| NDP Betray Sports Fans, Withdraw Support For New BC Place Roof
October 23, 2009 NDP BETRAY SPORTS FANS, WITHDRAW SUPPORT FOR NEW BC PLACE ROOF VANCOUVER - The BC Liberals affirmed their commitment to supporting sports in B.C. and to improving the economy by proceeding with a new retractable roof on BC Place, despite the antics of Carole James and the NDP. The NDP need to come clean with British Columbians, the Whitecaps and sports and entertainment fans across the province and explain their latest flip-flop on the new roof for BC Place Stadium, says Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Arts Kevin Krueger. “Just months after claiming to support the new roof, Carole James and the NDP have now come out opposed to a project that will create thousands of jobs, build a world-class venue for event-hosting, and allow the Whitecaps to become an MLS franchise,” says Krueger. “When our goal of building a new, retractable roof was announced, Carole James and the NDP spoke against it. Then, just this past April, under pressure from sports fans, the NDP issued a statement claiming to support construction of a new roof. “Now that the election is over, they’ve again broken their promise and betrayed sports fans across this province by opposing this job-creating project. Carole James needs to stop dithering and come clean once and for all with soccer fans, football fans, the entertainment community and workers who will be employed by this project and state clearly whether or not the NDP support putting a new roof that will attract MLS soccer and other major events on BC Place.” NDP’s BC PLACE FLIP-FLOP TIMELINE: First they were against it... Feb. 27, 2009: “Government could actually look at not building the roof on B.C. Place.” (Carole James, CHBC-TV) “…a retractable roof wouldn’t be high on the priority list.” (Adrian Dix, Voice of BC, March 26, 2009) Then they were for it... April 10, 2009: “We will work closely with Whitecaps owner Greg Kerfoot and president Bob Lenarduzzi to ensure that the Whitecaps are able to use B.C. Place for their inaugural MLS season in 2011.” (NDP news release: http://www.bcndp.ca/newsroom/liberal-lie-bc-place-roof-gets-red-card) Now they’re against it again... Oct. 23, 2009: They’ve got lots of money to put a retractable sunroof on BC Place in downtown Vancouver but no money to put a roof over the homeless in the rest of British Columbia. (Harry Lali, CHNL radio) The new, fully-retractable roof will be the largest of its kind in the world, and will be completed in 2011, in time for the Grey Cup. The project will create 3,000 person years of employment and attract 41 additional events resulting in more than $40 million in economic activity annually. The project will also reduce energy costs at BC Place by $350,000 annually and save a further $100,000 in operational costs. “Carole James’s lack of leadership on this critical file is appalling. She can’t give British Columbians a straight answer after months of flip-flopping because she can’t make up her mind on a project that is vital for the region,” says Krueger. “The new, retractable roof for BC Place will generate tens of millions of dollars of economic activity and create long-term employment for people throughout the Lower Mainland.” Visit www.governmentcaucus.bc.ca -30- |
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