In his letter to the editor of May 1, Gordon Bliss is highly critical of the gut and head observations of Mr. Whitcombe, to whom he refers as Todd (perhaps they are actually good friends).
Mr. Bliss resurrects the oft-cited fast ferry project undertaken by the NDP more than a decade ago, along with a cancelled contract with a large forestry firm, in order, it would seem, to frighten voters into supporting his party of choice. He says "I could go on but my head is getting sore..."
It is unfortunate that Mr. Bliss didn't go on. He might have reminded voters of the costs associated with the taxpayer-funded Trade and Convention Centre in Vancouver. Voters might remember the televised news conference, during which Liberal leader Gordon Campbell chastised a reporter for having the temerity to inquire what the government would do if the project, which was budgeted at 400 million dollars, ended up going over-budget. The reporter was informed in no uncertain terms that the building would be constructed on time and on budget and that any suggestion to the contrary was simply inappropriate. Mr. Bliss might have noted that the final cost of the Trade and Convention Centre was just under one billion dollars - more than double the budgeted amount.
Mr. Bliss might also, in the interest of informing the public, have highlighted the 578 million dollars of taxpayer funds the Liberals spent to put a new roof on Pacific Place Stadium.
He might have reminded voters that they are paying millions of dollars each year to subsidize the operating costs of both the Trade and Convention Centre and Pacific Place Stadium, and that before the last election, the Liberals promised there would be no HST, but imposed it immediately after they were elected.
A rudimentary analysis of significant projects undertaken by the two parties in B.C. might lead one to conclude that the fast ferries project sought to benefit the broad population, while the billion and half (and counting) spent on the Trade and Convention Centre and the new roof on Pacific Place Stadium were perhaps somewhat less meaningful in the lives of most B.C. citizens.
Bob Harris
Prince George
