Surrey mayor Dianne Watts dodges questions about family business

by Shadi Elien on January 13th, 2010 at 3:29 PM

Surrey mayor Dianne Watts has declined to comment on the extent of her involvement in a business that operated from her home address for an undetermined period of time without a municipal licence. It is unclear how long Pro-Line Fittings Inc., a wholesale pipefitting supplier, has been based at the mayor’s residence.

The shipping and mailing addresses for Pro-Line Fittings are displayed on the company’s Web site as 3022 176th Street and 3020 176th Street in Surrey. The first is the mayor’s residence, and the latter would be next door.

The Web site states that the company was established in 2008. Chris Anquist, a spokesperson for Watts, told the Straight that she would be available for an interview before deadline, but he called back later to say that the mayor no longer wanted to comment on the story. He said this was because the business does not belong to her husband but to her brother-in-law, Ron Watts. The Web site lists Ron Watts as president, Linda Watts in marketing, and Travis Watts as shipping-and-receiving manager.

In October, Indo-Canadian Voice editor Rattan Mall questioned Watts as to why a licence wasn’t applied for until June 2009. The paper quoted Watts as saying the business belonged to her husband. When asked whether or not businesses are allowed to operate without a licence, Watts told the Voice, “Well, you know what, it’s not my business, so if you want to talk to my husband, you can go right ahead and do that.”

When the Straight asked why Watts didn’t want to speak to the fact that the business is operating from her address, Anquist had no reply.

Watts, who was elected mayor in 2005, has been touted by some pundits as a potential future leader of the B.C. Liberal Party. Respondents in an Angus Reid Strategies poll in September were asked if several prominent politicians would make a good or bad premier. Watts was the clear favourite, with a score of +14, followed distantly by former B.C. Liberal deputy premier Christy Clark, with a +1 rating.

Comments

14 Comments

D.S.

Jan 14, 2010 at 9:02am

just another person in a position of power who thinks they don't have to play by the rules that they help set up. It's not only in B.C. but right across the country. When will the people stand up and say enough of this

RodSmelser

Jan 14, 2010 at 9:41am

Very big time stuff.
Rod Smelser

top down

Jan 14, 2010 at 5:59pm

this province is corrupt

and people hardly even pretend to care

Who cares?

Jan 15, 2010 at 6:44am

I highly doubt this has anything to do with corruption, it goes back to the Red Tape problem with this province.

I'm surprised that I can write this comment without a license and a handful of fees!

Camero409

Jan 15, 2010 at 10:56am

Well it's hardly surprising given the current state of Conservative (in this Province, Liberal) actions on behalf of the business elite. There are no rules for them, just for us peons. Our rules (the peons that is) "Keep your mouth shut and lets us do what we want. And, Oh yeah, vote us in for another 4 years so we can keep on doing it".

Nice legs

Jan 15, 2010 at 12:02pm

Don't pipefitters tend to work alongside the development industry.

Not that there's anything wrong with that.

glen p robbins

Jan 15, 2010 at 9:18pm

I am running for leader of the BC Conservatives -- when the province is moving 'left'. If the provincial Conservatives have the guts to tell the feds to take a hike and make intelligent plans that consider all British Columbians---beyond this 'class war' that is fomenting--maybe a new voice can do something. If this party simply wants a chance for attention it will split off the BC Liberals (at a minimum) and let the NDP back in. Maybe that is what British Columbians want?

glen p robbins

Jan 16, 2010 at 5:00pm

Sorry--I got off the subject. What I dont' understand here is this---I know Dianne Watts or her husband and family to be more precise-- have had a business in Surrey now for many years. Why wasn't this licensing question raised before--? Is this a new situation? Is this a political 'slap' and if so--why?---is Dianne Watts getting set to run for the BC Liberals and replace Gordon Campbell?

RodSmelser

Jan 18, 2010 at 10:23am

glen p robbins

Is this a new situation? Is this a political 'slap' and if so--why?---is Dianne Watts getting set to run for the BC Liberals and replace Gordon Campbell?
======================================

Watts as heir apparent has been talked about for at least a couple of years by various people in the BC Liberal Party, including many of their supposedly professional "hardball" strategists, and of course their numerous faceless bloggers, who may just be those very same strategists peddling the same material in a different disguise. After all, these are real world-class pros we're talking about!

I wonder if the idea of using this rather trivial item to try to embarass Watts might have something to do with not wanting a Surrey politician in the Premier's office? Watts, you'll recall, is a supporter of the PMH1 project.

Rod Smelser