July 2004 Campfire Ban in the Coastal Regions Kerry Evans News Editor The ban went into effect at midnight June 24, 2004. Campfires are now prohibited in the entire Coastal Fire Centre. How long will it last? Starr Monroe, Fire Information Officer for the Coastal Fire Centre said, “It could be in place until October. Some areas may get pulled if their fire danger rating goes low enough.” The ban includes open fires of any kind, including those for cooking, warmth, or ceremonial purposes. However, the ban does not apply to Indian reserves and private camp- sites. The Coastal Fire Centre has recommended that the reserves and private sites follow the ban voluntar- ily. Ifa fire is caused they will be held liable. At this time some of them have fallen into accordance with the ban. “Some even put the ban on before our official ban start date,” said Monroe. The ban is necessary because of the province's extreme drying conditions and challenging forest fires. Last year the campfire ban was not imple- mented until late July, but because of the current dire situation it was cru- cial for the Coast Fire Centre to take action now. “Putting on the campfire ban uses a lot of resources but it is necessary,” said Monroe. Monroe hopes that their current education campaign, which teaches people how to safely have campfires, will make a significant difference. The campfire ban is just one attempt to stop further human-initiated for- est fires from occurring. Dispatch From Suburbia BC’s Royal City Still Practices The Three C’s of Small Town Politics NEW WESTMINSTER, BC, June 22, 2004. Cordial, careful, and controlled—Tuesday night's federal election all-candidates meeting for the newly created riding of Burnaby-New Westminster was a subdued affair attended by fewer than 100 people, mostly partisan camp fol- lowers from each of the five candidates in atten- dance: Dana Green, Canadian Action Party; Peter Julian, NDP; Rev Kunz, Green Party; Mary Pynenburg, Liberal Party, and Mike Redmond, Conserv-atives. In classic New Westminster fash- ion, everyone seemed to know everyone else—tra- ditionally, this area has seen provincial New Democrats often voting Reform-Alliance and even Liberal in federal elections. New Westminster, split in half by the new elec- toral boundary changes and grafted onto south Burnaby, might be poised to revert to its federal New Democrat roots. This is former NDP MP Dawn Black country and before her, the much admired late Dr. Pauline Jewett. Since 1993, Reform-Alliance Paul Forseth has carried the area by a wide margin. But Forseth now fights for re- election in the neighbouring riding of New Westminster-Coquitlam. Amiably moderated by civic-minded local lawyer, Terry Hewitt, and sponsored by the New Westminster Chamber of Commerce and Downtown Business Improvement Association, Tuesday’s meeting saw little raw debate and sever- al of the candidates declined to debate key election issues with much force. With less than one week before Election Day, perhaps candidates were suffering from “campaign fatigue.” Certainly the decision to avoid a formal question period robbed the event of drama. But in the air-conditioned splendour of the Burr Theatre, audience members seemed happy enough, meting out generous applause to each of the three leading candidates: Pynenburg for the Liberals, Julian for the NDP and Redmond for the newly minted Tories. City of New Westminster Planner Ms. Pynenburg enjoyed the benefit of two male sup- porters who determinedly gave hearty handclaps to even her weaker responses. Pynenburg consis- tently referred to her speaking notes and often seemed fixated on prepared statements. This was in contrast to Julian, a former Douglas College student, who spoke directly to the audience and approached the lip of the stage wielding a hand- held microphone with aplomb. The son of long- time New Westminster residents, Julian is in a tight three-way race with both Pynenburg’s Liberals as well as the Conservative Party, which is represented by lawyer and executive Mike Redman. The two junior candidates, Rev Kunz for the Green Party and Dana Green for the Canadian Action Party, were able to field most of the issue- related questions, although the Green party candi- date often stumbled in her responses. The difficul- ty for all candidates this summer evening seemed to be in finding ways to disagree with each other: each spoke in favour of preserving medicare, sav- ing the environment, and keeping government honest and accountable. A pity that Peter Horvath, owner of a local sandwich shop and Communist Party candidate, was unable to attend. OtherPress | 5