Electronic petitions touted by Burnaby MP

Photo courtesy rayduffable

Burnaby-Douglas Member of Parliament Kennedy Stewart is putting forward a motion to allow electronic petitioning in the federal government.

As Stewart told CBC radio, “We have a democratic deficit here in Canada.”  He feels the way petitions are traditionally put forward — the old paper and pen way— is not engaging enough people.

With electronic petitioning more dispersed communities and youth would be more involved, said Kennedy. 

His motion has two parts. The first is to make it legal for those interested to sign a petition online. The second part is for a petitioner to gather 50 thousand signatures and the support of five MPs.

It is this gathering of support that Kennedy said will protect the process from being highjacked by special interest groups. “The reputation of MPs is pretty important,” said Kennedy.

“Since the 1982 Charter of Rights and Freedoms, big issues have gone to the courts,” said Kennedy. If there were electronic petitioning, more issues would be under debate in Ottawa.

Kennedy has support from unlikely sources. Preston Manning, former leader of the Reform Party of Canada and former NDP leader Ed Broadbent.  “Both have worked to improve democracy in this country,” said Kennedy.

Kennedy's bill,  M-428, will come up for debate in the House this spring. 

Somebody's 'throwaway' now saves others

This story is just too good not to share. I must disclose that I love horses so am particularly biased in this case, but nonetheless, it is a good story!

Somebody's 'throwaway' now saves others

Edmonds celebration

Civic leaders and members of the community gathered at Edmonds community centre today to celebrate the 40 year history of the centre and to look forward to the new development slated to open in May of this year.

MLA for Burnaby-Edmonds, Raj Chouhan sponsored the event. He said he was proud of the centre which had helped so many people in the multicultural area. He said that there are 100 languages in the Edmonds area and the centre has tried to reach them all. In particular, he said he was glad the centre was able to provide programs for seniors.

A time capsule filled with items that span the last 40 years, including newspapers and photos was sealed today.

Tyle Clata drawing on a scroll included in the time capsule. She lives in the area and attended the celebration with her sister and father.

Councillor Pietro Calendino, Burnaby community centre staff members, president Ernie Fernandes, MLA Raj Chouhan and organizer Jamie Helgason smile for the cameras.

Ernie Fernandes, president of Edmonds Seniors Society said the centre had helped make a lot of good memories over the years, but he looks forward to the new centre set to open just down the street in May of this year. He says the new centre will be 'bigger and better'. He hopes the old centre stays and becomes a retirement home for the many seniors who now live in the Edmonds area.

Two week spring break coming to Burnaby schools?

Photo by epSos.d

Parents in Burnaby received notices this week regarding the option to switch to a two week spring break. Burnaby and New Westminister are currently the only lower mainland school districts which have a one week break. Other districts  are off the last two weeks of March while in Burnaby students are off the third week only. The notice to parents reads: 

"Due to new provincial legislation, Burnaby School District has an opportunity to have a conversation about whether a common school calendar for Metro-district will work for Burnaby. Parents, students, staff and the community are invited to join the discussion on future school calendar options for spring break. Should it remain a  one-week break or should we adopt the Metro-district two-week model?"

Parents are given a link to Burnaby school district  41's website.  

According to the site, the  two week model would bring Burnaby in line with other school districts and would save $250, 000 annually. The move would also be an employee benefit which would help the district keep and attract the best teachers.

Parent Suzanne Landrie, who has two daughters at Moscrop Secondary is not totally convinced it is a good plan. "I think it's a really long time for the kids to be off from school," she said.  Her daughter Sydney said, "if nothing changes with the school year then yes two weeks, but if it means less summer then one week."

The proposed two week schedule would not impact summer vacation, but would mean five less instructional days per year. Currently Burnaby students attend school 185 days per year. Under the two week schedule they would attend 180 days per year.

Update

Parents voted in favour of a two week spring break. This was announced by the school district during the week of March 28. In 2014 Burnaby schools will have two weeks off in March. 

Cats on leashes? What do you think Burnaby?

Keeping dad happy

Life isn't always serious here in Burnaby. Here is a little fun video with my partner and our sons.

Some photos from a walk around north Burnaby

Entrence welcome to north Burnaby's The Heights

Brentwood SkyTrain 

Memorial to fallen pedestrian

Open Monday to Friday 

Local grocery along Hastings Street

Famous neon sign

Old fashioned barber shop

Burnaby's finest

Coffee shop along Hastings Street

Home

Rise in Burnaby break-ins prompts task force | CTV British Columbia News

This is the big news in Burnaby today. Check out the link to the extended police footage within the article as well.

Rise in Burnaby break-ins prompts task force | CTV British Columbia News

Brentwood retailers in the dark about new development

Photo by DennisTsang

A massive new development is slated to replace the current Brentwood Town Centre but retailers in the mall say they have been given no information about what will happen to them.

Shape Properties bought the mall in 2010 and quickly proposed a huge development that will eventually include a new open-area shopping district and up to 11 condo towers.

Burnaby city council gave approval for the Brentwood master plan back in October, but retailers Wednesday were still confused about what was happening.

Owner of clothing store Match, Kevin Wang, said he had no idea when the development was set to start and what would become of his store.

“It is hard to get information. The bosses, owners of this mall, keep changing their minds I think. Now that it is passed, they don’t have to rush I guess,” said Wang.

Several other owners echoed Wang’s confusion. Owner of Gam Shoe Repair, Habibi Jamshidian, whose store has been in Brentwood 36 years, said he “hadn’t been told anything.” Jamshidian said he wasn’t opposed to the development.

“The project is exciting,” said Jamshidian, but he would like to know more specific details from his landlord.

The Shape Properties webpage says the new development is “expected to start unfolding in the spring.”

Shape spokesman Brian Nosko said Thursday representatives had recently been out of town. Regarding informing the retailers about the progress of the development Nosko said,

“They do know. We had tenant meetings in the fall.”

Nosko said it would actually be a year before any ground would be broken for the first phase of the development and that drawings for that phase are currently being prepared.

thuncher@shaw.ca