Paying for no service

Re: Plasco misses yet another financing deadline, Aug. 16.

So, Rod Bryden’s Plasco has missed yet another deadline. And city officials seem once again poised to allow him another extension — this one for well over a year. Mayor Jim Watson has stated that he would not be in favour of another extension, but the mayor has proven himself very flexible on most issues.

The prevailing argument seems to be that since we are not paying Plasco during their startup period, we (Ottawa taxpayers) are not out anything. I would argue that we are out a great deal.

So long as city council extends the contract with Plasco, taxpayers are guaranteeing that, should Bryden ever make this work, we will send him garbage to process and pay him $83 a ton to do so. While taxpayers are tied to this contract, council will not pursue other options or research other technologies. If more ecologically efficient or economically sensible methods are developed or are brought to the attention of council, they will be rejected because council will have tied taxpayers’ wallets to Plasco.

This has all the earmarks of the lovely Orgaworld contract to which this council committed taxpayers. Once again, taxpayers pay, in one form or another, for service not rendered.

GRANT WILKINSON, Kanata