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Liberals' surprise win ushers in some fresh faces

Local Liberal candidates rode a wave of support to victory, literally in some cases.


 
Transportation

Getting around's getting harder

As provincial election candidates gear up to debate hot-button issues affecting residents of Surrey, White Rock and Delta, the transit needs of the local ridings are coming to the forefront.


 

Which ridings to watch

The governing Liberal party could well be in for a routing come May 14 if historic voting patterns in British Columbia hold true.


 

Ex-MLA not able to sway peers on road alignment

Re: Gov't MLA doesn't necessarily pay dividends for constituents, Community Comment, April 19


 

New Liberal candidate for Burnaby-Lougheed

The B.C. Liberal Party has finally announced a candidate for Burnaby-Lougheed, the riding held by longtime Liberal Harry Bloy.


 

Interim measures needed to address congestion at tube

I reviewed the politics and policies of upgrading or replacing the George Massey Tunnel in my last column. In 2006, then transportation minister Kevin Falcon said the tunnel was a low priority and would be addressed in a decade or two. Last September, Premier Christy Clark said the tunnel is now a high priority and will be addressed in 10 to 15 years. Such is the progress of this important local issue in Victoria.


 

Tile inside of tunnel while we wait for new crossing

The recently hatched discussion on a tunnel replacement, aside from obvious political opportunism, raises some interesting questions.


 

Volunteer cop runs for Tories

A volunteer cop with the Burnaby RCMP is the B.C. Conservative Party's MLA candidate in Surrey-Panorama.


 

Real costs to doing nothing about congestion at tunnel

Ian Robertson has requested to be relieved from his columnist obligations for a few months, so Ted Murphy has again reached way to the back to the bench to find a pinch hitter. I am looking forward to being a contributing columnist again.


 

One degree of separation

IT was a beautiful day in the neighbourhood when West Vancouver Mayor Michael Smith told local Chamber of Commerce delegates what many of us had long suspected - the regional Mayors` Council on Regional Transportation is virtually powerless to effect a change for the better at TransLink.


 
Marvin Hunt

Hunt may serve on council and as Liberal MLA

Following the announcement that he's running for the B.C. Liberals in the upcoming provincial election, Surrey Coun. Marvin Hunt has said if he wins the Surrey-Panorama seat in the May 14 election, it "will become council's decision" whether he steps down as a city councillor.


 

Hunt running for B.C. Liberals

Veteran Surrey city councillor Marvin Hunt is running for the B.C. Liberals in Surrey-Panorama in the coming provincial election.


 

Who's running in Surrey, Delta and White Rock

The New Democrats have their MLA candidates all selected in Surrey's eight provincial ridings and Delta North while the governing Liberals have yet to secure two more candidates, and the Green Party and B.C. Conservatives still have to find seven more candidates each.


 
Shawn Wilson

New school will cost $34M

Clayton Heights will be getting a new high school in the next few years, as announced at a press conference on Friday at Clayton Heights Secondary in Surrey.


 

Didn't want to say before election

There is still time to attend the next BC Liberals black-tie fundraising gala ball event. Don't worry, your contributions won't go to TV or radio ads. The taxpayers of B.C. have that covered.


 

Hayer short on details about $37K travel bill

Surrey Liberal backbencher MLA Dave Hayer's taxpayer-funded travel expenses have once again far surpassed those of his fellow local MLAs.


 
Kevin Falcon

Moving on in 2012

Some big players on the local scene decided to hang up their hats in 2012. Surrey's top cop, Assistant Commissioner Fraser MacRae, hung up his Stetson in June after leading Canada's largest RCMP detachment for eight years. MacRae retired with more than 35 years as a Mountie under his belt.


 

Also of note

Abbotsford West MLA Mike de Jong became the newly minted finance minister on Sept. 6.


 

Liberal MLAs hand out Jubilee awards

An even dozen Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medals were handed out recently.