Skip to main content

“I am a Canadian, free to speak without fear, free to worship in my own way, free to stand for what I think right, free to oppose what I believe wrong, or free to choose those who shall govern my country. This heritage of freedom I pledge to uphold for myself and all mankind.” ~~ John G. Diefenbaker

DAY 9 … ‘20 for 2020’. Bids submitted to build future ferries will include not just the lowest submission that meets structural requirements, but will also include the financial benefits of building in BC


Welcome to day number nine of “20 for 2020”.  If you’re just joining us, for the first time today, we are now over a third of the way through a series of ideas which I believe any government committed to the well-being of its citizens, should be in full agreement with implementing.




To be honest, I am unsure as to what goes into determining where ships will be built, outside of meeting the requirements put forward by BC Ferries for what is needed structurally, and likely the lowest bid that meets those requirements. I did ask a couple of government officials whether the following was part of the governments determinations on whether to build in BC, however they were unsure as well.

With that in mind then, and knowing that BC Ferries is a semi-autonomous entity owned by the provincial government, here is number nine: 

A review of bids submitted to build any future ferries (Request for Proposals) will include not just the lowest submission that meets requirements, but will also include the financial benefits of building in British Columbia.  These will include the number of jobs created, taxes and revenues generated from them, the benefits of additional manufacturing which would be done in BC, new company starts, monies generated to the government from spin-off jobs, as well as any and all additional financial benefits. 

YES … I know we had the Fast-Cat scandal in the late 90's under the NDP government of Premier Glen Clark … AND YES, we now have the current NDP governments much criticized Community Benefits Agreement program.




Given both of those things, this would have to be structured to be at arms length from the government so as to avoid political interference.  I think that a discussion with the provinces Auditor General would be a good start on how that could be implemented.

That's it for today.  Just a reminder that if you have missed any of the previous ideas and suggestions, from “20 for 2020”, you can catch up at the following links:


#1 … those who wish to lead, should acknowledge that government must be about people.


#2 … a review of services provided to areas and regions where much of the provinces revenues are collected from.


#3 … there should be a full review of all license costs and fees, which the provincial government has imposed upon us, to see where and how they are being used


#4 ... we need a permanent fix to the problem of keeping medical practitioners in some of the more rural areas of the province


#5 ... put an immediate end to the Community Benefits Agreement


#6 ... the next BC government must be committed to sustainable resource development



#7 ... government should make treatment for chronic conditions free to residents



#8 … new schools should be designed to incorporate community uses as identified by the areas they are to be located 

We're back tomorrow with number 10 -- the mid-way point -- hope you'll join us then.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

BC cannot regulate, redesign, and reinterpret its way to a stable forestry sector. Communities need clear rules, predictable timelines, and accountability for results.

Photo credit:  Atli Resources LP   BC’s Forestry Crisis Continues with Closure of Beaver Cove Chip Facility   As industry leaders, Indigenous partners, and contractors gather this week at the BC Natural Resources Forum in Prince George, the gap between government rhetoric and reality could not be clearer. Just hours after the Eby government once again touted reconciliation, certainty, and economic opportunity under DRIPA, Atli Chip Ltd, a company wholly owned by the ’Na̱mg̱is First Nation, announced it is managing the orderly closure of its Beaver Cove chip facility. The closure comes despite public tax dollars, repeated government announcements, and assurances that new policy frameworks would stabilize forestry employment and create long-term opportunity in rural and coastal British Columbia. “British Columbians are being told one story, while communities are living another,” said Ward Stamer, Critic for Forests. “This closure makes it clear that announcement...
Post a Comment
Read more

Stamer: Hope for Forestry Completely Shattered After Another Provincial Review Driven by DRIPA

IMAGE CREDIT:  Provincial Forestry Advisory Council Conservative Critic for Forests Ward Stamer says the final report from the Provincial Forestry Advisory Council confirms the worst fears of forestry workers and communities; instead of addressing the real issues driving mill closures and job losses, the NDP has produced a report that ignores industry realities and doubles down on governance restructuring. Despite years of warnings from forestry workers, contractors, and industry organizations about permitting delays, regulatory costs, fibre access, and the failure of BC Timber Sales, the PFAC report offers no urgency, no timelines, and no concrete action to stop the ongoing decline of the sector. “ This report completely shatters any remaining hope that the government is serious about saving forestry ,” said Stamer.  “ We didn’t need another study to tell us what industry has been saying for years. While mills close and workers lose their livelihoods, the NDP is focused on re...
Post a Comment
Read more

FORSETH – My question is, ‘How do we decide who is blue enough to be called a Conservative?’

How do we decide who’s blue enough to be a Conservative? AS OF TODAY (Friday January 30 th ), there are now eight individuals who have put their names forward to lead the Conservative Party of British Columbia. Having been involved with BC’s Conservatives since 2010, and having seen MANY ups and downs, having 8 people say “I want to lead the party” is to me, an incredible turn-around from the past. Sadly, however, it seems that our party cannot seem to shake what I, and others, call a purity test of ‘what is a Conservative’. And that seems to have already come to the forefront of the campaign by a couple of candidates. Let me just say as a Conservative Party of BC member, and as someone active in the party, that frustrates me to no end. Conservatives, more than any other political philosophy or belief, at least to me, seems to have the widest and broadest spectrum of ideals.   For the most part, they are anchored by these central thoughts --- smaller and less intru...
1 comment
Read more

Labels

Show more