1523 replies to this topic

[Ms. B. Havin]

Well, I'm 99% certain that the Province will NOT grant funding to this scheme, and if the other councilors don't stop Fortin by breaking ranks on this, I really won't know what to say.

This will cast Victoria into the biggest debt-hole ever, and just how we're supposed to get out of it is beyond me.

Maybe when the city is totally bankrupt, we can hold a fire sale and sell it to the highest bidder (Saanich and Oak Bay, if they'll have us). ...Would be one way to initiate amalgamation, I guess.

[North Shore]

Bernard, I thought that the $63 M. included a 30% contingency?
I wouldn't hold your breath for what you are asking - it seems as if it is full speed ahead and damn the cost overruns...

[Holden West]

Bernard, I thought that the $63 M. included a 30% contingency?
I wouldn't hold your breath for what you are asking - it seems as if it is full speed ahead and damn the cost overruns...

He means that yes it includes a contingency fund but the $63 million estimate is itself a broad guess at the possible cost as opposed to a true estimate. It's one thing to say we think it will cost this much and another for a contractor to say it will cost this much for us to build it.

[Jacques Cadé]

Word: Gordon Campbell will be announcing which projects get infrastructure funding today (Thursday) at 1:00 pm in Vancouver. No idea whether any news media will be covering the announcement live.

[R0ark]

Word: Gordon Campbell will be announcing which projects get infrastructure funding today (Thursday) at 1:00 pm in Vancouver. No idea whether any news media will be covering the announcement live.

Something tells me that the Premier's impending announcement and tonight's by Mayor Fortin is not an example of synchronicity.

Are people really going to be fooled by Campbell and Co's infrastructure cheerleading session as we suffer death by a thousand cuts to funding for everything else like those to Autism programs, sports grants($14M less than last year), arts grants, the healthy pregnancy program, not to mention the cuts to VIHA and other hospital authority's budgets?

I really hope Campbell gets his feet held to fire for spending $21M on an unnecessary new bridge rather than helping kids with autism, staffing VGH's new Emergency Department with nurses or making sure people get timely MRI's.

[North Shore]

Well, it's 1:30, and nothing on CBC news or the government's website about new funding...??

[R0ark]

Here is a link that will get updated with whatever announcement they make.

It already has Alberta's project announcements from earlier today as well as the announcement that we should expect the same from BC.

http://www.marketwir...companyid=47051

[Caramia]

Great find R0ark! Thanks!

[R0ark]

There is also this link from the Sun that will get updated shortly as well:

http://www.vancouversun.com/Feds+province+announce+million+plus+infrastructure+projects/2029448/story.html

It looks like BC is getting a lot of project money compared to Alberta. I just wish they would hurry up and publish the details!

[Bob Fugger]

Feds, province announce $700 million-plus in infrastructure projects
Vancouver Sun
September 24, 2009 1:43 PM

Premier Gordon Campbell made a major federal-provincial agreement on additional infrastructure Thursday.

VANCOUVER — Premier Gordon Campbell announced today that the province, the federal government and municipalities are combining on an additional $790 million in infrastructure projects across the province.
Those 174 new projects will result in an additional 4,600 jobs across B.C., Campbell said.

The premier was accompanied by federal House leader Jay Hill, the member of Parliament for Prince George-Peace River.

More to come on this breaking story …

Here are the first trickles...maybe NW or CFAX will run it at their top of the hour newscasts?

[VicHockeyFan]

Here are the first trickles...maybe NW or CFAX will run it at their top of the hour newscasts?

Nothing on CFAX at 2pm.

[Bob Fugger]

Nothing on CFAX at 2pm.

Nothing on NW, either - mind you, the Christy Clark Show is on, so I think she will probably pick it up.

[Holden West]

I don't see it on the Government's list of projects in the news release.

For Immediate Release
2009PREM0038-000403
September 24, 2009
Office of the Premier
Government of Canada

In total, 84 projects are being funded today under the Communities Component of the Building Canada Fund valued at $376 million. This represents an investment of $117 million from the Government of Canada, and $117 million from the Government of British Columbia. Local municipalities are providing the balance of the remaining costs. A list of projects is below.

BC - HVAC Upgrade to First peoples Gallery Royal BC Museum (Victoria) Total funding: $2,700,000

Steel Watermain Rehabilitation - Stage 2 (Victoria) Total funding: $5,019,000

[R0ark]

http://www2.news.gov...0038-000403.htm


It's not there!!!!!!

WoooHOOO!

[Ms. B. Havin]

Woot!

Fantastic news!

Now,... let's see how this affects the councilors around the table this afternoon...

[VicHockeyFan]

Nothing for Victoria except a $5M steel water main project.

Saanich got $4M for the David Foster Arts Centre at CHRC.

Langford got $13M for City Centre Park.

All figures include all three levels of funding.

[R0ark]

I am going to print the list out and bring it to the meeting for all to see.

Suddenly, 5 o'clock cannot come fast enough now.

[Holden West]

This is stunning. Not even anything about the Crystal Pool which was Plan B.

Museum HVAC would seem to me to be ordinary maintenance of Provincial property while watermain fixes are badly overdue and already scheduled (weren't they?) In other words, nothing that would not normally be coming our way stimulus or no stimulus. We've been stiffed.

[VicHockeyFan]

I am going to print the list out and bring it to the meeting for all to see.

Suddenly, 5 o'clock cannot come fast enough now.

Maybe make multiple copies.

[R0ark]

Maybe make multiple copies.

Done and done. I will have 5 copies with me. You'll know me by the wicked grin on my face and the blue checked shirt.