Open-shop projects went way over budget

Re: “B.C. changing way it buys goods, services,” June 26. We’re not surprised that Chris Gardner of the Independent Contractors and Businesses Association is, once again, claiming that work by trade unions increases costs on public projects. That is, after all, his job.

It’s not true, though. Look at the numbers. These projects were built under the open-shop model preferred by Gardner: • The B.C. portion of the Evergreen line was budgeted at $410 million; final was $586 million, a 43 per cent increase. • South Fraser Perimeter Road was budgeted at $635 million; final cost was $899 million, a 42 per cent increase. • Vancouver Convention Centre was budgeted at $495 million; final cost was $841 million, a 70 per cent increase. • Port Mann Bridge was budgeted at $2.3398 billion; final cost was $3.3 billion, a 41 per cent increase.

We can do better, and we look forward to implementation of the government’s new procurement strategy.

Gardner should take comfort in knowing that the B.C. Construction Association, which is the union and non-union voice of the construction industry, provided input on the strategy.

The BCCA’s Chris Atchison applauded the government “for fair, open and transparent processes. Modernization is a big part of that, and we sincerely applaud the efforts of Minister Sims and her team — not least because government, as a major owner of construction, has the potential to positively impact thousands of construction contracts through its approach to procurement.” Tom Sigurdson Executive director B.C. Building Trades