Biggest Boondogle in Victoria History
2007 (near Vancouver, B.C.) Premier Gordon Campbell discusses other major construction plans with one of the leading Olympic Contractors.
As the Capital Regional District edges ever closer to spending what will be something in the order of $1,200,000,000 to $2,000,000,000 (yes, that’s 1.2 – 2.0 billion – reference CRD Document on Costs, page 2, para 1) on sewage treatment, there was never a proper assessment of need, no consulting with scientists, no pressing environment issue, just one Premier who got his shorts in a knot when the Washington State Governor (a woman with a strict environmentalist background) told him flat out she would not support the 2010 Olympics unless he pushed for sewage treatment for Victoria (see link in footer).
Even though the BC Environment Minister along with leading scientists and local environmentalists told the Premier it was not needed, that it was overkill, he simply turned his back as he was far more worried about getting Washington State to support the Olympics than the costs of a little sewage treatment plant in Victoria. Thus began a process that led to our current state of affairs. To put those billions of dollars in perspective, that is about $3500.00 – $6000 for every man, woman, and child in Greater Victoria.
After nearly eight years of kicking this around, sewage treatment has been spun so hard by those having a vested interest, that everyone has forgotten it was a knee jerk response in the first instance. Will sanity at some point prevail? That seems rather doubtful.
Link here to the Largest Boondoggle in Canadian History.
Link here to Times Colonist story of February 6, 2015 Sewage fund millions seen to be a risk
Below: The face that launched a billion dollar sewage project in Greater Victoria
Christine Gregoire, Washington State Governor (2005-2013)
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