BC Liberals waste money on BC Place, hide it.

The Provincial government today announced that it will spend, either in cash or in sale of public properties, $200 Million on a new roof for BC Place stadium; one which wont be complete for the Olympic Games. This project is set to be another colossal waste, on par with the Convention Centre boondoggle, but the BC Liberals have a plan to hide that waste from your eyes.

First, aside from missing the Olympics, why is this a waste?

Well, the stadium is 25 years old, and already needs a new roof. The cost of replacing the existing roof is approx $20 Million, for a roof that will last another 25 years.

The new roof costs $200 Million and will last, 25-30 years; not 250 as logic would dictate.

And why are we wasting this money? To make the stadium look more modern, nothing more.

“Isn't that the kind of "thinking" that gave us an inflatable teflon roof to begin with”? questioned BCMP Spokeman Jacob Hunter.

The BC Liberal government refuses to provide a budget for the event, but has indicated that PavCo, a "Crown Corporation" will pay for the expenditure; they will do so by selling off land from the old expo site to developers for residential towers.

It is important to note that the BC Liberal government has spent the last 7 years handing over public monies and properties to these crown corporations in order to hide waste from public scrutiny. These crown corporations are beyond the review of the Legislature and outside the scope of the auditor general; their sole purpose is to undermine the democratic process by limiting public review.

The BC Liberal Government is about to waste an addition $200 Million of your hard earned dollars, and will claim to spend nothing by handing over property (that you paid for) to developers, and you'll get nothing (except some naturally lit BC Lions games, if that's your thing).

The BC Marijuana party believes that government, and especially the expenditure of public monies or transfer of public properties, must be entirely transparent. The BCMP would return Crown Corporations assets to public hands, and into public scrutiny. The BCMP would find the most cost-effective solution to stadium roof, including exploring the possibility of roof which would last the life of the stadium itself.

If the BC Liberals can scare up $200 Million to subsidize a stadium roof, $180 Million more than is necessary, they ought to be able to solve the homelessness, housing, health-care, education and affordability crises in the province" said Hunter "otherwise, why would a stadium roof be a priority"?

If you're sick of this kind of blatant waste, and sick of an opposition that can't be bothered to oppose, vote BCMP in 2009.