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Ironworkers ask why BC allows Quebec company to bid on BC Place roof
June 23, 2009
VANCOUVER – An Ironworkers union local and the BC Federation of Labour are asking today why British Columbia is allowing a Quebec company to bid on the $365 million BC Place replacement roof – which will be awarded shortly - when the province of Quebec has banned bids from BC companies for a $100 million Hydro Quebec power line project.
Ironworkers Local 712 business agent, Tom O’Neill, says that while BC government agency PavCo is considering a bid from Quebec-based Canam Group for the steel fabrication work on the retractable BC Place work, the government of Quebec has restricted all bids for a $100 million Hydro Quebec power line construction project to companies located in Quebec.
O’Neill says a Quebec tender announcement for the estimated $80 to $100 million Hydro Quebec power line reads: “Only those having their principal place of business in Quebec are allowed to bid.”
“Why is British Columbia not ensuring that its own workers and companies come first when major taxpayer-funded public projects are being built in BC?” O’Neill asked. “Why is it that Quebec can compete for BC projects funded by BC taxpayers and we can’t compete for the same projects in Quebec? It’s just not right – BC is potentially going to lose jobs and investment by not standing up for our workers and companies.”
O’Neill said about 150 direct and hundreds of indirect jobs would be lost if the contract goes outside BC, noting that one-third of the estimated $365 million BC Place roof job is for steel fabrication and erection. An announcement on the winning bid is expected shortly, he said, and two BC firms are in the competition.
B.C. Federation of Labour President, Jim Sinclair agrees the situation makes no sense.
“BC would have to be foolish to not protect our own workers and companies when provinces like Quebec are doing that for their workers and companies,” Sinclair said. “Why should we be spending our BC tax dollars to dig Quebec out of the recession and not ourselves?”
“It’s time we started looking after British Columbia first and not benefiting workers and companies outside the province with our public expenditures,” Sinclair added.
O’Neill said he understands there are four bidders on the short list: Burnaby-based George Third & Son; Delta-based Canron Western Constructors; Ontario-based Walters Group; and Quebec-based Canam Group.
The Quebec tender can be seen at the Journal of Commerce construction trade publication at URL: http://www.journalofcommerce.com/cgi-bin/top10.pl?rm=show_top10_project&id=ccf1a83ffe810a8489768c4ebcdf7dd4103a85dc&projectid=9102992®ion=national
The BC steel fabrication industry has a strong record of success and 90 percent of its work is done for the private sector, showing its competitiveness, said O’Neill.
Highly recognizable BC steel fabrication industry projects include the Richmond speed skating oval, GM Place, the Lions Gate Bridge retrofit, the new Vancouver Convention Centre, Metrotown and Science World.
PavCo has indicated construction of the new retractable roof will begin immediately after the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games end and is scheduled to be completed by the spring or summer of 2011.
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For more information: Tom O’Neill, Ironworkers, at 604-525-2199 or at cell 604-313-3113; Eric Bohne, Ironworkers, at cell 604-619-0419; Evan Stewart, BC Federation of Labour, at 604-430-1421 or cell 604-220-3095 or Bill Tieleman, West Star Communications, at cell 778-896-0964 or 604-844-7827.
