BC Economic Fundamentals

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River valley clamps down on noise

People with barking dogs or loud stereos in the Chilliwack River Valley will now have to be more careful about the noise they make.

The Fraser Valley Regional District board passed Bylaw 841 this week to update the noise regulations for the Chilliwack River Valley.

http://www.canada.com/chilliwacktimes/news...cb-02077c943112

 

[joeiannuzzi]

Residents cry fowl

The clash between farm life and suburban life is again taking flight on Fairfield Island.

Some residents of the area have again brought up the issue of hunters shooting geese on farmers` fields too close to homes. The issue came up last January when the Times reported on Fairfield Island resident Crystal Charnley`s complaint that a dead Canada Goose landed in her front yard while her two young daughters were playing.

http://www.canada.com/chilliwacktimes/news...19-0c28e54b2cc7

 

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Moody gardeners ask nicely for city to purchase land

Gardeners returned to Port Moody council Tuesday to ask the city to purchase the land where the Inlet Community Garden is located.

Dot Harinen and Lee McGillveray, representing the Inlet Community Garden Association, said members of their group met with Mayor Joe Trasolini earlier this month to discuss the future of the garden.

http://www.canada.com/coquitlamnow/news/st...30-3515eeb610f7

 

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Carbon tax could cost Port Coquitlam $821,000

Every resident in the province can expect a $100 cheque from the provincial government as a benefit of its new carbon tax that enters force July 1. But Port Coquitlam homeowners can expect a 1.75-per-cent phased-in property tax rate increase to cover the city`s own carbon costs.

PoCo resident Brad West, who also works for Port Coquitlam-Burke Mountain NDP MLA Mike Farnworth, asked city council Monday to disclose the financial toll the incoming carbon tax will take on local taxpayers.

http://www.canada.com/coquitlamnow/news/st...80-9e65e352c6fd

 

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TransLink raising property tax rates

TransLink`s board of directors announced Friday it will raise both residential and business property tax rates by 2.6 per cent.

For 2008 only, TransLink will collect half of the $18 million in property taxes to replace the revenue formerly collected through the now-defunct parking site tax, according to a news release. Beyond 2008, the board has committed to a review of TransLink`s property tax structure as long-term transportation and financial plans are developed. TransLink`s official strategic plan, approved last year, called for an increase of 3.5 per cent in property tax revenue in 2008, with two per cent reflecting inflation, 0.5 per cent to cover revenue lost due to property tax appeals in 2007 and another one per cent from growth in assessments as a result of new property developments.

http://www.canada.com/coquitlamnow/news/st...d1-e10ef9f7228c

 

[joeiannuzzi]

Province pulls plug on power project

Opponents of a controversial run-of-river project in the Upper Pitt are thrilled that Environment Minister Barry Penner won`t allow a transmission line to run through Pinecone Burke Provincial Park, which the company has previously said is necessary in order for the project to proceed.

However, Run of River Power Inc., which is proposing to build seven hydroelectric facilities on eight Upper Pitt River tributaries, isn`t ruling out an alternate power line route, said president Jako Krushinsky.

http://www.canada.com/mapleridgetimes/news...55-393add6d9b5d

 

[joeiannuzzi]

Property taxes set to rise

The City of New Westminster`s proposed 3.5 per cent property tax increase for 2008 means a home valued at $566,272 would see an increase of about $133.

Owners of residential strata units valued at $277,606 face a potential property tax increase of $67.18, while owners of homes valued at $1.1 million face a potential increase of $196.85.

http://www.canada.com/newwestrecord/news/s...f0-ad3a2c6e45ec

 

[joeiannuzzi]

Renos done without permits

The City of New Westminster has taken action against a property that`s been altered without the proper permits.

Council recently approved a staff recommendation to file a notice in the land title office regarding 320 Arbutus St.

A staff report states that renovations have been made to the interior and exterior of the house that are in violation of the city`s building bylaw.

http://www.canada.com/newwestrecord/news/s...9b-12c4c8bc02a6

 

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Capital spending way up

The draft capital budget for 2008 is up more than 70 per cent from the 2007 budget.

The city`s capital budget was under spent by about $7 million in 2007 due to unforeseen events that delayed work on a handful of large projects.

The 2008 proposed capital budget is $29.6 million, compared to $17.3 million in 2007. The increase reflects the projects that have been carried over from last year, as well as funding for annual maintenance and replacement of transportation infrastructure, civic facilities, vehicles and equipment.

http://www.canada.com/newwestrecord/news/s...06a&k=59768

 

[joeiannuzzi]

Telemarketing scam centred in NV

The alleged king pin in a million-dollar telemarketing scam based in North Vancouver has been ordered to surrender for extradition to the United States, in a court decision dated Feb. 29.

Carmen Costanzo, a 55-year-old Vancouver resident, is accused of being part owner of a phone operation that defrauded numerous American residents from a location on West 14th Street in North Vancouver.

http://www.canada.com/northshorenews/news/...32-3611a59b1fdd

 

[joeiannuzzi]

No smoking zone expanded

Smokers will have to be mindful of where they are taking a puff come Monday or risk being fined. New provincial tobacco laws will ban indoor smoking rooms and smoking near doorways and windows.

On March 31 smoking rooms will no longer be allowed in public places in the province, including pubs, casinos, restaurants and transit shelters. There will also be a three-metre buffer zone near doorways and windows.

http://www.canada.com/richmondnews/news/st...4e-08c2cf06fe07

 

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Southlands planners seek public input


Century Group president Sean Hodgins is making the rounds trying to get participants for a major urban planning exercise on the future of the Southlands.

Earlier this month, Hodgins appeared at a Delta school board meeting to invite the district to participate in an event May 6 to 13 known as a design charrette.

To take place at the Southlands Barn, Hodgins hopes to have input from many different parts of the community, including the school board, the Corporation of Delta, emergency services and many others.

http://www.canada.com/surreynow/news/story...04-4dca8468c460

 

[joeiannuzzi]

A Roar of Attrition

A wry smile settles on Betty Jo Gillett`s face as she talks about the noisy, low-flying commercial jets that have invaded her once quiet neighbourhood.

"You want to know what`s ironic? We moved here six years ago from Richmond to get away from aircraft noise," she said.

"We knew they were going to expand the airport and we didn`t want to live with that. We lived in west Richmond and we heard less airplane noise there than we do here."

http://www.canada.com/surreynow/news/story...b83&k=56603

 

[joeiannuzzi]

Smithers mine project moving forward

Thompson Creek Metals Company Inc. hopes to get an underground mine near Smithers producing soon, which will add to its molybdenum supply in northern B.C.
"We`ve just recently received a completed feasibility study on this project -- we hope to go to our board in the second quarter in 2008 to present this to them," Thompson Creek chairman and CEO Kevin Loughrey told a Wall Street analyst forum in New York.
He said the Davidson project would cost about $100 million to $110 million, producing four million pounds of molybdenum annually for 10 years.

http://www.princegeorgecitizen.com/2008032...ng-forward.html

 

[joeiannuzzi]

Municipal politicians deserve more scrutiny

In case you`re not convinced that municipal politics are a little too murky, a little too free-wheeling for their own good, just consider Prof. Patrick Smith`s recent research. He`s been trying to collect basic information on campaign contributions to our municipal leaders.

It`s been no easy job.

The intrepid professor from Simon Fraser University`s Institute of Governance Studies has been getting his students to file freedom-of-information requests to 26 municipalities, seeking the finances of local politicians in the 1999 elections.

http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/st...1e4695f&p=1

 

[joeiannuzzi]

Hotel plan proceeding

Abbotsford residents can presume that a doctored Mount Lehman area hotel development will move forward, should council like what it hears at a future public hearing.

City councillors approved in principle the 106-room hotel at their executive meeting on March 10.

http://www.bclocalnews.com/surrey_area/ald...s/16822641.html

 

[joeiannuzzi]

Infestation advancing for pine tree kill

The main infestation of mountain pine beetle is poised at the borders of the Okanagan Valley, ready to strike this year.

Vast tracts of pine-dotted lands are turning red this year on the Pennask Plateau, on the highlands above Westside Road and on the Aberdeen Plateau as the effects of last year`s beetle infestation become evident.

City of Kelowna urban forester Ian Wilson says infestations are moving toward Kelowna from both the north and west as the beetles run out of pine trees to lay their eggs in, or as the wind blows them into the valley when they fly to infest new trees.

http://www.bclocalnews.com/news/Infestatio..._tree_kill.html

 

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Ferry link with U.S. neighbours resumes

More than 100 people braved the wind and rain in Sidney yesterday to cheer the arrival of the MV Chelan ferry, on its first run of the 2008 season.

The MV Chelan, capable of carrying up to 124 vehicles, arrived before noon, and was met by a high school band and other members of the Sidney community.

"This truly continues to be a ferry between friends," cried out Bert Stevens, Sidney`s official town crier.

http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonis...3e-aa1ca88681e8

 

[joeiannuzzi]

$917-million gold mine gets favourable report

British Columbia`s next mine could be a $917-million copper-gold property in the northeast part of the province.

Terrane Metals announced on Monday that the final feasibility study for its Mount Milligan project near Mackenzie favours it as economically and environmentally sound.

A final feasibility study is the single-most important document in the development of a mining project -- confirming or denying that it can emerge as a viable mine -- although Terrane still must conclude negotiations with local first nations and obtain environmental approvals from the federal and provincial governments.

http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/bu...1a-a2400dfc613c

 

[joeiannuzzi]

Pre-sale condo buyers offered a choice

The Sophia condominium project`s receiver has begun sorting out which pre-sale buyers are willing to pay higher prices for their units to get construction back on track.

That project has been on hold since late February, when developer Bill Eden handed it over to the court after running into $4 million in cost overruns.

The purchasers` options are to either agree to pay a price that is 90 per cent of current market value for their units -- which in some cases is more than $100,000 higher than initial pre-sale contract prices they signed in late 2005 and 2006 -- or take their deposits back and walk away.

http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/bu...83-4109fdbc3c4a