An $800-million infrastructure spending blowout is on its way for B.C.
 

B.C. is set to spend close to $800-million in infrastructure spending across the province, including construction of six long-awaited social housing developments in Vancouver.

The infrastructure spending spree will create over 4,800 jobs which will start in the summertime, said Premier Gordon Campbell at Tuesday’s official unveiling in downtown Vancouver.

Construction on the six housing projects will cost $172 million and will provide 569 units to people in need of housing or who are at risk of homelessness.

“Building these projects not only provides the housing people at risk of homelessness need, but also provides a boost to our economy,” said Housing Minister Rich Coleman. Construction will start in the coming months, he said.

Another $130 million is slated for 11 projects that will provide 478 new housing units in seven other communities, including Surrey, Abbotsford and Campbell River.

The infrastructure spending, which totals $793 million, will be spread out over 113 projects as part of the province’s three-year capital infrastructure program.

Other projects include:

• $424 million for 30 projects on new construction and renovation of elementary and high schools.

• $59 million for 57 projects to improve courthouses, correctional facilities, and other public safety facilities.

• $8 million for nine projects in the Ministry of Children and Family Development portfolio.
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Weird, and right before an election! I wonder if the developers who are getting the contracts have any connection with the people building the olympic buildings...

lol, i bet the actual cost will be over 5x the budgeted 800M

or less and the money will be pocketed :thumbsup:

A place to tuck the homeless away just in time for the 2010 olympics.

hopefully if i build those pesky low-income protesters some houses, maybe they won't cause a commotion during the olympics!

^^ I don't think it will help the economy much since most of these jobs will end up in union hands where each workers get paid 5x the regular wage.

If they want to really hep the economy hire some non-union workers. We spend less on labour and get more production done.

4800 people will get jobs at $15-25 an hour busting their ass. not making enough to live in vancouver. mean while, people who sat on their ass watching the work, move in, and contine to sit on their ass for free.

sounds good to me :rolleyes::rolleyes:

bullets are alot cheaper then apartments.

fuk.. now we're going to have hobos from all over Canada coming into Vancouver in search of a better living place.

and we have to pay for it...

Fuck you.

My company employs union electricians. We have to compete in the same bid process as non-union companies. If our price is not the lowest, we do not get the work.

My company PROMOTES the fact that we have union electricians, because the electricians we hire are the best in the business and actually give a shit about their quality of work.

Oh I say this and I'm not even in the union.