The NDP's Public Safety critic wants to know how a new policing deal was signed with Ottawa without addressing the costs of the new RCMP headquarters. Kathy Corrigan says there is plenty of blame to split between the province and the federal government. "The Feds moved ahead with a Billion dollar plus building without having an agreement in place … [Read more...]
Costs to province and municipalities for new RCMP HQ still a mystery
October 11, 2012 by
As mounties get set to move into their new $ 1.2 billion headquarters in Surrey both provincial and local governments remain in the dark about how much of the bill they will foot. Langley City Mayor Peter Fassbender says the cost sharing between Ottawa, the province, and municipalities was supposed to be settled in negotiations. But with four … [Read more...]
Province wants ICBC to reduce costs
August 16, 2012 by
The provincial government has completed its review of ICBC, making 24 recommendations to help reduce costs. Among them, cutting the number of managers and reducing managerial compensation to levels seen in 2008. Between 2007 and last year, ICBC saw a 41-percent increase in the number of senior managers and a 29-percent increase in managers, while … [Read more...]
NDP calls Missing Women Inquiry costs “astronomical”
August 10, 2012 by
Eyebrows are being raised over seemingly massive costs associated to the Missing Women inquiry. Taxpayers have now spent almost eight million dollars on the process, and that figure is expected to rise. Public account numbers show inquiry Commissioner Wally Oppal billed the province more than 324thousand dollars for the fiscal year ending in … [Read more...]
Vander Zalm wants insurance to cover costs of defamation suit
August 4, 2012 by
Bill Vander Zalm isn't letting it go. The former Premier and Fight HST crusader is trying to get his insurance to cover the tab after losing a $ 60,000 defamation suit. In February, a BC Supreme Court judge ruled Vander Zalm did defame former Conflict of Interest Commissioner Ted Hughes and awarded $ 60,000 in damages. Hughes' lawsuit stemmed … [Read more...]
Transit police overtime costs are a concern says BC’s Transportation minister
May 22, 2012 by
BC's Transportation Minister is admitting he shares concerns some people may have after the review into Transit police was released last week. Blair Lekstrom says the report has some good news, but not where it comes to overtime, where costs came in at a million and a half dollars. "Obviously the costs are very significant and … [Read more...]
“Avengers” Destruction Costs A Pretty Penny
May 11, 2012 by
Disaster assessment firm Kinetic Analysis Corp has estimated that the hypothetical economic cost of repairing the damage done to midtown Manhattan in "The Avengers" would come in at a staggering $ 160 billion says The Hollywood Reporter. In a grim and somewhat distasteful comparison, the cleanup costs of Hurricane Katrina were $ 90 billion while … [Read more...]
Liberals introduce legislation to control costs at BC Ferries
May 9, 2012 by
Transportation Minister Blair Lekstrom has introduced legislation aimed at controlling costs at BC Ferries. Lekstrom says the bill is in response to a report by ferry commissioner Gordon Macatee earlier this year. "The amendments will also provide the ferry commissioner with greater discretion when setting price caps, allowing for example cross … [Read more...]
The Hospital Employees Union says costs are soaring for outsourced transcription services.
April 30, 2012 by
The Hospital Employees Union wants BC's Health minister to step in for a "sober second look" at privatizing medical transcription services, with 130 jobs on the block. HEU Spokesperson Bonnie Pearson says billing costs for transcriptionists, already privatized, have shot up 150% in just four years. Pearson says while they used … [Read more...]
Aquitted Air India suspect goes to court to try and get back millions in legal costs.
April 17, 2012 by
BC's highest court has reserved judgment on the latest legal action taken by acquitted Air India suspect Ripudaman Singh Malik. Less than two months after he re-paid a government loan covering legal fees during his trial, Malik is trying to get that 6.3-million dollars back. The money, which includes interest, came from February's … [Read more...]
