Backrooms column by Dan Hilborn
Published July 29, 2006
Some very sad news arrived during my two-week summer holiday. Sheila Veitch, the former Burnaby city councillor, school trustee and widow of one-time deputy premier Elwood 'Slim' Veitch, passed away July 8 after a lengthy battle with throat cancer.
Sheila was one of the first female politicians I ever met in Burnaby, and she was much more than just the gatekeeper to her husband's telephone (which she excelled at).
A dauntless campaigner, her son Brian told a terrific tale of her temerity in her eulogy, which wass heard by a standing-room-only crowd that featured both Grace McCarthy and 'whistling' Bernie Smith at South Burnaby United Church.
Apparently, Sheila and a volunteer were doorknocking on Slim's behalf when a naked man holding a beer opened the door.
"The volunteer bolted away but our Mom stared him straight in the eyes and began her campaign pitch," Brian said. When her two-minute campaign spiel was finished, Sheila asked her usual question, "Will you vote for Elwood Veitch?" Of course, the nude man was so impressed, he said "Yes."
Her list of personal achievements is nothing short of astounding.
Sheila was a mainstay of the Burnaby Council of Women, the B.C. Council of Women and one-time vice-president of the Canadian Council of Women. She was a member of the Metrotown Rotary Club and on the board of stewards at South Burnaby United Church and the board of Fair Haven United Church Homes. She was also active on the boards of Langara College, Vancouver Community College and the Burnaby College for the Retired. She served on the the B.C. Parole Board, kept books for the St. Michael's Centre gift shop, volunteered with Rotary Anns, was secretary of the New Westminster and District Concert Band and was an area captain for the Salvation Army Red Shield Appeal.
And then, of course, there was politics. Sheila served on the Burnaby school board from 1981 to 1985 and was chair of its finance and buildings and grounds committees. She was elected to city council in 1985 and also served on the city's library board, plus the crime prevention, traffic and safety and grants committees.
She was a volunteer extraordinaire and had a heart of gold that shone through in every deed of her life.
Sheila will be sadly missed by her children Barb (Reg), Brian (Lauren), Gregory (Isabelle), grandchildren Kelsey, Brock, Sarah, Connor, Spencer and Alexandria. Donations to the B.C. Cancer Foundation are appreciated.
LIQUOR DEBATE
Add another high-profile business person to the growing list of people upset with Burnaby council's recent liquor store location policy.
Bruce Orr, president of Orr Development Corp. and builder of the 150,000-square-foot Centrepoint development going up across the street from Metropolis at Metrotown, says Burnaby is unfairly blocking private liquor store applications for his project. Centrepoint has signed a tentative lease with the former Diego's Pub (now Maverick's) to operate a 4,500-sq.-ft. private liquor store in the new development, and that application is now stuck in limbo, said Orr.
"For one year, Diego's has worked tirelessly to get approval and we have kept 4,500 sq.ft. available for them on the understanding that fair play, an open and accountable permitting system would prevail. Unfortunately events have proven us wrong," Orr said in a June 19 letter to council.
Over the phone, Orr became even more irate.
"These (Diego's) are taxpaying people who play by the rules and they should be treated with respect," he said. "In Vancouver, you don't have to rezone for a private liquor store, you just get a licence. In Burnaby, they make you rezone.
"Well, Diego's did that and they still get slapped with a moratorium. I think it's an abuse of the system."
FROM THE TOP?
It's worth passing on a little observation courtesy of an unnamed social worker following the publication of my story about the new windows at the Hall Towers.
Given our provincial government's penchant for micromanaging, it's likely that the decision to spend $4.6 million to replace the gaping windows was made at the cabinet level, said the source.
The installation of the new windows comes three years after a diagnosed schizophrenic, Harry Kierans, leaped to his death from the 14th floor of one of the 30-year-old buildings, despite his repeated requests to get out of the building.
In the original announcement, a government spokesperson said that energy efficiency was the main reason for the new windows, although the safety of residents "was a consideration."
Kind of warms the heart, eh?
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Giro di Burnaby a big success
By Dan Hilborn
Published July 29, 2006
There was an air of joviality in the Burnaby city council chambers Monday night as Mayor Derek Corrigan received the perpetual trophy and a replica winner's jersey from the successful Giro di Burnaby cycling race, held in the Heights neighbourhood on July 14.
"Oh, isn't that beautiful," the mayor quipped as he held up the distinctive pink and black racing shirt modelled after the winners' jersey used in the Giro d'Italia. "I assume we're going to have more of these."
An estimated 5,000 to 7,000 people showed up to watch the first ever cycling criterium race in the Heights neighbourhood on July 14, making it one of the biggest professional cycling events in the Lower Mainland.
And in a report to city council last Monday night, event organizer Rainy Kent said the race is now on solid footing and looks forward to growing over the next few years.
The only real "hiccup" was the slightly late arrival of the hay truck - it was stuck in freeway traffic - which delayed the start of the two races by about 10 minutes, and resulted in the men's race finishing just as twilight was descending, Kent said.
"There was not one mishap," Kent told council. "The RCMP said they'd never seen an event run so smoothly and, all in all, it was a huge success."
"I couldn't believe how exciting it was," added the mayor, who admitted he'd never seen a cycling race before.
Corrigan also paid tribute to the police, firefighters and city engineers who worked the event, the volunteers and merchants who helped out and the race's official artist, Luigia Zilli.
Corrigan also said that the event would not have happened without the dedication and work of Coun. Pietro Calendino, who fundraised more than half the estimated $51,000 cost.
Speaking after the council meeting, Calendino said he would eventually like to see a longer 'road race' added to the event, so that residents in both north and south Burnaby can watch the race go past their own neighbourhoods.
"My vision was to have a road race to start, but that meant a lot more planning, volunteers and more involvement by police and city departments," he said. "We want all of Burnaby to get the flavour of this."
Before expanding the race, the city hopes to have the Giro di Burnaby criterium race formally added to the Lower Mainland's 'cycling superweek' schedule, which features similar short track criterium races in Delta, White Rock and Gastown.
Calendino also said the race is well worth the price.
"For the entertainment it provides and the participation of the population, it's well-spent money," Calendino said. "One other thing, we'd like the merchants to have their foods out, so it becomes a fair along with a sporting event."
Racers from as far away as Ontario, Russia, Ireland, Italy, Australia, New Zealand and New Jersey were among the participants in this year's event.
Calendino also hopes that this year's winners - Heights' resident Gina Grain in the women's division and Australia's Hilton Clarke in the men's division - will wear their distinctive Giro di Burnaby winner's jackets when they come back to the race next year.
Published July 29, 2006
There was an air of joviality in the Burnaby city council chambers Monday night as Mayor Derek Corrigan received the perpetual trophy and a replica winner's jersey from the successful Giro di Burnaby cycling race, held in the Heights neighbourhood on July 14.
"Oh, isn't that beautiful," the mayor quipped as he held up the distinctive pink and black racing shirt modelled after the winners' jersey used in the Giro d'Italia. "I assume we're going to have more of these."
An estimated 5,000 to 7,000 people showed up to watch the first ever cycling criterium race in the Heights neighbourhood on July 14, making it one of the biggest professional cycling events in the Lower Mainland.
And in a report to city council last Monday night, event organizer Rainy Kent said the race is now on solid footing and looks forward to growing over the next few years.
The only real "hiccup" was the slightly late arrival of the hay truck - it was stuck in freeway traffic - which delayed the start of the two races by about 10 minutes, and resulted in the men's race finishing just as twilight was descending, Kent said.
"There was not one mishap," Kent told council. "The RCMP said they'd never seen an event run so smoothly and, all in all, it was a huge success."
"I couldn't believe how exciting it was," added the mayor, who admitted he'd never seen a cycling race before.
Corrigan also paid tribute to the police, firefighters and city engineers who worked the event, the volunteers and merchants who helped out and the race's official artist, Luigia Zilli.
Corrigan also said that the event would not have happened without the dedication and work of Coun. Pietro Calendino, who fundraised more than half the estimated $51,000 cost.
Speaking after the council meeting, Calendino said he would eventually like to see a longer 'road race' added to the event, so that residents in both north and south Burnaby can watch the race go past their own neighbourhoods.
"My vision was to have a road race to start, but that meant a lot more planning, volunteers and more involvement by police and city departments," he said. "We want all of Burnaby to get the flavour of this."
Before expanding the race, the city hopes to have the Giro di Burnaby criterium race formally added to the Lower Mainland's 'cycling superweek' schedule, which features similar short track criterium races in Delta, White Rock and Gastown.
Calendino also said the race is well worth the price.
"For the entertainment it provides and the participation of the population, it's well-spent money," Calendino said. "One other thing, we'd like the merchants to have their foods out, so it becomes a fair along with a sporting event."
Racers from as far away as Ontario, Russia, Ireland, Italy, Australia, New Zealand and New Jersey were among the participants in this year's event.
Calendino also hopes that this year's winners - Heights' resident Gina Grain in the women's division and Australia's Hilton Clarke in the men's division - will wear their distinctive Giro di Burnaby winner's jackets when they come back to the race next year.
Housing plan debated
By Dan Hilborn
Published July 26, 2006
A provincial government plan that could give direct cash subsidies to help low-income families pay for housing is coming under fire in the Burnaby city council chambers.
Coun. Colleen Jordan, chair of the city's housing committee, said the proposal, which is expected to be made public in early September, will do nothing to help the estimated 3,800 Burnaby residents who are currently on the B.C. Housing waiting list.
"If you just give low-income people a subsidy, it may not go to housing at all," Jordan told the Burnaby NOW Tuesday morning. "It'll also just cause landlords to raise the rents, because they know people have more income."
Jordan said that a better plan would be to have the provincial and federal governments work together to build more affordable housing.
"There hasn't been any more non-market housing built in years and years," she said. "The feds have not put money up for it, the province has not and I think the last time any GVRD housing was put up was eight years ago.
"Even if people put up the land, there's no money for the capital. ... There's nothing to address any of it."
Jordan noted that the lack of funding is being felt in a wide variety of ways, including the pending loss of a 'safe house' for streets kids in North Vancouver, which is used by young people from Burnaby. At a recent GVRD workshop on the homelessness issue, North Vancouver City mayor Darrell Mussatto told Jordan that his council was looking for an additional $120,000 to keep open its safe house for kids.
Jordan also noted that a similar five-bed youth safe house in Burnaby operated from 2000 until 2003, when its funding was cut by the provincial government.
"What that tells me is there's young people looking for a safe place to stay, and we don't have it in Burnaby anymore," Jordan said. "If kids are looking for a safe place to stay they now have to go to North Vancouver or Surrey. But they've closed Burnaby, and now they're going to close the one in North Vancouver."
Jordan's words were echoed by Team Burnaby councillor Garth Evans, who described direct cash subsides to low income families as "the worst way to provide housing."
Evans said a better alternative might be to to give subsidies to landlords or developers to help keep their rents low.
And mayor Derek Corrigan waded into the argument by stating that shelters are not necessarily the best alternative either. "People don't just need a shelter. They need comprehensive assistance to deal with other problems like alcohol and addictions," he said.
Published July 26, 2006
A provincial government plan that could give direct cash subsidies to help low-income families pay for housing is coming under fire in the Burnaby city council chambers.
Coun. Colleen Jordan, chair of the city's housing committee, said the proposal, which is expected to be made public in early September, will do nothing to help the estimated 3,800 Burnaby residents who are currently on the B.C. Housing waiting list.
"If you just give low-income people a subsidy, it may not go to housing at all," Jordan told the Burnaby NOW Tuesday morning. "It'll also just cause landlords to raise the rents, because they know people have more income."
Jordan said that a better plan would be to have the provincial and federal governments work together to build more affordable housing.
"There hasn't been any more non-market housing built in years and years," she said. "The feds have not put money up for it, the province has not and I think the last time any GVRD housing was put up was eight years ago.
"Even if people put up the land, there's no money for the capital. ... There's nothing to address any of it."
Jordan noted that the lack of funding is being felt in a wide variety of ways, including the pending loss of a 'safe house' for streets kids in North Vancouver, which is used by young people from Burnaby. At a recent GVRD workshop on the homelessness issue, North Vancouver City mayor Darrell Mussatto told Jordan that his council was looking for an additional $120,000 to keep open its safe house for kids.
Jordan also noted that a similar five-bed youth safe house in Burnaby operated from 2000 until 2003, when its funding was cut by the provincial government.
"What that tells me is there's young people looking for a safe place to stay, and we don't have it in Burnaby anymore," Jordan said. "If kids are looking for a safe place to stay they now have to go to North Vancouver or Surrey. But they've closed Burnaby, and now they're going to close the one in North Vancouver."
Jordan's words were echoed by Team Burnaby councillor Garth Evans, who described direct cash subsides to low income families as "the worst way to provide housing."
Evans said a better alternative might be to to give subsidies to landlords or developers to help keep their rents low.
And mayor Derek Corrigan waded into the argument by stating that shelters are not necessarily the best alternative either. "People don't just need a shelter. They need comprehensive assistance to deal with other problems like alcohol and addictions," he said.
Mercury spills at store
By Dan Hilborn
Published July 22, 2006
Several employees at the Lordco auto parts outlet on Edmonds Street lost their shoes, and one employee had to give up his clothing, after a hazardous material incident last Friday afternoon.
A small amount of mercury was spilled, prompting a call to the hazardous material response team of the Burnaby Fire Department.
While the fire department was able to clean up the majority of the estimated two ounces of mercury without incident, a private hazardous materials response team was also called out to help with the job.
"In the grand scheme of things, this wasn't a large spill," said Chris Nicholson, supervisor of CEDA Reactor Ltd. in Coquitlam. "But it was a small amount spread over a large area."
While the store was evacuated, nobody was injured in the incident. Mercury is a heavy silver liquid that is most harmful if its vapours are inhaled either in large doses or over a long period of time.
A manager at Lordco who identified himself only as "Steve" said the mercury spilled out of a tool that was recently purchased from a nearby motorcycle dealership, and his employees were not forewarned about the presence of the toxic substance.
"If we had known, I don't think we would have even been transporting that tool," he said.
The employee's shoes and clothing were removed for clean-up and further testing to see if they had any contamination, and were expected to be returned to their rightful owners this week.
Published July 22, 2006
Several employees at the Lordco auto parts outlet on Edmonds Street lost their shoes, and one employee had to give up his clothing, after a hazardous material incident last Friday afternoon.
A small amount of mercury was spilled, prompting a call to the hazardous material response team of the Burnaby Fire Department.
While the fire department was able to clean up the majority of the estimated two ounces of mercury without incident, a private hazardous materials response team was also called out to help with the job.
"In the grand scheme of things, this wasn't a large spill," said Chris Nicholson, supervisor of CEDA Reactor Ltd. in Coquitlam. "But it was a small amount spread over a large area."
While the store was evacuated, nobody was injured in the incident. Mercury is a heavy silver liquid that is most harmful if its vapours are inhaled either in large doses or over a long period of time.
A manager at Lordco who identified himself only as "Steve" said the mercury spilled out of a tool that was recently purchased from a nearby motorcycle dealership, and his employees were not forewarned about the presence of the toxic substance.
"If we had known, I don't think we would have even been transporting that tool," he said.
The employee's shoes and clothing were removed for clean-up and further testing to see if they had any contamination, and were expected to be returned to their rightful owners this week.
New windows in BC Housing apartments
By Dan Hilborn
Published July 22, 2006
Three years after Harry Kierans leaped to his death out the windows of his 14th-floor suite in the Hall Towers at Kingsway and Edmonds, B.C. Housing is halfway through a $4.6-million program of installing safer, smaller and more energy-efficient windows in the two highrise apartment buildings.
"This is part of our modernization and improvement program," said Sam Rainboth, manager of public affairs for the government agency that provides social housing and rental subsidies for an estimated 67,000 households across the province.
While the window replacement program was "not directly related" to Kierans' suicide on July 25, 2003, the "safety of residents was a consideration," Rainboth said.
"The windows were in need of replacement," Rainboth said. Although the original windows met the building code when the towers were originally built - the first tower went up in 1972 and the second was completed five years later - they had developed water leaks and were requiring an increased amount of maintenance.
The new smaller windows are double paned and have stronger frames, and will also result in energy cost savings, he said, adding that one of the buildings has more than 300 separate windows.
Family members of Harry Kierans, who have been fighting for smaller windows in the buildings, said the replacement program is a cause of mixed emotions.
"Seeing the building being retrofitted with safe window units, I had a mixture of deep sadness and relief," said Harry's sister Mae Kierans, a Catholic nun. "Sadness that the retrofit was too late for my dear brother Harry, but relief for the other persons suffering from mental illness who still live there."
Kierans also told the Burnaby NOW that she was shocked when she first saw the large, old windows in the Hall Towers.
"Walking into his apartment days after his death, with the huge gaping window still wide open and the curtains still flapping out, I experienced vertigo," she said. "I could have fallen out myself from dizziness if I went near the windows to close them, so I stayed away from them. Any child could have fallen out, the ledges were so low.
"Why would anyone assign persons suffering from mental illness to such a death trap?"
Mae and Harry's other sister, lawyer Kathleen Walker, have been calling for a formal coroner's inquest into their brother's death for the past three years.
In a July 23, 2005 story published in the Burnaby NOW, the two sisters said that a lack of government services and a slow-moving bureaucracy were two key factors behind the suicide.
After filing a series of freedom of information requests to obtain their brother's government records, Harry's sisters received a stack of documents measuring more than 22-cm thick including several memos that indicate Harry had made several requests to move out of the Hall Tower in the months leading up to his suicide.
The sisters found that Harry and his wife, who suffered from bipolar disorder, had also received several threats of eviction from the building manager due to their inability to keep their apartment clean. The files also indicate that the couple had lost the services of a home support worker in 1999.
The most upsetting aspect of the reports was a memo indicating that a decision had been made to return the home support worker to Harry and his wife in the week prior to his suicide.
Also included in the documents was a "confidential issues note" dated Jan. 16, 2004 and presented to then-health minister Colin Hansen that gives the following summary of the original B.C. Coroner's report into Harry's death. "The (coroner's) report contains no recommendations, but it does highlight the serious issues relating to apparent systemic failures in providing care that was appropriate and well-coordinated among agencies, i.e. B.C. Housing, to meet the client's particular needs."
Mae Kierans continues to press her case for a formal investigation into the circumstances around her brother's death and has asked for assistance from Burnaby-Edmonds MLA Raj Chouhan, who was recently appointed the NDP critic for mental health.
Published July 22, 2006
Three years after Harry Kierans leaped to his death out the windows of his 14th-floor suite in the Hall Towers at Kingsway and Edmonds, B.C. Housing is halfway through a $4.6-million program of installing safer, smaller and more energy-efficient windows in the two highrise apartment buildings.
"This is part of our modernization and improvement program," said Sam Rainboth, manager of public affairs for the government agency that provides social housing and rental subsidies for an estimated 67,000 households across the province.
While the window replacement program was "not directly related" to Kierans' suicide on July 25, 2003, the "safety of residents was a consideration," Rainboth said.
"The windows were in need of replacement," Rainboth said. Although the original windows met the building code when the towers were originally built - the first tower went up in 1972 and the second was completed five years later - they had developed water leaks and were requiring an increased amount of maintenance.
The new smaller windows are double paned and have stronger frames, and will also result in energy cost savings, he said, adding that one of the buildings has more than 300 separate windows.
Family members of Harry Kierans, who have been fighting for smaller windows in the buildings, said the replacement program is a cause of mixed emotions.
"Seeing the building being retrofitted with safe window units, I had a mixture of deep sadness and relief," said Harry's sister Mae Kierans, a Catholic nun. "Sadness that the retrofit was too late for my dear brother Harry, but relief for the other persons suffering from mental illness who still live there."
Kierans also told the Burnaby NOW that she was shocked when she first saw the large, old windows in the Hall Towers.
"Walking into his apartment days after his death, with the huge gaping window still wide open and the curtains still flapping out, I experienced vertigo," she said. "I could have fallen out myself from dizziness if I went near the windows to close them, so I stayed away from them. Any child could have fallen out, the ledges were so low.
"Why would anyone assign persons suffering from mental illness to such a death trap?"
Mae and Harry's other sister, lawyer Kathleen Walker, have been calling for a formal coroner's inquest into their brother's death for the past three years.
In a July 23, 2005 story published in the Burnaby NOW, the two sisters said that a lack of government services and a slow-moving bureaucracy were two key factors behind the suicide.
After filing a series of freedom of information requests to obtain their brother's government records, Harry's sisters received a stack of documents measuring more than 22-cm thick including several memos that indicate Harry had made several requests to move out of the Hall Tower in the months leading up to his suicide.
The sisters found that Harry and his wife, who suffered from bipolar disorder, had also received several threats of eviction from the building manager due to their inability to keep their apartment clean. The files also indicate that the couple had lost the services of a home support worker in 1999.
The most upsetting aspect of the reports was a memo indicating that a decision had been made to return the home support worker to Harry and his wife in the week prior to his suicide.
Also included in the documents was a "confidential issues note" dated Jan. 16, 2004 and presented to then-health minister Colin Hansen that gives the following summary of the original B.C. Coroner's report into Harry's death. "The (coroner's) report contains no recommendations, but it does highlight the serious issues relating to apparent systemic failures in providing care that was appropriate and well-coordinated among agencies, i.e. B.C. Housing, to meet the client's particular needs."
Mae Kierans continues to press her case for a formal investigation into the circumstances around her brother's death and has asked for assistance from Burnaby-Edmonds MLA Raj Chouhan, who was recently appointed the NDP critic for mental health.
MLA takes seat on health team
Backrooms column by Dan Hilborn
Published July 12, 2006
Expect to hear more news from Burnaby-Edmonds NDP MLA Raj Chouhan in the coming months, as the B.C. NDP prepares to escalate its fight against the provincial government's health-care policies.
Chouhan was named the NDP critic for mental health just prior to the Canada Day holiday, joining a new three-person team on the overall health care file.
Leading the team will be rising star Vancouver-Kingsway MLA Adrian Dix, with assistance from West Kootenay MLA Katrine Conroy, who takes on the critic role for seniors' health.
The formation of the new NDP health care team is part of a strategy to reverse the NDP's dismal showing in recent public opinion polls, and the three critics all have powerhouse resumes.
Dix has already won accolades for his earlier work on the ministry of children and families file, while Conroy is former hospital board member. Chouhan is no slouch himself.
"I have 18 years experience working on health care," said the former organizer for the Hospital Employees' Union.
And he wasted no time criticizing the Liberals for failing to help people suffering from mental health problems and addictions.
"The Liberals have looked at mental health as something secondary," Chouhan said. "The number of people on the street who are grappling with mental health and addiction has grown significantly."
At the top of Chouhan's list are calls to provide a greater investment in crisis management and detox beds.
"In Burnaby, the Liberals closed Maple Cottage detox centre," he said. "Those kinds of community-based programs are not only a necessary feature of a compassionate society, they make common sense."
Chouhan noted that the mental health file has some "crossover issues" with his other great interest - human rights.
"People who have suffered from mental disorders are many times not looked at as equals.
"They are treated as second class citizens who don't belong in mainstream society," he said. "That's a human rights issue. We want these people to have the same respect as anyone else."
While Chouhan gives up his former critic role on human rights, he will continue to work on the marriage fraud file.
CHANGE AT CENTRE
A little housekeeping is in order after I mistakenly referred to city councillor Gary Begin as the chair of St. Michael's Centre in a recent story.
Begin was the chair until last month when he moved over to become chair of the Fairhaven United Church Home. His Team Burnaby colleague Barbara Spitz is the new chair at St. Michael's.
THE RETURN OF PATTY SAHOTA
It appears the former Burnaby-Edmonds MLA Patty Sahota is back in the game, and expanding her boundaries.
Sahota, a former minister of state for resort development, is a B.C. regional organizer for one of the contenders in the federal Liberal leadership contest, according to a report on the Public Eye website.
Sahota is apparently working with Ujjal Dosanjh and former Vancouver city organizer Mae Brown on the campaign of former Ontario NDP premier Bob Rae, said a June 8 posting.
The moves comes as a bit of a surprise to those pundits who thought Sahota was more closely aligned with the Conservative Party than the New Democrats. Attempts to contact Sahota through both the federal and provincial Liberal headquarters were unsuccessful.
Published July 12, 2006
Expect to hear more news from Burnaby-Edmonds NDP MLA Raj Chouhan in the coming months, as the B.C. NDP prepares to escalate its fight against the provincial government's health-care policies.
Chouhan was named the NDP critic for mental health just prior to the Canada Day holiday, joining a new three-person team on the overall health care file.
Leading the team will be rising star Vancouver-Kingsway MLA Adrian Dix, with assistance from West Kootenay MLA Katrine Conroy, who takes on the critic role for seniors' health.
The formation of the new NDP health care team is part of a strategy to reverse the NDP's dismal showing in recent public opinion polls, and the three critics all have powerhouse resumes.
Dix has already won accolades for his earlier work on the ministry of children and families file, while Conroy is former hospital board member. Chouhan is no slouch himself.
"I have 18 years experience working on health care," said the former organizer for the Hospital Employees' Union.
And he wasted no time criticizing the Liberals for failing to help people suffering from mental health problems and addictions.
"The Liberals have looked at mental health as something secondary," Chouhan said. "The number of people on the street who are grappling with mental health and addiction has grown significantly."
At the top of Chouhan's list are calls to provide a greater investment in crisis management and detox beds.
"In Burnaby, the Liberals closed Maple Cottage detox centre," he said. "Those kinds of community-based programs are not only a necessary feature of a compassionate society, they make common sense."
Chouhan noted that the mental health file has some "crossover issues" with his other great interest - human rights.
"People who have suffered from mental disorders are many times not looked at as equals.
"They are treated as second class citizens who don't belong in mainstream society," he said. "That's a human rights issue. We want these people to have the same respect as anyone else."
While Chouhan gives up his former critic role on human rights, he will continue to work on the marriage fraud file.
CHANGE AT CENTRE
A little housekeeping is in order after I mistakenly referred to city councillor Gary Begin as the chair of St. Michael's Centre in a recent story.
Begin was the chair until last month when he moved over to become chair of the Fairhaven United Church Home. His Team Burnaby colleague Barbara Spitz is the new chair at St. Michael's.
THE RETURN OF PATTY SAHOTA
It appears the former Burnaby-Edmonds MLA Patty Sahota is back in the game, and expanding her boundaries.
Sahota, a former minister of state for resort development, is a B.C. regional organizer for one of the contenders in the federal Liberal leadership contest, according to a report on the Public Eye website.
Sahota is apparently working with Ujjal Dosanjh and former Vancouver city organizer Mae Brown on the campaign of former Ontario NDP premier Bob Rae, said a June 8 posting.
The moves comes as a bit of a surprise to those pundits who thought Sahota was more closely aligned with the Conservative Party than the New Democrats. Attempts to contact Sahota through both the federal and provincial Liberal headquarters were unsuccessful.
Rest home union vows to fight
By Dan Hilborn
Published July 8, 2006
The Hospital Employees' Union is going back to the B.C. Labour Relations Board to ensure that Compass Group Canada lives up to its obligations to workers at the Normanna rest home in Burnaby.
Judy Darcy, secretary-business manager for the union, said Thursday that she intends to continue fighting for the 25 employees who were given layoff notices five days after the board imposed a contract settlement on the firm.
"The fact that Compass is walking away from the contract does not take away the employees' entitlement," Darcy said. "For people earning $10 an hour, this is significant, and we're going to fight to get them every penny they're entitled to."
The settlement, which provided for pay raises of 24 per cent, included an additional $1 an hour retroactive to May 1, 2006 and a lump sum signing bonus of about $800 per employee, Darcy said.
Darcy said the company's refusal to abide by the terms of the board settlement are astounding, especially in light of the fact that the U.K.-based company reported profits in excess of $530 million over a recent six-month period.
"How can they, with any credibility, plead poverty?" Darcy asked. "It just doesn't wash. I challenge them, if they're pleading poverty now: open your books.
"This is not a company that's on the verge of bankruptcy. When we're talking about those kinds of profits, they're walking away from a commercial contract that would pay these workers $11 an hour this year and $12 an hour next.
"There's something very wrong with that picture. These workers should not be subjected to this uncertainty, and the health-care system should not be subjected to this."
Margi Blamey, media relations officer for the union, said the union was contemplating legal action against Compass but has since learned that the labour board still holds jurisdiction.
"The contract is a contract," Blamey said. "If the company refuses to abide by the contract, even though it has terminated its health services agreement with Normanna, I believe the arbitrator holds jurisdiction.
"That contract is still in force for the 60 days, so there is every expectation that our members will be paid all the moneys due to them," Blamey added.
The union's comments came just hours after Normanna executive director Margaret Douglas-Matthews announced that B.C.-based Servantage will take over the contract for the 25 housekeepers, laundry workers and dietary aides at Normanna after the current contract is handed over on Aug. 30.
Servantage will also host a job fair next week for current employees at Normanna, and Douglas-Matthews is hoping that anyone who wants to continue working at the care centre will be allowed to keep their job.
Darcy and Blamey both confirmed that the union is looking forward to establishing a good working relationship with Servantage.
Roselin Chandra, one of the affected food services workers, said the majority of Normanna employees recognize that their protracted labour problems were the result of Compass's actions and not the fault of the care home.
"Basically, we got screwed by Compass. I don't know how else to put it," Chandra said. "We're very disappointed. They wasted our time and money. And when we did get a contract, we got pink slips instead."
And with the new contract in place between Normanna and Servantage, it appears unlikely that the Fraser Health Authority will step into the fray.
"Our role, from our perspective, is that we fund contractors to provide care to the residents and then we monitor that care," said Michael Bernard, senior communications consultant for the regional health authority. "We don't get involved unless there is a direct impact on residential care delivery.
"At this point in time, it is not having a direct impact such that we have to step in," he said.
Bernard noted that both Compass and Normanna are within their rights to terminate the contract, as long as the care of patients is not compromised.
The Burnaby NOW also spoke to several family members of residents living in Normanna care home, all of whom applauded the quality of care provided at the facility.
"I feel the staff here is absolutely wonderful, and I don't believe there'll be any problems," said Ellen Henderson, who has had a family member in the facility for the past six years. "The quality of care the residents are given is excellent. I'd say most people are extremely pleased with the quality of care they're receiving."
"I just want to give some support to the workers because they really do a good job," said Laura Sollero, whose husband has been in Normanna for the past two-and-a-half years. "It's a friendly place."
Another family member, Theresa Facchin, said the Normanna employees have always done their best, no matter what was going on around them. "For the money that they've been paid to do that, they're pretty good," Facchin said. "But we do hope that things will get straightened out so we can keep the workers that are there now."
Meanwhile, Brenda Brown, vice- president of human resources for Compass Group Canada, said her company "resigned the account simply because it was no longer economically viable.
"The financials wouldn't work for us with the new collective agreement - not so much the collective agreement but the labour board decision," Brown said.
Brown was unable to respond when asked why Compass refused to pay the arbitrated settlement that was based on the wages paid by the Compass's major competitors, Sodexho and Aramark.
"I really can't comment on how they run their businesses," Brown said. "I don't know what their commercial contracts are and I can't say why it's viable for them. Every account has its own contract, and the terms are not public knowledge."
Brown also said that Compass is continuing to negotiate the terms of employment for another 1,000 union members who work on Vancouver Island and with the provincial health services authority.
"Everyone always wants to reach a negotiated agreement that best suits both parties," Brown said.
"That's what we all aim to do. We go into it with the best intentions in mind."
Published July 8, 2006
The Hospital Employees' Union is going back to the B.C. Labour Relations Board to ensure that Compass Group Canada lives up to its obligations to workers at the Normanna rest home in Burnaby.
Judy Darcy, secretary-business manager for the union, said Thursday that she intends to continue fighting for the 25 employees who were given layoff notices five days after the board imposed a contract settlement on the firm.
"The fact that Compass is walking away from the contract does not take away the employees' entitlement," Darcy said. "For people earning $10 an hour, this is significant, and we're going to fight to get them every penny they're entitled to."
The settlement, which provided for pay raises of 24 per cent, included an additional $1 an hour retroactive to May 1, 2006 and a lump sum signing bonus of about $800 per employee, Darcy said.
Darcy said the company's refusal to abide by the terms of the board settlement are astounding, especially in light of the fact that the U.K.-based company reported profits in excess of $530 million over a recent six-month period.
"How can they, with any credibility, plead poverty?" Darcy asked. "It just doesn't wash. I challenge them, if they're pleading poverty now: open your books.
"This is not a company that's on the verge of bankruptcy. When we're talking about those kinds of profits, they're walking away from a commercial contract that would pay these workers $11 an hour this year and $12 an hour next.
"There's something very wrong with that picture. These workers should not be subjected to this uncertainty, and the health-care system should not be subjected to this."
Margi Blamey, media relations officer for the union, said the union was contemplating legal action against Compass but has since learned that the labour board still holds jurisdiction.
"The contract is a contract," Blamey said. "If the company refuses to abide by the contract, even though it has terminated its health services agreement with Normanna, I believe the arbitrator holds jurisdiction.
"That contract is still in force for the 60 days, so there is every expectation that our members will be paid all the moneys due to them," Blamey added.
The union's comments came just hours after Normanna executive director Margaret Douglas-Matthews announced that B.C.-based Servantage will take over the contract for the 25 housekeepers, laundry workers and dietary aides at Normanna after the current contract is handed over on Aug. 30.
Servantage will also host a job fair next week for current employees at Normanna, and Douglas-Matthews is hoping that anyone who wants to continue working at the care centre will be allowed to keep their job.
Darcy and Blamey both confirmed that the union is looking forward to establishing a good working relationship with Servantage.
Roselin Chandra, one of the affected food services workers, said the majority of Normanna employees recognize that their protracted labour problems were the result of Compass's actions and not the fault of the care home.
"Basically, we got screwed by Compass. I don't know how else to put it," Chandra said. "We're very disappointed. They wasted our time and money. And when we did get a contract, we got pink slips instead."
And with the new contract in place between Normanna and Servantage, it appears unlikely that the Fraser Health Authority will step into the fray.
"Our role, from our perspective, is that we fund contractors to provide care to the residents and then we monitor that care," said Michael Bernard, senior communications consultant for the regional health authority. "We don't get involved unless there is a direct impact on residential care delivery.
"At this point in time, it is not having a direct impact such that we have to step in," he said.
Bernard noted that both Compass and Normanna are within their rights to terminate the contract, as long as the care of patients is not compromised.
The Burnaby NOW also spoke to several family members of residents living in Normanna care home, all of whom applauded the quality of care provided at the facility.
"I feel the staff here is absolutely wonderful, and I don't believe there'll be any problems," said Ellen Henderson, who has had a family member in the facility for the past six years. "The quality of care the residents are given is excellent. I'd say most people are extremely pleased with the quality of care they're receiving."
"I just want to give some support to the workers because they really do a good job," said Laura Sollero, whose husband has been in Normanna for the past two-and-a-half years. "It's a friendly place."
Another family member, Theresa Facchin, said the Normanna employees have always done their best, no matter what was going on around them. "For the money that they've been paid to do that, they're pretty good," Facchin said. "But we do hope that things will get straightened out so we can keep the workers that are there now."
Meanwhile, Brenda Brown, vice- president of human resources for Compass Group Canada, said her company "resigned the account simply because it was no longer economically viable.
"The financials wouldn't work for us with the new collective agreement - not so much the collective agreement but the labour board decision," Brown said.
Brown was unable to respond when asked why Compass refused to pay the arbitrated settlement that was based on the wages paid by the Compass's major competitors, Sodexho and Aramark.
"I really can't comment on how they run their businesses," Brown said. "I don't know what their commercial contracts are and I can't say why it's viable for them. Every account has its own contract, and the terms are not public knowledge."
Brown also said that Compass is continuing to negotiate the terms of employment for another 1,000 union members who work on Vancouver Island and with the provincial health services authority.
"Everyone always wants to reach a negotiated agreement that best suits both parties," Brown said.
"That's what we all aim to do. We go into it with the best intentions in mind."
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