The B.C. NDP government budget for 2021 announced strong investments in infrastructure projects that will create new jobs and opportunities for people.
“This is a budget that supports people and their families while focusing on a strong recovery as we come out of this pandemic,” said Stephen Hunt, USW Director for Western Canada. “This budget makes important investments to help people get through the tough times and get people back to work. With this plan, the B.C. NDP government will create over 85,000 jobs while building roads, bridges, hospitals, schools, homes and other infrastructure projects in the province.”
Budget 2021 moves forward on major transportation projects like the Broadway Subway in Vancouver, the Quartz Creek Bridge and Pattullo Bridge replacements, the Surrey-Langley Skytrain, and a toll-free crossing to replace the George Massey Tunnel. The budget also promises to build 9,000 homes for middle-income families, as well as hospitals and urgent and primary care centres around B.C., and to renovate or build new schools.
“Through Community Benefits Agreements, many of these new projects will deliver good-paying union jobs, better training and apprenticeships, and more opportunities for Indigenous peoples, women and youth,” said Hunt.
What is still needed is a commitment that these new infrastructure projects will utilize local and Canadian materials when they are built.
“I challenge Premier John Horgan to implement procurement policies to ‘Buy Canadian’ for all infrastructure project tendering,” said Hunt. “We can’t afford to have more steel mills closing in Canada, and have our steel, forestry products and natural resources not be used in B.C. infrastructure projects. Whether it’s rebar, pipe, lumber or other products, we need to ensure that Canadian workers are kept working instead of importing these products from overseas – like using Korean steel for the Pattullo Bridge.”
Stephen Hunt, USW Western Canada Director, 604-816-2554, shunt@usw.ca
Shannon Devine, USW Communications, 416-894-7118 (cell), sdevine@usw.ca
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