The BC Liberal candidate in Kamloops-South Thompson says one of the first things they would do as government, if elected on Oct. 24, is kill the NDP’s Community Benefits Agreement for major construction projects.
Speaking to NL News, Todd Stone says those union only requirements have led to price increases in several projects including the four laning of the Trans Canada Highway through Chase.
“Requirements that have actually frozen 85 per cent of construction workers out of even working on these projects because you have to be a member of one of the 19 NDP approved unions,” he said. “We believe that its hundreds of millions of dollars just on the Trans Canada Highway projects that will be channeled towards the NDP’s friends and insiders as opposed to those dollars being used to build more highway faster.”
“That is bad public policy. Its bad for taxpayers, and its resulting in inferior transportation projects being built, like the one east of Kamloops here.”
The NDP candidate for Kamloops-South Thompson however says the Community Benefits Agreement ensures equitable hiring for underrepresented groups as well as skills training and fair wages to workers.
Anna Thomas tells NL News those agreements have supported numerous families across the Kamloops area.
“It’s supporting people that might not necessarily be able to get that training because they reside in a small community and now these training opportunities are being offered within the communities and now they are able to work close to home bringing in that money to support their families and support their communities,” she said.
Thomas adds the Community Benefits Agreements are not that different to Project Labour Agreements that the BC Liberals signed to build and expand seven dams when they were in government.
“I personally have witnessed the benefits of this program at Tk’emlúps te Secwepemc as well as with the Neskonlith Indian Band,” she added. “You know the Community Benefits Agreements provide a good paying, family supporting job with priority given to local workers particularly to women and Indigenous workers.”
The Chase highway project is expected to still cost $260-million and a contract for the first-phase was awarded to Kamloops-based Dawson Civil Limited back in July.
Election day is Oct. 24. Also running in Kamloops-South Thompson is the Green Party’s Dan Hines.
