3/6/2010Drinking-and-Driving Penalties Will Get Tougher
Next time you're catching the game at your local watering hole, you might want to order just the one drink.
Solicitor General Kash Heed says BC will soon have one of the toughest drinking-and-driving laws in Canada.
Heed wouldn't discuss the details of the new legislation.
But he says he'll introduce a new bill this spring that will give police more power to keep drunks off the road.
The legislation will also include a massive public information campaign aimed at young drivers.
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3/6/2010Disability Groups Opposed to Government Cuts
Program cuts were part of the BC government's plan to reduce the provincial deficit.
Now critics are hitting back, calling program cuts for low income and disabled people irresponsible.
Jane Dyson, of the BC Coalition of People with Disabilities, says she can't believe the government thought through the cuts, including a plan to axe contraceptives.
Items like dental support, medical diagnostic equipment and funeral costs will also be cut.
New Democrat Shane Simpson says its outrageous for the government to squeeze more from people who can least afford it.
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3/6/2010Stat Holiday in February?
BC is already one of the hardest working provinces in February seeing as we don't have a statutory holiday.
That could change if an online group's petition is successful.
Kate Holmes is leading the charge, hoping the third Monday of February be named ''Glowing Hearts Day'' in honour of the 2010 Winter Olympics.
She says they will submit the petition to the Premier.
Other provinces celebrate Family Day, Louis Riel Day and Islander Day.
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3/5/2010Sto:lo Negotiator Says Fisheries Mishandled
The Feds are holding off talking about fisheries when it comes to treaty negotiations.
The government said this week they're waiting to find out what happens with the inquiry into the missing Fraser River sockeye.
But the Chief Negotiator for Sto:lo Jean Teillet says she thinks no one in the Department of Fisheries and Oceans knows how to manage the fishery.
Teillet adds it really makes no difference that the Yale First Nation initialed an agreement on the very subject last month.
She says they get allocations based on conservation so if the judicial inquiry finds there shouldn't be fishing of Fraser river sockeye, any negotiations are moot.
But she says the inquiry into the shrinking Fraser River stocks is about 10 years overdue.
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3/5/2010Former Teacher Remembers BC's Chief Judge's Teen Years
Chilliwack Secondary teacher Muriel Morris says he was one of those students you never forget.
Yesterday it was announced that Judge Thomas James Crabtree had been appointed Chief Judge of the BC Provincial Court.
Morris taught Crabtree English Lit in Chilliwack and says he was one of those kids who just stood out. She says he was always sure of what he wanted to do, a good talker and had a certain presence about him.
She says she wasn't surprised when he was appointed to the court.
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3/5/2010Paralympic Torch Relay to Light Up Hope
Inge Wilson says no one is really talking about it yet.
However she says that will change come when the Torch arrives.
The Paralympics Torch will be in Hope, next Tuesday from 4pm to 6pm.
Wilson is helping organize the event at Memorial Park.
She says the fun starts at 2pm with the Fraser Valley Fiddlers on the small stage.
She says the torch bearers will be running with the torch around Memorial Park while live entertainment and video presentations happen on stage.
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3/5/2010Inquest into Mission Deaths
More investigation into the deaths of a couple in Mission in 2008.
37 year old Lisa Dudley died of a gunshot wound and police never said how 33 year old Guthrie McKay died.
The BC Coroner's service announced yesterday it'll hold an inquest in Burnaby.
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3/5/2010Calgary Man Takes School Secretary Hostage
A man with a knife took a school secretary hostage in Calgary yesterday.
Police tactical teams were called in to the junior high school.
All the students were at an assembly in the gym at the time.
Negotiators got the suspect to release the secretary in exchange for a bottle of water.
He was then arrested after the two-hour standoff.
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3/5/2010Aftershocks Rock Chile
Two strong aftershocks hit the city of Concepcion in Chile today.
The tremors registered 6.0 and 6.8 and sent people running into the streets in a panic.
Dozens of aftershocks have hit the area since Saturday's 8.8 magnitude quake that killed at least 800 people.
138 Canadians remain unaccounted for.
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3/5/2010Federal Budget Hailed as 'Do-Nothing'
The Federal budget is being hailed as a 'do-nothing' plan.
Critics are panning the fiscal blueprint.
But it doesn't mean Canadians are election-bound.
Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff says his party won't send Canadians to the polls.
He says Liberal MPs will vote against it but not in enough numbers to topple the conservative minority government.
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3/5/2010Vandegoed Family Getting Back on their Feet
Jennifer Vandegoed says she's ready to settle in Chilliwack.
Vandegoed and her family moved here last week from Kamloops---the day after a trailer full of their belongings was stolen outside their house.
She says they've had a lot of help so she's feeling better about the situation.
Vandegoed says she feels like they can finally have a start here and is overwhelmed with all the support.
She says they have most of what they need.
Now she's looking to replace some small furniture and snowboarding gear.
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3/5/2010Third Arrest in Violent Purse Snatching
A third and final arrest in Monday's violent purse snatching.
RCMP have arrested a 20 year Chilliwack woman.
She was released with a promise to appear in court March 15th.
She's facing Robbery and aggravated assault charges.
Monday a 27 year old woman was leaving the Bank of Montreal at five corners.
RCMP say three woman stole her purse.
When she tried to get it back she was shoved to the ground and kicked in the head and back repeatedly.
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3/5/2010Conservatives Hire Former SCOC Judge for Detainee File
A retired Supreme Court of Canada justice will conduct an independent, comprehensive, review of the Afghan detainee issue.
Justice Minister Rob Nicholson has announced the appointment of Frank Iacobucci (YACK'-uh-boo-chee).
He says Iacobucci will examine controversial documents and advise the government on whether they can be released to M-P's.
Nicholson says national and operational security considerations will be taken into account as he determines which information can be disclosed.
N-D-P Leader Jack Layton says it's a waste of time and is nothing more than another Harper government stalling tactic.
However the Liberals are in favour of the extra step.
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3/5/2010Abbotsford Doctor Facing Fraud Charges
Abbotsford Dr. Jonathan Burns is one of three people charged in a fraud case.
Several charges, including influence peddling, breach of trust and fraud have been laid against former senior health ministry bureaucrat Ron Danderfer.
A former Fraser Health Authority manager has also been charged in an investigation.
The charges are linked to B-C's switch to computerized health records and follow a lengthy R-C-M-P probe.
A special prosecutor has taken over the matter and a first court date is expected early next month.
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3/5/2010Budget Input Welcomed at City Hall
It's time to have your say at city hall on March 15th.
Mayor Sharon Gaetz wants everyone to come down and give input on the proposed budget.
Gaetz says it's been a tough year and not everyone will be satisfied with the plan.
But she says city and council have worked hard to be sensitive to the economic strain weighing on most people.
The forum goes a week Monday at 7pm.
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3/5/2010Things Could Get Shaky in Ottawa
This week's federal budget and speech from the throne are considered matters of confidence.
The opposition parties could topple the minor Conservative government but it's not clear if Jack Layton will vote no.
But the federal NDP leader says the Tory budget only benefits the rich and does virtually nothing for the poor.
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3/4/2010Federal Budget Comes Down Today
It's back to work in Ottawa. The Throne Speech was yesterday and the budget is announced today.
The Harper government has more money for infrastructure, businesses and a new lifeline for the atomic energy industry.
Today the government outlines how 19 billion dollars of stimulus money will be spent.
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3/4/2010Military Takes to Streets in Chile
Over 800 people are dead in Chile after this weekend's earthquake.
Chilean troops are cracking down on looting in the city of Concepcion and handing out supplies.
138 Canadians are reported missing in the quake zone.
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3/4/2010Mayor Likes Provincial Budget
Chilliwack Mayor Sharon Gaetz says she likes what she sees in the Provincial Budget.
What she's really happy about is that Finance Minister Colin Hansen didn't cut two key areas - education and health care. Gaetz likes the fact Victoria has set a timetable for balanced budgets.
The provincial deficit will be 1.7 billion dollars this year and there's a promise to balance the books by 2013.
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3/4/2010Chamber of Commerce Cautiously Accepts BC Budget
Also happy with the budget is the Chilliwack Chamber of Commerce. Executive Director Lisa Caruth says overall she likes what she sees.
Caruth is concerned with the deficit but she says it looks like the Government has spending under control.
Caruth hasn't read the entire document but she's impressed with the spending restrictions for the different Ministries.
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3/4/2010Toyota Repairs Not a Fix
Not all Toyota drivers are happy with the repairs made to their cars.
At least 15 Toyota owners say they're still having problems after having their cars repaired in the recall.
One man says his newly fixed car accelerate on its own and he had to slam on the brakes to avoid an accident
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3/4/2010Charges and another Arrest in Monday's Violent Purse Snatching
One person is getting charged, RCMP have arrested another and are still looking for a third suspect in a violent purse snatching.
On Monday a 26-year-old woman ended up in hospital after her purse was stolen.
She was thrown to the ground and kicked in the head and back when she tried to get it back.
It happened at Five Corners after she left the Bank of Montreal.
22 year old Vanessa Robin Skerratt is charged with aggravated assault and robbery and is in court for a second time today.
A second suspect, a 45 year old Chilliwack woman was arrested and released yesterday on promise to appear.
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3/4/2010RCMP Looking for Home Invasion Suspects
A 19 year old is now out of hospital after being hit on the head and bear sprayed during a home invasion.
Before 6 am yesterday two men forced their way into a house in the 93 hundred block of Edward Street.
The suspects assaulted the victim and hit him on the head with something metal when he fought back.
Police think the attack was targeted.
They have a description of one of the suspects ---an aboriginal male, about 5 foot 10, wearing a blue bandanna on his face, a white hoody and black jeans.
Anyone who was in the area early yesterday and saw anything suspicious should contact Chilliwack RCMP or Crimestoppers.
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3/4/2010Local Boy Gets Appointed Chief Judge of the BC Provincial Court
A local judge and Chilliwack Secondary graduate has reached a distinguished legal height.
This morning BC Attorney General Mike de Jong announced that he's appointed Judge Thomas James Crabtree as Chief Judge of the BC Provincial Court.
Crabtree currently works at the courts in Chilliwack.
He moved here with his family from England at a young age, and graduated from CSS.
He finished law school at the University of Victoria in 1983.
He was appointed to Provincial Court in 1999.
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3/4/2010Government Considers Rewording National Anthem
Eh, Canada?
One of the big eyebrow raisers in yesterday's Throne Speech in Ottawa is the government's promise to look at the wording of the national anthem.
Industry Minister Tony Clement says he's gotten complaints about the line ''In all thy sons command.''
Clement won't say what he thinks about tinkering with Canada's national song.
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3/4/2010Assistant Fire Chief Wants Old Empty CFB Buildings Demolished
Chilliwack Assistant Fire Chief Ian Josephson wants abandoned buildings on the old Military base torn down.
However unfortunately for him it might happen later rather than sooner.
There have been two fires on the base in the last few months.
Evidence points to squatters.
Josephson says they're working with the Justice Institute and the University of the Fraser Valley.
But he says their plan is to tear down the buildings in the next year.
He's hoping it happens much sooner.
He says the Justice Institute has barbed wire on top of the fences that surrounds two of their buildings and that seems to be working.
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3/3/2010Brand New Residents Forced to Move with Only Close on their Backs
Jennifer Vandegoede and her family moved from Kamloops to Chilliwack empty-handed this weekend.
Vandegoede says the trailer full of their belongings was stolen the night before the move.
She says an old friend and a second cousin have been able to help a bit.
But she says it's tough not knowing anyone in the city.
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3/3/2010Feds Unveil Throne Speech
The Harper government has laid out its plan to whittle away the projected record 56 billion-dollar federal budget deficit.
There are no plans for major spending cuts in today's throne speech, but there's also none of the big new spending of past budgets.
The Tory government also says it will end its recession-fighting stimulus fund after the last 19 (b) billion dollars is doled out next fiscal year.
He's also freezing Tory M-P's and senator's salaries.
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3/3/2010NDP Leader Says BC's Budget Lets Families Down
The BC Budget announced yesterday is drawing criticism from the opposition.
NDP leader Carole James says the Liberals are letting families down without a solid plan to revive the economy.
She says her ideal budget would put more emphasis on post-secondary education, research and development.
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3/3/2010
Steady as she goes are words Chilliwack MLA John Les is using to describe Finance Minister Colin Hansen's budget.
Yesterday Hansen delivered a budget that included a 1.7 billion deficit, increased MSP Premiums to cover a 2 billion dollars for Health Care.
It also included over 100 million dollars for education, and a projection of just over 2 percent of growth.
Les says he's happy it came with no surprises.
He says they are meeting their targets for deficit reduction and still very much have a balanced budget insight fot 2013.
Plus he says all the tax reductions they put in place are still there.
Les says people can look at this budget and feel confident the Liberals are managing through the recession.
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3/3/2010Teachers Association Gives Provincial Budget Tepid Applause
Chilliwack Teachers Association President Katherine Midzain says she pleased to see money put back into Education.
Spending on Education is up by 140 million dollars
However she says that just replaces what was cut last year.
She says she doesn't see a lot of new money. She says they talked about additional money for teacher salaries and benefits.
Howeve she says that was money that was promised, then clawed back.
Midzain says it's good the Government is recognizing school districts need the money that was promised in the first place.
But she says Gordon Campbell has reneged on promises before, so she'll believe it when the cash actually arrives.
Chilliwack School District Superintendent Corrine McCabe says they will have to wait for the money to arrive before they can comment.
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