Upcoming election

Interesting story in the Tri-City News which shows all the upcoming candidates for the October by-election.

And the candidates are....

By Janis Warren - The Tri-City News
Published: September 20, 2013 5:00 PM
Updated: September 20, 2013 5:15 PM

Eleven Coquitlam residents — and one person from Port Moody — have filed their nomination papers to run in the Oct. 26 byelection.

The byelection is being held to replace Linda Reimer and Selina Robinson, who were elected as MLAs in May.

The contenders are:

• Michael Bell
• Ben Craig
• Ben BH Kim
• Andy Lacuna
• Barrie Lynch
• Doug Macdonell
• Kevin Startin
• Teri Towner
• Chris Wilson
• Vincent Wu
• Kurt Zaporozan
• Bonita Zarrillo

Read The Tri-City News' print edition on Wednesday for a brief introduction to the candidates.

But the best part is in the electronic version you can click on each person's name and read all their information that they had to file.  And this tells us who lives where and their union or other organization affiliates.  I see some people list all the public shares in which they are invested, which seems to me to be a big "so what".  If they can't direct IBM why do we care if they have 5 shares of it?   Looking forward to meeting *all* these people at the All Candidate's meeting in Burquitlam.  Let's see where they stand on local issues.

The Tri-City News - District energy eyed for five more Coq. neighbourhoods

The Tri-City News - District energy eyed for five more Coq. neighbourhoods

On Monday, council-in-committee heard that city staff are looking at district energy for two sections of Burquitlam — where the Evergreen Line is to run along North and Clarke roads — as well as Austin Heights, Maillardville and the City Centre business core.
....

District energy, which aims to reduce reliance on fossil fuels by recapturing alternative sources like biomass and ground-source heat, is currently in the works or operating in several Metro Vancouver areas such as Lonsdale Quay, False Creek and University at SFU. Victoria's Dockside Greek as well as Revelstoke and Whistler also have district energy programs.

Coun. Brent Asmundson said Coquitlam is behind the eight ball and has missed many opportunities to implement district energy in high-rises. His comments were echoed by Coun. Mae Reid, a realtor, who noted district energy would be a good selling feature to prospective homebuyers.

"We are way behind," Reid said, shaking her head. "I just want to get on with this. I don't want us to be the last city in the Lower Mainland or B.C. to do this."

.....

Under the plan, which council has yet to formally endorse, the city would help to set up private utility companies to install and run the systems in each of the neighbourhoods. When a private partner is selected, there would be a memorandum of understanding plus a year-long feasibility study before a final agreement is signed.

Bill Susak, Coquitlam's general manager of engineering and public works, who oversaw the North Van district district energy program, said staff are not recommending municipal ownership from the get-go because of capital costs and ongoing financial and operating risks; however, the city could take over the utilities in the future, he said.

This doesn't sound like it will cost me *less* money. But what do I know.