BURNABY—Communities across B.C.

VITAL SERVICE--Pathways member Doug Elliott (centre) and CUPE 1936-04 member Tony St-Pierre (right), an employment counsellor and case manager, in the Pathways Information Centre computer room. More than 200 Downtown Eastside residents a day use Pathways’ services to help them seek or find employment.

VANCOUVER—Thanks to a short-sighted business model of the BC Liberals, a valuable service that provides job training, employment opportunities and communication resources for up to 14,000 Downtown Eastside (DTES) residents may be forced to close its doors as of March 31st.

BURNABY—CUPE members and staff were among the full-house crowd today for this year’s labour breakfast to commemorate the National Day of Action on Violence Against Women.

The annual event, sponsored by the BC Federation of Labour, honours victims of violence against women while calling for action to prevent violence and abuse.

BURNABY—While B.C. residents have rejected P3 water and wastewater projects in numerous cities including the Capital Regional District, Whistler and most recently in Abbotsford and Mission, education about keeping resources public must continue.

ABBOTSFORD—City of Abbotsford residents have serious concerns about the Stave Lake P3 deal. That’s the message from the latest Angus Reid poll on the scheme. 

Two-thirds of respondents in the City ordered poll are concerned about the “role of private businesses” (68 per cent) and the “secretive process” (67 per cent) in this P3 deal.

ABBOTSFORD—The mood was decidedly public Monday night at Abbotsford City Council.

ABBOTSFORD – More than 200 local residents took time Sunday for a public meeting on Abbotsford’s controversial P3 water plan.

The mostly South Asian audience heard from municipal candidates, residents and local temple and society leaders. The event was sponsored by Water Watch Mission-Abbotsford and the Council of Canadians. Every speaker opposed the City of Abbotsford’s proposed Public Private Partnership for drinking water supply and urged everyone to get out and vote ‘No’ in the P3 referendum on Saturday, Nov.

BEAVER CREEK – Beaver Creek residents are keeping their water public. They saw little value in a proposed P3 water infrastructure plan. They proved it by voting 73 per cent against a pricey P3 plan on Oct. 29.

ABBOTSFORD –The Abbotsford Water for Life /Maude Barlow show is online!

CHILLIWACK—Fraser Valley communities are pressuring the provincial and federal government to offer alternatives to P3 (public private partnership) funding.

Wendy Bales, Fraser Valley Regional District (FVRD) Area C Director, moved a motion last week for the board to contact the government requesting that funding be made available for non-P3 water infrastructure projects.