By Greg Fry

Kamloops MLA blasts ‘union friendly’ Community Benefits Agreement

Jul 17, 2018 | 2:16 PM

KAMLOOPS — Kamloops-South Thompson Liberal MLA Todd Stone is no fan of the newly announced Community Benefits Agreement.

Announced Monday by B.C.’s minority NDP government, it sets new provincial rules for major public sector infrastructure projects that make it a priority to hire local workers, Indigenous people and women.

It also means that workers be paid wages that align with industry rates – starting with the new Patullo Bridge and four-laning projects on the Trans-Canada Highway between Kamloops and Alberta.

“I think at its highest level we can sum this up as a pay-off to the building trades unions which have contributed over $20 million dollars to the NDP since 2005,” fumes Stone. “This was clearly a pay-back time to layer on top of what has been a very public, transparent tendering process for major infrastructure projects.”

Boogie The Bridge

Boogie The Bridge Event Information

Apr 19, 2024

SOUND OFF

SOUND OFF: Police confirm diversion of government-supplied drugs

36m ago

ARMCHAIR MAYOR

ROTHENBURGER: A fond farewell to the airwaves from the Armchair Mayor

5h ago

He adds a new requirement that those projects can only be built with unionized labour as approved by a new crown corporation called B.C. Infrastructure Benefits is “a flashback to the 1990s.”

“What we’re going to see is an inflation in costs, we’re going to see projects delayed and we’re going to see the scope of projects dramatically change, not for the better.”

Stone says the new agreement is undoubtedly to blame for the delay in the four-laning of the Trans-Canada Highway east of Kamloops which he says will delay construction two years to 2019.

He also fears what it may mean for other projects, such as the Patient Care Tower at Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops.

“Does this new Community Benefits Agreement union only requirement apply to the hospital? If yes, that does that do to the cost there? Does that mean there will be delays? Does that mean the government will ask taxpayers to kick in more dollars?.”