Friday, June 24, 2011

The Shipbuilding Conundrum...What Will It Really Cost Us In The End?

GenerationalProcurementGames
CanEverybodyWinVille

While I find it ironic in the extreme that a number of our current provincial legislators who have demonstrated a penchant for union bashing in the past (and yes, we're looking at you cookie maker guy) are now pitching the Seaspan shipbuilding bid to all that will listen in Ottawa, I do think it would, overall, be a good thing.

Even with the previous Clark family connection to the parent company.

Not to mention the more recent involvement of the man with many hats.

However, tucked away at the tail end of a sharp story from Rob Shaw in the Times-Colonist was the following passage which did give me just a wee bit of pause:

"....The B.C. government has yet to make a decision on how it will financially support Seaspan's bid, but has indicated an extensive training program and "creative opportunities" would be used to boost Seaspan's proposal.

The company has asked for tax incentives similar to the film industry, but not everyone agrees it should be given subsidies. B.C.'s eventual decision on support will be included in Seaspan's final bid."



Kind of makes you go hmmmmmm, and/or wonder who else might be getting set to poke their fingers into the tax credit, incentive-laden pie (see references to family connections and hats, above, for potential hints).

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4 comments:

paul said...

From my post today, adding to your observation.

"Premier Christy Clark maintains there is no need to seek further answers in the B.C. Rail scandal.
But many questions remain...
A police search found that Bruce Clark, a federal Liberal activist, lobbyist and Christy Clark's brother, had B.C. Rail sale documents "improperly disclosed" by Basi and Virk. Clark was working for the Washington Marine Group, which was interested in buying the B.C. Rail line to the Roberts Bank superport.
But it's never been explained why Basi and Virk shared the material or what Clark did with it. (Christy Clark is now lobbying the federal government to help the same company win a shipbuilding contract.)"

The shipbuilding contract would be great. But the failure to shine a light on the B.C. Rail scandal inevitably leaves a whole lot of questions and concerns.

RossK said...

Important stuff Paul.

Off to read your fervent sounding post toute de suite.

Thanks for the heads-up.

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Anonymous said...

Either Seaspan is capable of doing the work or it's not. The very fact that they are effectively twisting arms to extract the last little bit is at best highly unethical and at worst, downright threatening in nature.

Either Seaspan step up to the plate without conditions - which they are in no position to demand, or they just shut up and withdraw.

The federal government has it's own way of determining who will get pieces of the pie and does not need help from Clark (who is likely to spoil everything) with her non stop talking and photo ops.

Everyone would like to see British Columbia gets some of the federal contracts, but these thinly disguised threats from an American owned company do not go down very well in Canada.

Thank you.

RossK said...

Anon-Above--

You're welcome and thanks for your input.

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