Finance Minister Kevin Falcon says reviewing the carbon tax doesn’t mean the BC Liberals are giving up their fight against global warming. Falcon says the government is still trying to hit its target to cut greenhouse gas emissions by one-third by 2020.

“I’m not aware of a jurisdiction in the world that has set those kind of ambitious targets and has successfully met them; I know that the minister of environment still remains committed to trying to do so.”
Falcon’s new BC budget halts any more increases of the carbon tax after the next scheduled one on July 1st.

The young woman and her father made statements to a crowd of media today after Crown council announced Tuesday that charges against Colton Ashton McMorris were to be stayed. McMorris was alleged to have been one of several involved in the sexual assault of the victim.

With a hat covering most of her face, the victim pleaded with the public. She encouraged anyone, no matter how little information they have, to speak with police. Her father echoed the sentiment, adding he hopes the consciences of those involved would get the better of them, leading them to come forward

Sergeant Peter Thiessen

Media Relations Officer and Sergeant Peter Thiessen of the RCMP was on hand to answer any questions media had. He often reiterated that the images and evidence investigators currently have leave no doubt in what happened to the victim. Looking at times to be frustrated, Thiessen commended the family, noting that if he had been in their position he would not have had the courage to speak to the public.

Police investigators now have one year to submit new evidence to the Crown before the investigation can be continued, or else it will be closed.

Matthew Low

The B.C. Liberals attempted to put a positive spin on their new budget plan as they went into specific details in front of the Vancouver Board of Trade during their Wednesday luncheon.

The Provincial government tabled a budget that proposes the first corporate-tax increase since the B.C. Liberal Party came to power in 2001. Finance Minister Kevin Falcon stressed corporate taxes were as high as 16.5 per cent in 2001 and have decreased up until now. Speaking in front of approximately five-hundred of B.C.’s business leaders, Premier Christy Clark was left trying to justify the increase.

“I read I one newspaper which called our budget the most fiscally responsible budget in Canada, and I can tell you it definitely made me proud,” said Clark at the podium.

Clark unleased a veiled jab at her counterparts from the NDP as well. “We believe in keeping our taxes low. Our critics believe in keeping taxes high, and spending high.”

Every member in attendance was given a free copy of a book titled “Personal Tax Planning”.

Reported by Matthew Low

It is part of a ten year plan to update the park.

This section of boardwalk is the second last to be built before the project is completed.

As well as creating the new boardwalks the park is also replacing many of the old planks on the existing boardwalks throughout the park.

Seasonal flooding leaves many of the existing gravel paths with over 12 inches of water in some places. This project will allow access to the entire park year-round.

Park employee Henry Dejong also hopes that the new boardwalk will help protect the environment from visitors. The park is having problems with people and their dogs leaving the existing trails and damaging the ecosystem.

The boardwalks will also allow lake access to much of the wildlife in the park.

According to the city of Burnaby website the work will be finished by mid April, depending on weather.

The boardwalk is closed to the public during the construction which will take place Monday to Friday from 7 am to 3:30 pm.

A ramp will be installed each evening to allow public access to the project.

There had been no word about the cost of the project.

To see a map of the park, including the new boardwalks click the link below.

http://www.burnaby.ca/Assets/New+Things+To+Do/Explore+The+Outdoors/Parks/Deer+Lake+-+Distance+Map.pdf

The lawyer for Constable Susan Gastaldo says the panel heard evidence against his client when she wasn’t there and accepted evidence she intended to dispute.

Larry McGonigal says the panel’s decision should be stayed and a new hearing ordered.

Staff Sergeant Travis Pearson has been reprimanded and docked 10-days pay for his part in the affair that included having sex in a police vehicle and using an R-C-M-P-issued Blackberry to exchange suggestive messages.

Ronald A. Smith, the only Canadian on death row in the U.S.

Ronald A. Smith–the only Canadian on death row in the United States–is only a couple of months away from his clemency, and he is reflecting back on his life. Smith says he wishes he could apologize to the families of the victims but realizes that isn’t possible.

“I was some kind of monster…and I’m not saying that I wasn’t…at that point I was. Obviously, you know, I killed someone. So while I was a monster at the time, it’s not who I am.”

The clemency hearing for Smith is scheduled for early May. After exhausting his legal appeals, Smith thinks there is a good chance Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer will spare his life, and explains the politician is his only remaining option to avoid the death penalty. He believes the governor will recognize that he is a changed man.

Smith was 24 when he robbed and shot two men who offered him a ride near East Glacier, Montana back in 1982.

The problem affects minivans from the 2008 and 2009 model years that have power lift gates.

The car maker is recalling nearly 46,000 Odyssey minivans in the United States.

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says on its website that gas can leak out of the struts that support the lift gates, causing them to fail.

The doors could close unexpectedly, increasing the risk of injury.

Honda says the problem has caused two minor injuries and that the company will replace both power lift gate struts for free.

The company says it will send letters to van owners next month with instructions about the recall.

Graham James after being named The Hockey News’ man of the year.         Associated Press

Former NHL Star Theoron Fleury’s former junior hockey coach and sexual abuser–Graham James–should serve six years in prison, the Crown argued Wednesday at James’ sentencing hearing.

Fleury states James should be locked up and never released. In an emotional statement, Fleury says James sent him and many other boys on a “journey to hell” when the junior coach sexually assaulted them.

“I urge this court to set an example–not only for other offenders, but to those who have been victimized; that this court and this country take sexual assault seriously. And that you’ll protect the innocent, harshly punish the guilty and encourage healing so that everyone who has been even remotely affected by monsters like Graham James.”

Fleury’s comments–made in Vancouver because he is unable to be in Winnipeg for today’s court proceedings–come as Crown and defence make sentencing submissions after James pleaded guilty to attacking Fleury and another junior player who cannot be identified.

James pleaded guilty on Dec.7 to sexually assault in the 1980s and early ’90s. James was also convicted of abusing other players, including former NHL player Sheldon Kennedy, and the former junior coach has already spent three and a half years in jail.

Muclair announces affordable housing strategy

NDP leadership candidate Thomas Mulcair announced in Vancouver this morning his plans to make housing more affordable for Canadian families.

Mulcair’s plan will focus on building more co-op buildings as well as rental suites to accommodate the growing demand for affordable housing across the country.The NDP Deputy Leader said the Federal government has been disengaging with social housing initiatives since the 80’s, leading Canada to be the only G8 country without a national housing strategy.

Mulcair called the lack of affordable housing a “crisis” and believes the federal government needs to make it a top priority. He says the plan would take advantage of low income rates offered by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation to build more rental units.

The affordable housing announcement was made inside the Woodwards building, a site Mulcair referenced as being a success story for creating social housing, market units and community space. Today’s announcement was one of several proposals Mulcair has made during his 2012 NDP leadership campaign, including climate change and pension plan initiatives.

Written by: Jessica Price