INFRASTRUCTURE: Falcon heading to Ottawa to seal deal on parts of $14b building boost
JOHN BERMINGHAM
Province
B.C. is set for many more significant projects like the Golden Ears Bridge. RIC ERNST — THE PROVINCE
The shovels are ready, but it’s still unclear where and when thousands of B.C. workers will be digging holes for stimulus bucks.
Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon flies to Ottawa this week to meet with federal counterpart John Baird and get his signature on a number of infrastructure projects.
“I really want to finalize federal sign-off on a huge range of projects that will create a significant amount of employment, and long-term opportunity,” Falcon told The Province on Friday.
The projects are in rapid transit, buses and highway improvements, he said. The pair will also discuss the proposed SkyTrain Evergreen Line, where a federal-provincial funding deal may only be a couple of weeks off.
Both governments have promised to cost-share $2 billion for B.C. infrastructure projects over the next three years, as part of an overall $14-billion provincial building plan creating 88,000 jobs.
Falcon said the projects could start anywhere from several months’ time to the end of the year.
Last week, Premier Gordon Campbell told the Vancouver Board of Trade he also wants to build schools, hospitals and seniors’ housing. “We won’t just create jobs, we’ll create real value for taxpayers,” he said. “Our job is to get those jobs happening now.”
Campbell said $600-million worth of projects will be under way within 90 days, and the full $2 billion working by July next year, equating to 12,800 new building jobs.
B.C. municipalities are currently waiting to hear if their project “wish lists” will get funding. Metro Vancouver alone has submitted 160 “shovel-ready” schemes, boiled down to five with the highest priority.
They include $20 million for social housing upgrades, and $110 million to improve drinking water quality from the Coquitlam Reservoir.
MV chair and Delta Mayor Lois Jackson said she doesn’t know how many projects are ready to go.
“I am concerned about them being shovel-ready,” she said, adding that her staff are “scrambling” to put everything in place so the projects can start immediately.
“I’m really hopeful the big-five projects can be funded,” she added.
Jackson wants the money to be shared around municipalities, the projects promptly started and money to get into people’s pockets.
“Make sure the dollars are going to stimulate,” she said. “We don’t have time to muck around. We’ve got to get this economy kick-started before it goes in the tank. As soon as the money’s there, let’s go.”
Money is already moving out to communities. Last week, B.C. and the feds announced $110 million for 41 infrastructure projects. The money dates back to last July, when $272 million was announced for clean water, waste management and flood mitigation for small B.C. communities.
Government officials would not give The Province a list of the funded projects, saying they would be announced one by one, over the next few months.
One of the first two projects getting funding has already come under fire from the NDP: A $14-million upgrade of the waste-water treatment plant in Kamloops, the local riding of Community Development Minister Kevin Krueger.
Falcon said there will also be stimulus money for NDP ridings.
“I think our record speaks for itself,” said Falcon, referring to investments in the Cariboo and Prince Rupert, NDP ridings that have received government funds. “We don’t play that game.”
Last Thursday’s announcement of $1.7 million for sewage treatment in Fort St. John, creating 25 jobs, was met with kind words from local Tory MP Jay Hill and local MLA-turnedSen. Richard Neufeld.
However, NDP finance critic Bruce Ralston said only $2 billion of the $14-billion stimulus plan is new money, and half of that is federal.
“As a stimulus, it’s not big,” he said. “I hope it’s going to be enough.”
Ralston said he figures the Liberals will be handing out stimulus dollars around B.C. from now until the provincial election in May.
“It’s pretty unabashed politicking,” he said. “The premier will be there to cut ribbons and pose for photos, right up to May 12.”