Victoria Area News

The Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada said Steinhoff was responsible for the fabrications in client documents

Saanich council was asked last night to pay a share of the costs of extended opening hours at Our Place, the downtown facility that helps street people.

saanichnews2: Senior 'embraces' aging - http://bit.ly/9eS4Xo #YYJ http://bit.ly/b7rF8M

The Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada said Steinhoff was responsible for the fabrications in client documents

saanichnews2: Five Saanich schools risk teacher layoffs - http://bit.ly/aMWB3l #YYJ http://bit.ly/9YBLRs

saanichnews2: Waffle joint commits to green - http://bit.ly/96mUDn #YYJ http://bit.ly/9sDiSs

In 2004, the government estimated it would cost more than $250 million to clear or thin the 684,727 hectares of wooded area in British Columbia that, if left alone, could dramatically increase the chances or severity of a wildfire. But the ministry of forests and range cautioned the actual area requiring fuel treatments is much lower, while the cost per hectare of those treatments is much higher. That rough estimate, which was obtained by Public Eye via a freedom of information request, represents the ministry's sole attempt since the 2003 firestorm to put a price on what is the costliest part of the province's wildfire prevention activities. But the ministry said today it never intended there would be a need to treat all of that high-risk area.

Instead, local governments were charged with narrowing that number down via plans that identified the amount of fuel treatment required to protect their communities. As we reported last year though, dozens of communities have yet to prepare such protection plans. And the ministry has acknowledged the average cost of fuel treatments is around $5,000 per hectare - much higher than the $500 to $2,000 range used in its rough estimate. To-date, the government has said around 38,000 hectares of at-risk area has been treated.

The following is a complete copy of that document.

Ministry of forests and range fuel treatment estimate

VictoriaTechjob: Software Support Analyst -- Municipal Software Corporation http://www.viatec.ca/ViewJob.aspx?id=4716 #hiring#career#job

Earlier internal Police Act investigation found allegations of excessive force against both officers were substantiated

VictoriaNews: We're looking for a unique Victoria business in the high-tech industry to profile for our Progress edition? E-mail lweighton@vicnews.com

The shows in this year's SPARK Festival are coming fast and furious now. Tonight we open Suddenly Dance Theatre's new piece, Agnes B and preview Tiny Apocalypse from Vancouver's Rough House. Tomorrow (

Blue Whale size, originally uploaded by flickkerphotos. Last weekend, the morning before I got sick with the flu, the morning Dickson's mother came for a visit, the morning that we were set to begin o

MORE ANALYSIS ON SEWAGE OPTIONS CALLED FOR BY CRD AS TIME RUNS OUT TO SECURE FUNDING

Posted: Wednesday March 10th, 2010
MORE WORK NEEDS TO BE DONE BEFORE DECIDING ON AN OPTION FOR SEWAGE TREATMENT---HOWEVER TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE AS A DECISION MUST BE MADE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO ENSURE FEDERAL... more

VICTORIA POLICE OFFICERS FACE CRIMINAL CHARGES

Posted: Wednesday March 10th, 2010
TWO VICTORIA POLICE CONSTABLES FACE CHARGES OF ASSAULT, ARISING FROM AN INCIDENT IN THE FALL OF 2008.

CHIEF JAMIE GRAHAM HAS CONFIRMED THE CHARGES HAVE BEEN LAID... more

ESQUIMALT POLICING "EFFECTIVE" BUT MAY BE WRONG FIT

Posted: Wednesday March 10th, 2010
A GOVERNMENT AUDIT OF POLICE SERVICES IN ESQUIMALT SAYS THE MUNICIPALITY SHOULD BE FREE TO CONTRACT FOR POLICING WITH AN INDEPENDENT MUNICIPAL POLICE DEPARTMENT IN THE CAPITAL... more

NEW BCTF PRESIDENT SAYS STANDARDIZED TESTS ARE HARMFUL

Posted: Wednesday March 10th, 2010
THE NEW PRESIDENT OF THE B-C TEACHERS FEDERATION SAYS STANDARDIZED TESTS IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM ARE HARMFUL.

SUSAN LAMBERT WANTS TO DO AWAY WITH THE FOUNDATION SKILLS ASSESSMENT... more

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timescolonist: Two Victoria police officers charged criminally with assault against two brothers: http://tinyurl.com/ykortux

timescolonist: We're meeting today about our social networking skills!

Today, in a government caucus news release, Solicitor General Kash Heed spanked provincial New Democrat John Horgan's support for photo radar. That system was scrapped by the Campbell administration following the 2001 election over the objections of police chiefs. So does that mean the solicitor general, West Vancouver's former chief constable, disagrees with the chiefs' past position on speed cameras? Well, that seemed to be a question Mr. Heed just wasn't willing to answer. The following is a complete copy of that news release.

BC Liberal Government Caucus
NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release
March 10, 2010

NDP WANTS TO RESURRECT FAILED PHOTO RADAR PLAN

VICTORIA - The NDP's plan to bring back photo radar means less police on the streets and a weakening of public safety, says Solicitor General Kash Heed.

"The NDP's photo radar policy of the 1990's was a total failure. It was a cash grab that took 80 police officers out of their cars and sat them in the front seat of photo radar vans rather than proactively targeting problem drivers," says Heed. "Only the NDP would want to resurrect a plan to use police as tax collectors rather than having them on the street fighting crime and targeting problem drivers."

Speaking on CFAX today, NDP MLA John Horgan conceded British Columbians saw photo radar - introduced by the NDP - as a tax grab, but was unrepentant about bringing it back. "I'm a supporter of photo radar. I have been since it was introduced," he said.

The BC Liberals eliminated the photo radar program and have put increased resources into road safety; measures the NDP has consistently opposed and voted against.

* We have hired 1,100 new police officers since 2001.

* We have redeployed officers to the Integrated Road Safety Unit. These are wheels on the ground with trained officers dedicated to focus exclusively on traffic-related road safety issues. They operate in major municipal regions in BC. In smaller centres, the RCMP has added members to detachments and funds overtime to carry out road safety programs.

And the strategy is working. There was a 15 per cent reduction in all police-reported motor vehicle fatalities in B.C. and a 12 per cent reduction in serious motor vehicle injuries in 2008 when compared to 2007.

"Road safety is a priority for this government and that is why we have allocated over $75 million a year to various initiatives such as the Integrated Road Safety Unit. We believe that intelligence led units, targeting problem roadways is a much more effective deterrent than a van sitting on the side of the road," says Heed. "Sadly, the NDP's only plan for public safety continues to be resurrecting one of their favourite cash grabs - photo radar."

Visit www.governmentcaucus.bc.ca

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Also admitted to snorting cocaine the next day

Woman and son face numerous charges

Wednesday, March 10, 2010 Last week leading into the race was pretty light. I did a 75? steady run on Thursday, 30? on Friday and again on Saturday with some strides. I was feeling run-down at the