Miles Thomas is shooting off from the hip and blowing off steam in making propaganda comments. Miles has not done any research in regards to his comments, which I have done my research on.
Miles says that the B.C. Liberal government tore up government contracts. The reason the B.C. Liberals revised government labour contracts is because B.C. NDP premier at the time, Ujjal Dosanjh, approved wage rates that were unrealistic to a taxpayer point of view. He did this because he knew he would lose the upcoming provincial election. The contracts were not torn up. They were revised.
Ujjal had 6 months left in his mandate before having to call a provincial election. At the time, he hired Elizabeth Cull as his office assistant on a contract. She would not agree to a six-month contract, so Ujjal gave her a one year contract at $120,00 for one year. What a waste of taxpayer dollars when Ujjal only had 6 months left in his mandate.
Miles says that all government infrastructure contracts were awarded to the Christian Labour Association of Alberta. Totally false.
All infrastructure contracts are open to bids and the lowest bid always is awarded the contract.
Former premier Glen Clark and management of B.C. Ferries went to Australia to have a meeting with Holyman, the world leader in building catamaran ferries. Holyman told Clark that these type of ferries are not to be used in B.C. waters. Holyman told Clark to prove the point was to lease one catamaran ferry from Holyman and to do trial runs in B.C.
Clark did not listen to that advice and went on to build the fast cat ferries. Welders in B.C. shipyards were quitting their jobs to go and work building fast cat ferries. They knew that the jobs would only last for three years, but the reason they quit their jobs, is because Glen Clark was paying them $52 per hour, which was $20 a hour more than the shipyards union rate was.
Miles says that the NDP got the ball rolling on LNG. It was the B.C. Liberals that did the leg work and the NDP continued with the process because the B.C. Liberal government were now in opposition. On July 24, 2015 John Horgan while in opposition is quoted saying that LNG is wrong for B.C.
Miles says that the NDP is bringing back the Community Benefits program that Glen Clark started in his term of office.
This plan is very expensive to the taxpayers.
The former B.C. Social Credit government built the Coquihalla highway which was constructed through solid mountain rock.
The Glen Clark NDP built the inland island highway that was land clearing and bridge building. The inland island highway cost $50 million more than the Coquihalla highway because of the Community Benefits program.
Two projects already approved by John Horgan is highway construction out of Revelstoke, which is now costing $22 million more than the original cost and the Pattullo bridge at $100 million more than original cost because of the Community Benefits program.
Unbelievable.
Joe Sawchuk
Duncan
