CAROLE JAMES AND NDP NEED TO COME CLEAN ON PLAN TO SCRAP ROOF

BC Liberal Party

May 2, 2009

STOP THE NDP

For Immediate Release

The BC Liberals are committed to putting a new, retractable roof on BC Place Stadium. The new roof will help attract more events, increase revenues and serve as home for the new Vancouver Whitecaps MLS franchise in 2011. The new roof and other renovations will create 2,500 jobs and bring almost $100 million in additional economic benefit to the region for hotels, taxis, restaurants and other tourism-dependent businesses.

Carole James and the NDP have clearly told media they would re-allocate funding for the roof to other areas. In fact, the NDP's platform calls for the cancellation of $300 million in previously announced capital projects, but they’ve refused to reveal which projects would get the axe.

Considering the total project value is about $365 million, and the interior renovations which have already begun account for $70 million, cancelling the BC Place roof would nearly meet their scheme.

After all, here’s what the NDP have said about the new roof:

"Government could actually look at not building the roof on B.C. Place." (Carole James, CHBC-TV, Feb. 27, 2009)

"…a retractable roof wouldn’t be high on the priority list." (Adrian Dix, Voice of BC, March 26, 2009)

No new roof equals no new jobs, no new economic activity and no MLS soccer. This is one NDP plan that deserves a red card from workers and soccer fans.

Contact:
Shane Mills, BC Liberal Party
604-648-4258

Authorized by Jim Pipe, Financial Agent, BC Liberal Party